Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[MountainHigh]

Your not missing anything. Tree has two trunks and I want both to go down hill right on top of some other ash that was dropped. No ropes or cables. Got some wedges in the backside. Any bets on the outcome?

Is this a trick question?
Well if that picture is true to the plumb line, then no way you're going to push that tree downhill with any amount of wedges without a pull rope on it. And if you do this again, I want an insurance policy in my name as beneficiary, on you right now

-

 

[Marshy]

Well I dont know what happen with it yet, we'll have to wait and see tomorrow morning. Honestly I expected both stems to go at the same time but the further one went over and pulled away from the leaner. That wasnt a huge suprise after I took the face cut and realized it wasnt grown together at the base and even a little punky but I was already commited. I doubt I can wedge it over at this point but I'll try more. I left it standing with the wedges in and walked away this morning. If its still standing tomorrow morning I'll get another wedge in it drive them with the big hammer, maybe even a rope. If not it'll go uphill, hopefully on its own in the middle of the night. Although there is a south wind so maybe it'll go where I want with the winds help. It's on my property so its safe to leave. Know when to walk away is the the real message I guess.

 

[MountainHigh]

Well I dont know what happen with it yet, we'll have to wait and see tomorrow morning. Honestly I expected both stems to go at the same time but the further one went over and pulled away from the leaner. I doubt I can wedge it over at this point. I left it with the wedges in and walked away. If its still standing in the morning I'll get another wedge in and the big hammer out, maybe even a rope. If not it'll go uphill, hopefully on its owne in the night. It's on my property so its safe to leave. Know when to walk away.

Is your saw caught in there or did the wedges keep it free'd up?

For future, check out youtube for various videos on bore cutting - it's the safest way to deal with leaners I know. Always cut dual stumps independently above the join if possible. Coulda woulda shoulda - Glad to see you walking away when it's not safe.

 

[Marshy]

Is your saw caught in there or did the wedges keep it free'd up?

For future, check out youtube for various videos on bore cutting - it's the safest way to deal with leaners I know. Glad to see you walking away when it's not safe.

Lol its not stuck, stopped to get a piece of the action for you guys. This was #6 I dropped this AM and didnt get any action for you guys so I thought I would share. That wedge cut is about 30" across. Dont need to watch youtube, I already know how to bore cut and this tree doesnt need a bore cut.

 

[MountainHigh]

 

[zogger]

Well I dont know what happen with it yet, we'll have to wait and see tomorrow morning. Honestly I expected both stems to go at the same time but the further one went over and pulled away from the leaner. That wasnt a huge suprise after I took the face cut and realized it wasnt grown together at the base and even a little punky but I was already commited. I doubt I can wedge it over at this point but I'll try more. I left it standing with the wedges in and walked away this morning. If its still standing tomorrow morning I'll get another wedge in it drive them with the big hammer, maybe even a rope. If not it'll go uphill, hopefully on its own in the middle of the night. Although there is a south wind so maybe it'll go where I want with the winds help. It's on my property so its safe to leave. Know when to walk away is the the real message I guess.

dorking around with it in that state is really dangerous man. That is how I almost got squished with that last big poplar I tried to wedge over from a lean, it broke, the way it was leaning, with me on that side. Bad mojo. And it wasn't near that much lean. You cut it more, wedges or not, it is gonna break fast and fall somewhat the way it is leaning, with wedges in there, it might fall off to the side, one way or the other.

Put a rope in it and pull it over, or finish that cut and let it go the way it is leaning...carefully.

 

[Marshy]

Any other suggestions from youtube you want to add? This aint my first rodeo.

dorking around with it in that state is really dangerous man. That is how I almost got squished with that last big poplar I tried to wedge over from a lean, it broke, the way it was leaning, with me on that side. Bad mojo. And it wasn't near that much lean. You cut it more, wedges or not, it is gonna break fast and fall somewhat the way it is leaning, with wedges in there, it might fall off to the side, one way or the other.

Put a rope in it and pull it over, or finish that cut and let it go the way it is leaning...carefully.

I agree, I'll probably just cut the hinge and let it fall.

 

[dancan]

If you're not in a rush and you have the gear and time , rope it with a couple of pulleys or winch it over .
If you're stacking wedges don't forget to put sawdust between the 2 so that they stay in .
I don't know why , but there are times that getting an inanimate object to do something it wasn't meant to do and to be able to say "I Win !" when you succeed is worth all the effort

Hey Clint or any other of you guys , how do you get them chunks of pine to burn well .
Of all the stuff I've burn't in my furnace I find the chunks of white pine that I cut and split last summer harder to burn well , even worse than the green spruce that I cut last weekend and burn't this week .

 

[Marshy]

I agree. I might do some questionable tings once in a while but I know whent to stop. Im not willing to risk injury to prove Im better than a piece of wood or another feller. Pride aint what its cracked up to be. I had no problem walking away. Some strong south winds tonight might take are of it for me although there isnt much in the top of it besides bugs and pecker holes (get your head out of the gutter).

 

[dancan]

I'm pretty sure that when you stop and look you'll see that there's a safe way to take it down if the wind doesn't do it for you by tomorrow am .
Dumping it in the direction of lean is always a good option even if it makes for more work for cleanup .
Here's one I did a few years back , would have been a fast drop if I had dropped it to the right but I wanted it to come towards the camera , I should have had a bigger axe and more wedges that hot and rainy day but I got to say "I Win !" at the end of it LOL



I guess I beat it into submission

 

[MustangMike]

Either drop the one leg in the opposite direction, or rope it. IT IS LEANING TOO FAR TO WEDGE, AND PLAYING WITH IT IS TOO DANGEROUS!

If you decide to rope it (and use a come along) push the rope loop up with a stick, don't be foolish.

I'm glad your saw is not stuck, I thought it was.

Best of Luck with it.

Show me the person who has never been in a bind, and I'll show you someone who has not cut many trees.

 

[MountainHigh]

Any other suggestions from youtube you want to add? This aint my first rodeo.
I agree, I'll probably just cut the hinge and let it fall.

Not from youtube, but my 2 cents its pretty clear - do whatever you feel is best to let it fall where it wants - I wouldn't stand on the lean side anymore so that means NO to wedges and trying to make it go back against the lean!

Good luck.

 

[Marshy]

Well sometimes part of dropping trees is putting them where they dont want to fall naturally (within reason). The trick is knowing the limits of the tree or more importantly, knowing your own limit and stopping. I felt I had a good shot of both trees going where I wanted if they stayed together but thats not the case anymore.

Mike, the half furthest from the camera did drop on its own in the direction intended. I have rope but no block/tackle, I'm going to let gravity take its course. I bucked a blow down prior to this tree and had some bindage. Worst I've experienced in a long time matter of fact. Lets just say a 3 saw plan comes in handy at times.

Mud season is in full swing.

 

[Oldman47]

If you spend 2 hours studying it and 5 minutes taking action you will be far better off. Safety first always.

 

[nomad_archer]

Any other suggestions from youtube you want to add? This aint my first rodeo.

If this isnt your first rodeo then what were you thinking doing that with just wedges? Are you one of those guys that have to learn things the hard way?

 

[Marshy]

If this isnt your first rodeo then what were you thinking doing that with just wedges? Are you one of those guys that have to learn things the hard way?

Reread my other post. Was expecting both trunks to be solid at base and the leaner to follow the other trunk.

 

[nomad_archer]

Reread my other post. Was expecting both trunks to be solid at base and the leaner to follow the other trunk.

I did read and wouldn't have proceeded the same way with out some type of insurance to make sure that tree went were I was expecting. But Monday morning quarterbacking here. Plus all I see is what is in the picture. Glad you walked away safe. Everyone has had a tree surprise us and do something unexpected.

 

[MustangMike]

In fairness to Marshy, you are making judgments based on one "after" photo, which, IMO, is not fair. He is also in the woods, on his own property, not near any structures, power lines or roads. Perhaps a wind gust (etc) changed what was anticipated.

 

[mainewoods]

The only pine I ever burned was dead standing, bark peeled off, woodpecker food. You can't give it away around here, and I'm pretty sure you couldn't pay anyone to take it either.

 

[mainewoods]

I had a maple hard leaner that I couldn't get within 200 ft. of. Hooked 4 -50' tow straps to it and pulled it over with a Jeep cherokee. Hooked it up as high as I could get it and she came down surprisingly easy. Sure beat hand winching.