Spruce tree

[kruege84]

A friend's mom want the dying spruce in her yard removed. It's about 20" DBH, so not huge and something I am quite capable of taking down. However, just to be safe, I want to first cut the top 10-12 feet. As I would have to climb it, but have no experince doing so, I told her I would get back to her on whether or not I would be able to do it.

I can borrow spurs and a harness from work without a problem, and my chainsaw will not be leaving the ground. So I would be doing it properly and safely.

I keep debating on whether or not to take on the job becuase I know a decent amount about climbing, but have never actually done it. I really want to climb this one to gain experience though. If there was ever an easy tree for a first climb, this is it. I feel comfortable with the tree and don't see anything that could cause problems. If I take off 10-12 feet (and that's more than actually needs to come off) there is nothing in the drop zone that it can damage, so insurance shouldn't be an issue. And I do have good medical insurance should something go wrong.

Any thoughts or opinions? Do I go for it, or tell her hire a tree service?

Sorry, no pics. It's just a normal spruce with a tiny bit of lean in the direction it needs to fall. Like I said, it couldn't get any easier for a first climb.

 

[ClimbinArbor]

as you said, if ever there were an easy tree to begin with! if you can borrow the spurs, then you can borrow the man that climbs with them. that is the only way i would recommend doing it on your own(even tho thats how i did it lol). just have your buddy with the spurs come run ground for you. that way he can keep an eye on you and teach you a little.

silly question- if your saws not gonna leave the ground it must be a little top right? if so be careful. if you feel the tree sway, and NOT recover, youve gone to far. go back down a few feet.

 

[Job Corps Tree]

First Spruce tree

Back up with someone who has done it would be good.god forbid something went wrong you would need a climber to come and get you. Don't climb alone

 

[pdqdl]

You can also cut the trunk at the same 10-12' off the ground, and you will be shortening the tree by the same amount.

Of course, then you will have the saw right up next to all your inexperience. But the fall will be much shorter than from the top!

 

[M.D. Vaden]

A friend's mom want the dying spruce in her yard removed. It's about 20" DBH, so not huge and something I am quite capable of taking down. However, just to be safe, I want to first cut the top 10-12 feet. As I would have to climb it, but have no experince doing so, I told her I would get back to her on whether or not I would be able to do it.

I can borrow spurs and a harness from work without a problem, and my chainsaw will not be leaving the ground. So I would be doing it properly and safely.

I keep debating on whether or not to take on the job becuase I know a decent amount about climbing, but have never actually done it. I really want to climb this one to gain experience though. If there was ever an easy tree for a first climb, this is it. I feel comfortable with the tree and don't see anything that could cause problems. If I take off 10-12 feet (and that's more than actually needs to come off) there is nothing in the drop zone that it can damage, so insurance shouldn't be an issue. And I do have good medical insurance should something go wrong.

Any thoughts or opinions? Do I go for it, or tell her hire a tree service?

Sorry, no pics. It's just a normal spruce with a tiny bit of lean in the direction it needs to fall. Like I said, it couldn't get any easier for a first climb.

Would the extra ten to twelve feet really make the drop safer?

Did you measure the zone to drop the tree in, and the tree itself?

There are ways to measure the tree without climbing.

Or are you just looking for the experience of going up?

 

[ClimbinArbor]

You can also cut the trunk at the same 10-12' off the ground, and you will be shortening the tree by the same amount.

Of course, then you will have the saw right up next to all your inexperience. But the fall will be much shorter than from the top!

pdq, not to flame ya here or anything bucko, but....

i dont reccomend this type of cutting. it has the same inherent dangers of felling, with nowhere to run......

 

[ClimbinArbor]

elaboration

imagine climbing twelve foot and topping a 30 foot tree. now imagine that tree hitting brush end first and spring boarding right back up at you.

i only top trees from more than half the distance up to eliminate these sort of dangers.

 

[2FatGuys]

pdq, not to flame ya here or anything bucko, but....

i dont reccomend this type of cutting. it has the same inherent dangers of felling, with nowhere to run......

If you are going to climb it anyway, why not piece it out correctly? I don't know anyone that would attempt what PDQ suggested. Once you are 10' up, why not go on up and do it right?

 

[(WLL)]

hooks will prolly be in your way. it takes a lil time to learn the hook thing. if you do decide too climb i think you will be better off just climbing to the top-cut, tie in and notch er. spruce has lots and lots of limbs. DONT CLIMB ALONE! DONT DO ANYTHING STUPID!! CLIMBING KILLS PEOPLE!!!

 

[treemandan]

Look, I hate to be a bore but all you who are argueing over how to cut a tree in response to the topic BUT you do realize that the guy who posted it claims he know how to do it... but never has.
I say GO bucko! Lets see your action, what saw ya got? What side are you going to tuck your giblets in?
I bet he knows more than posting pictures than me so...

 

[(WLL)]

is that tree done yet or what?

 

[pdqdl]

Boy, you guys jumped all over me. Of COURSE it is a bit more challenging to drop the whole tree from 12' up than it is at the ground level. DUH !

In my defense, I am not entirely certain whether you would be more dead if an entire spruce crushed you 12' up the trunk, or whether you would be better off to be stripped out of one from 50'-80' up. Help comes a lot quicker at the 12' level than it does at 80'.

Maybe I was too subtle with my sarcasm. I wasn't trying to be mean or abusive. I'll try harder to be more explicit in the future. I thought I was pretty plain with my comment "...then you will have the saw right up next to all your inexperience."

I guess I should have said "then you will have the saw and the tree trunk right up next to all your inexperience, with nowhere to run." Would that have made you guys happy?

But really, when I need them to be a little bit shorter of a tree, I often bring them down from a few feet up the trunk, as I described. Not really a challenge, if you know what you are doing.

We did a dead cherry tree a few months ago right across the street from my shop. We had NO interest in climbing higher, and the only fall zone was west towards the house, so we sent the whole tree down from about 18' up in the air. It stopped just east of the mimosa tree, south of the fence, and north of the sidewalk. Another 10'-12' west and we would have been hitting the house. It's a valuable technique, if done carefully.

 

[pdqdl]

imagine climbing twelve foot and topping a 30 foot tree. now imagine that tree hitting brush end first and spring boarding right back up at you.

i only top trees from more than half the distance up to eliminate these sort of dangers.

Put a deep humbolt on them (more than 1/2 way through) with a high back cut, and send them down parallel to the ground. No springboarding involved, less probability of breaking off the trunk with the side thrust from the falling tree. VERY low risk of coming off the stump backwards.

Of course that all changes if the tree just isn't right for that cut. Let's not quibble about all the times it won't work or shouldn't be done, what about the ones that it works well on?

 

[capetrees]

Only way to learn is by doing. If not this one, then when? Everything is dangerous the first time and then, if you like it and get the hang of it, you'll be comfortable enough to do it again. Anyone remember kissing your first girlfriend, driving for the first time, first job interview, striking out on your own? Try it, you'll like it. I started off with no ropes or anything and I'm still here. I love it and I'm sure you will too.

 

[(WLL)]

i love to cut em low and larg. lol i do this whenever possable i call it the one cut special

 

[M.D. Vaden]

pdq, not to flame ya here or anything bucko, but....

i dont reccomend this type of cutting. it has the same inherent dangers of felling, with nowhere to run......

Makes for great Youtube videos though

 

[ClimbinArbor]

Put a deep humbolt on them (more than 1/2 way through) with a high back cut, and send them down parallel to the ground. No springboarding involved, less probability of breaking off the trunk with the side thrust from the falling tree. VERY low risk of coming off the stump backwards.

Of course that all changes if the tree just isn't right for that cut. Let's not quibble about all the times it won't work or shouldn't be done, what about the ones that it works well on?

okay maybe i shoulda said- i dont recommend this type of cutting for someone who doesnt know how to lay a trunk flat. lol

agreed it can and has been done. but i was just worried about the kid lol. if done wrong see below.........

Makes for great Youtube videos though

same search as james the narcoleptic tree cutter lmao

 

[pdqdl]

Yeah, I should have considered that some newbie would actually do it that way and get hurt. But really, they may be just as likely to get hurt at the top as they are at the bottom. All the comments from everybody to be careful, take an experienced hand along, etc. I consider to be part of the collective advice that should be listened to.

Ok. I'll try to limit my wise guy remarks, just in case somebody actually tries them out to their demise. But just for the record: it wasn't bad advice, it just may have been a bad idea to try for an inexperienced feller.

 

[ClimbinArbor]

agreed

 

[(WLL)]

agreed

x3