Thread: Large ash, mission acomplished

My buddy and I have been cutting some elm and small ash trees for next year at a farmyard that is going to be bull-dozed. There was also two large ash that had died. I finally convinced him that we needed to tackle the one behind the house. It measured 3 feet DBH. It took us two days, but we finally got it done. It is the largest tree that I have cut so far.

Here is a pic of my 6 year-old daughter standing by one of the rounds that was probably twelve feet off of the ground. She hates it if I go out to cut wood without her and actually is a pretty good helper. Pic is from my phone, so not very good quality.



I think we got at least 3 cords off of it and it's nice that it is ready to burn. There was a poison ivy vine growing on it, but it was really dry and I haven't broke out yet, which is amazing, because I have had it 8 times in the last 10 years.

Nice work! That's some beautiful wood. Those rounds will split and stack so nicely.

There is nothing better than having the kids help. My 9 yr old likes to help, but his younger brother absolutely loves it. Teaching the kids about work is important. Enjoy it because there is no telling what will happen when they become teenagers!
Dok

Great score! Can't beat that kind of find. Alway's fun to have the helpers along.

whoever it was running the saw that made that back cut please, never ever ever run a saw again. look at that stump!

one of you guys are seriously going to get hurt.

dirty, I apprecieate your concern, but I don't know what you mean. Tree dropped exactly where it was intended, and I mean exactly. The hinge was perfect. The back cut ended up a little higher than it would have been because of the little tree behind it. I used wedges and the drop was awesome. What do you think the problem is?

You can't really see what the stump looks like in that pic because of the shadows and saw in the way.

if that is the stump behind little man's head with the bar oil on it. look at the height of the backcut compared to the face cut. and crooked cuts... looks like a deep face cut.

never mind bud. running a saw is fun right!?

Originally Posted by oldirty

never mind bud. running a saw is fun right!?

Ouch!

Actually, I'm with oldirty. It worked out this time, but . . .

She's a girl, lol. Yeah, deep face cut. Cuts not as crooked as you think. Keep in mind almost 40 inch diameter where face cut was with a 20 inch bar. I don't mind the critiqe, that's how you learn and one reason I post here. That little tree in the back would have made it impossible to cut if I went any lower. Didn't realize that until face was open. I couldn't cut it down without dropping it on the house. I made the cut and stepped back and watched it fall. I couldn't imagine it going any better than it did. What problems are presented by what you are finding wrong? Tell me how I should have done it better, thanks.

Originally Posted by Mntn Man

That little tree in the back would have made it impossible to cut if I went any lower. Didn't realize that until face was open.

I'm a photographer, so I know how photos can be deceiving.

Now, I'm not trying to lecture. It's always hard to give advice online when you don't know the fella you're talking to, so don't take any of this personally (considering your attitude, I don't think you will). And I may be off base myself.

That being said, felling a large tree (cripes, most any tree) requires a person to consider all things beforehand. You dropped it in the right direction this time, and that's a success. But opening a face before realizing there are other factors is a mistake that could cost you big in the future.

If there are smaller supplemental shoots/trunks with a big tree, they gotta come out first. Once they are out and pulled away, reassess the tree and gauge its weight distribution, any weak portions of the trunk/stump, the wind, all the things you assessed before you pulled out the garbage around the tree. Perspectives can change after you clear the way.

You are right, I won't take it personally. I don't like it if someone says "you are an idiot, don't run a saw again". Saying "you would have been better off doing this, just be careful" is another thing.

I would never attempt to drop a tree that I wasn't confident I could do it successfully.

Keep in mind, you have no idea the size and shape of the canopy. There was a huge branch hanging out the direction we wanted it to go with two branches on the other side, smaller, going pretty straight up. We cleared trees the first day so it wouldn't have a chance to hang. It landed perfectly in the opening we created. I looked at the little tree and didn't see a problem. A mistake realized too late, probably, but really it wasn't a big deal. I liked having the extra room for the hinge since it was so large any way. I had planned on using my wedges and that part was perfect. I was able to walk away and and watch it start to slowly fall.

I want to know why the back cut being so high is a no-no. I want to be as safe as possible out there so any feedback would be helpful. I thought that it is a good thing, because it catches the trunk at the hinge and prevents a kick back.

Originally Posted by Mntn Man

dirty, I apprecieate your concern, but I don't know what you mean. Tree dropped exactly where it was intended, and I mean exactly. The hinge was perfect. The back cut ended up a little higher than it would have been because of the little tree behind it. I used wedges and the drop was awesome. What do you think the problem is?

oldirty is right.

I am glad the tree went well. Good to see you got some nice clear wood. Nice kid as well.

I am concerned about your safety. No one should mock your cut, but it wasn't proper, in a few ways. There are a few pictures here, and on the 'net.

Good luck to you.

Clearance, thanks, but you aren't telling me anything. I have watched videos on youtube, pics on here, etc., and my personal experiences. "in a few ways", details would be appreciated.

At least I was wearing my chaps.

Alrighty then. I have left some stumps that were not good, everyone has.

I like my stumps to show a undercut that is 1/3 of the way into the tree, the flat cut being level, and the two cuts meeting, with no dutchman.
The backcut being slightly higher than the undercut (about 1" on your tree, for example), and also level.
The holding wood to be even, or more left on the off lean side, without the corners being cut off.

Thats about it for almost all of them.