dropping double rooted tree

PerfectedFlooring

I need to cut a large black birch, it starts as a single tree with a diamater of 28'' or so then at the 6 foot mark it splits into two both 15'' and leaning the same direction. Both are 50+ feet tall.

Should I drop both in one shot or should I be on a ladder 6' off the ground doing one at a time?

I was considering goin up a ladder with my saw making my wedge, starting my backcut then taking my 14' pole saw to finish the backcut so I can be on the ground out of the way of danger and able to move if needed.

stirmantrees

pictures??
I would be careful making any critical cuts on top of a ladder. Without seeing the tree and the union of the codominate stems it is difficult to make any usefull comments. Many of novice men have fallen to injury because they work off of ladders.
Personally I think it is alot easier to stay safe on the ground(usually) than it is to wield a saw on top of a ladder. To big a notch and all of a sudden your saw is pinched. A little hesitation and perhaps the tree folds over and wham!
pictures would be nice

Garry Brockley

Something tells me you want pictures stirmantrees

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Eric Frei

I'd like to know how you make a horizontal back cut with a pole saw from the ground when the cut is 14' up above you. Bugger the ladder, use the magic carpet! LOL

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stirmantrees

maybe

rbtree

Making face cuts while on a ladder can be dicey......but the backcut as described would be fine....but pretty slow with a pole saw.

However, typically, split birch are quite strong in the union area, so it should be fine to fell them together, as long as they both have favor the same direction.

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PerfectedFlooring

Thanks for the replies, I will take some pics when I go back to drop it. I went and stacked up the wood from the rest of the tree job today the trees are a bit bigger than I thought and its a golden birch.

I spoke with a more experienced cutter than myself and he recommended wrapping a 20' chain right where it begins to split a bunch of times and padalocking it together. Then he said just make cuts as low to the ground as possible and drop both at once.

Either that or I was gonna try to drop one of the trees then the other. I dont like the ladder so I would stand on a 24" large unsplit stove length and make my wedge at the 8' mark, then I'd start my backcut till I was fairly close and finish it off with my 14' electric pole saw.

The base is large and solid. At the 5' mark it splits into two they are conjoined (not sure how strong) up until the 7-8 foot mark then it begins to open up. Both trees are 50' plus. They are leaning generaly in the same direction

Eric Frei

Yeah, sounds the go .... go as close to the ground as possible.

Get those two stems tied together as high as possible.

Listen.... I guess they're leaning the way you want to drop them right?

If so, you really should be bore cutting this one through and leaving a strap release, this technique will also help keep the trees together beside taking out and barber chair possibilities.

You need to make sure your saw has a bar long enough for the plunge cut, set up the hinge, cut toward the back of the tree, stop say 6" short. Then you pull your saw out and cut from the back of the tree (like a traditional back cut) just below the bore cut to release the tree, use your escape path and get away from there.

Here's a thread on the technique.

Video|bore cut strap release for forward leaners

And it's always good to read.

Guides to Proper Tree Felling - USA & NZ & BC

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rbtree

ekka, one thing that isn't often discussed...when finishing off a bore cut, there's really no reason to leave a strap cut and finish from the back. Just continue the cut from front to back, straight out.

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Eric Frei

Two very important reasons.

1/ Timed release, cutting the strap is your trigger to release the tree. You are better prepared.

2/ Your saw is on the outside of the tree, any twisting or splitting will not jam your saw.

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rbtree

Actually, neither point is really valid, nor does it matter, imo. Cut out the back fast, and the bar leaves the cut as the tree breaks.....

Try it sometime......

Personally, I don't bore cut much anyhow....

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Eric Frei

I have, you assumed I had not.

This particular tree is codominant, by doing a strap release he's way better off ergonomically and for preparedness/escape.

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PerfectedFlooring

I dropped both trees today. I wrapped a thick 30' chain around it and linked it on itself. I then used a ratchet strap to make sure it stayed where I wanted it. I tied a rope at about the 25 foot mark on the tree that would gety the backcut.I made a humungous wedge, I'll measure the trunk tomorrow but my 18" bar couldnt do it in two cuts. Then made 75% of my backcut and used my pickup to get a good pull on it. I cut another few inches out and pounded in several wedges to keep the weight from being able to kick towards the woods. Finished my cut from the back and dropped both trees as one right on top of each other right in the backyard.

The most difficult drop I've ever done, took me about 35 minutes of cutting and about 45 minutes of rope work, wedge work, ladders and thinking.

Eric Frei

What!

No pictures.

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