Did a big'un on Saturday........This one was a DOOZIE! At close to 70-80' high, a 32" DBH trunk and branches stretching close to 50' out, I had to climb to the top crotch to put it down because it was between two houses. What made it such a challenge was the precarious lean and the immense weight of the limbs....The yard was just too soft for a lift. And thanks to some bug-induced flaws inside the one branch we had our first (and hopefully our LAST) barber chair of the year. Ended up with 1 1/2 heaping trailers full of wood, as well as a heap in my pickup. 4 1/2 hours, in and out.
Nice work as usual Scotty . Amazingly, I have yet to score any Oak since becoming a wood burning cord hoarder. I am quite blessed with scores of both flavors of Locust yearly though.
Trust me Blu, I love locust.......but white oak is about as equally high on my preference chart. I like the fact that it burns so long and keeps pretty good coals, but what's equally amazing is how very little ash it produces. I can burn oak steadily for a month or more before I have to remove ash out of the fireplace or stove....... I only kept the big rounds from this tree, my buddy got the Lions share.......and rightfully so, I've got plenty as it stands......
Boog, not sure about the "pro" part but we've done our fair share of risky trees......this one, with the potential forces involved, was borderline for me, especially without a bucket truck.
That does look like it was a wicked barber chair. Glad you guys were ok. That sucker had some serious weight out on those limbs
it was, but I totally expected it to happen..... I used a step-cut on those heavy limbs, making an undercut about 1/3 of the way into the bottom of the limb, then cutting through the top of the limb several inches further out on that limb from the bottom cut. Trouble with the one limb was it had bug damage in it that was hidden, and it popped way before I wanted it to. Having had similar things happen before, I NEVER tie off in a place where the peel will affect my harness or rigging.......I always tie off in an area that will not be affected by the peel...... Sometimes those barber chairs are inevitable........just something that you need to be prepared for and proactive about.....
A step cut is definately the way to go when a limb has that much weight on it. I've had em pop right off on me as soon as i started the top cut but having that undercut just a little behind always helps. Takes some skill and experience to be able to look at a limb/trunk and know 99% what it's going to do. Nice job again bud
My favorite of all....White Oak. Nice job Scotty! Scary business, those leaners, especially near a structure..
