huge tree to fell, anyone ever jacked a tree over?

[stehansen]

Remember also that cottonwood hinges are weak and brittle.

 

[thattreeguy]

back it up with a line, to a block and tractor, and pull it over

 

[Old Monkey]

I've never jacked a cottonwood but I've pulled a number of them up and over their lean. A normal face cut will squish and act like a Dutchman. I switched to using a flat backed face cut when pulling them over.

 

[thattreeguy]

put a step in it

 

[sawinredneck]

Indoor voice Andy.

Sorry.

 

[MasterBlaster]

We love you, Brother.

 

[okietreedude]

Additional info: tree is mostly dead except for a couple large low leads on opposing sides. It appears to have been hit by lightning. We are taking a week off the project to get some local work done, then back at it. Thanks for all the imput but I think im going to skip the jack idea and put a rope in it. It does have a little lean away from the road too. I was just thinking of getting more leaverage than wedges.




This last pic shows from the side - right side is south. Im thinking after looking at all things more carefully, im going to knock off the two large leads on the north and drop the rest.

 

[stig]

When that one starts to go over, get the hell out of Dodge !

As in: " Don't stand around admiring your work, because all kind of shit is going to come down on you!"

What I mean to say, is: watch out for falling deadwood.

 

[okietreedude]

Gotcha! And thats usually never a problem (me getting out of the way), even on healthy trees.

 

[stig]

 

[bonner1040]

"Additional info: tree is mostly dead"

That always seems to happen doesn't it?

 

[HolmenTree]

You have to look close at this tree to see if it was once a codominant tree and now has grown into one stem.
If it is then all hinge wood strength can be lost when the tree starts to fall while you're felling it.

Check for splits in the main stem running into the upper stems.

 

[sierratree]

looks like you should just take out 4 of the 5 upper stems then ground fall the rest. working near any asset: road, powerline, fence, stucture, bmw's, etc. doesn't hurt to use a pull line. backup with wedges. have a plan "b". not to mention trafic control. if you do use a jack, back up with wedges. good to go.

 

[GASoline71]

Check out this series of photos that a cat in OR did on an Old Growth Douggie...

http://www.madsens1.com/pa_white.htm

Gary

 

[Burnham]

He's from right here in my town.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Great pics!!!

 

[GASoline71]

He's from right here in my town.

I didn't even notice that Burnham... pretty cool. Fallin' quite a pickle with those Silveys...

Gary

 

[gf beranek]

Nice, Gary. Good sound tree. Make a fallers day.

 

[pantheraba]

Great pictures....there are people out there doing some very cool stuff.

 

[okietreedude]

Finally knocked the bad boy over today. Its been a multi day process due to all the other crap involved in the job + the 100+ temp days.

Original tree


Decided to top out the tree due to the dead top and lean toward the road.






First limb on the tree was over 28" dbh










Finishing the backcut


TIMBERRRRRR!!!!


THUD!


Glad its on the ground


Saw on the stump. Powerhead w/ bar = 69"


The loader belonged to the construction company that was putting in a saltwater line for the oil well. It was tied to the tree to pull the log over as well.


The log is just a weee bit heavy.






When we left, the log was off to the side of the work zone. The constuction company was going to push it out of the way unless the landowner wants it hauled off. If he does, it is going to suck cutting that thing up smaller.

 

[SouthSoundTree]

Nice work!

Surprised its that solid inside.

We did some at Beacon Rock SP that were just shells, only half the diameter. Drier there, for sure.

Heavy stuff!

What's your first name, OTD?

I just got back from showing off the baby to the in-laws in Shawnee, Edmond, and Witchata. HOT!! Bearable in the morning and evening for sitting outside, but that was about it. Thankfully, dry heat this year. I was dreading hot and humid.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Sweet! Why didn't you reduce/toss the tree from the get-go?

 

[sawinredneck]

Nice work! Cottonweed is VERY heavy wood when wet!

 

[okietreedude]

We did top the thing to start. Originally i was considering flopping the whole tree tho.

We looked at this thing for 2 weeks while working around it clearing out other crap and cleaning up. Saved this for last.

Southsound - David. I guess I need a signature...

 

[pantheraba]

Whoa!!! Seven feet diameter...she WAS a big un. Cool job.