Big Dead Red Oak Removal and Hauling

My friend, Brandon, was removing this dead red oak tree in Andover, MN last summer. Since it was pretty sizable, he knew I’d be interested in having the trunk to run through my sawmill.
Find Brandon on Instagram:
/ brandonrjohnson
Slabbing the log: • Slabbing a Big Red Oak...
Companion Article: www.mattcremona.com/making-lu...
Videos about my trailer: • My Trailer with Log Lo...
Sealing logs: • Sealing the Ends of Lo...
Products Used
Anchorseal Gal: amzn.to/2zOf6TY
Anchorseal 5 Gal: uccoatings.com/product/anchors...
Thank you to Triton Tools for sponsoring my work: www.tritontools.com/en-US
Support What I Do: www.mattcremona.com/support
Check out Wood Talk, a podcast about woodworking that I co-host:
www.woodtalkshow.com/
/ woodtalk
Website: mattcremona.com
Instagram: / mattcremona
Twitter: / mattcremona
Facebook: / mattcremonaww
Email: [e-mail]
#urbanlumber

[@michaelgaido9489]

I have been an a Certified arborist for 35 years and currently manage a large tree care firm. This guy is EXTREMELY unsafe! No hard hat, free climbing the tree, one hand chainsaw use, just to start. Tree care and logging are one of the most dangerous professions. Love your channel, but this should never happen!

[@michaelgaido9489]

If you have seen the amount of gruesome chainsaw accidents and accidental falls from trees that I have, you wouldn’t make a comment like that. Be a professional or don’t do the job!

[@TheducksOrg]

Literally google the guy's name - he's the real deal.

[@michaelgaido9489]

Paul Arsenault Thanks Paul, IL 1610-A plus I am a CTSP ( certified tree care safety professional) and a qualified tree risk assessor. I’m sure you have seen this tree work all the time like I have. It’s just a matter of time before an accident occurs. I’m not a troll and do not mean to demean anyone, but this kind of work can cause death or severe life changing injury. I have witnessed it first hand

[@pirateman1966]

I know nothing about tree removal and even I thought "Too bad this guy won't get to grow old"!

[@mab37]

Out of interest, what is dangerous about one-handed use of a top handled saw? Where would you put your other hand.....

[@Mr.Stacey-L-SCC]

Wow you really get a sense for the size of the tree when someone is up in its branches! This was cool to see!

[@Rgreenacres]

I just had some bad Ash trees removed and thought, why don't just cut that branch and let it fall. Well, when a small section came down, I was amazed at how big it was thinking it was just a twig up there! It even shook the ground as it landed.

[@randywright7933]

Your work ethic always amazes me. Well Done Matt.

[@mcremona]

thanks Randy!

[@TheRedhawke]

Hard work brother, can't wait to see what you make from those beautiful slabs.

[@glastenburydesignsoutdoors8039]

Great cutting, you never fail to impress. I do agree with Iron and Oak Sawmill, slabs in every cut.

[@IronOakSawmill]

Every big chunk that dropped, I saw slabs.

[@nordyfamily]

Great job guys

[@topsaw]

Love this, I'll show it to my high school woodshop classes. I do tree work on the weekends, bring the wood in to mill and we build projects from the logs we mill.

[@mcremona]

that's so awesome!!

[@walterrider9600]

thank you Matt

[@FredMcIntyre]

Awesome work Matt! 😃👍🏻👊🏻

[@jimm1028]

Matt, when you say big , I say huge. When you get into this size you got to know what you're doing ,and you guys do . Nice work.

[@HovingtonInstruments]

That’s a big one!! Nice video as always Matt! Merry Xmas a happy new year to you and your family!

[@thedabblingwarlock]

Oh boy, I can't wait to see what you turn those beautiful chunky slabs into.

[@infoanorexic]

A lot of potential slabs. A lot of wonderful firewood. A good wood stove with a seasoned oak fire in it is a really nice thing to have on a super cold night. A pot of beans or stew on top of it makes it even better.

[@lemagreengreen]

What you call firewood I call uncut turning blanks :) Great video, always like watching how these guys work. Definitely looks like there was a whole lot of gravity in that oak.

[@mcremona]

lots of gravity in this one :)

[@patrickdunne1150]

Looks like your neighbors are close, they must love you!

[@kiwdwks]

Interesting to watch. Happy to see it all went safely!

[@mcremona]

Thanks Mark!

[@custopoxy9267]

I love how you show us so many aspect of woodworking on your channel, thank for that ! Sorry if my english is bad, i'm french ^^

[@mcremona]

Your english is great! Thanks!!

[@Sodabowski]

Nobody can hear your accent, buddy, don't be shy, it looks like our accent is a treasure to others by the way 😄

[@custopoxy9267]

That's not because i'm shy don't worry for that 😏 it's more because i see a lot of comments like "learn how to speak english dumbass !" on many others videos but that's not on a woodworking video. Community of woodworking is a very kind and peaceful place 😊 hope it's stay like that haha !

[@DumpsterMarcus]

good video!! good way to get it in the other trailer!

[@davidpape9726]

Another great video as always but you got me feeling like I should crank the tractor up and load a log on the mill. Nice sunny day with only a little wind, think I will go fishing instead.

[@scottlouis7785]

That is some very good handling , even from here I was on pins & needles

[@practicallyIndependent]

I miss summer a lot! Bring on the warm weather. Sweet log! That thing is a beast. Nice work. Happy New Year Matt.

[@mcremona]

Ready to sweat!

[@practicallyIndependent]

@@mcremona I'm with you. Rather sweat than freeze.

[@darrinplank]

Looking forward to seeing how you get it on the mill

[@fabienneadam9863]

It is very impressive !!

[@fireofdestruction7753]

I wish i could get some of the slabs matt has, oh the projects that would ensue.

[@mikethompson6713]

My whole firewood pile has become my new woodworking lumber.

[@nils8485]

Seems to be a professional :D

[@zachjohnson41]

Poor Brandon getting a lot of heat down here. I am no arborist but I have taken down a FEW with one. I was a bit nervous watching. : /

[@EvanDunville]

I loved seeing the anchor seal application bucket ha ha

[@mcremona]

That's become the official anchorseal pail 😄

[@gregmislick1117]

If you and Brandon are going to use that tandem trailer truck in the future you should mount a piece of square tube (hitch reciever) at the midpoint of your trailer's rear cross bar. Then when you team up the trailers you can put a ball in there and mechanically link the 2. That will prevent a log snag from resulting in his trailer being pulled into yours. And I'm sure you'll think of lots of future log handling things that could mount in the same tube. Great vid.

[@mcremona]

Good idea! Not sure how often this will happen. I might have my eyes on a bigger trailer and truck. For what it's worth, the old ramp mount fit really nicely into the coupler of the dump trailer. That was a fun surprise. Thanks!

[@IEnjoyCreatingVideos]

Nice video Matt! Thank you for sharing the video with us.👍😎JP

[@mcremona]

thanks JP!

[@IEnjoyCreatingVideos]

Your very welcome Matt! 😎

[@RickMarshallMaps]

Wow, that is one big tree

[@buddycarroll9665]

I’ve been chainsaw carving bears for years. Great to see your saving that beautiful wood

[@brianharris7243]

Epic!

[@giovannipetitti1588]

Hi Matt,👍👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@h2energynow]

Awesome to see how two professionals work together, one giant log of incredible wood.

[@trishblakely3476]

‘’Why is tree removal so expensive???’” This. ^^ This is why. ^^ Thanks to you, Matt, and Brandon, for showing us that even a dead tree has value beyond firewood. 👍

[@tim.wilson839]

This thing is you pay someone to take the tree down and if they take it away, they get paid multiple times for that job! I mean some of those slabs are expensive!!!!

[@briangodfrey5079]

@@tim.wilson839 That's like saying miners should get $30,000 a ton for orange dirt because that's what a finished Mercedes is worth. The slabs don't make themselves. Go look at some of the other videos where you see how much time and work and expense is involved.

[@johnburens3395]

YESSSSS! Another slabbing video soon!!!! Now you're talking Matt.

[@mcremona]

Hopefully tomorrow if I can get it finished after the kids go to sleep tonight!

[@johnburens3395]

@@mcremona Love the slabbing video's. I guess I have time to go get a nice bib to keep the slobber off my knees and chest!

[@cliveoldfield9904]

And CROTCH 😂🤣

[@cliveoldfield9904]

Matt i appreciate the heart I'm my comment...but jeeezuzz I appreciate your content,your innaproprriat laughing...your CROTCH videos..your being on yt...yup I'm finding it hard to get to watch my #cremomaporn love your CROTCH baby 🤣🤣🤣

[@mcremona]

Hahaha thanks Clive!

[@TetraCNC]

yeah more slabbing with dad can't wait for that video cause you know your dad is such a (well you know) a dad.

[@donaldtrabeauxjr5323]

Matt great job

[@mcremona]

thanks!

[@dananelson3534]

Thanks for sharing Matt. That's a huge tree and a lot of work. Wondered how old it was.

[@mcremona]

Probably around 100 or so. Thanks!

[@Im-pierre]

This guy is going to be a millionare when all of that wood is dried and ready for selling 💰💰💰

[@GrantButler]

Love your stuff dude! Just found you on Facebook on Viral TRND.

[@mcremona]

Thanks Grant!

[@faTIHuniv]

9gag! So much wow!

[@jonikuhn2441]

Haha nice dude, good to see you here, I am the guy who recommended it.

[@juhmickm4410]

static vs dynamic friction is neat

[@ChrisTessmer]

Nice paint bucket.

[@mcremona]

only the best for me

[@KevinLitman]

Love how everyone is all of a sudden an expert in safety.

[@puncherdavis9727]

Its because were all taught we can't do it right and we need an agency to hold our hands. Trust me common sense works out alot of things and if you screw up ya pay a price.

[@danielwilson5102]

You don't need to be an expert to see how poorly trained this guy is.

[@andrewv5104]

Makes me wonder if they are KZbin safety inspector certified. I won't listen to their comments unless they have the proper inspection certification from Google.

[@puncherdavis9727]

Hey we should start a business u and me A5. KZbin armchair certified video safety inspector. 2 hour class at $250 bucks and must recertify every 90 days. LEts do it !!@@andrewv5104

[@holdemNE1]

Have the log hang off the back of the dump trailer by 2 feet or so. Then when you tip it, the log hits the ground first and as you continue to tip the trailer the log will create a gap and start sliding off sooner.

[@dinolino3313]

I like his Chainsaw-pants, they look awesome! Where can I get a pair of these?

[@ronnakeil3313]

Nice

[@biodynamichawaii]

Even my high schoolers would it on safety glasses. Unreal.

[@philjubert6915]

Matt, your friend is going to have a short life if he keeps doing this. He's doing so many things incorrect. This is not a professional removal and I'm very worried for him. He needs professional training.

[@graysquirreltreeservice7299]

He has no clue definitely needs a few arbormaster training sessions 🤣🤣🤣👍👍👍👍👍👍will keep him alive

[@niels_m_h]

Were any of the larger branches usable for lumber, or just the main trunk?

[@patrickmorrissey2271]

Red Dead (Oak) Redemption!

[@Lemongrasspicker]

I'm surprised you didn't title this video "Red Dead Oak Removal" Nice looking timber

[@billy19461]

Nothing to do with this video but I just got through watching your bandsaw build videos. Yep all of them. Tremendous job from a retired welder. Do you have any idea on the cost? You are one intelligent young man. Would have made an excellent millwright. I know a lot of welders that would not have tackled that build in a shop. Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the videos and what a great job I thought you did.

[@davidcrandell1172]

Hey Matt, y'all need a bigger trailer.

[@88keyes]

Good Morning.

[@mcremona]

Good morning!

[@mattschoon6940]

so what can be done with a crotch slab and why

[@orelygarcia]

👍👍❤

[@jbbrown7907]

Just a couple of observations. That climbing saw was sharp and well filed. To cut dead oak that fast he had to be sharp and have his rakers filed down. Stihl Chainsaws are good for two things in my book. They make the best saw for climbing. and Stihl is the saw you want when you are being paid by the hour, not by the board foot or the cord. It is always fun to watch a good climber at work. How many board feet were left behind by cutting the stump 8' to a foot too high?

[@MRrwmac]

Matt, he looked like a squirrel up in that tree. Nice work! Yea, interesting how the weight combined with surface tension will hold position beyond expectations.

[@sidgar1]

Red Dead Oak Redemption 2: The Hauling

[@JeffMarxWoodworking]

Where do you get one of those cool Anchorseal buckets that look like a sandcastle mold?

[@mcremona]

From a kids toy box 😄

[@stevecollins9450]

Is there some technical reason why Brandon cut the tree that far up from the bottom?

[@robertpearson8546]

Why do they leave a 2 foot stump?

[@roBLINDhood]

You should title the video Red Dead Oak Redemption and see if the algorithm gives it some extra love. ;)

[@mcremona]

Seriously crossed my mind

[@carlstone7035]

Ahh, you beat me to it. Big Red Dead Oak Redemption--my thoughts exactly!😂

[@Carl-LaFong1618]

ok, quit "horsing" around.

[@royramey5659]

Love your safety experts. Tell them to come to the Sierra Nevadas.We do nothing different.Good job..Having to use one hand is common. I guess it's more safe to not hold on.See ya soon.

[@robertevans6481]

I bet you do miss summer a little bit,with all that white (sawdust) on the ground......LOL....he must have love climbing trees when he was a kid....👍

[@mcremona]

lol you bet!

[@andarthome142]

The way he go up that tree and cut of the smaller tree is not for me, but men that was a big tree, by the way Happy New Year to you and your family.

[@latherookie]

Instead of firewood those bib pieces would make great bowls.

[@davidbennett5494]

Hi Matt. When you're milling, why doesn't the blade get stuck/trapped under the weight of the cut boards above?

[@cajunfid]

Because the teeth are set wider than the actual thickness of the blade.

[@boooshes]

And in addition to the set in the teeth, the wood just ahead of the teeth support the log ahead of the cut and the blade thickness and depth allow the blade to pass before the back of the blade can get pinched. With such a narrow kerf, even if the kerf at starting end of the log is completely closed, the blade won't pinch - there is always room for the blade. The exception is at the very end of the cut where the teeth have escaped and the rest of the blade is between the top and bottom of the log. However, almost all of the weight is now supported by the closed kerf all along the log. A thick, wide blade will not be as immune to kerf pinch.

[@1019wc1019]

I cant wait until this log dries and it can have its dead red oak redemption. Red dead redemption.

[@timothyball3144]

Why the pull rope if it wasn't used at all? I figured that you would be pulling it to help guide it away from the cherry tree. Also, wouldn't it be better to do the face cut wedge on the bottom so the butt end is square? As I watched Brandon piece that thing down, I was saying "lumber, lumber, firewood, chips, lumber, firewood..."

[@mcremona]

It wasn't meant to be a pull rope. It was there as the previous tie in line. There was too much length overall so we weren't really worried about that end. We ended up trimming about a foot off that end once it was down.

[@57bslester]

I just found some large logs that have been down for a little over 2 years. Would they still be good for milling and do I bother sealing the ends up since they have been down for so long?

[@Sodabowski]

Yummins, spalted wood!

[@mcremona]

Should still be good. At that point it's probably not going to matter much to seal them but it wouldn't hurt. Here's a video about old logs: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r6bNk6Zqfct2p9k

[@57bslester]

@@mcremona Thank you!

[@unclejack123]

it goes when it reaches "the angle of repose" ....... ;-p

[@donvanco3078]

Those poor day-lilies :( lol So what killed that thing? It was huge! Lots of good firewood in there (aside from the slabs, of course)

[@mcremona]

lol luckily its a perennial garden. Probably succumbed to oak wilt. There were several others close by that were also dead.

[@jakedevillier5863]

While I watching this video I immediately knew the comments section on this one was going to be interesting. I wasn’t wrong. Anyway Matt, I think in a past life you helped build the pyramids because you are a wizard at moving large objects with minimal equipment.

[@mcremona]

hahaha thanks Jake!

[@mato1943]

Hey Matt I know you have a ton of work but have you thought about a small fix up off the trailer ? its looking really tired it could use some love :D

[@mcremona]

Hoping to get to that this year :)

[@LauraTeAhoWhite]

Where is your PPE?

[@141poolplayer]

Brandon is an animal. Matt, would you take some of the logs from the bigger branches that he dropped and mill them up? Some of them looked to be about 6-8 feet long. I know they were crotchless but you could probably get some nice boards out of them.

[@mcremona]

Limbs are iffy because they have more internal stress due to how they grow. I don't mind that risk if I have space for them (which I don't)

[@141poolplayer]

@@mcremona Do you mean that the boards would have a tendency to warp, cup, or twist, or be more unstable or something? That is interesting. I never knew that.

[@mcremona]

Yes, exactly

[@141poolplayer]

@@mcremona Thanks for the info Matt. I gotta admit, I don't know how a young guy like you (I'm 65) knows so much and has such great skills. Amazing. I mean you go from building a sawmill, to slabbin' up logs, to building fine furniture. Who does that? You are one of a kind.

[@pulaski1]

@@141poolplayer Branches growing at an angle grow to resist the force of gravity which means under pressure on the underside and tension on the upper side. The growth rings are also asymmetric. When the pressure is relieved, by felling the limb, and cutting it into boards, the boards may immediately show some warping, but it may become substantially worse as the board dries.

[@knowledgableed9607]

Matt, I know this is a stupid question but what do you do with all that wood? Do you end up selling it or using it yourself. I mean that is a lot of wood. How long before the wood can be used from when it is slabbed? BTW, love the videos. I have no interest in ever slabbing my own wood but I watch the video's because you are hilarious. Your wife must be laughing all the time! Keep the video's coming!

[@boooshes]

He does sell his slabs. Drying time outside is roughly one year per inch of thickness then it needs to go into a climate controlled space for 3-6 months before being used as furniture stock. Lots of caveats and variables, but that's rough numbers.

[@mgmcd1]

That crotch looked pretty far gone once you slabbed it. Glad you were able to remove it safely (relatively, anyway.) 🤓

[@griz12471]

When are you going to build a jib crane. Or a simple trolly crane.. your back will only last so long

[@660stihl]

The guy in the tree gets himself killed or seriously injured one day. Got nothing to do with an arborist. But nice slabs.

[@george8873]

Wouldn't allow someone who doesn't have the proper safety equipment (safety glasses, hard hat, and loggers chaps) onto my property. Especially someone who probably doesn't have the proper liability insurance to be cutting down trees.

[@PatrickWagz]

0:00 "Hey everyone, my name is Matt, and *I am from the FUTURE* I will now go back in time and show you how I retrieved this log that is already slabbed and drying...." :-)

[@billy19461]

Please tell your friend to get some safety gear! He will eventually pay a severe price.

[@rodneygunderson3043]

he also needs to brush up on his felling techniques

[@billy19461]

Amen

[@LadyGecko]

What was he missing in your ‘professional’ opinion? Safety glass? Check. Ear Protection? Check. Safety Harness? Check? Safety Line for Chainsaw? Check. Auto Brake on Chainsaw? Check.

[@pulaski1]

@@rodneygunderson3043 Agreed, and I am not sure why he hung around next to the tree after it started to fall. At that point there is nothing left to do other than GTF outta the way .... though about half the felling videos I see feature someone who makes that same, extremely dangerous mistake.

[@jamesmckee4692]

Hard hat?

[@grahamocarroll9052]

Brandon is a lunatic....... but he great video

[@fintan3563]

His name is Brandon, but his friends call him Hercules for short! 💪💪💪😀

[@paulharper7808]

Is this the log you did your dad's counter top?

[@mcremona]

Slabbing The Red Oak Log (Chainsaw/Alaskan Mill) kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6mrh2huq6ucm9E

[@joeymerrell8585]

With my luck it would be like Wil E Coyote, I'd cut the limb and the tree would collapse and leave the limb suspended in the air....

[@mcremona]

hahahaha

[@mgtpa4]

Instead of climbing and limbing up the tree, why not just fell it at ground level. Seems like enough room to drop it all at one time. Just saying......

[@rossinnz]

Ur mate knows what he's doing, good on him...snowflakes they have lowered themselves to the least competent.

[@robertpoole4487]

Wow the safety police are out on this one.

[@johnhastings1874]

Matt, I can't believe you are still using your poor kids sand toys as a bucket. Come on!

[@mcremona]

It's mine now

[@johnhastings1874]

@@mcremona I have 6 kids... been using the kids wagon to haul dirt and stuff for so long, my wife bought another one. Hahaha!

[@graysquirreltreeservice7299]

Needs helmet ⛑🪖

[@dmithsmith5880]

..Get ready for the barrage of safety snowflake comments...