Wasn't easy

[Eugen]

There were two fairly big dead ash trees leaning over us. We had some strong winds since yesterday and I've had enough of waiting for them to fall on us.

Tricky though, how to make them fall sideways, not where they're leaning.

The first one I tackled and through some miracle it went exactly where I wanted.

[propane1]

Good for you Eugen. Not my thing cutting down big trees.

Noel

[Eugen]

The second one was more of an adventure. I was too stressed to take any videos. It was also a double trunk one thick and one thin. I decided to cut them separately as they were leaning in opposite directions, but both toward our shed and tents.

The thick brush didn't help any. Got it ready, made the wedge cut, then the straight horizontal cut on the other side, when a gust of wind pushed it on the side opposite the wedge!

Well.. tall tree hanging only on a thin hinge and somewhat leaning on its thinner brother. Tried to hammer a wedge to lean it the other side, no chance, it was too far gone. In fact every gust of wind spooked me as it could fall at any time.

Seeing as I was getting nowhere I took the big chains out, hooked them as high on the trunk as I could, stringed them across the bush up to the big backhoe bucket.

Lifted the bucket as high as possible and backed up decidedly. God smiled on me. The tree went down fast and again, exactly along with the wedge cut. I dodged another sketchy tree fall.

[Eugen]

Good for you Eugen. Not my thing cutting down big trees.

Noel

What can I say Noel, necessity kinda forced me. I don't think it's my kind of thing either. Did my best to be careful. But I did have to take a shower after. Was all wet. I was fully dressed and with boots, not fun going in the thick bush in shorts and flip-flops

[propane1]

Ya gotta have an escape route. A clear one. And I normally practice the escape route a few times to be sure.

Glad you got it done Eugen.

Noel

[propane1]

Some people cut a hole in the back side of the wedge cut and put a small hydraulic jack in there and jack the tree and it falls where you want.

Or another one is, you cut a notch in the back of the tree with the wedge cut. And put this jack on the ground and into the notch you cut. Works like a long bumper jack. Pushes the tree over.

Any way, quick ramble about getting trees to fall where you want.


Noel

[Harry]

I few years ago I cut some large Maple trees on my property. I would climb a ladder at least 20' up the tree and attach a 1/2" cable to the trees. Then attach it to the back of my 644lbh on the bottom where there are some heavy duty brackets. I would cut the notch with the chain saw then put some tension on the cable. Then while cutting the back cut when I would see the tree starting to fall I would hop on the tractor and pull the tree over. The cable is about 50' long and one time when pulling it over just before the tree hit the ground I could feel the wind from the tree falling hit my back. When I stopped I turned around and the tree was 10' from the tractor. I guess my guarding Angel was watching out for me that day!

Keep the Peace
Harry

[Eugen]

@Harry good story and even better you were not harmed.

As for me, I raised the big loader bucket all the way up so as to protect me in case it would come my way and pulled diagonal to the hinge. Indeed the tree fell at least 20 feet to my left. I don't really want to be a youtube fails star.

[Jancoe]

Just like Harry I also have a 1/2" steel cable. Mine is 100' with a 8' chain whip on one end to wrap around the tree. I do it the same way. Extension ladder about 20' up on tree then hook up to hitch on truck and put light tension on it. Cut my wedge and when I cut through the backside about half way I give the signal to whoever is in the seat to pull a little more. The saw goes right through and the tree falls exactly where you want. I've used other trees with snatch block pulleys to pull in the direction I needed on angles too. Works like a charm. Ended up taking down 80 large trees to clear the area. All said and done I saved 8k doing it myself. The contractors wanted that to cut them down, pull the stumps and take the wood. And that didnt include any excavation and brining in the fill. Which was roughly 700 yards. The land slopes to the back of the property and was brought up 4' to levelcit off. Lots of sweat equity in this. Dont know what I would have done without the cable when I was clearing my land for my pole barn. Still haven't built it yet due to the massive price hike in lumber so the site sits as a massive sandbox for my kids at this time. Guess I should have paid other to do it and I would have been a summer ahead. Buy the time the fill was done it was Oct. 20' and building prices has since doubled.

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[Timj]

@Jancoe if we only had a crystal ball.
I was going to build a shop at home, but not with the price for materials.