Looking for some felling advice

[1999HarleyRN]

Came across these two trees while cleaning up a storm damaged area of my FIL's woodlot. Tree #1 has a large widow maker stuck in the top.

I don't think we can pull it down, wedged too tight, have been waiting all winter for it to fall out on its own with no luck. Would like to take this tree down, any advice other than drop it the way it is leaning? A few more pics...

Second tree is split clean thru down to the light colored area. Was thinking about taking it down in two parts....face cut on left, bore cut at crack to drop left half, than drop right half. Other ideas?

Thanks for any input.

 

[arborjockey]

Lots of options how long have you been working in the woods and what type of equipment do you have?

 

[1999HarleyRN]

Been cutting firewood for my own use for about 20 years, cut with a 034AV and MS361, 18 and 20 inch bars respectively. Ford 9n tractor that I don't really trust in the woods and my GMC pick up that I can't get to these trees with. The size of the trees doesn't bother me, the widow maker makes me a tad bit nervous, and that split trunk is making me go hmmmm. Since joining AS and learning alot just be reading other peoples threads I have found myself looking closer at what I am cutting and how I am cutting. Any thoughts on taking these down safely would be appreciated.

 

[ropensaddle]

Get a rope on the butt of the widow maker look carefully at the easiest way to pull it free and it should come out with tractor. Make sure cable or rope is long enough that your clear of any action it may bring. Those trees are better left with pro's but if your careful you could possibly handle them. You might get a large ratchet binder and or chain and binder on the split and make it reasonably safe to fell the problem is; are you going to be on a ladder to do the rigging? If so the safe way would be tied in with some sort of fall arrest! If you have a climber buddy you could just hire him to do them should not be too expensive to bomb everything!

 

[BuddhaKat]

I would tie that widow maker to the short branch and then cut it off to clear the part that's in the notch. Throw a rope around the short branch, make a face cut on the short branch in the direction you're going to pull (sideways to the widow maker), tension the rope and then make the back cut while pulling. Be careful, this one could get dangerous.

Wrap a chain or strap around the split and tighten it. Cut well below the split.

 

[tree md]

I'm a climber so I have to be careful about giving advice. That being said, these are simple trees in the middle of the woods with no liability to any thing or anyone but the person who is trying to take it down, I would like to tell you to just get up in the crotch and cut whatever is hanging , put a rope in it and drop the spar but I don't know what your experience level is or what climbing equipment or knowledge you have. Really it is a simple operation in the middle of the woods for an experienced climber with gear but it could be tricky from the ground. Just use common sense and don't put yourself in a situation where this thing could mash your ass. It's always safer to climb it and get above limbs with tension on them provided you have the gear and the know how. I don't see any reason any Joe home owner couldn't take this one down. Just be careful.

 

[mattfr12]

the one with the big split down the center just tie them together so half of it doesnt go where you want it to and the other half where you dont.

depending on how high that widow maker is if you can get a rope around it pull it out with a cable puller or rope puller. it will come

or you can do it the risky way and cut it and run like hell.:greenchainsaw:

the best is when you get a whole other tree to fall into the top of another and stand like that. those ones are fun. i put on my air jordans on those days to get me some extra ground speed.

felling the forward tree is about as dangerous as it gets

 

[Rftreeman]

cut a green tree to knock the widow maker down, if that doesn't work, be ready to run like hell...

the split tree, can't tell enough from the pictures to say...

 

[1999HarleyRN]

Thanks

Thanks to all of you for the advice! The split trunk I had initially thought about ratcheting it together, I guess that is the way I'm going to go on that one. The widow maker, well we will try pulling it down with the tractor or a cum along, once it is out of the way the rest of that tree is easy. Thanks again to all of you. Oh yeah, I'll post some more pics when we take these down.

 

[ropensaddle]

Thanks to all of you for the advice! The split trunk I had initially thought about ratcheting it together, I guess that is the way I'm going to go on that one. The widow maker, well we will try pulling it down with the tractor or a cum along, once it is out of the way the rest of that tree is easy. Thanks again to all of you. Oh yeah, I'll post some more pics when we take these down.

Just be careful the split one could chair!