Tree fell - need a plan to cut it up

[rudysmallfry]

Hi guys. A good chunck of my Swamp Maple came down last night. I've done a lot of bucking logs with my chain saw to date, but nothing like this. Just need a plan to safely cut this thing up. I'm thinking start at the crown, cut away the smaller stuff and then hit part of that middle support piece to get it lower to the ground? I'm not too keen on standing on a ladder with a chain saw. Right now, the entire thing will well over eye level and I know it's unsafe to cut above chest level. Should I even attempt this or pay someone?

 

[livetosail]

I would go with your exact plan. It is low to the ground and unlikely to cause issues being pruned off the main portion of the tree. Best part is that the hinge is at an ideal cutting height.

Keep us posted with pics!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[rudysmallfry]

I was looking at it closer. I'm thinking cut that further back support piece town to half mast before taking off the crown. That way it just collapses onto the secondary support instead of me having to make a load bearing cut. Sound good?

 

[livetosail]

I was looking at it closer. I'm thinking cut that further back support piece town to half mast before taking off the crown. That way it just collapses onto the secondary support instead of me having to make a load bearing cut. Sound good?

The only issue is the height. As you said, you’d rather cut at chest high or below. Seems to me (from the pics) that the lowest cut will be to remove the limb from the tree, and then you have it in your domain to do with it as you please.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Poindexter]

How much would a pro charge for cutting the trunk off the stump at the break? That would solve everything. Maybe $50 in my area.

Once it is in the ground you are golden.

 

[Jags]

Keep in mind that the larger branches of the crown will have some tension on them. I wouldn’t expect it to be anything unmanageable, just something to think about. As always, if it exceeds your comfort zone there is no shame in calling in a pro.
If I were to take it on - I would start at the crown as you posted earlier.

 

[pernox]

Watch the stored energy in the limbs, as Jags points out. If it's really causing some nerves, maybe you could tie off to a vehicle or come-along and put some tension in the direction you're not standing in.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

As you take weight off the tree, you take energy out of the compressed limbs.

 

[mustash29]

Electric pole saw. Best way to stay 9 to 10 feet away from "danger" and also stay on terra-firma.

I bought a Chicago Electric from Harbor Freight for 75 bucks about 5 years ago. I run the CRAP out of that thing and it's still going strong. It came with a 9" bar but I am running a 12" from an old Poulan and that little 7.5 amp motor still spins it nicely.

I have 1/2 acre of lawn in the middle of 2 acres & keep the low hanging stuff around the perimeter trimmed back each year.
Maple limbs scraping against grandma's roof.
Vines & overgrowth above Grandma's fish pond.
Perimeter of mother-in-laws yard.
All the low hanging stuff on 5 of Mom's trees.
Storm damage cleanup.
Anytime I don't feel like getting the MS-271 dirty.
Etc, etc.

 

[rowerwet]

Had a nearly Identical Maple on a guys lawn near me, I cut the crown limbs from the bottom up, letting the tree slowly drop down until the trunk was touching the ground at the tip.
Then I worked back along it cutting upwards from the bottom until the trunk was on the snow.
Keep the chain sharp and it will be easy to cut upwards so that the limbs don't trap the saw as they break under the load

 

[CincyBurner]

If it were me . . .
Walk around/ study debris to identify tension/ compression portions, hazards and identify how soundly it is attached to tree.
Use pole saw (with tri-edge razor tooth blade) from edges and from the porch to provide yourself stand-off distance. Taking off large portions of tree is possible that can be further chain sawed later when on the ground.
Clear brush from work zone around debris as you work it.
Leave branches as legs of support.
Work your way down tree, taking weight off from above.
'Walk' tree down with chain saw if safe & possible taking off additional weight..
Don't operate chain saw above your waist.
Don't use a ladder.
Drop short stub with chain saw staying on 'safe'-side.
Buck & split for firewood.
Find someone to chip brush, OR chow-down in wooded area OR use for wildlife cover, OR burn for backyard summer fires.

 

[rudysmallfry]

Well that was frustrating. I just got around to tackling the tree today. It's a much bigger job than I thought it would be. I started at the crown and got all of that off, but then there was nowhere left to cut with the chain saw. I could not safely get near the tree since all was left was load bearing limbs. I tried a few of the smaller supporting limbs, but it buckled the blade twice, so I switched to my long pruning tool. I tried under-notching some of the bigger limbs, but then that kept getting stuck too. We have another storm coming tomorrow, so I made notches in the underside of all the bigger limbs and hope it just snaps on it's own tomorrow. If not, I might have to call someone in.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Can you get your truck near it to roll it?

 

[rudysmallfry]

Can you get your truck near it to roll it?

No, can't get any heavy equipment back there. That pole saw looks rather fun. I definitely have to stay a good distance from this thing. Once it falls for good, it's going to drop in an instant. It's on fairly level ground, so there's no telling which way it's going to flop over. It's going to take at least a week for tomorrow's snow to melt, so I'll get back to it next week. It's not threatening anything, so there's no rush other than it's ugly to look at.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Come along then?

 

[CincyBurner]

Have you been using a pole saw ? Any pics of progress ?