Feeding the addiction(and the wood pile!)

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
Status
Not open for further replies.
Osagebndr

Osagebndr

Minister of Fire
Feb 20, 2014
831
Central Indiana
This is kind of a continuation of a thread I started called" felling large trees". So far the count is 4 maples ,2 smooth bark hickories and an ash. Felling trees can be very dangerous whether you do or don't know what your doing and I'm still new to it myself. However with the help of a good friend it's all coming together very well. I have taken a few pics and included them in my thread and will post more as I go, thanks for the earlier advice.
 

Attachments

  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    247.3 KB · Views: 344
  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    313.3 KB · Views: 324
Fixed it.
 
I haven't felled many either but the 1/2 dozen or so have all gone well, even with hands shaking. I dropped an ash in the yard last Friday and in spite of it falling almost exactly where I planned it to, I was pretty nervous. Partly because I was using my new used MS460 for the first time and partly because my 16 yr old smartass son was watching me, and I would've heard about it for quite some time if things went "sideways" haha
 
Looking good. :)

As I understand, logging is among the more dangerous, if not the most dangerous occupation ever. Injuries, deaths and property damage are often the result of inattention, distraction, exhaustion, being in a hurry or a combination of these.

Way I figure, a tree has been standing there for 50, 60 years or longer. A few minutes to plan its fall won't hurt. Take your time and stay safe out there.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Osagebndr
With what I do for a living( iron worker) I have enough rigging to pull anything in the direction I want it to go. Still , I am Leary of how I notch and cut so I don't have to do that. Leaners of course are the exception to that rule
 
  • Like
Reactions: D8Chumley
Well I went to cut a standing dead red oak today, notched it and back cut in the direction I wanted it to fall and the base was so rotted on one half that it fell 90 deg in the opposite direction. Scary to say the least, that was a lesson learned. On a better note ended up with cord out of it. Alls well that ends well I guess
 
  • Like
Reactions: D8Chumley
Good to hear you're safe. Dangerous stuff, felling trees. My hands shake every time even after walking around it 5x before I cut
 
  • Like
Reactions: Osagebndr
I do the same , this one started out good then the good part if the trunk gave and twisted out . Kinda shook me up alittle
 
  • Like
Reactions: D8Chumley
It would shake any man with any sense. Only an idiot wouldn't be scared when something like that happens
 
Crazy to look at a seemingly simple thing like cutting down a tree is pretty much a science. Always have a healthy respect for the danger.

Glad you didn't get hurt
 
First time I dropped a large (for me - 30"+) pine and the ground shook when it hit cemented a healthy respect for the process.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bigbarf48, BrotherBart and Osagebndr
Been doing it for over 40 years and every one of them scares me. And I hope they always do. A snag about three inches in diameter was the one that put me in the emergency room because it was just an easy pull the saw through it cut. Until it fell on top of the bar. Which just happened to be over my leg.
 
I've gotten a bit of felling experience. I always make sure I have at LEAST 2 escape routes, ideally orthogonal to each other. Had some alders fall 90-180deg from the direction I wanted or thought they'd go. Got to admit though it's a huge rush when they come down. Even more so when it lands exactly where you want it to.
 
  • Like
Reactions: D8Chumley
I have felled about 14 trees this year and yes like all of you I walk around the tree step back look for any lean to the tree and clear any obstructions that might trip me on my escape route. And yes you are right it is always a rush when they come down.
 
Osagebndr said:
the base was so rotted on one half that it fell 90 deg in the opposite direction. Scary to say the least, that was a lesson learned. On a better note ended up with cord out of it. Alls well that ends well I guess
Click to expand...
Yikes! :oops: Glad it worked out OK. I've had several of those with the rotted cores, mostly Red Oaks. Keep an eye on the chips that are coming out of the cut; If they look dark, you are into some unsound wood. The tree can go anywhere if the hinge wood is spotty.
 
A friend of mine and I fell one if my major leaners this afternoon. Got few pics too.this is areally nice cherry, after I leave some logs for the home owner ill end up with a cord or so for next year.you can see some of our rigging in the pics , took about 120 ft of it hooked to my truck to help lean it the right way==c
 

Attachments

  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    238.5 KB · Views: 130
  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    242.2 KB · Views: 149
  • Like
Reactions: D8Chumley
That's a nice Cherry, alright. That thing was getting some good sun! :cool:
 
The first 20ft of this one and 5 ,20ft smooth bark hickory logs are going to the mill for just that purpose, that's the deal I made with the land owner. I enjoy cutting and splitting wood ( plus I also sell as well as burn) and we both make out good when it's over
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

P
Mega Noodling
Replies
12
Views
2K
The Wood Shed
peakbagger
P
Hexa Fox
Connecting Wood Stove to Stainless Tee Through Masonry Adapter
Replies
0
Views
349
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
Hexa Fox
Hexa Fox
D
Slammer Replacement Advice
Replies
25
Views
883
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
mellow
mellow
Ranckie
Harmon Insert Not Burning Correctly
Replies
2
Views
561
The Pellet Mill - Pellet and Multifuel Stoves
Ranckie
Ranckie
S
My first year with wood
Replies
22
Views
5K
The Wood Shed
Split
S
Top Bottom
Back