Pulling a leaning cottonwood

[ValleyArborist]

Here are a few pics of a leaning cottonwood we felled using an improvised 5:1 system. Worked pretty well. Not super tall, but it did take most of the 36" bar on the 660 to cut it. Nothing too interesting I guess, Just want to add something to the mix here.

<a href="http://www.uploadhouse.com/viewfile.php?id=10283813&showlnk=0" target="_blank"><img alt="Image Hosted by UploadHouse.com" src="http://img6.uploadhouse.com/fileuploads/10283/10283813d4a677859a019f64b9f47484cd484b4a.jpg" border="0"></a>

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[SkwerI]

Good deal.
We do have a few long running, ongoing threads for lots of the day to day stuff. The 'official work pictures' thread, the 'How'd it go today?' thread, the 'OCGD thread' (obsessive compulsive gear disorder) and a few others.

That thing had quite a back lean to it, but the proper application of leverage and know-how took care of that. Stig will be thrilled with your low stump cut.

 

[ValleyArborist]

I forgot about the work pic thread, maybe I should move it there. Thanks. I added the correct picture in the middle. Sorry for the double post.

 

[Jed]

Thanks man: It's always cool for me to see shots of how other arborists handle stuff. It's weird: usually it's almost no different; sometimes it's very different. Well done. I'm envious of what looks like a good, level stump.

 

[woodworkingboy]

Thanks for posting. A nice even cut at the base. I like the alternating cut and pull technique, it can get a lot of trees over that have substantial back lean.

 

[MasterBlaster]

I hate a stinky cottonwood!

 

[Jed]

Tastes like chicken!

 

[ValleyArborist]

I wish I had pics of the other tree service that was helping us out on this job. They had a Boxer that they had fabricated a Porta Wrap onto. They used it for attaching pull lines to and tensioning the lines when pulling in tight quarters. I'm usually leary of using machines to pull over trees, but it looked like a good method.

 

[Jed]

Yeah... guys can be really resourceful. What is a Boxer exactly?

 

[MasterBlaster]

A brand of loader/ mini loader.

 

[flushcut]

I hate a stinky cottonwood!

I have a pair of jeans that are just for cottonwoods I can't seem to was the stink out of them.

 

[woodworkingboy]

Stinky trees must be an American phenomenon....

 

[CurSedVoyce]

Nice hinge pic.
I am the same way, mechanical advantage at our company most often does not include powered equipment or trucks pulling

 

[FJR]

Noway Jay! Ginkgo fruit is by the far the smelliest turd that I can think of, and that is native to China.

 

[flushcut]

Nice hinge pic.
I am the same way, mechanical advantage at our company most often does not include powered equipment or trucks pulling

Some times it is just quicker to use a truck I think. I do like using my rigging to set up some crazy big pulls from time to time.

 

[ValleyArborist]

I've found that pulling with a truck is ok if it is a smooth consistent pull, but if you have a jumpy operator behind the wheel, you can start rocking the tree or even completely break the holding wood is given too much oomph. Thats what creeps me out about using a vehicle to pull with. I have used a winch though and that really works well.

 

[SkwerI]

Many times the driver of the truck doing the pulling thinks that more pulling is better. Most of the time there is little consequence to using too much power so therefore you end up with guys like Murphy who believe they are the greatest tree guys in the world because they use a skid steer to pull rigging on 8" limbs. The trick is to know how much power you need and apply the appropriate amount.

 

[flushcut]

I have a guy who gets what to do smooth and steady. He and I have a nice chat before every pull with the truck or any pull for that matter. I get the tree standing on some wedges first.

 

[gf beranek]

By the pics she fell true to gun. Considering the species the extra hingewood was warranted. Fine job all around.

 

[Bounce]

I love it when the hinge wood is exactly the same thickness from one side all the way to the other like that. Most of my cuts aren't quite so perfect. Nice!

 

[darkstar]

Perfect cut -

 

[ValleyArborist]

Thanks a lot guys. This was a big job for a property management firm. There were about 20 nasty, dead cottonwoods along the fenceline of the property. They were all about this same size. It took five guys about 3 long days to get them down, chip the brush, and haul the wood off in roll off containers. Out of the twenty or so, I think we only had to climb one if I remember correctly.We were luckily able to get our chippers in pretty close to the trees. 20 of these tend to fill chip boxes up fast, so there was a lot of running to the dump.

 

[ValleyArborist]

And as much as a love the praise for the cut, I have to confess that it isnt so perfect if you look closely. Most of these trees were done with a 36" bar. Being an east coast guy, I do great with bars up to about 28" and use those on a regular basis. 36" is fairly rare for me to use unless its a crane job or something. Everytime I use one, I have to almost relearn how to cut with it. It actually took me about 3 trees to really start making nice straight hinges. The first couple were pretty shameful and uneven.

 

[SkwerI]

Only a real tree guy would be ashamed of an uneven hinge cut.

 

[flushcut]

And off level