I did it my self

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beav700

ArboristSite Lurker
Joined
Oct 9, 2009
Messages
48
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Location
PA
So I bought a house in the sticks that had trees towering all around with mold problems, moisture all around, no sunlight, no wind, branches and debris dropping on the roof. Trees cracking in the ice/snow storms, hanging over the house, making us sleep in the basement. Enough was enough. I posted here couple years ago looking for prices. Got two quotes by local guys. One quote was over $11,000 and the other quote was $9600 for taking about 25 trees down (more than originally planned) , removing the wood and grinding 3 stumps that were in the middle of the yard. Most trees were white pine over 75' tall and about 5-6 would have to be cut piece by piece by climbing and rigging the trees. Possibly more money for lowering power lines for one day.

Even though I could afford to have them do it, after a year I decided that this could not be all that difficult and it would take me no more than couple weekends. Boy was I wrong. I watched hundreds of youtube videos, bought some books, then bought climbing gear, ropes, partawrap, blocks, winches, 3 chainsaws. Total about $1000 from SherillTree. It all looked so easy.

Never cut a single tree down in my life, living in the city, working desk job, but being an engineer I though, hey it's all about mass and center of gravity. This was a first tree I dropped. It was a heavy leaner but it was the only tree leaning away from my house. I wrapped some extra rope near my cut in case of barber chairs. Got a perfect hinge on my first tree.

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Unfortunately, this was the only tree leaning away as all others were going towards the sun growing over my house. It was time to start climbing. Had to use my bicycle helmet but bought proper helmet the next week. Climbed, rigged and lowered 3 trees. Wife helped working the portawrap. First climb.

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Removing the stumps was more work than cutting down the trees. I had to dig around, expose as much of the stump as possible, and just keep on cutting, Lots of sharpening with rocks all around. This was a monster pine. It took me 15 hours just to get this thing 6" below the ground level. Could do it in couple hours with stump grinder but noooo. Had to do it my self with chain saw and shovel.

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I have a wood stove so picked up electric log splitter last year from Craigslist for $100. This thing splits everything and keeps on smiling. No more paying for wood. It's pine but it's free. Just have to clean my chimney more often as I try to make the pine burn as long as possible.

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So last winter I took 6 trees down, split and stacked and I burned about half of it by now. Warm winter. This winter I had to finish this job. With no snow on the ground I started in January and just finished it. Had to climb another 3 trees and rigged a zip line to move the cut sections away from the 10000 volts power lines. Then dropped about 20 trees by climbing 3/4 way up, installing the ropes, using two 5 ton manual winches I placed the trees exactly where I wanted them. On the east side of my house I had only one place to drop the trees. Had a house, power lines, driveway, septic, leaving only one area. But even there I had to watch out for my stacked wood pile. With lots of winching and cutting and winching I dropped about 15 trees all in the same spot even though they were leaning towards my house or the power lines.

Rigging the trees.

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The pile up.

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Just finished slicing everything this weekend. I have another pile like that on the west side of the house. This wood will last me at least another 5 seasons. $5000 savings on top of $9600 I didn't spend.

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This whole project was a toughest thing I ever had to do. I never once got hurt but I can see how easy it is to get in trouble being 80' in the air, running a chain saw, having branches and logs swing around. I know I could have done the job in half the time, but I always had extra ropes, extra tie ins, checking everything twice, looking at every branch for minutes trying to figure out how it's going to swing, where it's going to fall.

The physical part of the climbing was kicking my .... I have been a gym rat my whole life, also a triathlete where I race 4-5 races pear year and training almost everyday. I had pains I never felt before, My hands and arms were numb, blisters from ropes, my legs all bruised up from tree gaffs. But I'm glad I did it. Now I help others (for free) that have trees to remove and enjoy being up in the trees but I'll keep my desk job. I could never do this 8-10 hours a day. Just being up in a tree for 2 hours wears me down. You guys are tough cookies for sure.
 
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Here are the photos of some the trees I took down. Open sky is sure nice after living in mushroom land. Second image has a rope near the top tying both halfs of the tree. That tree when loaded with snow would spread twice as wide with one half hanging over the house, the other over the power lines. Also low voltage power lined below it. That was my temporary fix till i took the tree down

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It's a lot of work, liability and personal risk. I imagine you can see why prices are high now.

I've got a question though, Why not go rent a stump grinder instead of working yourself to death hacking that thing out of the ground?
 
Nice pictures and really impressive experience!!! Thanks for sharing as I really enjoyed reading what you did and went through!!!
 
Another question, have you used that electric splitter on any hardwood yet? I've never used one or seen one work. Just curious.
 
Is that a bicycle helmet you have on there? Way to go on the stumps I can tell you've done that before:msp_ohmy:
 
WOW! Good job! We dont need anymore HO's like u! We will be outa biznaaaas.
 
Nice job man you even got your pads on the right way, now keep it down we dont want the secret getting out.
 
WOW, Very impressive!!! Good job! You have an amazing wife to let you cut your teeth around your house.... HEHEHE. Seeing those pics along with your story put a big smile on my face. Again,Good job!
 
First time, really???

beav700,
You are without a doubt a very rare exception. Taking on a job like that being your very first time using any kind of
tree cutting/rigging equipment is amazing to say the least. :msp_scared: Sounds like you did your research. Well done!!!
When I started reading I was sure it would end like most every other home owner first time cutting a tree, with disaster,
or worse! You have my respect. :msp_thumbsup:
Work safe! ::thumbsup::
 
EEyup, u shore did... do it by yorself that is. And a good job of it too. That exactly how i would have handled it BUT I wouldn't have bothered telling a bunch of filthy old tree bubbas first. You rock princess

:rock:
 
Cheers to you on getting it done without harm to person or property. Though I don't like your apples to oranges comparison of the quotes you received which included cleanup and stump grinding. Two parts of the job that are very labor/equipment intensive. If you really wanted to compare the value you received compared to hiring it out you would have done well to get quotes to just put them on the ground, then weigh that vs. what you spent on books, saws and gear. You would have seen comparable rates, I'm sure. Once you start calculating in your time researching, risk to your life and property, I'm 100% positive you would have come out better hiring a pro.
 
Cheers to you on getting it done without harm to person or property. Though I don't like your apples to oranges comparison of the quotes you received which included cleanup and stump grinding. Two parts of the job that are very labor/equipment intensive. If you really wanted to compare the value you received compared to hiring it out you would have done well to get quotes to just put them on the ground, then weigh that vs. what you spent on books, saws and gear. You would have seen comparable rates, I'm sure. Once you start calculating in your time researching, risk to your life and property, I'm 100% positive you would have come out better hiring a pro.

Good points and all but this was a learning experience for the guy - he WANTED it. You know how that goes.
 
Here are the photos of some the trees I took down. Open sky is sure nice after living in mushroom land. Second image has a rope near the top tying both halfs of the tree. That tree when loaded with snow would spread twice as wide with one half hanging over the house, the other over the power lines. Also low voltage power lined below it. That was my temporary fix till i took the tree down

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IMGP4277.jpg

Yeah, that second tree looks bad. Good work and all but you're not a tree man til you're down to the bone and half bled out.:msp_thumbup:
 
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