[Closed] Tree Surgeons? Will I die if I try this?

As a layman, your're going to pull it towards you whilst sitting in a tractor/4x4....?? 😯

You might be able to twist it around but really it needs a proper job - don't underestimate how heavy these things are!

I'd imagine they'd cut it in steps from the stump end but no expert..

You are going to die eventually whatever happens. Might as well take the tree down.

I'd be inclined to rope it as high as possible, get a friend to pull it away from the pool house and then climb up it, using your weight to pull it the rest of the way down (shouting "weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee" as the tree falls is optional, but recommended.)

I say go for it. Just make sure the rope is longer than the tree is tall. What's the worst that can happen? So long as it doesn't involve anyone getting squished, then crack on...

as soon as you put any strain on it via the rope the end you're sawing may decide to let go and ping up taking your chainsaw and/or face with it.

personally, I'd pay someone who knew what they were doing to have a go.

They'll have insurance to cover tractor/4x4/poolhouse/face replacement as well.

User the tractor and a big rope to move the Pool House instead!

I'd get a pro in. That's not an easy one to get right, especially by yourself. Ideally I reckon you'd want to be pulling it as its being cut, but a small mistake on the rope tension and its bye bye pool house.... worth the risk?

As a layman, your're going to pull it towards you whilst sitting in a tractor/4x4....??

Even if the rope is around the roots, if it's longer than the tree itself, then shirly no problem with being squashed?*

(* - other problems with this job are available)

Can't really help, but as a happy amateur, looks like one of those hang-ups that I would cause with a badly placed hinge that takes ages to drop safely. Video of the final solution please 🙂

Whatever you do, video it! 😀

Whatever you do, just remember to get someone to video it - Could end up on you've been framed !

Just drop kick the son of a bitch down.

In my professional opinion you need explosives.

A few hundred quid to pay someone to do it or a pretty good chance of serious injury.

Hire in Chuck Norris?

Best all round if you move out and I move in.

I'd put a rope around it as high as you can and have a go at pulling it to see if it's all feasible...if it looks good then I think your idea [s]CANNOT FAIL[/s] should be OK....I'd use a bloody long rope though so you're nowhere near it when it breaks.

Oh and I am thinking tree surgeons will be hard to come by in the next few weeks...

serious suggestion - would your buildings insurance cover it?

Whatever you do, video it!

^^This please.

Mcmoonter converts pool house into yet another log store!

hire one of these

If it was me, I had access to a tractor, chainsaw rope and reasonably useful mates, I would be all over this. So long as you think one step ahead, think about where the energy transfer is, respect the weight of the tree and the cutting gear, and take careful precautions for all of the above, then why part with cash? The satisfaction of getting it done will be worth it alone. It's proper [b]bloke[/b] stuff, isn't it? (so long as you still have a face)

I'm not a pro but applying a bit of sense...

1. Check home insurance.......
2. Get advice from a pro. or ask a pro (who will have insurance), to do it... .. working with windblown and hung up trees with a mate who knew this stuff, windblown trees were quite unpredictable in which way they went and how the broken bits behaved, especially at the nasty/chainsaw where your standing, end...
3. Very big tractor and rope sounds a good idea and it looks like there is good access from your pictures... you may just be able to drag it rather than cutting it which may be more controllable and safest at the end of a rope, in a tractor....

If the big tractor has a hydraulic winch you could just drag it from the base having tied guy lines to prevent it from falling on the pool hut?

We have a candidate for the 2012 Darwin Award already.

If you can afford a pool house you can afford an expert who is insured. Are you insured if you cock it up? Will your insurance company pay out if you drop the tree on your "pool house". Also they would [u]probably[/u] pay for someone to come and cut it down as this [u]maybe[/u] a claimable item.

serious suggestion - would your buildings insurance cover it?

Its a buckshee building with no planning consent so the insurance company would just laugh at it.

I'm with V8 ninety on this. Access is good from the pulling side. I have some super strong webbing strops. I was having doubts about using the cabless Fergie. But with a big tractor and some common sense it has to be doable.

Ohh no - not the Ferris Bueller's Day Off house!!!!

You have get up there to put the rope/chain round thats the dangerous bit, so cherry picker maybe worth looking at? PS everything is

doable

Pulled a tree out of the ground with a bigger trunk than that over the Christmas holidays.
Used a spade and axe around the roots, tied a rope 5 meters up and pulled it over with a tractor.
Tree was close to a building one side but had no issues with it going the 'wrong way' Got lots of logs for the fire now though

Video'd it too

As a tree climber of seven years, turning up to that first thing in the morning would have me scratching my beard.

Things to consider: the root plate is acting as a counter weight: as the weight is removed, it may try to sit up again, pinching the saw if you carry out the gob it up, and cut from behind.

With my health and safety hat on, I'd want a mewp to dismantle the crown before tackling the stem. With my self employed hat on, I'd prolly try and dismantle it top down from the adjacent tree.

Look like ash, correct? Straight grain see, notorious for barber chairing, hmmm... still scratching.

Where are you, can I come round and watch!

Fishing rod and line to get a rope over the tree as high as possible and then pull 90 degrees to the trunk and hope it swivels on the root ball....

Like V8 says, think it through carefully if your going to use a chain saw on the base.... and mates is a good idea.... and dont forget your escape route if it goes a bit pete tong....

v8ninety - Member

then why part with cash?

The satisfaction of getting it done will be worth it alone.

It's proper bloke stuff, isn't it?

I'm a lumberjack and I'm okay
I sleep all night and I work all day
He's a lumberjack and he's okay
He sleeps all night and he works all day

I cut down trees, I eat my lunch
I go to the lavat'ry
On Wednesdays I go shopping
And have buttered scones for tea
He cuts down trees...
He's a lumberjack...

I cut down trees, I skip and jump
I like to press wild flow'rs
I put on women's clothing
And hang around in bars
He cuts down trees...
He's a lumberjack...

I cut down trees, I wear high heels
Suspendies and a bra
I wish I'd been a girlie
Just like my dear papa
He cuts down trees...
He's a lumberjack...

WAHH! And I thought you were so RUGGED!

yeah, big tractor, big rope as high up as possible, gob it 90 degrees to the pool house, REALLY thick hinge, and lots of video 🙂

Damion

I had a horrible experience with a root root plate pulling the stump vertical once before. That freaked me senseless.

I dont think it is an Ash.

I'll do a bit some more head scratching before I try anything heroic.

I'm in Fife.

I'll do a bit some more head scratching before I try anything [s]heroic[/s] horrific

FIFY !

Pretty windy here in Musselburgh today... think there were bits flying off TJ's roof too

Hire a telescopic chainsaw and take it down in sections.

...pinching the saw if you carry out the gob it up...

...notorious for barber chairing...

Wow! It's like a different language bearing a tree surgeon.

If you've got some rope use it to keep the tree upright by pulling it back a bit/tying it off

[url= http://www.history.com/shows/ax-men/articles/glossary-of-logging-terms ] Don't be a lumber bumbler...[/url]

Might be beech, hard to tell from behind my desk. If it is, safe as houses ;D

Hmmm... what could possibly go wrong...? Seriously though, there is only one outcome that would seem desirable, and achieving it will take some skill/ luck no matter what gear you have and the number of "[i]proper [b]bloke[/b]s[/i]" you involve. Dealing with hanging trees is not much fun at the best of times, as you say 'hoping' for the best really isn't the best approach.

Given the limited assessment possible through photos, my advice would be, get a pro in ASAP. In the meantime if you can possibly make the area more secure short term/ remove anything under threat without endangering yourself, do that. There might be ways that doing what you describe [i]could[/i] be made to work, (same with Damien's suggestions) but I would no way advise that over the net.

You might look at it like this - You haven't lost the pool house (seriously?? pool house??) [i]yet[/i]. If you take it on, you stand a good chance of losing the pool house, whilst potentially putting yourself and any others helping out in a life threatening situation. Under other circumstances it might have fallen with those consequences already - don't act in panic and do anything too hasty and you might get out of this with your pool house and one of your nine lives preserved. That might seem overly cautious to some of the heroes on here, but then all my radcore skillz are in high demand for the "Xtreme" sport of mountain biking - I don't want to risk spreading them too thinly.

jon1973 - Member
We have a candidate for the 2012 Darwin Award already.

We also have a candidate for "thinks something's a Darwin Award when he clearly knows nothing about it".

As it is [at the moment 😯 ] it's not actually over the building? Prop it below the canopy then take it out in sections from the top down. Job for a pro I'd say.

Edit: Shame - I've had 3 tree surgeons in to the sawmills this morning who I could have shown this to for their opinions. If I see anymore today / tommorrow (and remember!), I'll ask them...

Id definitely take it on. But probably have a couple of mates in for spotting and back up.
But I like a challenge and you dont learn if you dont play.

From this side of the computer screen Id say it was a beech. Its likely to do some pretty unpredictable things as the crown is hung up in that pine. Hard to know how much weight is in that pine and how much is still being held by the rootball...

Whatever its a pretty weighty piece of timber. Any hardwood you are looking at around 30kg per cubic foot. Wind blows are never that simple and particularly tricky when youve got a building right below it. Best to call in the pros to take a look at this one I think.

I think we're looking at this all wrong...

You need to build a big helmet for the house... saved my noggin when I crashed into a tree.

Alternatively... do you have a large set of Bombers?

Seems like an opportunity for a party, lots of STWers bring ropes, chain saws, beer and whisky and trail centre armour. What's the worst that could happen?

Could do a straight pull if you could get a cable of a winch high enough in the crown of the windblow and pull it straight again and back over (with the rootball still attached) - depends how easy it moves. Once youve started to move it with a winch though you are pretty committed. Id be pretty reluctant to cut the stem unless I knew a winch was on a bomber anchor. Only thing is cutting the stem could free the crown - tricky!

I went back up to have a look just now. I figure with a loadall I could get at least 2/3 the way up to fix a line. There is a tree lined corridor it could fall into if we could pull it straight back. The loadall would be on hard standing so it should provide a consistant pull. Probably not as controllable as a winch though.

I'll speak to the farmer tomorrow.

What's the worst that could happen?

Up the conifer, rope both tops together. Sever the windblow, fell the pine away from the house using the rope to guide it. Done it before, it'll probably work.

the problem with a loadall is that if the boom grip snags on the tree rack, then the orbital crank might heave which could cause the mantle to jump off the stack and you're back where you've started, only your loadall crank train will need replacing

the slow, painful death of a big hitter.

True, but what a funeral pyre we could have......

But I like a challenge and you dont learn if you dont play.

Call in a pro who'll let you help under their guidance. Trial and error isn't the best way to learn everything. 🙂

Fool proof method. Take a bearing to get the exact direction the tree is falling in. Go out for a bike ride, an hour or two should do, in a straight line 180 degrees against that bearing. Turn around and ride back along the bearing. Instantly the wind will change and you'll be heading back into the same wind as you struggled against for the last hour. The same wind will then be putting the tree straight again.

While the kettle's boiling for a post ride cuppa, stamp around the root ball with a big pair of boots and then water well. Stake if you want to be belt and braces.

Simple.

If the pool room's 12 o'clock and the tree' 6 o'clock. Pull the tree from 8/9 o'clock while felling the tree towards about 10 o'clock! All times aprox!! Not the best piccy's to really get the full gist!!! But I does do's tree's as a pro like!!!!

What's the worst that could happen?

the slow, painful death of a big hitter.

Big hitter? Is flattered. 🙂 Not flattened! 😯

I wish i was a tree surgeon

I like FFs idea ^^ but whatever you do, don't use the fergie - just too light and it could flip which would kill you to death. Borrow a bigger 4wd tractor and pull slow.
Let us know how you get on and take pics 🙂

Big hitter? Is flattered.

sorry not you, I was referring to iDave's post about getting more STWers involved. hopefully there would be a big hitter in attendance to hold the plastic explosives in place.

you dont learn if you dont play

Normally I'd be a big fan of the "[i]give it a go[/i]" approach, but then you factor in a rapidly moving chainsaw blade and several tons of unpredictable timber...

you dont learn if you dont play

Stoner is at ideological war with the HSE. 😉

We had a similar tree summerhouse situation some years ago the estate worker tried to pull a leaning tree with his tractor only to find he hadn't enough traction. the tree was slowly pulling the tractor backwards and descending onto the summerhouse. We were called and without much time for head scratching rigged some wire ropes from other trees to pull and swing the leaner. With our big tractor we pulled flat out while estate bod declutched. **** me big tractor shot forward, tree swung, 90hp tractor +estate bod jumped backwards about 4 metres in about 1 second, a real heart pumping moment and we got away with it, no one hurt, summer house ok nothing on the road no broken tractors only estate bods bullish ego punctured,ha! Lessons learnt he rarely attempts tricky fells any more.Be very carefull get your plan together and all machinary on site before you start.Have fun ( Nb Not my estate or summer house or even qualified in these matters )

Hard to say from some pics but I think I'd be hiring a big tracked cherrypicker (assuming access is ok) to nibble away at it from the top. Once the crown is off then maybe tie onto the tractor and pull the remainder down.

Always plenty doom mongers on these threads 🙂

The pictures suggest its at about 60 degrees or less. I reckon a straight back pull would require a bloody heavy and strong 4wd tractor. Swinging it would be preferable, but it look like you'd have to fell a couple of other trees first.

Bung it up on Arbtalk for some proper advice

[i]Once the crown is off [/i]

it'll flick back to vertical taking you and the cherry picker with it...

I measured the base of the trunk at about 50cm. It tapers a fair bit towards the top. There will be a couple of tons in it, while it's tall, it's not like a mature elm or beech.

I'm sure the farm has 100hp+ tractors. They pull trailers with nearly twenty round bales on them across fields. I doubt the tree would weigh more than a couple of tons.

A side pull would be near impossible.

I reckon if you go on a mountain bike forum to ask whether this is something you can tackle yourself you have answered your own question. 🙂

Dig out under the roots on the side away from the building, then give it a bit of a tug with the tractor.

Just get it done mate, carefully. Ignore the 'get a man in' types they're obviously city dwellers or aggrieved tree surgeons that don't want you pinching their work. enjoy it, look after yourself and make sure you've got plenty of strong lines, heavy machines and horsepower on hand before you start. Take care and keep the tree's height away from the base when you are pulling, then the worst that can happen is you lose the buckshee poolhut (but unlikely, you seem to be thinking before acting).

Good luck and let us know how you get on...

EDIT; oh yeah and SD-253 what's the matter with you, didn't your dad hug you enough when you were little? Twit.

Is it appropriate to ask;

What tyres for a tree pulling tractor?

Once the crown is off

it'll flick back to vertical taking you and the cherry picker with it...

If you are very dense, yes that is what will happen.

It doesn't take much studying to figure out which way it may ping once the weight of the crown is off.

re tyres big ones full of water as ballast 😀

Any chance of borrowing one/ some tirfor hand winches and pully blocks you might be able to set them up where a tractor cannot get and be able to pull in the right direction. Provided you can get a strong enough ground anchor.

Any chance of borrowing one/ some tirfor hand winches

I used to have one when I stayed on Orkney. I seldom used it and gave it to a friend before I came South. Since then I could have used it a dozen times.

I'll see if I cant hire one in town. There are plent of other trees I could anchor it to.

How about a very long, strong bungee? Tie one end as high up the tree as you can and the other end to the biggest tractor you can find. Next drive the tractor out as far as you dare and wait to see what happens. For more excitement, put a big bucket of cow poo on the tree for crap flinging silliness.

Oh, and video it too!

I would love to have a go at this. I chopped about 6 trees down in my garden last year using this sort of method but instead of a tractor I used my brother.

I say full size tractor, strong as you like and very long rope, and pull it at about 100-120 deg away from the pool house, I would say 90 deg is to tight. Ideally you will need the tractor to pull the rope tight but not bend the tree too much, then you can cut a wedge as you finish it you will need to signal the driver do drive on and pull it away from the pool house. Spotters and guide ropes will make your life easier.

how is the tree-pool house relationship this morning?

Best bit about this thread (for me at least) has to be this:

the problem with a loadall is that if the boom grip snags on the tree rack, then the orbital crank might heave which could cause the mantle to jump off the stack and you're back where you've started, only your loadall crank train will need replacing

No idea what it means, which cheers me up immensely. Something new and engineeringy to learn about 🙂

In your own time OP....