fearofpavement
Trying them all
Did a difficult removal today of an oak tree next to a house. It was a job for a bucket truck and I was planning on using a 66' manlift to take it down but haven't been able to get it working properly. So with some additional assessment, I figured I could get it down by taking some limbs off of it and then pulling and wedging it over.
This is the first time I've had to rig branches for lowering and between Groundie and I we got it done.
Felling the tree was challenging as it was leaning towards the house. The tree was probably 24" plus and not hollow. First thing I did was screw up by cutting the face cut too deep. (deeper than intended) I wanted plenty of room for wedges and having the face that deep complicated that some. I made a bore cut from the back of the face cut through to the back of the tree so I could get a long wedge in there before I made the back cut.
The pulling devices included two tow straps connected together, a 150" bull rope hooked to another 100' bull rope. Then between the chains and pulley block and what not we had the Rube Goldberg thing down flat.
Long story shorter, the felling took a long time with alternate wedging and pulling with the truck. I kept as much tension on the pulling gear as I thought it could handle safely and had about 10 wedges involved. (some double stacked). Once I got the tree vertical I breathed a little easier and then of course the homeowner came home to see the grande finale.
It came down exactly as intended but I was so whupped we just left and told the homeowner we'd come later to clean up.
Based on the difficult climbing earlier in the day, Groundie and I decided it was time for me to quit that aspect of tree removal. If a tree requires climbing, I'm just not going to bid it anymore.
Saws used today were the Stihl 019T, 044 with a 28" and an 039 with a 20" and I did some limbing with a Stihl 026 (which was running poorly and probably needs carb work)
When I go to limb and buck up the stem I'll likely use the 044 with a 24" and the 039 and maybe the 018C for the small stuff.
This is the first time I've had to rig branches for lowering and between Groundie and I we got it done.
Felling the tree was challenging as it was leaning towards the house. The tree was probably 24" plus and not hollow. First thing I did was screw up by cutting the face cut too deep. (deeper than intended) I wanted plenty of room for wedges and having the face that deep complicated that some. I made a bore cut from the back of the face cut through to the back of the tree so I could get a long wedge in there before I made the back cut.
The pulling devices included two tow straps connected together, a 150" bull rope hooked to another 100' bull rope. Then between the chains and pulley block and what not we had the Rube Goldberg thing down flat.
Long story shorter, the felling took a long time with alternate wedging and pulling with the truck. I kept as much tension on the pulling gear as I thought it could handle safely and had about 10 wedges involved. (some double stacked). Once I got the tree vertical I breathed a little easier and then of course the homeowner came home to see the grande finale.
It came down exactly as intended but I was so whupped we just left and told the homeowner we'd come later to clean up.
Based on the difficult climbing earlier in the day, Groundie and I decided it was time for me to quit that aspect of tree removal. If a tree requires climbing, I'm just not going to bid it anymore.
Saws used today were the Stihl 019T, 044 with a 28" and an 039 with a 20" and I did some limbing with a Stihl 026 (which was running poorly and probably needs carb work)
When I go to limb and buck up the stem I'll likely use the 044 with a 24" and the 039 and maybe the 018C for the small stuff.
I like what i do but retirement would be really nice
