Leaner

[Out On A Limb]

Can anyone suggest the best way to bring down this leaner?  It snapped on Sunday when a big wind storm came through my area.  The tree is about 18" in diameter and about 75' tall.  The tree is hung-up by the branch of a tree that is not visible; it is hung-up about 60' in the air.  The tree is in my back yard, but there are no structures nearby that can be damaged.  I just want the tree cut down on "my terms" instead of waiting around for it to come down on it's own.  I'm assuming it would cost me about $1000 to have a professional come and do it, but I just can't afford that right now.  I'm very good with a chainsaw and wanted to bring it down myself; any suggestions on how I would attempt this?  Your feedback is much appreciated!

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/out_on_a_limb_llc/album?.dir=/9b40

[Out On A Limb]

OK, try this picture...



[attachment deleted by admin]

[Jeff]

Photos must be JPG format and be loaded into the forum gallery. Pdf's are reserved for documents. I fixed this photo for you so folks could see it. Looks like a job for a professional to me so someone dont get killed.

[Gary_C]

Jeff is right. Funerals cost more than $1000. The only way to safely get that tree down would be with a machine or a 100 ft rope tied as high as you can safely get it and just pull it down. Leave the chainsaw home until it's down.

Even if I had my harvester there, I would probably just reach up and push down until it broke the rest of the way and fell.

It ain't worth risking anything other than a piece of rope.

[Ianab]

thats scary   

No way I'd want to go near that with a chainsaw.

A long wire rope and a bulldozer?

Be safe

Ian

[Jeff]

I can almost see pros like Kevin or Chet tied off up in that other tree taking her down from the top. Could ya guys?

[beenthere]

This pic throws me off a bit, as I am assuming the broken tree is the leaning tree, and the others that show the lean to the left, are really straight up and down. That be right?  If so, hard to get the true perspective of how much the broken tree is leaning over to the right.

Thanks for the 'angle' change Jeff B   

[Kevin]

There's always a way.  ;D

It looks like A failed and fractured B which in turn got hung up on C.
Difficult to say without a visual, probably take out A, cinch B above and below the fracture then take out C and B.
The prefered method and safest would be to pull it down with heavy equipment.
The dangers with cutting are C will want to explode when you touch it with a saw chain and B may fall when C is cut.

[Jeff]

[chet]

There are a few different ways I might approach that tree, but it's pretty hard to plan an actual attack without seeing the entire scene. By all means seek professional help, it is indeed an accident waiting to happen.

With no structures or anything else to worry about, it may not cost as much for professional help as you may think.

[Furby]

Yeah, Jeff is closer.
B broke and fell behind A.
C is just background.

I've got a pretty good idea what I would do, as I've been there before and I'm not going to post this in the open.


Just bring in someone that does this for a living! ;)

[beenthere]

..B broke and fell behind A.
C is just background.

That's what I understood too, Furby.

I think, and without seeing what is below the break, that I'd use my Stihl on the pole, and make a few cuts at and above the break where there is tension. And see if that would cause failure to release and bring the tree down. Probably at some risk to the pole saw, but am sure I would give that a try. 
Also, the tree (A) should offer some protection from broken tree (B) if needed at ground level.

No question it is a dangerous situation. Even getting it cabled might be touch and go.

[Dan_Shade]

if you volunteer to do cleanup, an arborist might not charge you that much.  I wouldn't touch that thing!

[Woodhog]

[The tree is hung-up by the branch of a tree that is not visible.

From original post...

So it is split and also hung up in another tree??

[Furby]

Yup or else it would be on the ground!  ;)

[Billy_Bob]

I read a book written for professional loggers.

When the book discussed a situation like the above, it said "Leave IT!".

Meaning walk and get help. The book also said to place warning tape around the area to warn other workers of the potential danger.

So far as the getting help part, it suggested using a machine to push or pull it down. And the machines used for this would be specifically designed to protect the operator should a tree fall on the machine.

[Dan_Shade]

what about blasting?  of course to place explosives, you'd have to get in there...

[David_c]

Have a pro remove that for you. But if you decide to be foolish make sure your life insurance is paid up and say your good bye's to family and freinds.

[Frickman]

I'd go with a pro, heavy equipment, or both. If you could get a line on near the top of tree B, like in the fork, a good size dozer, skidder, whatever may pull it down. It would have to break alot of fiber to do so, and might create another hazardous situation.

[Gary_C]

The old timers that did not have heavy equipment would just drop A into B to try to dislodge B. If that did not work and it probably would not because A is too close, they would just back up and find another tree to drop on top of both A and B with enough fall to dislodge both.

If you want to save A, throw a line over B as high as you can get it, throw it back underneath and tie it in a slip knot and then pull away from tree A and it should come down.

[Max sawdust]

Out on a limb,
I would not touch that tree with out heavy equipment or a real big winch.  Looks like it requires alot of thinking a little cutting and lots of pulling or pushing with big equipment to be safe.

[RSteiner]

As everybody has said don't try this at home, get help.

However, a home remedy I might be willing to try if the conditions allow, no buildings or other thhings in harms way, and you have a way to get a very stout rope as high up in the tree as possible.  One major problem and the reason why it is hung are all the other branches of the surrounding trees.  You may get it off the one that is holding it now only to have another stop its fall.  There doesn't seem to be enough room once it starts moving to get enough momentum  to thrash it's way to the ground.

Back to the removal opinion, a good stout rope or cable up high run out far enough to avoid ANY falling dangers to a come-along fastened to something that will not move.  Depending on the size of the branches holding it pull at an angle to slide it off of them.  If the top of the broken tree is stuck in hte crotch of the other tree then it will have to be pulled out in another direction.

It looks like where the trunk split that there is still quite a bit holding on so it doesn't appear that brake can be completed.  DO NOT attempt to do anything without the proper personal protection equipment especially a hard hat.

I have taken down many snags that looked like that over the years and would not suggest that anyone who has not worked with an experienced person try it alone.  That person has to be able to look at the situation and figure out all the dynamics of every possible problem.  One little branch can cause a big change in direction.

Randy

[Mike_Barcaskey]

most of the time something can be climbed, I've set climbing ropes in two adjoining trees and suspended over it. you need to climb above your cuts and falling pieces.
as for price, climbing rates for something like that(dangerous, emergency situation) run $75 to $125 per hour.
the other times I rent a crane

[Gilman]

Duncan has a WWII Russian rifle that he likes to shoot trees with.  Buy him a box of ammo and I'm sure he'd sit there all day pecking away at it.  :D

6 pack of diet coke + box of ammo + a lot of loud bangs (the noise would void the need for caution tape) = no more problem

[Out On A Limb]

Thanks for everyone's input...  I really enjoyed reading many of the replies!  I think I'll take everyone's advise and get an expert to do the job...  Thanks again!