Stacking wedges in felling tree

[Kenzen]

I was wanting to use stacking wedges in helping fell a tree.  Have heard that one can either plunge cut above or below your felling cut and put wedges in the plunge cut such in as the pic.  So any advise in best way of doing this

 

[beenthere]

Looks like it might work, but they would be hard to hit individually to drive them in.

[Autocar]

I just stack two wedges on top of each other and drive them into the cut if one dosen't lift it enough. Iam not sure how your way will help but not a expert on that type of lifting.

[CCC4]

Thats a new one on me for sure. I don't see the advantage. I will stack them like Autocar suggested but I can't get my head around the 4 wedges. Looks to me like if you had a bad back lean you were wedgeing against that those 4 essentially kerfs would work against themselves on lifting. I am curious to hear what other people have to say, it's interesting for sure.

It looks from the pic that your back cut is minimal and you will run out of lift. What kind of face is in that cut?

[Maine372]

been there, done that. its a pain but it does work.

the easier method is this - drive one wedge all the way. cut a slice about the thickness of the butt end of the wedge from something small, like 3-4in. use that as a spacer and drive the second wedge. rinse and repeat as needed.

[Jeff]

Kenzen, is that your photo or did you lift it from another website?

[june]

sorry i never saw that . i use for big threes two wedges on the sides  and a thicker iron wedge on the back and it always work for me.

or push it with the skidder

[SFires]

Looks to me that the amount of "lift" each wedge could make would be limited by a plunge cut off me if that makes any sense to anyone. Seems a shallow cross cut would be better to allow more lift  but I guess that could also possible cause a chunk to break out the back side.  Curious to see how it works. Let u know how it goes if you try it

[redprospector]

I don't see the practicality of it. Why not just drive in 1 wedge to get a little lift, and then stack up a couple more in the same cut if needed. That should give about 2 1/2" of lift. If that isn't enough there are lots of other things that can be done without boring 3 slots in a stump.

[John Mc]

the easier method is this - drive one wedge all the way. cut a slice about the thickness of the butt end of the wedge from something small, like 3-4in. use that as a spacer and drive the second wedge. rinse and repeat as needed.

That's how I do it. Driving the second wedge on top of the cookie frees up the first wedge. If the second wedge doesn't tip it over, cut another thicker cookie to slip into the gap, and pound the first wedge in on top of that.

Another benefit: a wedge on top of a cookie is far less likely to spit back out of the back cut than two wedges stacked on top of each other.

[Peter Drouin]

Never seen a thing like that.
And by the time you had all the wedges in I would have the tree on the ground.

[Spartan]

Never seen a thing like that.
And by the time you had all the wedges in I would have the tree on the ground.

And the next one too!

[SineWave]

Bailey's "rifled" falling wedges are nice for stacking. The "rifling" keeps them stacked by keeping them from squirming out...

[loggerman1959]

I think that's over complicating things . Put two wedges together , sandwich  a little sawdust in between for stickiness , and drive them into the back of the tree . If that don't work use that big john deere wedge and push it over .

[BradMarks]

East and West agree!  Loggerman's solution of sawdust for stacking wedges works, without bringing into play the hardness of the wedge. But, use two of the same type.

[treeslayer2003]

good tip on the saw chips, i'll try that. normally what i do is start three side by side but only drive the two outer ones, then when i stack the middle they can't slip side ways.

how can ya push a tree heavier than the skidder?

[SineWave]

how can ya push a tree heavier than the skidder?

Gears / leverage / mechanical advantage?

How can a 16# sledge with a 2 ounce wedge push over a 2-ton tree?

You're not trying to lift the tree, just tilt it. Half the tree is being "lifted" but the other half is being lowered.

[OH logger]

if you stack the two wedges at a 90 degree angle they don't pop out very often at all. pound one then the other and repeat

[thecfarm]

I have used 6 inch wooden wedges made from a dead white maple. My Father and me did not want to flatten out a bunch of small trees so I pounded about 8-10 wedges for a good half hour. I can still hear my Father swearing at that tree and wondering why the DanG thing did not just tip over. 

[GAB]

how can ya push a tree heavier than the skidder?

Gears / leverage / mechanical advantage?

I think you should add hydraulics to your list.
Gerald