How do you professional gentlemen handle this situation (with pic)-

[Marc]

This is a blue spruce I took down in my yard last year. Before anyone says it, yes my backcut was too high. And no, this isn't lumber so I cut at a comfortable height above ground. This was actually my first Humboldt in a felling situation (I had practiced on short blocks).

Was a good first tree to try that on, no real obstacles in the LZ, wanted to see if it would jump away, which it did, and cleared my lawn

Anyway, my question is about bucking something like this. As you can see, the tree was not that big by west coast standards (about 24" DBH) and it had enough limbs to support the full weight of the trunk a couple feet off the ground. Now, I was just blocking this down to haul off with my tractor, so I limbed and chunked progressively from the butt and nothing moved, all was good. I didn't have any surprises.

But if one wanted to make log(s) out of that, what is the best and safest way to limb that up all at once for bucking? I ask because I have others in the yard to come down this year, and I suspect I'll end up with a similar situation on my hands.

 

[John Ellison]

I can hardly see the stump, but it looks like you did a good job felling it.
If a tractor is handy the safest way would be to roll it over with the machine. Come in at a right angle to the butt, hook a chain or choker on the far side from your tractor then come over the top of the butt and hook to the tractor. Or hook it underneath and go all the way around and then hook it to the tractor. You must not have a front end loader on it?

If you don't have a machine handy you just have to look it over real close and start whittling away at it. I would figure out which limbs are supporting most of the weight and cut them close to the ground first so you can see how it is wanting to move and it won't have to far to go so you arent likely to get into as much as a jam as if you tried to cut them off close to the log. Be really carefull. If they are not in the way don't cut the horizontal limbs that might keep it from rolling until last. The limbs underneath are under a lot of pressure and you have to be extra careful.

If you are practicing different undercuts and if the tree is limby on only one side and you want to fall it in that direction, in most all cases I would Not use an open face cut because they will usually end up with the limbs speared in the ground.

 

[floyd]

Move all the trash out of your way 1st. If you are limbing as it lays cut from the outside radius of the limbs holding it up. Be careful as it will move everytime one is severed.

Move the trash as you go. Plan your escape route before every cut.

Don't kill yourself.

 

[treemandan]

How to handle professionally:

Back the chipper close to the bottom and send a climber up to limb it and then drop a clean pole.

 

[bullbuck]

hard to see it but,looks like a nice clean humboldtand the high backcuts not hurting anyone.

 

[371groundie]

in that situation i take the bottom limbs as i go. that way the tree settles slowly and if it rolls there are other limbs to catch it. eventually the trunk just settles a little with every limb you cut and by the time youre done she is on the ground.


since you have it basically stripped except for the bottom i would roll it over before continuing.

 

[RRSsawshop]

hard to see it but,looks like a nice clean humboldtand the high backcuts not hurting anyone.

:agree2: A little high, a little safer for the beginner,less chance of kick back!!!

 

[Curlycherry1]

I am glad I am not the only one that happens to. I cut a large crown open field maple one time and the darn thing rolled up onto its crown so the log was literally 15' up in the air and parallel to the ground. It was too dangerous to bring down so we left it to rot. It was a good 3 years before the branches gave out and that log reached the ground.

 

[RRSsawshop]

I am glad I am not the only one that happens to. I cut a large crown open field maple one time and the darn thing rolled up onto its crown so the log was literally 15' up in the air and parallel to the ground. It was too dangerous to bring down so we left it to rot. It was a good 3 years before the branches gave out and that log reached the ground.

I've been learning to use a dutchman to swing them around alittle so that doesn't happen..

 

[Marc]

Thanks for the tips, I hate cutting stuff under a lot of pressure like that, but I take my time and try not to make any serious mistakes.

This is probably the best shot of the stump I got, doesn't show a whole lot more, but you can see the whole thing at least. Hingewood was probably a little thick too, but I'm used to cutting hardwoods, so I was a little paranoid about cutting in a softer wood. I doubt as though I'll ever cut enough of them to get a good feel for them. Not that I'm complaining, I certain enjoy burning hardwood.

 

[GASoline71]

Don't worry about explainin' yourself on your fallin' technique. It's on the ground safe, and it looks good...

Anyways... just limb it as you normally would. Limb as close to the spar as possible. Then cut it into the lengths you want.

Don't over think it. I'm sure someone will be along soon to show you how to use a slide-rule, plumb-bob, protractor, some duct tape, and a can of spray paint to do the job "correctly"...

Gary

 

[056kid]

buck it to the desired length and it will roll over.

dont let it smash you though.

you can prop a sturdy stuck under it so that the log will move away from you once it is cut free..

 

[2dogs]

Don't worry about explainin' yourself on your fallin' technique. It's on the ground safe, and it looks good...

Anyways... just limb it as you normally would. Limb as close to the spar as possible. Then cut it into the lengths you want.

Don't over think it. I'm sure someone will be along soon to show you how to use a slide-rule, plumb-bob, protractor, some duct tape, and a can of spray paint to do the job "correctly"...

Gary

Gary be careful with the spray paint and duck tape comments. "You know who" might be lurking.

 

[fmaglin]

Don't worry about explainin' yourself on your fallin' technique. It's on the ground safe, and it looks good...

Anyways... just limb it as you normally would. Limb as close to the spar as possible. Then cut it into the lengths you want.

Don't over think it. I'm sure someone will be along soon to show you how to use a slide-rule, plumb-bob, protractor, some duct tape, and a can of spray paint to do the job "correctly"...

Gary

:agree2:Ha Ha Ha Ha That's funny, but true.

 

[GASoline71]

Gary be careful with the spray paint and duck tape comments. "You know who" might be lurking.

Where is she?

I thought she would find that part funny...

Gary

 

[Gologit]

Where is she?

I thought she would find that part funny...

Gary

She probably does but the thought of a logger with a can of spray paint usually makes her nervous. :greenchainsaw:

 

[slowp]

She probably does but the thought of a logger with a can of spray paint usually makes her nervous. :greenchainsaw:

I don't mind so much if you use flourescent. Or pink. Our manly men refuse to buy pink because it would get on their clothes and make them unmanly.
So, always use pink. Not blue, not green, not yellow, nor orange. Pink.

That reminds me, I need to tell somebody to order some paint today. Thank you---from you know who.

The tree? I'd do a bit of coffee, measure it with the protractor to see if it was over 24 inches, if so, then I'd have more coffee and leave, if smaller, whack chunks off, and jump around a bit. Then I'd get the plumb bob out to use as a Yes or No pendulum. I'd ask it if I should cut this limb, and repeat for each limb. And, you forgot, BE SURE AND WEAR PPE.

 

[hammerlogging]

Don't over think it. I'm sure someone will be along soon to show you how to use a slide-rule, plumb-bob, protractor, some duct tape, and a can of spray paint to do the job "correctly"...

Gary

Sure you don't want to bore that sucker?