Feeding the addiction(and the wood pile!)

[Osagebndr]

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.

 

[Osagebndr]

That should say feeding the addiction(dang thumbs)

 

[BrotherBart]

Fixed it.

 

[Osagebndr]

Your my hero Bart. Thanks

 

[D8Chumley]

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

 

[Fred Wright]

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.

 

[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

 

[Osagebndr]

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

 

[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

 

[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

 

[D8Chumley]

It would shake any man with any sense. Only an idiot wouldn't be scared when something like that happens

 

[JTRock]

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

 

[Osagebndr]

Your rite on that. All for love of wood heat . Gotta have it

 

[pastera]

First time I dropped a large (for me - 30"+) pine and the ground shook when it hit cemented a healthy respect for the process.

 

[BrotherBart]

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.

 

[sumpnz]

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.

 

[Mag Craft]

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.

 

[Woody Stover]

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

Yikes! 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.

 

[Osagebndr]

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

 

[Woody Stover]

That's a nice Cherry, alright. That thing was getting some good sun!

 

[sumpnz]

Seems a shame to cut it for firewood, rather than lumber.

 

[Osagebndr]

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