A pretty large tree fell in our yard in the last wind storm. It was still alive, and about 70ft in height. I wanted to cut it up with my chain saw and have the kids haul the limbs and trunk pieces. A contractor warned against doing that, because the live limbs that are compressed under the weight if the tree will uncoil like springs and hurt somebody if I don't do it right. Is there really such a risk? He offered to cut it up for $450.

__________________
1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma

What kind of tree?

__________________
It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

I'm no pro, but cutting up a large tree with a chainsaw is a dangerous business. The contractor has a point about the coiled branches. It's more that the entire tree can shift and move as you cut it, if you're not careful about how you proceed, and/or you lack experience doing so. There's always the danger of kickback, and if the tree is still partially rooted, that is an issue as well.

I cut up a large maple in my yard that a thunderstorm had felled. I found a metal pipe inside the trunk, near the base. It had contributed to decay and the eventual collapse. Luckily I found it before my chain did. It's that kind of surprise that $450 is worth, IMO.

Just my $0.02.

__________________
Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired

"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon

More people are killed by trees than you hear about.

Even people who do it for a living do make fatal mistakes.

$450.00 is a REALLY CHEAP PRICE to be able to see the kids take the pieces elsewhere.

The key word? SEE. As in "I'm alive to SEE the next day."

Go for the expert and a little less in the wallet...unless you REALLY want the wife to cash in that life-insurance policy...your demise should qualify as an accident, right?

__________________

M. G. Burg
'10 - Dakota SXT - Daily Ride / ≈ 172.5K
.'76 - 450SLC - 107.024.12 / < .89.20 K
..'77 - 280E - 123.033.12 / > 128.20 K
...'67 - El Camino - 283ci / > 207.00 K
....'75 - Yamaha - 650XS / < 21.00 K
.....'87 - G20 Sportvan / > 206.00 K
......'85 - 4WINNS 160 I.O. / 140hp
.......'74 - Honda CT70 / Real 125
.
“I didn’t really say everything I said.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ~ Yogi Berra ~

Depending on where the tree is, and where you live, you can always kill it if its still alive, and then wait about a year to let it dry rot.. Thats what we did when a tree fell in our back yard. Eventually all the dry branches broke under the weight and you could probably have broken the foot thick trunk in half with a big hammer.

__________________
Ich liebe meine Autos!

1991 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL | Megasquirt MS3-Pro | 722.6 transmission w/ AMG paddles | Feind Motorsports Sway Bar | Stinger VIP Radar | AntiLaser Priority | PLX Wideband O2 | 150A Alternator | Cat Delete
1981 Mercedes-Benz 300SD | Blown engine, rebuilding someday...
1981 Mercedes-Benz 300SD | Rear ended, retired in garage.
2009 Yamaha AR230HO | Das Boot

Excessive speeding? It ain't excessive till I redline!

You will be suprised how quickly they will get that tree outta there and get your money; get more bids.
They aren't having to take down a standing tree, so most of the work is done.

__________________

"Our Lady of Blessed Acceleration...
don't Fail Us Now"

if you really want to do it you should start at the top of the tree and work toward the base.

look at any branches that are supporting the tree and cut off the ones that are clearly not first, to reduce the weight on the lower ones. look at how the branches are leaning. if it is sticking out so that it wants to bend toward the ground, cut a notch on the bottom of the branch first. then cut from the top down. keep an eye on the cut. if it starts to close get the saw out quickly or it will be stuck there. if in doubt cut slivers to open the slot so the saw does not get pinched.

when beginning to work on branches that are supporting the trunk, start up in the smaller branches and if taking a branch or the trunk that is supporting the main trunk, again cut a notch on the side it wants to bend toward....ie if the upper branches are holding the tree, come back a ways and cut a notch on the top of the trunk and then make the main cut from the bottom up.

never just start cutting without studying the stresses on the wood you are cutting.

keep the tip of the saw out of the dirt, even a split second of time in the dirt will dull the chain. keep the oil going on the chain. if the chain starts smoking too much your chain is dull. stop and get another chain on there.

be very, very careful.

good luck

tom w

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

If you end up "hiring" someone to do the work...

MAKE
SURE
THEY
ARE
INSURED!!!

Have them submit a certificate of liability to you or your insurance carrier. Better yet, make sure your insurance carrier can handle the details. Otherwise, whether you do the work, or a contractor handles the job, someone/everyone is covered for any possibility.

Otherwise, you, the missus and kiddies, will be bunkin' at the local Salvation Army, 'cause someone else now owns what you used to...

Trees bite.

__________________

M. G. Burg
'10 - Dakota SXT - Daily Ride / ≈ 172.5K
.'76 - 450SLC - 107.024.12 / < .89.20 K
..'77 - 280E - 123.033.12 / > 128.20 K
...'67 - El Camino - 283ci / > 207.00 K
....'75 - Yamaha - 650XS / < 21.00 K
.....'87 - G20 Sportvan / > 206.00 K
......'85 - 4WINNS 160 I.O. / 140hp
.......'74 - Honda CT70 / Real 125
.
“I didn’t really say everything I said.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ~ Yogi Berra ~

Well, I'm far from knowledgeable, in that department. A very close friend of mine, is an Arborist though, and treats, prunes, and cuts down trees of all kinds for the last 20-25 years. In the years, I've assisted him, on a few jobs. Generally, he would get one tree to the ground, and allow me to have at it, while he would work on another himself. I can tell you that the trees he set me up with were not quite 70 feet, (which is kind of a big tree). I remember a few close calls I had while cutting these things up. I was under his supervision some of the time, beu when he stepped away, a time or two I made a few mistrakes, which I almost regretted. I can tell you, simply based on these expreiences, that if you don't have experience, and don't have an experienced person working with you. You are better off, just paying someone who is a professional, to come in and do the job. You could get really hurt, very easily. It doesn't look very intimidating, or as dangerous as it is, but it is not as safe as it appears either. I remember a few times I cut a bransh, or large limb, and the whole thing either rolled towards me, or something brushed the back of my head, or flew up in my face, or swept my feet out from under me. I was taking my time, and studying each cut, before making it, and had a pretty good idea, or so I thought, of what each cuts result would be. I was also doing this work every day, for a summer for him, and only got better with practice. I'd pay someone to just get it done for you. They'll likely even chip the branches, and take the wood, of you find the right guy, and you don't need fire wood for yourself. Some guys will do it free, if they can have the wood, and chips, or give you a good discount. A cord of wood sells for some pretty good money, in Ct.

The trunk of a 70 ft yard-tree can easily weigh several tons. Any limb under the tree is going to be load-bearing. Any limb not touching the ground will affect it's center of mass and moment of rotation. Load-bearing limbs act like leaf springs.

Hope you have lots of children and great insurance.

B

What kind of tree is it? If it is a wood that is demand (hardwood) you can have someone take it away and give you a $check$. Look in the phonebook under Timber Buyers or something like that.

Personally I cut, split and the suckers to increase my carbon footprint.

$450 will buy you a real nice chainsaw.

Yeah Kook, but does raymr sound like somebody who has a lot of experience with downing trees? Yeah, experience comes from somewhere, true. But for $450 maybe the professional will cut it into safer chunks and haul-off the debris and raymer can cut & split bite-sized (safer) chunks.

B

OK, B but somebody has to be on the edge.

You want to be on the edge..? Sky-Dive!! Now that's the ultimate rush..

I'll give that a shot someday.