Is there anything better.....

TheRogue · 06-03-2006, 07:30 PM

......than falling a tree....a decent size one, and land it where you want it?

I sure miss it. I grew up in a logging family, could run a powersaw about the same time I learned ride a bike. My career as a land surveyor had me operating a lot of saws, but mostly small brush and reprod (then I hit the office, and grew a belly, what's up with that!).

Today, I got to fall about an 18" dbh fir, had to land it between another tree and a house. Went slick, just where it was supposed to. Had to high stump it, so I was covered in sawdust and bar oil......what wonderful smells!!!

Fell lots and lots and lots of trees over the years, from 80 inch Cedars to slashing alder clumps, but that was one of the most satisfying. I know there's guys on here who do it for a living....if you've never fell trees, ya just don't know.

TR

freespool · 06-03-2006, 08:30 PM

Hi ho in the hemlocks, daylight in the swamp.
I've dropped my share of trees, nothing over 60in.
Falling big alder can be mighty spooky, many a faller are 6ft under, falling alder.

salmon hugger

Rank Amateur · 06-03-2006, 08:40 PM

Yep, definately not a place for a small face and a dull chain.

2LEYS · 06-03-2006, 08:56 PM

My dad fell trees for close to 40 years until an injury (luckily just an injury) put him out of it. My grandfather was killed in a logging accident.

I went to work with my dad several times growing up. He would tell me to go move the gas, oil, water and jacks up the hill a ways. I was a physically fit, athletic 16 year old and I could barely keep up with my 57 year old dad. definetely tough work.

He let me fall a few big trees though, and it is cool. Watching those monsters rip through the canopy on there way daown. What a show of power. And I can still remember the smells. The way my dad's truck and clothes used to smell. Nothing like it.

larryb · 06-03-2006, 08:58 PM

when i cut alder i always wrapped it with a chain it saved me more than once

TheRogue · 06-04-2006, 06:42 AM

Alder is the scariest, especially anything with a lean to it.....and it seems like all alder is leaning somewhere!!!

Big wide open face, not directly with the lean, and a VERY sharp saw, cut like heck. Otherwise barberchairs galore, and that's the danger of alder.

TR

Birdnest · 06-04-2006, 07:28 AM

Interesting topic. I have 5 acres with a creek running through the bottom. The area down by the creek is full of alder and blackberries. I have been pulling the smaller ones out with the tractor(like the big weeds they are). My goal is to thin out all but the largest ones and replant the area with maples, ash, oak, etc.

So is the main danger trying to control the direction of fall with alder? The don't seem to be shy about droping branches. Other than not falling on me, I don't care which way they fall. Any safety advice?

Joe

TheRogue · 06-04-2006, 07:37 AM

They're very brittle, whether dead or alive. The more they lean, the more dangerous they are. I highly reccomend having someone who's experienced with falling them to do the work, if you can.

Personally, have a very, very sharp saw. Make a very wide, 1/3 depth face, pointing just to one side or another of the lean. Have a good stable footing platform, and be ready to jump back........HOWEVER, don't do so at the first pop. If you do, you're likely to barber chair it. The longer you can stay on the throttle, the better off you are. But, DO NOT cut all the way through, cause then really bad things can happen also.

Like I said, it's better to have an experienced person fall alders of any size, especially where they're leaning a lot.

My .02

TR