My mother in law wants me to take down a pair of dead trees on the edge of the woods behind her house. They are probably 6" around and 30 some odd feet high. I told her that I don't have an experience in this, but after she said she thought she might just go down and cut em down (she is 60 and disabled) I figured I'd better get some more info.
Also I don't have a chainsaw so could I use a bow saw? Should I buy or borrow a chainsaw?
First, I assume you mean 6" in diameter (not 6" around).
I've cut trees that big down with a cordless reciprocating saw. A bow saw would also work fine.
You may have a risk of the tree falling into a building. However, a tree this small would do very little damage.
Make a wedge cut from the side that you want the tree to fall. The wedge should go 2/3rds of the way through the tree. Then cut into the wedge from the opposite side and stand back. Don't forget to yell "TIMBER" as it falls.
Whatever saw you use make sure the cut is slightly above the wedge or the tree can sit down on the saw blade. At that point it will want to come backward. For that small tree I would also cut at a slight downward angle. And understand that the upper branches can influence the way the tree falls including twisting. Before starting to cut anything make sure you know where your escape route is and make sure the route is clear. If you are unfamiliar with dropping a tree have a second person in the area observing the operation. That way if something goes not right there will be help available.
All good advice.
I have cut hardwood up to 16" with a 30" bow saw.
Had no choice, ice storm broke 12 big trees down across my drive way.
And, my chain saw was in town being serviced.
Don't try this on a windy day.
If possible have a spare saw or sharp axe or hatchet handy in case the tree binds your saw in the cut.
another option, you should be able to rent a chainsaw at Home Depot. If you only need it a couple hours, I can't imagine it would be more than $30 or so. Once the tree is down, you'll probably want to buck it up too. I wouldn't want to do all that with a bow saw.
So…..that said…..using a chainsaw isn't rocket science, but if you haven't used one before BE CAREFUL!!!!!!
Felling a small tree is not too difficult, but it will fall before you
cut all the way through it and it probably won't fall exactly where
you've planned, so go carefully and give yourself room to run
away fast if the tree falls unexpectedly.
You can do it with a sharp axe without too much trouble. Felling
is done with notched cuts whether you use a chain saw or an
axe. As Rich said, you can do it with a reciprocating saw too.
Working with chain saws is best done after reading up about
them because as you know they can be dangerous if used
ignorantly.
Stand under the tree and look overhead at the umbrella to see where the center of the mass is - if it's not in line with the trunk, the tree will want to fall in that direction. If it's in a direction you don't want it to fall in, then pick up a felling wedge at HD or Lowes or Tractor supply. When you cut far enough into the trunk on your back cut, pound that wede in with a hammer or mallet to drive the tree where you want it to go. You don't need to make a hinge cut 2/3 of the trees diameter, that's overkill. A huge tree will stand upright on a 1 inch hinge, and won't fall until you drive that wedge (look on youtube for 'Game of Logging' or for the proper procedure). If you are near an outlet or have access to a generator I would get a small electric chainsaw. You can cut up the wood with it afterwards for firewood or dinky turning blanks. Give yourself an escape path at a 45 degree angle BACK from the falling tree.
quite simply,
DON'T CUT DOWN YOUR FIRST TREE BASED ON A DESCRIPTION OF HOW TO DO IT!!!
FIND SOMEONE TO COME BY AND DEMONSTRATE TO YOU HOW TO DO IT AND THEN HAVE THEM WATCH YOU DO IT.
YOU WOULD BE AMAZED HOW MANY THINGS CAN GO WRONG WITH A SIMPLE THING LIKE FELLING A TREE!
Allmyfingers makes a point. Look up 'barberchair' in logging terms and you'd be surprised at what could go wrong with a small tree. I wear chaps, a helmet with ear and eye protectionand kevlar gloves when using a chainsaw. Chaps are cheaper than a trip to the ER to get your leg sutured up. Find a friend who's done it and give him the wood or some beer and gas money for his guidance/
Wow thank you everyone for the responses. Let me explain a little bit more about the trees. They are approx 6" in diameter and straight as an arrow. No branches or anything. Basically just a big long stick. I think that at some point I may try to use a recip to get through it. I've watched them cut down trees on Ax Men enough to have at least a bit of an idea about it and if worse comes to worse and it started to come down in the wrong direction I could just push it how where I want it.
From your description of the trees, they may be rotten. The tops of rotten trees sometimes break off while falling and usually fall in the opposite direction of the rest of the tree.
Be very careful and don't do it alone.
Now, you could *********************************** it like we do down here in Alabama.
1) Drink lots of beer before hand
2) Just before you start yell out, Hey ya'll, watch this !
3) Call the paramedics
Professionals refer to standing dead trees as "widowmakers" because of their propensity to rain chunks of dead wood down upon the feller, killing them.
All the above advice is good. Given all the uncertanties, I would bite the bullet and call a tree service. At the very least, you should accept allmyfingers generous offer of assistance. You can learn more from one who has done it while preparing to do it than you can from the same guy whilst in a hospital bed AFTER attempting it. Caution is the greater part of valor.
The local expression **************************************** use around here is: "Hold my beer, and watch this!" You don't want any beer to spill or be wasted if something bad happens.
The one thing that I have learned about felling trees is that they are vengeful bastards. No matter where you stand when the tree comes down the butt end will always, repeat always try to spring back and take you out. When it starts to go do not stand there and admire your handy work, get the hell out of range at top speed.
Allmyfingers has it right in both posts. But I offer two additional options.
1. Give grandma a rummage sale hatchet and some encouragement.
2. Buy all equipment to do it properly. Saw-$300-900, Gas and oil $20, Safety Gear- $160-250, wedges, chains, lumber carrier, peavy, pickroon, extra chain, tuition for local VoTech Forestry Technology Course, 6 "adjustments" from the chiropracter, advil. $400+.
But think about all the adventure and stories you could tell at the barbershop. Pass the Red Man!
"if worse comes to worse and it started to come down in the wrong direction I could just push it how where I want it."
I've never felled a tree but this doesn't sound like a good idea to me…remember you can only push on the bottom part of the trunk, maybe six feet or so. Once that has been pushed out of the way, it seems like the top of the tree (all 24 feet of it) will be tilting the opposite direction and tree will fall straight down on top of you.
If you have never done it, it's a bad idea to try it without the guidance and assistance of someone that knows what they are doing. If you are going to try it anyway, here is how I learned to do it:
and remember, as I said earlier, the butt WILL try to take you out so get out of the way.
I've felled a lot of trees. I learned from a high-power lineman who worked for PA Power and Light for decades. A big part of his job was felling trees, and he gave me a really good lesson, after teaching me over a number of weekends, starting with ten foot tall trees in the woods.
Here's the lesson…
Anytime you want to bring down about 1000 lbs or more to the ground with the wrong tool, make sure your insurance and will are up to date, and don't forget to tell your wife and kids you love them.
Now, take you $80 recip saw and think twice about felling a half-ton of dead wood…twice….....
I really appreciate all of your inputs. I have to say that after reading everything (a few encouragements, but many more warnings) I still feel like it is a project that I could tackle. There is nothing near for the tree to fall on so that is not a concern. Well other than falling on me, but really the things is so small I feel like it really couldnt do much to me. Or is this the trap the trees are trying to play on me?
6" diameter X 30 feet high = ~1,000 pounds of wood… I think that could do a lot to you!
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