Thread: Felling oversized trees...no probs. Little ones however...

Originally Posted by Mr Brush

In 10 years of dropping trees on our place I've generally had great results. Dropped trees close to a fence, no problems. Highlight was removing a gate off the hinges, and dropping a large tree into the space between the gate posts without touching the fence on either side. Unfortunately, this may have led to me getting a bit cocky.....

Fast forward 12 months. A big eucalypt had been standing dead for a few years, and the time came to drop it for firewood. Perfect firewood tree I thought; dead straight trunk going up about 40m with not a single branch, and just a few scattered dead branches right at the top of the tree. Nothing to attach a rope to, but as I had a whole paddock to drop it into on one side I thought it would be fine. How could I miss? Chose a windless day, cut a textbook wedge out (aimed in the right direction), started on the back cut. Whacked in a steel wedge to stop the thing going backwards, tapping it in incrementally as I continued the back cut. No sound of splintering wood, no movement at the top of the tree. Eventually I'd cut right through, no timber left to remove, tree still sitting there perfectly balanced. No rope to pull on, nothing left to cut, now what??? Eventually the lightest gust of wind sent the thing over backwards, leaving most of the trunk suspended over a steep gully and only supported at both ends. Lots of fun and games logging it up, and the wood was fantastic firewood, but I'll never drop anything large again without getting a rope on it first.

Mr Brush

If there is ever any doubt about, even the slightest doubt, which way a tree will fall I use timber wedges: As many as will fit in the felling cut if necessary. Additional wedges can be placed if you see the tree bearing down on the wedges (if it is going the right way the wedges will go loose). Thicker wedges can then be hammered in to send the tree back the way you want. You do need to have remembered to bring your sledge hammer too. The other advantage of the timber wedge is that they are sacrificial and won't destroy the chain on your saw. Commercially you can buy plastic wedges for the same purpose. Most times I cut them from small branches in the bush with the chainsaw when I arrive. They certainly don't have to be a sophisticated bit of gear, but they can save your saw or your life or both .

Regards
Paul

Usually when dropping some large Pines & Jarrah I have here I hook up a come-a-long with wire rope anchored to another tree as well as ramming a few wedges in to ensure the drop in the direction it is meant to go.
The professional guys use a sling shot to haul up a cable to do this as well.I just took a leaf ( pardon the pun) out of their tactics ,it's safe and works ,well for me it has without issue.

How high up do you need to get the wire rope?

As high as you can. .

Obviously 1.5m up the tree won't be much help - but even 5m can make a huge difference... I generally tie a good size rock or heavy branch chunk onto a long, smooth rope and pitch it up as high as I can... Then - use the rope to fish my winch cable up....

just remember the effects of angle as taught in Highschool Geometry class... Aka - make sure your cable is long enough to allow your ute backed up far enough so the tree doesn't rearrange your hood and windshield... I would consider a cable length about double the height of the tree to be about the bare minimum...

On the tree service blokes....

You would be amazed at how many times none of the fellows cutting trees are the owner... Remember - the owner is the money guy who owns all the trucks, saws, chippers, skid steers, etc.... Often the young chap running up and down the tree with a saw is hired help... Young guys have the advantages of strong legs, strong backs, and a fine invinciblity complex....

Oldie but a goodie

well, he did get it down


and it was partly loaded onto the ute !!

Bob

I had seen the video before, but I guess that says it all. What were they thinking? Oh, hang on, they weren't thinking at all .

Regards
Paul

Reminds me of the sightly built Sub-continental family who turned up at the next door neighbours to take away a healthy 12ft high Mango tree. They turned up with 3 cars (the largest was a small Datsun Ute) and about 10 people (mostly kids) and proceeded to excavate around the tree. I was watching some of this from the living room window and wondering how they were going to lift the rootball onto the ute. Anyway they tried a few things but even with the help of a fit neighbour they could not move it.

I went and got my 20 something year old son and a couple of 10ft long 2 x 4's and some decent rope and asked if they needed a hand. With the 2x4's padded and tied under the first large branch unions we managed to get the tree onto the ute standing up. They then proceed to tie it down to the roof with what looked like binding twine and when I suggested they use some of my rope they politely declined.

I put the rope in my car and waited till they took off and followed them. At the end of street about 40 m away at the first stop sign the twine broke and the tree toppled forward covering the windscreen wth its canopy. I stopped and helped them straighten the tree and again offered the rope and again the politely declined and used two thicknesses of twine.

At next stop sign the twine broke and I drove up alongside and held out the rope - no luck again.

They left the tree leaning with its canopy over the windscreen and tore away a few of the leaves so the driver could see something. Then they tied the tree to the Ute tray rack behind the cab, again with lots of twine, and put two kids in the back of the ute under the trunk to hang onto and hold the tree down onto the ute rack.

Off they went again and made it onto the freeway. At about 60 kph the branches and leaves were flapping about so that again they intermittently covered the windscreen so the driver had to stick his head out of the side window to see. Meanwhile the tree with the two kids attached is bouncing up and down in the back of the ute. Eventually they got it up to about 70 when leaves and branches started to snap off at least enabling the driver to see. At about 80 kph about half the leaves had been stripped off - we decided to drive no further and turned around at the next exit.

The family were supposed to come back for another tree but then never did.

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

Bob

I had seen the video before, but I guess that says it all. What were they thinking? Oh, hang on, they weren't thinking at all .

Regards
Paul

what I like is how the watchers move well clear of the ute and tree but don't think to warn the ute driver

Nothing wrong. Tree loaded into the ute. Looks pretty square as well. Pity it is heavier than the cab and springs can handle though and did you notice how close the front of the ute is to the fence.

There is always next time to do a better job.

Longer rope - pffffttttt. This one is plenty long...

Originally Posted by Handyjack

Yes they are franchises' but with the name Jim's ... It can still damage the brand.

My neighbour used one of these clowns years ago to trim a tree growing half over my fence.
He was hanging off a wobbly ladder cutting small branches with a chainsaw.
I knocked a few off with machete and then loaned it to him as he’d never seen one before.
In the end I had to back out his new 4 x 4 ute and trailer as he or the neighbour had no idea.
H.

Ah, the Sacrificial Datsun....Nissan's answer to the Painter's drop sheet.
So cynical gentlemen. Obviously this is only stage one, all is in order, vehicle now acts as under carriage to facilitate loading onto a winch equipped tilt tray truck. Simples.