Tree removal - bright ideas required

[Bill Stock]

Bill, I just reread your original post. You say you don't have a "Natural crotch" to use other than the higher up one. I am not sure what you mean by natural. Any limb that you could climb on would be sufficient. As long as the rope goes around the truck and over the limb, the limb simply holds the rope up. Most of the weight of the cut limb will be on the trunk. A 1 or 2 inch limb will easily hold a 6in. limb as long as the rope is tight to the trunk. Use this for the butt end.

Another way to get the upper crotch rope, out past the half way point of the limb you are cutting is to use a pole saw. Go to the lumber yard and get a 12 or 14 ft. closet pole. Attach a "hook" to the end. Take the rope and throw it out over the limb and hopefully past a side limb. Then use your hook to pull it back to you. Tie a running bowline in the rope and pull it back tight to the limb you are cutting off. Have the guy on the ground pull the slack out of his end of the rope. You are now ready to cut and have it swing toward your side of the fence.
Just curious - where do you live?
Glenn

Thanks Glenn, I did use the high crotch for one small limb already. I used the pole saw to drop the rope through the crotch (about 25' up) and tied the rope off to another tree. My helper used the pole saw to finish the cut from a safe distance. Worked like a charm, but a branch with 4 times the weight is another kettle of fish as you say.

I've got a 30' installers pole so reaching where I need is not a problem, but working anywhere on his side of the fence is going to be an issue. Which is a problem since the center of the branches weight is probably over the fence. Even if I counterweight the branch (somewhat dangerous) I won't be able to put the rope far enough out. There are actually 4 lots in this corner and I'm doing most of the work from my other neighbour's lot but she does not care. Although I do owe her a cutting job for another tree.

I think he's somewhat freaked because the trunk (12") is leaning his way; I don't think he realizes I'm going to winch it tight AND tie it off before before I notch the trunk. But he's not really interested in listening either.

I'm in Southern Ontario, so a long way from you.

[conwaygolfer]

Tree

Bill, I have one last solution. If you can get the rope tied somewhat past the half way point, that is to make the butt end the heaviest. Use any crotch about 10-15 ft. above the limb you are cutting off. This will be around the main trunk. Take several wraps around the base of the tree with a man at the end of it. He is to hold it tight until you tell him to slowly lower it down.

Now cut off the limb at the trunk and it will drop straight down from the butt. This has to be done quickly to avoid the limb from swinging left or right. The best way is to make an undercut on the limb several inches. Just make sure you don't get the saw pinched in the cut. Once the limb starts to sag, you need the saw to be out of the cut. Now start cutting on the top, just above your undercut. I would not use a chainsaw on this top cut - at least not at the very last part. Sometimes you can cut just enough, remove the saw and then kick it off. It will come toward you as the butt drops toward the ground. The limb will be hanging upside down, so to speak, with the butt near or on the ground.

This is the most dangerous way to accomplish what you are trying to do. As the limb falls, it will be coming your way. You need to be on the back side of the tree when this happens. And of course protect your head and face. As a last resort I have done this many times. But again, it is the last resort. Most of what will be coming your way, is the smaller branches, as the heavier butt is now down below you. Still, it is risky to you.

If it were a bigger tree and a smaller limb, I would suggest having the man on the ground simply pull the smaller end of the limb upward as you undercut the entire limb. But don't try it here.

Good luck and be safe.
Hope I haven't confused you. It is much easier to do it, than write about it.

Glenn

[Bill Stock]

If it were a bigger tree and a smaller limb, I would suggest having the man on the ground simply pull the smaller end of the limb upward as you undercut the entire limb. But don't try it here.

Glenn

All very good ideas Glenn, not confusing at all. On the last one I was considering tieing a counterweight to the small end of the branch, tieing off the branch a couple of feet ahead of the cut and maybe having my helper pull away from me near the cut (pole saw). This would likely have to be done in two pieces as you mentioned.

But it's kinda moot, since he was pushing the 'professionals' (no offence - it's not the cash at this point) again yesterday and I told him he could keep his tree. He's moving soon, I can wait. He has relatives in the 'landsacping' business; surely one of them must know which end of the saw to hold. If he wasn't such a dick he could clear the branches from his side and solve my problem.