dangerous tree to fell

NCTREE · Jun 29, 2011

I took this tree down the other day and it wasn't fun. One of those trees that you can't wait to get down so you can breath again. I climbed it and bombed the top out of it. I dropped the rest for fear of the heavy wood hitting the trunk if I bombed it. After it was down I realized it was worse than expected as you can see from the pics. I took the plunge to drop the spar with fear of it splitting up the trunk, was I right by doing so? Just glad it is on the ground and all is well.

carveit · Jun 29, 2011

is that a money tree? nice takedown anyway thanks for sharing

mic687 · Jun 29, 2011

About a month ago I took down a 60' white pine that had no bark on it and woodpecker holes in the top 15'. Back leaned so bad near the home did not want to risk pulling it over for fear of it breaking. I climbed the good and bigger pine next to it and transfered over after a good amount of pulling on my transfer line. Even though I was still tied in to the good tree I was very nervous until I got down so I know exactly what you mean about not breathing. As I cut the stump it fell in half, just plain ugly. Good job man and I am glad you are safe the pisser is it won't be the last time you half to do that but it just makes the easy one seem that much eaiser.

Toddppm · Jun 29, 2011

Sounds exactly like the one I did for my dad a couple weeks ago. Dead ass Chestnut Oak about 20" and 70 ft. full of woodpecker holes leaning towards the house. I tried to climb it last summer but gave up when I got 30-40 ft. up and could see in a hole about 6" and through the other side. Had to call the power co. to drop the lines and pull the other way, it was dicey and tried to barber chair just like that but it came down with a slow pull over and fell apart in the yard when it landed.

treemandan · Jun 30, 2011

Yeah, I would say its best to proceed gingerly with a crusty chesnut oak like that one. I am surprised it held your fat ass.

tree md · Jun 30, 2011

Yeppers, I know the feeling.

I did a pine yesterday that was lightening struck and dead as hell in the top 3rd of the tree. I took 4 dead limbs out of this tree about a month and a half ago and there were still green needles in it but it was turning brown. I told the HO to keep an eye on it and call me if it died. Sure enough it died and has lost most of it's needles in the past month and a half. I was going to lower the top and block a few chunks before throwing the pole but when I got up there I could see how mushy it was where the lightening had struck it. Wood pecker holes, insects, bark peeling. My gaffs sunk all the way in a little less than a 3rd of the way from the top. HO was there and I told him there was going to be a change in the game plan. I dropped it in two pieces and when I dropped the top it split right where my gaffs where burying up. Not to say that the fall didn't cause it but it sure give you pause for thought.