Dead hemlock removal

[ArborView]

Taking down a dead hemlock tomorrow. Probably 16-18" diameter, 40-50 feet tall. Too dead for me to climb and can't get a bucket truck down driveway. My plan is to get a rope up as high as I can with my throwline and run the other end of the rope through a block at the base of a tree in the direction I intend to fall it. Base of the hemlock is very decayed for the first few feet and then moderate decay above that. I'm thinking of making my cut 4-5' up where the wood is a little better. I'm a little concerned about dropping it, just because of the decay, afraid it might go where I don't want it too. If it went backwards for some reason, I'd take down some wires. If it went off to the side, the top could brush the garage. It does have a very slight lean in the direction I want it to go.
Any thoughts/suggestions on removing decayed trees like this or similar situations? Sorry, no pictures yet.

 

[Erwin]

Just in case you didn't already thought of this, fix two ropes from the top to the direction you want it to fall in an angle to each other. Or, use three ropes to just fix the tree so it will not fall to any direction if you have anchoring trees around. After you did your final cut, pull it or/and slowly let go the rope on oposite direction. Hope this not too stupid. Erwin

 

[Treemonkey1000]

I had to take down a Hemlock for my neighbor that had been dead for a couple of years (no needles left at all). I was very concerned about the condition internally of this beast. I climbed it any way and set a pull rope. The bark was flaking off in places. But the spurs stuck well.
Then I placed two people on the pull rope and did my cuts. I had warned the two people that when it hit the ground watch out for flying branches and pieces.
That tree was perfect inside though and very solid after I looked at it. It did bust up a little on impact. Watch for that. I was surprised that it was still that solid inside.

The idea of additional lines is good. This was out in a fairly open spot other than fences on 3 sides.

I hope that helps. Maybe to a tap test with a hammer if you haven't already

Jim

 

[NeTree]

Try to be gentle with the pull-lines... don't apply too much force.

If you have the anchor points, try three lines-

1 on either side 90 degrees to the planned plane of felling, and 1 to pull it in the desired direction.

The first two ropes will help ensure it stays on the same plane... long enough for the tree to be comitted into the intended direction, anyhow.

Or... ya could give me a call, and we could have some fun with this one!

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

one word WINCH if you can get a decent anchor

 

[murphy4trees]

Make extra extra sure there is no bypass on the notch cuts and sound the tree to feel for the soundest wood to hinge on...
Hemlock is pretty brittle stuff, but if you make good cuts and its got a little head lean all should go well... Hope you put some extra$ on it for the added risk....

 

[NeTree]

Originally posted by netree
Try to be gentle with the pull-lines... don't apply too much force.

 

[ORclimber]

Be careful. Got my bell rung by a dead Doug-fir today. Thought the top would brush by the adjacent tree but it broke out instead.

 

[ArborView]

Well, took it down this morning. Everything went as planned and it went where I wanted it. I only had anchor points for 2 ropes, but I really didn't even need them. Tightened them up just a little bit, enough to keep the tree in place in case the hinge failed. Made the hinge and backcut about 6 feet up where the wood wasn't quite as decayed and it fell right where I wanted it too.
Looks like the carpenter ants and woodpeckers better find somewhere else to go.
Thanks for all your advice.

 

[NeTree]

Originally posted by ArborView

Looks like the carpenter ants and woodpeckers better find somewhere else to go.

You home-wrecker YOU!

Good deal!

 

[NeTree]

Originally posted by RockyJSquirrel
Yup, I sometimes get criticized on a jobsite for 'wasting time' setting up an extra rope or two. But I feel better knowing I had the ropes in place in case they were needed. Once you start the back cut, it's too late to set the rope.

Exactly.

 

[geofore]

anchor points

Arborview, "But I really didn't need them". The big picture, they were there in case you needed them. Saves you from having a big Oops and having to file an insurance claim. When you set the ropes ask yourself, "Would I rather be setting ropes or filling out insurance claims because I didn't set the ropes?" It pays to have that little bit of extra safety on the job. If every thing goes wrong you still have a way to recover using the ropes. If you don't set the ropes you don't always have time once things start moving.
The one tree folks will remember is the one that went wrong, you can do a thousand right, but they remember and talk about the one that went wrong.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Re: anchor points

Originally posted by geofore

The one tree folks will remember is the one that went wrong, you can do a thousand right, but they remember and talk about the one that went wrong.

Excellent post!

 

[NeTree]

Kind of the premise behind word-of-mouth advertising.

Do it right, they'll tell a couple people...
Do it wrong, they'll tell EVERYBODY.