John K Jordan
09-12-2020, 8:47 AM
A big pine tree near my hay storage was in the way of loading and unloading hay. I had planned to cut it down for years. Although it was already leaning a bit in right direction the thought of cutting it down made me nervous. It was about 30" in diameter at the base.
Instead of cutting it with the chainsaw I used a method I've used many times on smaller trees since I got this machine - dig up around the roots and push it over with the excavator.
https://youtu.be/iTx7IDZ8sQQ
It fell exactly where I planned (hoped!), right between four trees on down the hill.
https://sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=440950&d=1599912221
I had to dig down about 4' before I could budge it (with a spotter watching). The root ball was about 6' across. I used a narrow 1' bucket to more easily get between and under roots. Now I have to cut it up and get rid of the branches and stump and fill in the hole. I might saw the butt log into lumber. (Pine makes great shelving!)
Note: if anyone considers renting or using an excavator for this be very careful, just like chainsawing things can go disastrously wrong. Big dead limbs can break off and fall back towards you. The tree could start moving before you are ready. It could fall in the wrong direction. The tree could get hung up dangerously in another tree. If this one hadn't been leaning I would have used a long cable to apply force in the right direction - or hired a tree service to take it down!
JKJ
Instead of cutting it with the chainsaw I used a method I've used many times on smaller trees since I got this machine - dig up around the roots and push it over with the excavator.
https://youtu.be/iTx7IDZ8sQQ
It fell exactly where I planned (hoped!), right between four trees on down the hill.
https://sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=440950&d=1599912221
I had to dig down about 4' before I could budge it (with a spotter watching). The root ball was about 6' across. I used a narrow 1' bucket to more easily get between and under roots. Now I have to cut it up and get rid of the branches and stump and fill in the hole. I might saw the butt log into lumber. (Pine makes great shelving!)
Note: if anyone considers renting or using an excavator for this be very careful, just like chainsawing things can go disastrously wrong. Big dead limbs can break off and fall back towards you. The tree could start moving before you are ready. It could fall in the wrong direction. The tree could get hung up dangerously in another tree. If this one hadn't been leaning I would have used a long cable to apply force in the right direction - or hired a tree service to take it down!
JKJ