Help with an ash tree

[clifforion]

Hi there I have been lurking on this site a while and really haven't had a need to ask for help till now. My father needs/wants some trees taken down in his yard which I will do this weekend. The only problem is there is an ash tree, its about 65-70ft maybe more maybe less, and is about 20" dbh, again could be more or less. Anyway the problem is it leans towards the house, which is about 30ft away, not a huge lean but one that can't be ignored. I know ash splits easily and I really kind of need to swing it from the lean, I have used some different swing duthman cuts and wedges but wasn't sure if that would work for ash. I have bore cut once on a hard leaning pine, but again its not a straight shot with this ash it has to swing. Anyway I was hoping for suggestions, I definitely WILL NOT do this tree if I have any doubts. My father already said he could pay for someone to climb it or just fell it so I don't HAVE to do this just would like to save him the money and learn. Again I am not dumb or have the "rambo" syndrome just trying to see if its at all possible, if I don't feel comfy doing it I won't. Thanks tons in advance Keith

 

[John Ellison]

There is no shame in not attempting to fell a tree if you are not 100 % sure. I don't believe swing cuts should be used when the tree would hit a house if you lose it. Sounds like it needs to be pulled and you might not have the gear or experience to do it safely.

 

[Slamm]

I have been logging a lot of soft maple, pin oak, elm and ash, on this last job, and I can tell you with all certainty that what works on the others will not work on the ash, it is far more brittle, it takes bigger hinges and more perfect angles to either get it to do what you want it to do, or to keep it from barber chairing or slabbing the front or side out of if you are trying to swing it or get it to go somewhere other than where its leaning if you are pushing the limits of swinging or direction control. If its a modest amount then not a big deal, but:

My advice would be to pull it with equipment if you are uncertain of your felling skills or experience in any way, as ash will not the mercy like an oak would.

If you screw up in the woods, the tree just falls on another tree or something typically less dramatic, but dropping a tree on a house is not very cool.

My opinion,

Sam

 

[clifforion]

Thanks for the info

Thanks for the replies, I had a feeling it was beyond what I "should" do just wondering if it was close to what I might be able to do. Like I said I don't have to do it, just one of those well I am already here with a saw lets just finish it all type of thing. But I do believe it is a tad more than I can handle, its not much of a lean but just leaning towards the house. I was just kinda hoping someone might say this is easy just do xy+z. My dad already said he is willing to just call someone to climb it, and that seems to be the right way to do this job. Again I thank you for the replies they have been very helpfull. Keith

 

[Gologit]

Thanks for the replies, I had a feeling it was beyond what I "should" do just wondering if it was close to what I might be able to do. Like I said I don't have to do it, just one of those well I am already here with a saw lets just finish it all type of thing. But I do believe it is a tad more than I can handle, its not much of a lean but just leaning towards the house. I was just kinda hoping someone might say this is easy just do xy+z. My dad already said he is willing to just call someone to climb it, and that seems to be the right way to do this job. Again I thank you for the replies they have been very helpfull. Keith

Good choice.

 

[madhatte]

Agreed, taking chances with houses is for people with licensing, bonding, insurance, and, above all, experience. I wouldn't have attempted that tree either, and have turned down plenty like it. Everybody wants to save a buck; tree removal near structures is not a good place to try saving.

 

[slowp]

In my brief experience, I have found out that fences and buildings and vehicles all have tractor beams and will draw even a tree leaning the opposite way into their beam and onto the fence, pickup, building. Beware the Beam. :msp_scared:

 

[clifforion]

Great bunch of help

Thanks everyone for responding. Like I said it never needed to be done (by me). I just was wondering if it was an idea I should entertain now I know it isn't. Anyone have climbing spikes cheap? Lol I am seriously joking this tree is beyond me and after the replies I got its actually more beyond me than I thought. Again everyone thank you so much for your time and efforts. Keith

 

[Gologit]

Thanks everyone for responding. Like I said it never needed to be done (by me). I just was wondering if it was an idea I should entertain now I know it isn't. Anyone have climbing spikes cheap? Lol I am seriously joking this tree is beyond me and after the replies I got its actually more beyond me than I thought. Again everyone thank you so much for your time and efforts. Keith

But, on the other hand, it might make a good YouTube video. :msp_biggrin: You know, one of those Tree Falling Disaster stories.

You're right not to go beyond your comfort level. Trees do some weird things and once they start to go sideways on you there isn't any second chance. No do-overs.

I've been putting wood down for awhile and I think the only thing I haven't hit is an occupied dwelling. Notice I said occupied...and that's all I'm saying about that one. :msp_wink:

If you have the time you can hang out here and pick up some good information. There's a wealth of good knowledge available, most of it learned the hard way. Welcome to AS.

 

[gtsawyer]

I'm an egotistical, know-it-all, wood-hungry jerk, but the more work around trees, the more I refuse to cut down anything that could possibly damage a structure or anything of value.

If you have any doubts about your ability to safely bring it down, that's your cue to call an insured professional. Don't learn from the book of Darwin.

 

[clifforion]

Great helpfull site

I thank you all for your responses, and welcomes. I have been "lurking" around here for a little while and have picked up a lot of very good info. I called my father today and he said he will call around for someone to climb the tree, so again that is what is going to be done which is best. I hope I one day can give some people sound advice about tree work which would be nice, till then I have tons more learning and avoiding those "how to to cut down a tree" you tube videos. I haven't been in any disastrous video yet and hope that I never am. Thank you all again Keith

 

[hammerlogging]

but if you want to talk about all the ways to bust an ash, I'd be happy to input. That includes looking at it crossways.

If everything goes just right, its awesome wood and I LOVE cutting ash because of its nuances. But if you #### it up, there ain't no bucking out a 4' section or something.

"Ya wanna tell me about that 24" 25' half log in the pulpwood pile?"

"Na."
Anyhow, in the case of structures, you probably made your best call.

 

[Gologit]

"Ya wanna tell me about that 24" 25' half log in the pulpwood pile?"

"Na."

:hmm3grin2orange: That broke me up. Out here the conversation would go something like, Forester..."You wanna tell me how come that big fir got all busted up on the rocks? You only got two 40's and a 16 out of a 130 foot tree."

Faller..."I dunno. Wind, maybe. Where's the next strip?"

 

[bitzer]

I will play a little devil's advocate on this one. I once used a soft dutch to swing a maple away from a house. I got lucky. I also soft dutched an ash the other day. Enough relief and no chair. shocking. Its the stall that kills ash. Sometimes I have more nuts than brains. The last 12' spliter I laid on the log pile the trucker just swung aside. What the hell? Half the milling work is done on that one.

 

[hammerlogging]

Yes, off the stump I don't find it too big a deal, and what pretty wood. In fact, I think its a very nice cutting stump responding rather well to one's trickery. But how you treat that fork, and how it treats you, is crucial, as she hits the ground. Surfboards, canoes, these are all products we can pre-manufacture for the mills.

 

[palogger390]

I thank you all for your responses, and welcomes. I have been "lurking" around here for a little while and have picked up a lot of very good info. I called my father today and he said he will call around for someone to climb the tree, so again that is what is going to be done which is best. I hope I one day can give some people sound advice about tree work which would be nice, till then I have tons more learning and avoiding those "how to to cut down a tree" you tube videos. I haven't been in any disastrous video yet and hope that I never am. Thank you all again Keith

I think you made the right call. As others have said when there is a residence involved leave it to a pro. That said, in my experience a white ash will hold a hinge better than soft maple or red oak. Especially if you don't care if you split it a littlle, assuming you are not marketing the material.

 

[clifforion]

I will admit I really did want to be the one that said I accomplished that task but it is way to much of a risk to be worth it. My father talked with his neighbor and the guy said he wants some trees down in his yard and a guy that climbs owes him a favor so honestly its going to be really cheap for my dad, so that will work out great. I have seen people on you tube use a softduthman but there is no way I have the gumption to try that on any tree that is not in an open field. I do think if it was to be done that would be the best bet it really isn't a huge lean and the swing would be down a slight down hill. But again no worries this guy will not be on youtube! Again thanks for the great responses I have learned a lot even in this thread how bad ash near a house can be, I knew it was bad but didn't think it was as bad as that. Keith
ps the tree won't get done till later on, will let people know how it went when the tree does come down but the guy just does it on the weekend so...might be a while

 

[bitzer]

Yes, off the stump I don't find it too big a deal, and what pretty wood. In fact, I think its a very nice cutting stump responding rather well to one's trickery. But how you treat that fork, and how it treats you, is crucial, as she hits the ground. Surfboards, canoes, these are all products we can pre-manufacture for the mills.

I am more and more a fan of ash. They will move more for you more than maple and I like the smell. You're right though a vertical fork hits the ground and you've got some great firewood. Damn-it Hammer, always that voice of reason! Wtf is wrong will small watercraft anyhow?


Cliff- I was only funnin with the soft dutch BS. Have I done it (and still do use it), yes. Would I recommend it ever, no. Wide open face and a rope 2/3 up pullin would get you home on that deal no problem, but if you don't have to don't, especially if you're not confident.

 

[clifforion]

Cliff- I was only funnin with the soft dutch BS. Have I done it (and still do use it), yes. Would I recommend it ever, no. Wide open face and a rope 2/3 up pullin would get you home on that deal no problem, but if you don't have to don't, especially if you're not confident.[/QUOTE]

This tree is beyond me and I know that, I don't have the equipment to do it. After all the great help on here I know even more that I don't have the tools to do the job. I was thinking the only way for me to do it would be dutchman but I don't know enough about ash to do it, plus the house is only 30' away. Again that is why I was hear asking before I did make that whoops youtube video lol. I was just curious how "bad" an idea was for me to do this tree and with everyone's response its unanimous that this tree is going to a pro, even at this point if someone told me it was possible. Thanks again everyone Keith

 

[Billy_Bob]

Around here they make 100% *darn* sure a tree like that will not fall into the house.

They use a bucket truck to cut the branches off the lean side so it is weighted then to the other side.

Then attach a very long possibly 200 ft heavy duty cable or rope to the top and pull it with a truck winch the direction they want it to fall.

Then they start making cuts and wedge it to get it going the right direction.

THEN they fall it.

Or they will take it down in sections a little at a time using the bucket truck. And you are safe when cutting branches and so forth with a bucket truck, because you are ABOVE them!