should I tackle it?

[dazdmc]

My friend has asked me to take down a pine that has become uprooted in her garden. It's not a large tree, maybe 25ft in height and 14 inches around the base. The tree is leaning at an angle of around 30 degrees and is pretty much surrounded by a huge Rhodedendron bush although there is clear access to get to the base of the tree from all angles, there are no other obstructions or anything in the way that could be damaged. The tree is being held up in several places by its own branches, as well as branches of the Rhodedendron bush and half of the rootball is still firmly attached to the ground. The top of the tree is maybe only around 10ft from the ground. I will not be charging for this, well maybe a cup of coffee or two, but it will be done as a favour, but I am not sure if it is more than I should try and chew. I will be using her own Husky 142 (I think) I don't want to use my little 136 on it.
My question is , should I try to tackle this job to save her some cash? Or should I advise her to stump up the cash (something she doens't have a lot of) and get someone in?

thanks
darren

 

[tomtrees58]

ty it off then climb it if she good looking maybe spend the night tom trees

 

[RPM]

ty it off then climb it if she good looking maybe spend the night tom trees

thinking 1 step ahead tom trees....excellent advice:greenchainsaw:

 

[scotclayshooter]

My friend has asked me to take down a pine that has become uprooted in her garden. It's not a large tree, maybe 25ft in height and 14 inches around the base. The tree is leaning at an angle of around 30 degrees and is pretty much surrounded by a huge Rhodedendron bush although there is clear access to get to the base of the tree from all angles, there are no other obstructions or anything in the way that could be damaged. The tree is being held up in several places by its own branches, as well as branches of the Rhodedendron bush and half of the rootball is still firmly attached to the ground. The top of the tree is maybe only around 10ft from the ground. I will not be charging for this, well maybe a cup of coffee or two, but it will be done as a favour, but I am not sure if it is more than I should try and chew. I will be using her own Husky 142 (I think) I don't want to use my little 136 on it.
My question is , should I try to tackle this job to save her some cash? Or should I advise her to stump up the cash (something she doens't have a lot of) and get someone in?

thanks
darren

If you feel confident that you can do the job then go for it!
If its only a pine it will cut real easy even with a puny 142 lol
Be aware that the rootball may right itself once you cut part of the top off no big problem unless your standing on top of it lol
try to post some pics and people here will let you know if its safe and where to cut if your unsure
Shame your a hundred miles away or i could have let you use one of my saws!

 

[MARCELL8733]

Pine Tree

TIE THE TREE OFF AND CUT AWAY THE LIMBS ONE AT A TIME,THEN CUT THE TOP OF IT OFF,GET ON THE GROUND AND UNTIE THE ROPE THE TREE SHOULD STAND BACK UP,THEN CUT IT THE REST THE WAY DOWN. :jawdrop:

 

[Billy_Bob]

Sounds like not too dangerous. Keep in mind trees and branches have a LOT of weight - even on small trees! Branches "under pressure" when cut can fly back and hit you in the face. Or they can fall straight down and hit your big toe. Ouch!

Also the trunk, if totally cut at the base, could fall down, fly up, or fly sideways. Or might just stay pretty much where it is at.

A trick is to cut a little off the tree at a time. Then you don't have any branches or trunk of much weight falling at one time. Also don't make a full cut all at once. Leave a "hinge" of wood. This lets the branch fall or go where it wants to go, but keeps the branch attached to the tree (and keeps it from flying up or falling down on your toe). Then cut off the hinge.

Also falling branches can "pole vault" when falling traveling twice the distance from the edge of the tree. So tell the lady to stand WAY back when you are cutting.

The worst thing which can happen though is some women are "complainers" and are never satisfied with anyone's work. Whatever you do, they will want more work done because it wasn't done to their satisfaction in the first place. If she is like this, walk!

Also many women highly value their plants. Tell her it is possible than any plants in the area of the tree might be destroyed! Or if you have to back a truck up to haul away limbs, this might destroy her lawn or whatever. Or if you have to drag the limbs away, this might destroy anything in the path.

I've heard of tree service people having to hand carry an entire cut up tree out of a yard because someone did not want them backing up their truck on their lawn.

So just get this all worked out ahead of time before the first cut!

 

[ropensaddle]

ty it off then climb it if she good looking maybe spend the night tom trees

Ya sure your name ain't tom cat

 

[dazdmc]

Just back from taking down the tree, now I know why you guys can charge the money you do.................I am absolutely knackered and ready for bed already!!! There were seven trunks coming up from the roots and I worked my way through them one by one, tying them off to stop them moving when cut, and then tying them to the back of a Wheel Horse mower to pull them out as they were seriously tangled up whith each other and in the Rhodedendron bush. She wanted it all cut up into nice little 3ft lengths to fit into her fireplace and the thicker limbs chopped into 10" lengths to fit in her stove, just as well she is a friend or she might have been told where to go! On a serious note I had something happen to me today for the first time. I had to use the top of the bar a few times, now I know why it has the kickback brake, it happened so fast I didn't even know at first why the chain had stopped, after a few seconds I realised what had happened and released the brake. Just goes to show you can wear all the safety gear you like but it only takes a split second of complaceny to cause a serious accident, if the brake had been faulty I could have been in serious trouble, as it was not my own saw I was using it was the first thing I checked when I got there. All in all a reasonably succesful day, my friend got her tree chopped down for free, I got a free lunch and some very valuable safety lessons.
Thanks for all your advice.

daz

 

[Zackman1801]

just remember its ok to use the top of the bar, but the top of the tip of the bar where the chain starts to go down is the danger zone, its never a good idea to use that part.