Piecing down a widow maker.

I guess it was almost 3 weeks ago when I did this one. I had an oak at the back of the property that had been cut years ago, came off the stump but got hung up in an adjacent tree. In the first pic, I had already cut a couple of 4-5 foot sections out by cutting vertical since it had a pretty good lean. As I cut more and more sections, the tree became more vertical (less lean) which made me pretty uncomfortable as I was concerned about the tree coming back toward me and my neighbor's house (the stone wall is the property line). So I notched it on the side that I was going to pull from, put a notch in the far side so the rope would stay in and then pulled.

Here's the setup with the original stump in the foreground.


Here's the top of the tree hung up on the branch of another red oak.

Here's how I notched the tree for the impending pull. If I had to do it over again, I would have put the rope below the notch. If I had done that, the rope wouldn't have ended up buried in the ground as you can see in the pic two pics after this one.

Here's my truck hooked up to the rope in the neighbor's yard. She said that her husband would be happy to see that tree down as it's been there for years (well before we bought the house).

Here it is after the pull. It gave the tree a good lean once again so I could continue piecing it down with one more vertical cut.

And here it is on the ground. The top of it is lying across the rectangular wire mesh fence which I was able to straighten out in 5 minutes.

And here's the best part of the story. Three moisture readings and this is the highest one. Been burning this stuff to get us through the coldest days so far. But I need more!!!


Obviously every situation is different and my method of handling this one may not apply to every situation out there, but I got it down and still have all of my fingers and toes.

 

Smart
may pinch a rope, but no other damage.
nice idea.
(saw in the pic for picture enhancement, moved before the pull ?)

 

Thanks Swags. I agree. I think that is one situation when it would be nice to have a longer bar. So the toes can be a little further away when piecing down the sections with the vertical cuts.

Yes sir. Isn't that they way that everyone dries their wood? Just leave a bunch of 'em leaning in the forest. Thanks.

I put the saw in for scale and yes, it was moved prior to the pull. After I did the pull, i wished I had taken a video just to show how it went, but I tend to think those who video these things end up on the threads of "how not to" get something done.

Every other time I've done something like this, I've just tried to pull the leaner from the bottom which requires a ton more brute force. Then I came up with this idea and it was a piece of cake.

 

Nice work there stuck! Good BTUs right there.

 

Great job! Glad to see it safely down and on the ground!

 

Thanks Gents.. And glad to not be starring in a youtube video. Now to hang up another one for 10 years of drying!!

 

Thanks Pete, Looks like it's time for me to start a new long term experiment since I don't know exactly when this one first came off the stump. I'll hang two up today, piece one down in 10 years and one down in 15. Once my experiment is done, I'll get back to ya... If either of them fall down prematurely, I'll have to start over!!! That'll give me some time to drink a few beers.

 

Nice job, rope above notch was better, reason being, if that wedge cut snapped while pulling, you've lost control completely, bottom of tree swings back toward lean, & the top fall toward, truck, house, whatever. I've take a few leaners that way, & it's worked out pretty well. Good work. A C

 

Thanks AC... Didn't even think of that possibility but it makes perfect sense. Will keep it in mind for the next time.

 

Thanks Zap. Trying to learn from the pic master!!

 

Yea, plus one to Zap's comment. Very nice pics. Every tree is a learning experience, & leaners tend to be hard teachers sometimes. Guy I learned from told me to always stand back & ask myself " what could possibly go wrong here?" Said if I thought my way trough it first I'd live longer. Good advice from an old pro. A C

 

Ha, yea no kidding. At least we didn't get a power line or lose any of our own limbs. Well anyway, I'm in from plowing & headed to bed. -5F & blowing something fierce here. Glad to be in & warm. A C