HOw to fall this problem?

[turnkey4099]

Thought the area looked familiar. I've fallen a few willows up in that area. They are such a rediculous growing tree, never seen a more crooked cluster of trees. Good Luck! Hope all works out.

Stop by sometimes. I am just south of Arrow Machinery on 195. The guy withe the big wood pile on the East side of the road. If the PU is in the drive I am almost sure to be there.

If you would like to see the wood patch, it is just North of Thornton. Turn left (west) off 195 at Trestle Creek and go about a mile. Just before it hits the old 195 highway the patch is to the left (south). that was about a 5 acre patch. All that is left is that one bunch of trees. Hoping to make a big dent in it this year.

Harry K

 

[turnkey4099]

It's on the ground but it was uuuugggllllyyy!

Chained it then all the planning went to pot as soon as I tried to do the undercut. Didn't get in even 1/4 bar width when it started binding. Couldn't even cut out that dinky triangle.
Then due to terrain I couldn't get in position to bore cut. I would have had to stand on my walking boards across the ditch below that leaner - no thanks. Figured "just cut from the back side and let er rip". Managed to get in position to make a "normal' backcut by standing on the steep bank on the top side. Barely got a start - about 1/2 bar width when it went. Landed just as I thought, right where I would have been standing trying to bore cut. Of course it shattered the h**l out of the 4' of the butt log. Don't even want to go back and look at the stump.

Harry K

 

[clearance]

Good, its done and you are ok.

 

[1953greg]

all is well that ends well

u wil b the "willow pro" by the time u get the 5 acres cleared!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[huskydave]

In the old days it would have been simple. A 1/4 stick and blasting cap. I was even wondering about finding one of those old black powder splitting wedges.

Harry K

I can remember when I was a kid my grandpa has two cases of dynamite left after a rock crushing and we used .22 rifles to detonate those sticks on a clothes line! talk about a boom!!!!! The old logging trick is to attach chains above and below the cut. Nowadays I would try a ratchet strap tight above the cut and below the notch and that will help prevent splitting or barberchair. The borecut is your friend and you should learn how to do it properly from a pro. I have had willow fly 10 feet from the stump! so be careful. have a good plan and a good escape route and stick with it. Remember if you are over your head let someone show you the right way to drop that tree. big Ego's do not belong in this type of work. That being said we all have had these PROBLEM trees and if you respect the tree and follow safe procedures you can drop them very safely and feel good before, during and after the drop. I overanalize things and that has helped me in the tree removal business. I don't drop tees for a living anymore but the principles reamain the same. Make sure your chain is sharp i mean razor sharp, Make sure your saw is in top notch condition. Fill it up with clean new gas and fresh oil, check your chain tension, air filter make sure your bar is true and the nuts are tight and this will give you more confidence before you start cutting then be careful and finish the job safely wear all the ppe you can get your hands on and keep everyone at bay and do your job!

 

[Ekka]

Don't even want to go back and look at the stump.

Harry K

You owe it to all of us, go on, take a pic and lets see the stupid stump of some dumb azzed willow tree.

Even us guys do some questionable stuff here and there as the situation depicts. But talking about is always fun, means ya survived to tell the tale.

 

[turnkey4099]

You owe it to all of us, go on, take a pic and lets see the stupid stump of some dumb azzed willow tree.

Even us guys do some questionable stuff here and there as the situation depicts. But talking about is always fun, means ya survived to tell the tale.

Still haven't got the ins n outs of the digital figured out. The 35 mm is about full. I'll take that next trip out. I took a peak at the stump from across the creek. OOOggglllyyy! I see that I didn't even have the back cut square with what whittling I did do on the undercut.

The tree is now adding to the stockpile. Just came in from a session with the maul and wedges.

Harry K

 

[turnkey4099]

Here are the pictures: Ugly it is but there are some good reasons, at least IMO.

The tree in question is the one left one of the 2 in the middle that have that wild bend to almost horizontal on top.

In my OP I overestimated the diameter. I measured both the other day at 16-17".

The split does not go straight through, it angles to the left and exits on the opposite side on the far edge of that buckskin area. About 1/4-1/3 in from the edge of the trunk.

A case of a picture lieing. That bank is steep! The split trunk stump is the one to the left. I had the boards positioned over to it. The attempt to make an undercut was standing on the boards with saw at chest height. Barely got in before it began to pinch.

The back cut (if it can be called that ) was by standing on the bank behind the tree and bent over. To get a reasonble 3-4" above the undercut would have required being on my knees. No way did I want to have to crawl to my feet when it started to go.

Obvious is that I was way misdirected on the backcut. Doesn't even come close to being straight with that screwed up undercut.

Seems that all that was holding the tree from breaking off was that split chunk, as soon I cut that, she was gone.

And adding it to the wood pile. One tree I am glad to be done with.

Harry K

 

[turnkey4099]

Ooops, I missed the really _ugly_ shot.

Harry K

 

[smokechase II]

Can't say for sure

Maybe you could have made all your cuts from the uphill side?
No bending over and avoiding the water hazard too.

Generally, falling at an angle to the split is preferred, if possible.

 

[Ekka]

Haha, nice pics, pretty clear.

Yeah they're fun those ones. Nice stack of wood, very neat.

 

[turnkey4099]

Maybe you could have made all your cuts from the uphill side?
No bending over and avoiding the water hazard too.

Generally, falling at an angle to the split is preferred, if possible.

Yes, cutting from the backside was an option. I had a reason for not at the time but can't recall why now. I was wondering about it while I was making the post.

Due to the lean on both those, falling any direction but with the lean was out.
I don't generally have much luck directing a tree away from a lean in any case.

Ah, I forgot to mention that both those trees were chained above the cut. The one on the right did try to barberchair. Sounded like a gunshot when it did. That one was a candidate for bore cutting but I didn't do it due to the terrain problems.

Harry K