hollow chestnut

[SWAMPY036]

Contractor calls wants some trees tipped over only gives me the address. I go see the trees figure 275 tops. See a little bit of bark slipping at the top of the chestnut. A closer look shows a hole in the back side looks pretty deep. I shove a small branch in holy crap if this tree is 36" across the cavity in this i all of 28" . I will have to pass this one up suggest a bucket, but I got the feeling he already has someone to climb it he is just shopping for a price. So this is the question. The tree is fairly balanced and does not have a lean to speak of. One lower branch needs to come off to keep it from twisting (if it is felled) with this much of the tree hollow. Would you set a tag line and notch this and pull it over. I will try to post pics of the tree monday. If somebody else does not have it down by then.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Contractor calls wants some trees tipped over only gives me the address. I go see the trees figure 275 tops. See a little bit of bark slipping at the top of the chestnut. A closer look shows a hole in the back side looks pretty deep. I shove a small branch in holy crap if this tree is 36" across the cavity in this i all of 28" . I will have to pass this one up suggest a bucket, but I got the feeling he already has someone to climb it he is just shopping for a price. So this is the question. The tree is fairly balanced and does not have a lean to speak of. One lower branch needs to come off to keep it from twisting (if it is felled) with this much of the tree hollow. Would you set a tag line and notch this and pull it over. I will try to post pics of the tree monday. If somebody else does not have it down by then.

Most large horse chestnuts I've removed have had cavities

If I had 4 inches of good holding-wood on each side of the truck, I would drop the tree.

I might put a rope in the top and pull it to see how the trunk moves

 

[Dadatwins]

Horse chestnut and silver maple hollow at an amazing rate yet the tree still stands, willow is another one that comes to mind. If you have enough open area to drop the tree why would you think of climbing it? Years ago before the Big Shot and new type throw balls/line I can remember perching on a 40' ladder with a string of extension poles trying to get a line in a tree to pull it over. Now line placement can be done from the ground and you never touch the tree. As for notching a hollow tree it can be done, but setting a pull line is a good idea and having a second person to spot and pull the line very helpful. Be careful

 

[SWAMPY036]

The line I would want the tree to fall is wide open, but their is apartments behind it . To one side the lower branch is over a power line. It is a drop off the primary. It comes off the pole trans. into three coated lines to the complex . These lines are on the back side but with the one lower branch still on I think it will want to twist the tree with lack of hinge wood . Lower branch could be trimmed easy, only 35' so if I was taking that off I would rig my pull line at about 40'. Would you take a smaller face notch and then a little higher back cut. Or would you cut face bore cut so it does not come over before your ready. Pull line on both with steady tension.

 

[Dadatwins]

With a hollow tree I would always put a shallow notch and leave as much holding wood as I could. Don't think any type of bore cut is good idea on a hollow tree either. Rope will be your guide on hollow trees, there really is no hinge wood. The higher the rope placement the better on a pull tree, rope should always be at top 2/3 of the tree and tied to something that will hold for the whole pull. As for the wires, can the power company be called to cut limbs away from the wires before you start your work?

 

[treeseer]

I can remember perching on a 40' ladder with a string of extension poles trying to get a line in a tree to pull it over.

Those were the days! Not too long ago...:yoyo:

 

[SWAMPY036]

Took a closer look 14' ladder and sounded the tree. It got solid at about 10-12'. Talked with the contractors sub.(construction) He said he really needs it down and has had 2 jack of all trades walk away with no bid . I went big on the bid and he never batted an eye. Took about 15 min to spike up. I new it was solid but I must have went around that trunk 15X's to the fist branch cheked all unions everything looked great. Set high TIP took a nice walk over the power drop. Peaced out the over hang. Set my pull line, came down to ground tiped it over + some smaller work. 3.5 hrs did real well. Good info on notch and back cut. Had about 6 inches of hold wood came over real nice but the hindge / stump look like chit. It came over with some hindge left so their was some tearing on the side I was cutting. Probley because when I seen the head start to lean I pulled out quicker than normal but all went great.

 

[treeseer]

Nice work! How close was the overhanging limb to the wires?

 

[SWAMPY036]

8 feet above and it hung about 10/12 feet over went out past wire tied in then jump cut all the branches taht were over worked my way back with small cuts that could be flipped over either side of the wires once clear I went to 6' chunks

 

[booboo]

photos

Swampy,

Here's a link to a thread with some photos of a hollow/decayed tree we did earlier in the year. There are some photos of the hinges on both hollow and decayed wood, if that helps for future reference. Nice job getting the chestnut down safely.

http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=53087