Need advice on big Water Oak

[grodan]

Hey y'all. I've bid on a big Water Oak and am looking for some advice on dropping it safely. It's next to a fence, between two houses and about 50+ feet tall. I climbed it and found fungus and a hollow sound at the first crotch, about 22' off the ground. It looks sick (bigger rotten branches up high), any advice would be really appreciated.

 

[Nickrosis]

Are you in over your head?

 

[rebelman]

Sounds like your going to have to piece it down. Probably do some lowering with ropes. Work slow and deliberate. Or is there room to fell the whole thing? Can you damage the yard? Are you taking the brush by hand out to the chipper? If you have two ground men, lowering bigger branches is easier. I use a big ladder, then have my guys remove it, then piece and lower lower branches so they won't hang the higher branches up. I free fall as many as I can. Spikes and flush cuts really help on removals, but wrong on pruning. Just some thoughts, post pictures and you might get some good ideas. But I'm kind of like Nick, you may be over your head. Good Luck Grodan.

 

[grodan]

Yeah, it's the biggest single tree I've ever bid. That is why I came to you guys for some insight. Piecing it down is an absolute neccessity. I'm not comfortable climbing it or having one of my guys in it due to the condition of the tree. I considered using a crane but would need two to avoid being in the tree and there is not room on the property for that. A lift seems like a logical choice. Thanks.

 

[TheTreeSpyder]

i hate having to agree with Dan....

But, go do 3 smaller jobs, with less wear on gear, bod and more money(at end) and time off with Lady is a lot better than under bidding big tree to take longer, wear out self and saws, hit metal, and have less money, and being to beat to go out.

 

[treeseer]

I burned myself on enough big trees so now I look at them as several medium trees and add them up. Water oak Q nigra rots quick so the wood will have little if any salvage value.

Good advice above.

 

[clearance]

Hey y'all. I've bid on a big Water Oak and am looking for some advice on dropping it safely. It's next to a fence, between two houses and about 50+ feet tall. I climbed it and found fungus and a hollow sound at the first crotch, about 22' off the ground. It looks sick (bigger rotten branches up high), any advice would be really appreciated.

Good advice given here mostly, you say sick, so its still alive, if you do climb it, do not lower anything, hammer it down, lowering causes shock loads which sometimes cause even healthy trees to fail, sometimes with fatal results.

 

[jmack]

Hey y'all. I've bid on a big Water Oak and am looking for some advice on dropping it safely. It's next to a fence, between two houses and about 50+ feet tall. I climbed it and found fungus and a hollow sound at the first crotch, about 22' off the ground. It looks sick (bigger rotten branches up high), any advice would be really appreciated.

dont be afraid to walk away now. where are you at, your bid accepted? your are worried it might be? you didnt see the hollow during the first bid or what? no pics just info

 

[woodchux]

Know when to hold em
Know when to fold em

 

[Lumberjacked]

Got any pics?

 

[grodan]

Wow! I knew I came to the right guys. I really appreciate all this input. I'm not unwilling to go in over my head, I just want to do it as intelligently as possible. Maybe that means not doing it. At any rate, collectively you all hit the nail on the head. I will try to get a photo on here, I photogragh all my big jobs to study beforehand and to enjoy after the job is done. This is one impressive Water Oak, tucked in a backyard with little/no room to "hammer" it down. TreeSpyder, thanks for the input. This tree is in Central FL, I'm sure you've seen one or two like it.
grodan