Very Large Dead Oak TKO

[cwelvy]

I need some input on taking out the last two spars of this dead oak please.
The codominent stems at the top are 15 inches across and there is a small shed underneath them. Is it safe to limb walk and lop off the end to the dead branch itself?
The branch and crotches above have been dead longer.
View attachment 42832

View attachment 42833

 

[SteveBullman]

not a great picture mate. would it be better to rig them off?

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

No, it's not safe. Once the bark is loose the tree is unsafe. My biggest concern is the tree failing at the base.
It looks like you could tie into the healthy tree and also use it as a rigging point.
Otherwise, you might be able to guy the tree against the lean with two or three bull ropes. Then proceed with extreme caution. Fear is your mind letting you know you are doing something stupid.

 

[cwelvy]

thanks.

 

[cwelvy]

6 of the spars have already been removed and I am tied off in the live oak next to it and over it and I agree this was a crane job but in a residentially constricted.

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

I see now that you are tied into the healthy tree. That's good, but what I mean by rigging is to hang a pulley in the healthy tree to use as a lowering point for the dead tree.
You could use a pole saw or throw ball to get the bull rope tied to the tips, so you don't have to climb out there.

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Showing the tree guyed:

 

[cwelvy]

Thanks, I will be guying and running the block and tackle from the live oak on Tuesday. This old sentinel and all His stature, even now brittle and old, inspired and feared.

 

[SteveBullman]

No, it's not safe. Once the bark is loose the tree is unsafe.

thats a bit of a blanket statement mike, some dead oaks can be hard as iron.....the bottom of the tree might be perfectly sound...too hard to tell from the pic

 

[John464]

Mike I was thinking the same thing as well, but thought to myself swinging those leads in the direction of his climbing line it might not be the best suggestion.I cant see how far of a swing, in relation to his tie in point , because the picture is only one dimensional

Looks like there is no other place to be tied in.

I would but hitch those leads as well as having that lowering point Mike suggested. That way both ropes can be slowly fed gradually lowering the piece from two pullies.

Cover the shed with foam or plywood, because sudden breakage of the tips may occur.

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Cool, let us know how it goes.
Guying can be tricky. You need to have a plan for lowering the top before you set the guys, so they don't interfere with the lowering operation. You don't want limbs slamming into the guy ropes.
It is far better to spend time setting guys when you might not need them, even a thousand times, than not to, and fall to your death just once.

 

[treeseer]

Awesome job showing rigging locations Mike, and great advice on setting lines with throwball and polesaw. You've come a long way since the pink boards.:rockn:

Great advice on watching that rig line does not disturb climbing line, and to cover shed.

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

thats a bit of a blanket statement mike, some dead oaks can be hard as iron.....the bottom of the tree might be perfectly sound...too hard to tell from the pic

It is a blanket statement I will stand by. If a tree is dead long enough to have the bark loose, it's no longer safe to climb without taking precautionary steps, period.
This is not to say, just because the bark is still tight, that it is absolutely safe.
I can back my theory with statistical science. At some point after a tree dies, it falls. Walk through the forest, count living trees, dead trees with tight bark, trees with loose bark and trees with no bark.

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Mike I was thinking the same thing as well, but thought to myself swinging those leads in the direction of his climbing line it might not be the best suggestion.I cant see how far of a swing, in relation to his tie in point , because the picture is only one dimensional

Looks like there is no other place to be tied in.

I would but hitch those leads as well as having that lowering point Mike suggested. That way both ropes can be slowly fed gradually lowering the piece from two pullies.

Cover the shed with foam or plywood, because sudden breakage of the tips may occur.

Good points. Tag lines, as I call ropes used to control swing, can be very helpful.
When I'm doing a complicated removal, I'll look it over briefly, but not make any concrete plans until I'm up and tied in, because things always change once you're up there. In this case though, it will require some careful planning to avoid rope conflicts.
To me it looks like the dead tree lean is to the right, and he's tied in as far to the left as possible. I pictured the bull rope way out and away to the right, so limbs swing away from the shed and his climbing rope. Also by putting the pulley way out to the right, there is enough room for the guy ropes.
Luckily, it looks like the healthy adjacent tree is wide enough so there won't be major conflicts with climbing and rigging ropes.

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Awesome job showing rigging locations Mike, and great advice on setting lines with throwball and polesaw. You've come a long way since the pink boards.:rockn:

Great advice on watching that rig line does not disturb climbing line, and to cover shed.

Thanks. You just like it that I said Guy a lot.
I stand by my pink boards theory.

 

[cwelvy]

finished

Butt hitched the spars a little rock and roll. The Oak was as solid as iron. Heres the pics.... Thanks everyone.

View attachment 43027

View attachment 43028

View attachment 43029

 

[1I'dJak]

good post, good advice mr maas, good job...this is why i joined this site...

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Did you end up guying the tree? Or did you just rigging off the adjacent tree?

 

[cwelvy]

I ended up rigging most and butt hitching some. After that I tied a bull rope to the back of my dump truck, pulled it tight and dropped it against the lean. Thanks, the mushrooms around the roots had me well aware of the dangers of this tree. although the wood was not punky anywhere.