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Cutting down a rotting tree #7285791
06/13/21 10:51 PM
06/13/21 10:51 PM
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 265
PA
F
Flint Lock Offline OP
trapper
Flint Lock  Offline OP
trapper
F

Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 265
PA
Got a large dead oak tree behind the house near a stream where the kids like to play so it's got to go. Trunk is about 24" diameter at the base. It Y's about 50' up with one side extending way up to 80-100'. It's dead as a door nail, been dead for at least 3 years, the bark is mostly gone and the outer few inches is soft and spongy. Concern is vibrations from chain saw triggering the high up dead limbs to fall on me while cutting. It's in the woods on a steep slope with no way to get to it with a bucket truck and no good climbing trees near enough for rigging. Thoughts?

Re: Cutting down a rotting tree [Re: Flint Lock] #7285811
06/13/21 11:07 PM
06/13/21 11:07 PM
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 10,723
SW Georgia
W
Wanna Be Offline
trapper
Wanna Be  Offline
trapper
W

Joined: May 2018
Posts: 10,723
SW Georgia
Tannerite at the base and hope for the best.

Re: Cutting down a rotting tree [Re: Flint Lock] #7285815
06/13/21 11:10 PM
06/13/21 11:10 PM
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,536
fayette,al.
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grisseldog Offline
trapper
grisseldog  Offline
trapper
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,536
fayette,al.
Will driving steel wedges help it to fall the direction you want it to go

Re: Cutting down a rotting tree [Re: grisseldog] #7285820
06/13/21 11:13 PM
06/13/21 11:13 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 674
Webster County W.V
matt Offline
trapper
matt  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 674
Webster County W.V
I would not worry too much about the saw causing any problems. Pay attention and have someone there to watch your back. I would worry more about the rot in the center of the tree and what cause it to die.


Live each day as if it were your last. We know not at which hour it will come. Life is too short.Tell your loved ones each day how much you love them
Re: Cutting down a rotting tree [Re: grisseldog] #7285821
06/13/21 11:15 PM
06/13/21 11:15 PM
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 265
PA
F
Flint Lock Offline OP
trapper
Flint Lock  Offline OP
trapper
F

Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 265
PA
Originally Posted by grisseldog
Will driving steel wedges help it to fall the direction you want it to go


Most likely, but I'm not sure how much cutting and pounding I can get away with without causing dead limbs to fall. Maybe using an axe and going slow and easy would be safer than chainsaw?

Re: Cutting down a rotting tree [Re: Flint Lock] #7285822
06/13/21 11:16 PM
06/13/21 11:16 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
Law Dog Offline
trapper
Law Dog  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
Tie a long line on it hook it to a truck and shake the heck out of it from far away keep pressure on the tree then cut it most of the way then pull it down if that works for you.


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Cutting down a rotting tree [Re: Flint Lock] #7285824
06/13/21 11:17 PM
06/13/21 11:17 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,261
james bay frontierOnt.
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Boco Offline
trapper
Boco  Offline
trapper
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,261
james bay frontierOnt.
A dead chicot to the head has killed many a logger.Be careful.
Also if its bad rotten no way to hinge it to fall in the right direction.


Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: Cutting down a rotting tree [Re: Flint Lock] #7285825
06/13/21 11:17 PM
06/13/21 11:17 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
SNIPERBBB Offline
trapper
SNIPERBBB  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
Throwball and rope. Try to snap as many of the limbs as you can? Not all dead limbs will snap.

Re: Cutting down a rotting tree [Re: Flint Lock] #7285835
06/13/21 11:25 PM
06/13/21 11:25 PM
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 15,520
Champaign County, Ohio.
K
KeithC Offline
trapper
KeithC  Offline
trapper
K

Joined: May 2009
Posts: 15,520
Champaign County, Ohio.
Take all the debris from around the tree, for a good distance, stack it for a bonfire around the base and burn it down. You can watch the tree from a safe distance and stomp out any sparks it throws when it comes down. Punky trees, with long, heavy branches like that are called widow makers for good reason. They often turn and twist when they drop and throw wood for a long distance.

Keith

Re: Cutting down a rotting tree [Re: Flint Lock] #7285843
06/13/21 11:31 PM
06/13/21 11:31 PM
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 3,067
Wyoming
C
cmcf Offline
trapper
cmcf  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 3,067
Wyoming
If I understand the question, you’re worried about upper branches falling on you from saw vibration?
I’ve dropped a few long dead trees with large upper story. Someone watching the top so you can watch the saw and cut. Sharp chain. Drop it the way it’s leaning. Get in get it done and get out. Hard hat a little extra PPE
Other than that a dozer with full rollover cage.


“The world is governed by very different personages from what is imagined” B. Disraeli

Re: Cutting down a rotting tree [Re: Flint Lock] #7285877
06/14/21 12:00 AM
06/14/21 12:00 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 25,424
Georgia
warrior Offline
trapper
warrior  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 25,424
Georgia
If you can order some plastic or aluminum felling wedges. Steel will booger up a saw.


[Linked Image]
Re: Cutting down a rotting tree [Re: Flint Lock] #7285880
06/14/21 12:04 AM
06/14/21 12:04 AM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,151
Alaska and Washington State
W
waggler Offline
trapper
waggler  Offline
trapper
W

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,151
Alaska and Washington State
Does it have a natural lean in a direction where you can fall it with no problem? If so just go ahead and cut it down with your chainsaw. I wouldn't get too fancy with it and the least pounding you do on it the less likely break off one of the widow makers.
It's much safer cutting down dead tree that has sap rot than a tree that has hidden rot in the interior of the stump. If you have an increment borer you could do a little probing first.

Last edited by waggler; 06/14/21 12:07 AM.

"My life is better than your vacation"
Re: Cutting down a rotting tree [Re: Flint Lock] #7285883
06/14/21 12:05 AM
06/14/21 12:05 AM
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 657
Colorado
B
bacatrapper Offline
trapper
bacatrapper  Offline
trapper
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Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 657
Colorado
Pay someone else to do it, and make sure they have workmens comp and accident insurance before they start.


thread killa
Re: Cutting down a rotting tree [Re: Flint Lock] #7285884
06/14/21 12:07 AM
06/14/21 12:07 AM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 322
Central Wisconsin
C
cwtrapper Offline
trapper
cwtrapper  Offline
trapper
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 322
Central Wisconsin
My advice would be to bore cut it. That way you can have it all set up. Then you just need to snip the back and escape. Make sure you have a clear escape route . Preferably at a 45 degree angle away. You can put wedges in before you release it too.

Re: Cutting down a rotting tree [Re: Flint Lock] #7285901
06/14/21 12:30 AM
06/14/21 12:30 AM
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 839
McCurtain Co. Oklahoma
O
OKforester Offline
trapper
OKforester  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 839
McCurtain Co. Oklahoma
Your concerns are certainly justified. What you described is a dangerous situation for sure. The best advise I can give is the least amount of time you spend under those branches the less likely you will be to get hit by one. Driving wedges, taking it slow with an axe etc are not good options in my opinion.

Re: Cutting down a rotting tree [Re: cwtrapper] #7285957
06/14/21 06:28 AM
06/14/21 06:28 AM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 92
Central IL
P
Page Offline
trapper
Page  Offline
trapper
P

Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 92
Central IL
Originally Posted by cwtrapper
My advice would be to bore cut it. That way you can have it all set up. Then you just need to snip the back and escape. Make sure you have a clear escape route . Preferably at a 45 degree angle away. You can put wedges in before you release it too.


This, 24" is plenty big enough, however if you have never done it call someone who has.

Re: Cutting down a rotting tree [Re: Flint Lock] #7285966
06/14/21 06:41 AM
06/14/21 06:41 AM
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 13,964
Michigan
T
Trapper Dahlgren Offline
trapper
Trapper Dahlgren  Offline
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T

Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 13,964
Michigan
what cmcf said , is right ,

Re: Cutting down a rotting tree [Re: Trapper Dahlgren] #7285973
06/14/21 06:53 AM
06/14/21 06:53 AM
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 116
n.e. pa.
F
foxpee Offline
trapper
foxpee  Offline
trapper
F

Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 116
n.e. pa.
Pay a logger/tree cutter. Too many people get killed/injured cutting these down. Here in North east Pa. we have many dead ash trees. Just lost a friend a few months ago due to a limb falling off a tree he was cutting. You don't have time to run out of the way! Be smart.

Re: Cutting down a rotting tree [Re: Flint Lock] #7285975
06/14/21 06:54 AM
06/14/21 06:54 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,835
Pa
W
Wright Brothers Offline
trapper
Wright Brothers  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,835
Pa
If you want the number of a reasonable priced pro, PM me.
No guarantee if he is in your area, he moves around.
Those kids need you.

Those trees were "cute" when little.





Re: Cutting down a rotting tree [Re: Flint Lock] #7285996
06/14/21 07:29 AM
06/14/21 07:29 AM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 4,243
East Texas
B
BTLowry Offline
trapper
BTLowry  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 4,243
East Texas
I am tight as a drum but some things you just pay a pro to do.

I have cut many a tree. Have not been hurt YET but I have come close a couple of times.

Like others said, rotten ones are unpredictable

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