Bring this tree down?

I've felled a few trees in my time and even I can recognize a widowmaker when I see it.
Take Shearwater's advice and hire a pro.
 
The safest way to cut it is with a chain saw,with help,put a rope or strap around the tree above the split.Put a notch in the base at a comfortable cutting height.Then start pulling,if you have help and can block it,it would be even better,you want to cut it so it falls sideways.Once it's down,you should be able to hook your truck to it and pull it out of the other tree.
 
Cant go wrong with the suggestion of hiring a pro, but if I were to deal with it I'd make a diagonal cut through the break to get the trunk on the ground, then start bucking it up until its manageable enough to drag the base out a bit and get it to come down. It doesnt look like it's "spring poled" and under a lot of tension, rather it looks like what's called a "barber chair" and it's just teetering on the remains of the stump.

Dont stand behind it when making the first cut, the trunk could kick back at you. Dont work downhill incase it comes down and rolls. Look at how it's hung up and decide where it's going to want to move when it starts going. Look for dead branches that could come down on you. Wear all your personal protective equipment (helmet, chainsaw gloves and pants). Have a spotter in case things dont go as planned. Know your safe zones and escape routes and make sure theyre clear. Wouldnt hurt to have the wind working with you either.

I wouldnt want to do this without a chainsaw, and especially not with just an axe. IF you decide to do it yourself with hand tools, when youre bucking it make sure you notch the top and saw from the bottom up into the apex of the notch so you saw doesnt get jammed.
 
If you insist on dropping it yourself you can use low yield Detonation cord, and NO I'm not going to be the one to tell you where to get it or how to use it.
I still recommend a pro to remove it.
 
i just had an insane $15 idea.
get a Pocket Chainsaw, and tie long lengths of paracord(about 15 feet oneach side to be really safe) to the handles and comence sawing from a safe distance.

Any more Brain Busters?
 
I don't necessarily have to use an axe, just enjoy the cardio. I just hate to pay somebody to do it, or worse my old man will go out there one day without me and try it alone. That is what scares me the most.
 
BarberFobic1992 said:
i just had an insane $15 idea.
get a Pocket Chainsaw, and tie long lengths of paracord(about 15 feet oneach side to be really safe) to the handles and comence sawing from a safe distance.

Any more Brain Busters?
Click to expand...

That might work unless the weight of the tree caused the pocket chainsaw to bind up.
 
Yes, take a six pack with ya and use the conflicting advice you gathered on the internet from shut-in computer jockies they gleamed your from photos. :D
 
WVHILLS said:
That might work unless the weight of the tree caused the pocket chainsaw to bind up.
Click to expand...

if you make the cut on the damaged side, it wont bind up much at all because it is the other side that is bearing the weight. it seems alot safer than trying your luck with an axe and probably alot cheaper than hiring a pro. plus, you can always find another use for the pocket chainsaw afterwards.
 
hire a professional. Preferabbly one with a bucket truck. Do not attempt to fall that yourself, those kind of breaks are PEOPLE KILLERS. Even most pro guys (including myself) will not touch those. (and i've down lots of bad trees, both climbing and blocking down, and felling and using a rope to fell.) We leave those killers to crane/bucket truck crews, its FAR safer (not by much)

go over to ARBORIST SITE, sign on and look for a tree guy in your area.

USE A PRO, and im not saying that to drum up business for our kind, i'm saying it to save your or your fatthers life.
 
Unless the bucket truck is fourwheel drive it won't be able to get within 50ft of this tree. I'll try to snap some better pics of the tree and surrounding area tomorrow. It is on the side of a hill right next to a large ditch/trench. If it weren't so close to our fishing pond I'd just let it go until it fell, but like I said my dad will be tempted to try it if it's left too much longer.
 
Mr. WVHills,

We used to see you here quite often. If you do it yourself, and it screws up, we'll never see you here, again. Is it worth it to save a few bucks?

Doc
 
If I had to take it down myself, I think I'd work instead on taking out the trees holding it up - only looks like a couple and they look a lot smaller. Tie the rope up high and use the truck to bend them away from the leaner and take away it's support. A come-along might even do it if they're small enough in diameter. Hemmed in it like that should go straight down. Get the big trunk free and on the ground, then it's easy.

I wouldn't cut into that busted up trunk as it sits for no money.
 
yeah for the past 3 years I worked in a pro tree service and I've seen some pretty nasty things a tree can do. I've had some damn close calls with trunks snapping under pressure (even small trees) and they can be very unpredictable. I can give you the number of a very experienced guy in Central,PA with an 85ft crane and a 200HP chipper capable of taking logs over 18" thick....but I reckon he's a bit far away for you.
http://www.martinstrees.com/gallery/CedarCliff/Removal of large ash tree ,cedar cliff 020.jpg
http://www.martinstrees.com/gallery/LaurelWoods/Lural woods Hershey 015.jpg
http://www.martinstrees.com/gallery/StoneGate/stone gate 003.jpg
His OLD chipper :D
http://www.martinstrees.com/gallery/CedarCliff/Removal of large ash tree ,cedar cliff 023.jpg

i DO agree that it looks like it's more just leaning, than actually putting a lot of pressure on the stump.

It would never hurt to call up a Pro and have him at least give you some advice while actually seeing the area, and not just photos.
 
Looking at it now it does'nt look that tall or thick, am i wrong here?

if you must do it yourself, :

sling a cord with a weight thru the first few limbs. Tie a cable to the rope and pull thru the limbs aorund the trunk. clip the cable back to itself and cinch up tight against the trunk.

lay out the cable on the ground and get it FAR form the landing zone. Anchor a come along to something bomber solid and connect the cable from the tree. Take up the slack and start tightening it. Pull over the tree using the come a long (4 ton is best). The idea is that the cable is high enough up in the tree and the pivot point or break point is the weakened/ broekn part of the tree.

I'm not liable if you do this, this is not to be taken as advice etc etc etc
 
I think the pocket saw and para cord idea would work safely. That might take you 20 minutes or so seeing as that tree is 2' diameter.

If not I think a little lighter fluid and a sack of bbq briquettes would bring it down eventually. The wood will dry out and burn through at some point. Just wedge a piece of hardware cloth (1/2 inch metal screen) in there to keep the coals off the ground and ventilated. Lastly loosely wrap with some aluminum foil to create a chimney of sorts.

BTW, the UN has something to say too.

http://www.unece.org/press/pr2000/00tim3e.htm
 
If you have a tow truck or something with a heavy duty winch available to you then you could string out enough cable to reach the tree, string out enough to stay a safe distance away. Attach the cable to the tree above the break using a choker, perpendicular to the direction the tree fell, and pull it down. Don't use rope, especially nylon rope, it's too elastic and will stretch a great deal and if it breaks will come back at you like a rubber band.
BTW, I still think you should hire a pro.
 
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