Twin widow makers and the neighbor wants them gone

[WiscWoody]

A neighbor wants me to cut these down from his wood lot. Ones Poplar and the other is a Sugar Maple. Has anyone cut something like this before? I haven't.... I would think if I notch and hinge them they migh want to go backwards instead of the way I'd like to fall them forward. I'll leave a good exit!

 

[Fred Wright]

Cutting on the ground is not recommended for dropping widowmakers... can you get a bucket truck in there?

If you cut at the base, they'll likely fall to the side. If they fall. A crane or claw would serve to hold the broken tops in place while cutting.

Yep, I'd get a pro to tackle those things.

 

[kennyp2339]

rope tired to another tree with pressure, then make cut, tighten rope, make another cut, tighten rope, then pull down with quad.

 

[Pennsyltucky Chris]

I'd charge about $2,000 for both.

 

[Gboutdoors]

I do not try to cut them down! If I can pull them down with the tractor or a comealong fine if not then they stay till they come down on their own. Had a big red oak behind the house that would not come down so left it and it came down on it's own a few weeks ago in a rain/ wind storm. BE SAFE.

 

[KindredSpiritzz]

personally, i'd just wade in there and cut them like any other tree, just very slowly and ready to move quick at the first sign of movement.

 

[WiscWoody]

personally, i'd just wade in there and cut them like any other tree, just very slowly and ready to move quick at the first sign of movement.

That's what I was thinking but it'd be good to know which way they'll come down. I like a good mystery except when it's tons of wood coming down near me! Lol

Edit, I have 50' of winch rope on the ATV and a few hundred feet of chains and straps. I'm thinking I'll make a cut on the side opposite of where I took the picture and pull each one down with the ATV, being a safe distance from the falling trees. The higher I can get the connection up the tree the better. I'll take a better look at it in the spring when I start cutting my rounds again.

 

[WiscWoody]

I'd charge about $2,000 for both.

But I've never charged to take down a tree besides the firewood collected....

 

[CountryBoy19]

But I've never charged to take down a tree besides the firewood collected....

When it involves risks where there is an increased liklihood of death or grave injury it's silly NOT to charge... I like to stay alive, I am not a free tree service. If another person cannot respect my desire to stay alive, or justly compensate me for making big risks counter to my goal of staying alive, then I'll just tell them where they can stick it...

If, OTOH, you explain to him that this is very risky, and you aren't comfortable doing it, I'm sure he would understand... if not then you probably don't "need" his wood as bad as he thinks you do, and you can go elsewhere...

 

[Creekside]

personally, i'd just wade in there and cut them like any other tree, just very slowly and ready to move quick at the first sign of movement.

This is why they're called widowmakers......

Use a throw line to set a pull rope around the broken tops, and pull them down from a safe distance with a winch, truck or whatever. If you don't have the equipment or experience to do that then you're in over your head. I hate to be blunt but it would be worse to see someone get hurt.

 

[WiscWoody]

This is why they're called widowmakers......

Use a throw line to set a pull rope around the broken tops, and pull them down from a safe distance with a winch, truck or whatever. If you don't have the equipment or experience to do that then you're in over your head. I hate to be blunt but it would be worse to see someone get hurt.

That's good advise. I don't want to be cocky and think I'm the all experienced logger having dropped maybe 15-20 trees in my lifetime. And not all came down the way I would have liked either. Just last fall I cut a maple trunk that was branch less by a pole shed. Well I notched it to fall away from the shed but when I started the felling cut for the hinge it started to lean towards the pole shed. It was only a foot and a half from the building so I put my back on the shed wall and pushed it the opposite way but it went and snapped at the base making me go down with the big log sliding off of the roof right next to me! I thought it would come off of the roof and possibly land on me but it stopped before it came down and I went home to get some clean drawers! Lol. It barely damaged the pole shed which is a snowmobile club house, luckily.... And I was able to bend the tin back with pliers. I was trying to save the shed at my own expense. Not good.

 

[Dune]

personally, i'd just wade in there and cut them like any other tree, just very slowly and ready to move quick at the first sign of movement.

Faster than a speeding bullet?
Think before you post please.
We have an ethical obligation to give safe advice here or say nothing.

 

[WiscWoody]

When it involves risks where there is an increased liklihood of death or grave injury it's silly NOT to charge... I like to stay alive, I am not a free tree service. If another person cannot respect my desire to stay alive, or justly compensate me for making big risks counter to my goal of staying alive, then I'll just tell them where they can stick it...

If, OTOH, you explain to him that this is very risky, and you aren't comfortable doing it, I'm sure he would understand... if not then you probably don't "need" his wood as bad as he thinks you do, and you can go elsewhere...

I'm not an arborist. If I were then I'd charge of course. I just scrounge for free wood around the rural area I live in to heat my large home on my shoe string budget I have since the Great Recession landed me an old man with much less income than in the recent past. I'll have to look up OTOH... And I can pass on these trees and find other wood easily. Plus... I know that Poplar isn't the greatest wood to burn but I have burned some here and there and it does ok. It's always been dry and it'll heat the house even in the coldest of weather.

 

[wahoowad]

I'd see if I could get a rope/chain/strap over the tops and pull them down until the weight is on the ground.

 

[osagebow]

OTOH - means" on the other hand". If you can't get em down with the 50' of rope or chain tell the guy "Sorry, but I ain't no pro". Good luck & stay safe.

A coat on a tight rope or chain keeps it from being a guided missle if it breaks. Learned that here AFTER a close call.

That maple was nice enough to school you. Take it to heart. I have many bonehead moves on my resume, so I ain't judging.

 

[Roundgunner]

As said above I would try to pull it down, If it wouldn't come I would just let it be. A man 2 doors down has been cutting and burning his whole adult life, two years ago he almost lost his leg and did loose the best part of a year for recovery.

Don't get hurt for something silly.

 

[BoiledOver]

Here is a procedure to consider. Keep in mind that I am not an expert at anything, however I have survived 60 or so years doing all kinds of risky things that others would not get near. My largest felling was done with a sledge hammer, an 80' cinder block silo.

A helper or spotter would be of great value. First step would be to get a rope, cable, strap or whatever as high on the standing trunk as possible. Secured to the pulling device in the opposite direction that the tops have fallen. Pull it to almost snug (too much and it will want to cause the drop prematurely). Next, cut your notch on the pull side (opposite of the way the top fell). Get your opposite cut and leave a firm hinge. Attempt your pull, if too much hinge remains, back off to almost snug and take a wee bit out of the hinge, retry pull.

If this was my chore, I would go at it just as described.

Be safe and good luck at whatever you decide.

 

[gzecc]

Also for pulling them down with truck or large tractor and long HD rope/chain. Surely wouldn't do it for free unless they were mine.

 

[Byrond]

I would make my cuts 90 degrees on on side or the other from the side they are broken on and use a rope to bring them down. Had one across my driveway that looked identical

 

[Fifelaker]

I wouldn't use a 4 wheeler to pull them with. I want something heavier than the tree so it doesn't turn the 4 wheeler into a rocket with me on it.

 

[Diabel]

I would wait for nature to take its course. I am sure there are other trees waiting to be processed.

 

[saskwoodburner]

I would wait for nature to take its course. I am sure there are other trees waiting to be processed.

I would agree very much with this. A tree on the ground is one thing, but there's a reason people call the professionals to remove trees like this. Could you do it? Maybe. Could you die? It's possible.

I know that a foot long semi seasoned round of poplar weighs a few pounds....30 of them together would really wreck your day if it fell on you.

 

[lindnova]

As said above I would try to pull it down, If it wouldn't come I would just let it be. A man 2 doors down has been cutting and burning his whole adult life, two years ago he almost lost his leg and did loose the best part of a year for recovery.

Don't get hurt for something silly.

I would throw a weighted rope over it in a good spot and try to pull them down. I wouldn't cut them as my reflexes are not as fast as the branch falling on me. those things could let loose fast. It is a better job for pros.

 

[Mag Craft]

I have pulled a bunch of trees down using steel cable that I bought made for winches. I use the 5000 pound cable with loops formed on the ends. I have enough for 300 feet.

 

[Coog]

Hey, if it was in my backyard and a decent wood, I would consider it. Otherwise, let it go. Besides, access looks to be very difficult.