OT-Cutting Tree roots and removing stumps

[clearblue]

I recently noticed where a poster had some tree roots that needed cutting.

Rather than using your Kukri and having some experience in this realm,I can recommend a tool made for cutting roots and removing small tree stumps.

Do a google search for "cutter mattocks." Some folks call them "ax-head" mattocks.You can find excellent products at any building supply store in the garden tool section. If you have several trees or root systems to remove then I'd definitely recommend the 5# head rather than the 21/2# head.My personal preference is a hickory handle rather than the poly or fiber glass handles.

If you want a really fine tuned tool then get a 12" Nicholson mill bastard Flat File and work the edges as sharp as you want.

When you fit your mattock head to the handle you want an inch or more of your wood handle protruding above the mattock head for tamping down and tightening the handle in the eye hole.

If you have some difficult stumps then a "come along cable puller" is essential equipment. When you think you have every root severed and the stump still won't budge then the comealong will help break it loose and will show you which roots you have missed cutting. This combo works great on all soft wood trees like nuisance shrubs and pines but removing hardwoods can turn into really long term challenging exercise projects.

 

[Aardvark]

My all-time favorite garden tool. Bought my first one 25 years ago when I got my first house. Still use it for everything from hoeing to digging channels for PVC. Highly recommended.

 

[Sylvrfalcn]

Stumps? All you need is a potato spade and a stick of dynamite.

Sarge

 

[Federico]

Sarge I hear your stump removal method works great for fishing as well.

 

[BruiseLeee]

I live in the city. Will Sarge's method work for getting me a parking space downtown?

 

[Federico]

Bruise dunno about the parking space, but it will sure help with pesky ATMs.

 

[Sylvrfalcn]

You guys think I was being facetious? Heck no, when I was a kid they'd sure enough dynamite stumps and drag 'em away with a chain hitched to a tractor.

Sarge

Sarge I hear your stump removal method works great for fishing as well.

Unh unh Fed, that would be plumb illegal. Besides, you can't just go to the hardware store and buy dynamite nowadays, too many knuckleheads would get up to mischief with the stuff.

Sarge

 

[Yvsa]

Originally posted by Sylvrfalcn
Unh unh Fed, that would be plumb illegal. Besides, you can't just go to the hardware store and buy dynamite nowadays, too many knuckleheads would get up to mischief with the stuff.

Sarge

Ain't that the nickname for Marines, or does that apply to any military FNG?

 

[clearblue]

Those old crank telephones worked good on catfish too.

Had lots of fun heating C's and cutting trees with C4 in Vietnam.

 

[Sylvrfalcn]

Nosiree Yvsa, you're thinking Jarheads. Knuckleheads are non-denominational and God must love 'em or he wouldn't make so many. Someone was telling me about a fellow that had ahold of some large pyrotechnic device (fireworks), that had instructions clearly printed on the side, "light fuse and run". He did exactly that.....yup...oh yes he did.

Sarge

 

[redvenom]

I recall reading a long time ago time ago about somebody who actually did this and used 4 sticks to dynamite and launched the stump 30 feet into the air...

Sarge, have you any explosive stories you care to recall?

Cheers
Andrew Limsk

 

[Federico]

Hehehehe Sarge I was just teasin on the fishin bit, been a long time since Ive heard of people who would still remove stumps the food ol fashioned way, and couldnt resist. Though, Ive known a few rascally teenagers whove used M-100s to help with thier fishin trips, not quite a stick of dynamite, but enough to getem a few fish. Though Ive heard a good ol back-ho works great for stumps.

 

[Rusty]

You don't say the word knucklehead around one of my friends. ( He has a lot of tatoos, by the way. ) He'll ask you what year, and then spend the nest two hours telling you how he restored his '37 Harley. He has some ridged places on his head too, result of surgeries occassioned by riding without a brain bucket. That's OK, they've got his medication spot on the last 4 or 5 years.

 

[Rusty]

Oh, and Bruise, in one of the Godfather movies I think there was one shot of a car getting blown up ( at Lake Tahoe? ).

Historically true, there was a casino owner named Chartrand who backed out of his driveway and then put his car into Drive, only he went up instead of forward.

Only problem was that his death wasn't necessarily mob related. I never met the guy myself, but I knew various folks who swore anyone who ever met him would want to contribute to whomever did it's defense fund. Including the Nevada Governor, State legislature, and particularly the entire Sheriff's department.

PS: good post, though, Bruise.

 

[Tohatchi NM]

Also good for grubbing around in the dirt is a tool called a Pulaski. It's mostly used in fighting forest fires, and consists of an ax with an adz on the back.

If you're removing trees by hand, or without the benefit of a tractor/backhoe/explosives, it's much easier to dig out the stump with the tree still attached. You get some leverage and weight from the trunk. Only problem is, you have to watch where the tree falls!