So, this morning is eventually. I decided standing on cinder blocks was better than the ladder. I used my 445. A few cuts, and it was down, pretty much as I envisioned. Can you say ugly stump? Cutting at shoulder height caused the angle, but it was fine. The other half looked ok. The back cut above, if you zoom in, you can see where it did start to crack/split out on me. I'm glad I bothered to wrap with rope before starting. Looking back from the tree top. Not quite a full rack. I'll split right there, putting splits on the left side. So........ Seeing as how numerous tools were out, I decided to take down a dying red maple. The ash slid down the edge of the RM. That RM was a lot more effort than the ash. The wooded area has lots of tall trees. The RM found a welcoming crotch of a red oak and decided to hang on. Yup... I can't cut trees without getting a saw stuck. I had the tension and compression totally backwards. I should have cut a wedge out from the top side, then finish with an up cut. Oh well. Out came the gifted 350. I got my 445 free, and after multiple 3foot cuts, the tree was vertical....mostly.. Trying to free it upwith a peavey. Not happening Now, we need more tools. A rope puller and a 50ft bull rope was brought into the fray. That succeeded in freeing it up, but seeing how gravity sucks, it swung into a different tree. So, after several more 3ft cuts, it was all horizontal. We managed to keep it out of the street. I decided to leave everything where it was. I'll get to it over the next week or so. Time for a shower and - No injury or any collateral damage was had during this activity. That made it a fun, re-learning experience.
I had a feeling we’d be seeing your rope puller, mike! Nice job on getting it down. Do you typically use a ladder to get the rope as high as you can on the trunk? Glad to see you enjoying a cold one after a job well done
I've not needed to take down a leaner like that before now. I used knowledge culled from around this site, and wrapped the tree. A ladder seemed the simplest way for me to accomplish the rope wrap
Seemed to have worked well for you. If you ever feel that you’re not able to get your pull line high enough, investing in a throw line and weighted bag is a great way to get a line high in a tree. You already have the pull rope and the puller, so it would be a minimal investment. Just simply throw the line through a crotch or over a dependable branch. Remove weighted bag and tie pull rope on. Pull throw line with pull rope into place. Tie one end of pull rope around base of tree. Give a few good firm tugs to test for integrity and see how the tree responds. Finally set up rope puller where you want tree to go, and you’re all set. Obviously not indicated for this tree as you were able to safely get it on the ground, but a wonderful insurance policy that lessens the pucker effect. Amazing the leverage you have when the rope is installed high in the tree
Awesome! Good it got down safely, not without adventure though. How much wood do you think will come out of this take? SCA
Seeing as there was no injury or collateral damage But i was like through this story and do it my self. Except for the standing on things when make cuts mostly There's a lot of wood to cut ladies and gentlemen, we won't get through it all if we get hurt. STAY SAFE!
That leaner would have been a good place for a plunge cut,,,or bore cut I think they’re sometimes called. Requires experience tho which I only have a little myself. The bigger the tree the easier they are IMO and yours is small. And a plunge cut at face level only adds to the excitement. All that trepidation aside it’s a good cut to know. And one I should utilize more myself. As for the hangers,,,,that’s gonna happen when thinning a forest. I think I cut for a full season before I finally got one to hit the ground first LOL They’re down and the beer looks cold. Life’s good.
Good extended job getting it on the ground guys. All safe and in one piece...well save for the three foot logs! Not always easy notching from an awkward spot but it came down as you planned. Usually with some adrenaline! I was watching the neighbor fell a dead WO next to where is was cutting yesterday. He hung it up. I told him the peavey trick and i later heard a come a long being used. It was still hung up when i left. yesterday.
Day after carnage report. Spent time cleaning up the area. Collected a number of branches. They'll end up in the firepit at some time. Moved smaller RM rounds and thicker branches to the cut/split area. I expect to cut tomorrow. I staged what I could as I cleaned up the area. Center was rotted. Spalting where it wasn't rot. 12-13in, depending which diameter to measure.
