DEAD Tree Felling

[@B30pt87]

Whoo! You guys are impressive. Just muscles and balls...and a lot of knowledge and experience.

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

👍🏻

[@marbleman52]

This was just getting interesting when it ended...I would have liked watching more of this...an excellent 'cautionary tale' of how to deal with dead tree felling.

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

marbleman52 sorry man, camera died and I just got back to working!

[@Quadflash]

I'm convinced that pulling down dead trees is often much safer than felling with a saw. Our go to rigging is 300 feet of 7/8" nylon line, a snatch block for rope direction changes and a 5:1 compound pulley system that lets us pull about 1000 pounds. If we can get a winch line to the tree, we'll use it. The snatch block lets us redirect the rope way away from the tree's fall line. Our brute force method is too risky for dead trees near a building, but it's safe out in the woods. Thanks for another real-world video, Blai

Love the snatch block safe side pull idea. Thank you.

[@springer-qb4dv]

Yes rope and winch and also rope chain saw to make the cut from safe distance.

[@nigelwylie01]

Thanks Blair. I learned a lot. I wonder if I will ever fell a tree? If not, I still enjoy coming along for the ride and listening & learning from you.

[@JustinCglass]

A real good idea, mapping is everything when it comes to felling

[@jmorrow6913]

You mentioned crotching your line high and limb walking out to the bad leaner. When doing that, I learned to rig a second line to check my pendeldum. If you are far out, you can slam into the trunk with your line really, really hard. Of course the second line should be above everything so nothing can fall on it with enough slack to let you get clear quickly when things go bad.

[@buillioncubes]

Those dead Tan Oaks are the sketchiest to fell, good luck! Make sure you have a good set of escape routes, Blair :).

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

buillioncubes there was some teaching moments here for Kyle.

[@davidforrest399]

I wish more people knew that by even waiting a year or two - they're making the removal job so much more dangerous and complex. it seems like this year once a week we've bid on something that required use of a lift because there was no safe way to climb it, and no other way to take it down. I think in a bush lot scenario the risk assessment is so much more complex, and reality of just how dangerous it is unfortunately is lost on many people. Like your effort in the video, we tend to look for the path of best safety, least damage. escape routes are so important! Have you ever considered picking up a GRCS for pulling stuff like that? I'm super leery of bouncing on the pull line with dead stuff, instead I prefer to have a gentle consistent steady pull.

[@rustybird4955]

Hell yes! No Bouncing!!!! I'd bust your ass over that... especially dead trees seen WAY too many Break n bust the wrong way...btw I was a Danger Tree Foreman in the Fla panhandle.... usually me and a CDL driver (idiot no experience). But got some serious dropping skills with or without ropes n wedges.....that said whoooo hoop good job tis some crazy shit...more like my kinda situation s!!!!! Rock on MR Blair!!!! PS tv watching Gordon whizzen by...not too bad but still hear the bugle blowing CHARGE!!!

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

David Forrest after the fact ideas are always good to think about for the “next time”.

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

rusty bird nothing to damage out here. Just making a trail safe. Bouncing? Well , not my intention but as they say “shit happens”.

[@davidforrest399]

@@arboristBlairGlenn all that matters is the job got done and everyone was safe!

[@malissa3131]

Good Job,love watching you guys .

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

shirley moyer life is an adventure!

[@jbwright4]

Im sorry if you took offence! I'm only saying that a natural high can replace chemical intoxication. As part of a rehab program, persons could be introduced to the natural high one gets in properly cutting down a tree. With proper training of course!

[@phoephoe795]

I probably wouldn't touch the saw until the trees on the ground. A couple of heavy duty lifting slings [5-10 tonnes rating], D-Shackles, chainblock or lever lift, and some sturdy rope. Tie the dead one high as you can reach, and use a healthy tree as an anchor. Pull the rope tight, and use the lever lift to winch the tree over. The lever lift is racheted- so the tree can't spring back, and provides a significant amount of mechanical advantage. Optionally use a pulley on the anchor tree- so the rope forms an L shape when viewed from above. That way you're not pulling the tree toward yourself. With the widowmaker at 2:40- might be possible to winch up the base of the tree and slide/drag it down the slope?

Thank you.

[@phoephoe795]

Spend a fair bit of my early-mid teens up the woods with a few mates pushing/pulling down dead trees. Only tool we had was a length of old rope and some (peer pressure induced) brass balls. We had fun, but quite a few of us had cuts and bruises from being hit by falling tree pieces. Our method involved swinging the tree back and forth until it hit the point of no return; a fair few times we've had it snap in the middle and drop on us, or branches ping off. (somehow we never hurt ourselves properly). I guess my worst 2 near misses are: [being stupid] climbing onto a dead tree branch, and having it snap under my weight. I was about 1 1/2 ft off the ground when it went, and I landed with 1 leg on each side. The split end formed a very sharp spear tip- ending about 3 inches below the groin area. Had it split higher it would have been a very awkward and painful trip to the hospital. [pure dumb luck]. Walking through the woods on a windy day- a dead pine tree had collapsed a while back and left its top section wedged up in the adjecent canopy. This was middle of summer and you couldn't see anything up through the thick leaves- I had no idea it was up there until It decided to come down right in front of me. This thing hit the ground with enough force for the branches to impale in and stick it in place.

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Phoe Phoe those are the memories that make you know you’re ALIVE!

[@jbwright4]

I've always thought that part of drug rehab should include cutting down trees. I know of no other "rush" that is more intense and totally natural.

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Scary thought

[@sgtusmc2111]

As former Law Enforcement. I would not want anyone in a rehab program within a country mile o a work site like this. Seems like a good way to get hurt or killed

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Michael Yaste 👍🏻

[@thomasmcdonald5887]

No because when they stop doing it they will have depression. Sounds funny maybe but it’s true. I was a timber cutter for 20 + years and when I stopped I was miserable. Soooo glad to be back in the wood business. Working for a tree removal company and loving it.

[@tomcurran1538]

I have some old dead sycamores on a creek. Question becomes whether to pull it down or cut. Depends on how rotten it is.

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Be careful

[@whatthefunction9140]

Here in the Hawaiian Jungle dead trees stand for about 4 weeks before turning to mush.

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Dylan T 4 weeks? Wow!

[@whatthefunction9140]

@@arboristBlairGlenn depends on the tree type but with 160 inches of rain and constant 80 degrees f and 80 percent humidity the rate of decay is amazing. A common practice here is tree poisoning. Kills quick then let the fungus to the rest.

[@browpetj]

Great experience here Blair. Thanks for sharing! Loads of rot and no barber chair? Congrats.

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Peter Brown barber chair always a concern. Another good topic goat s video.

[@deborahdee3387]

We had 3 huge long needle pine trees and I planned on keeping the one that wasn't damaging the house, until I reached up to pick the biggest pine cone I have ever seen in my life and the whole limb fell off the tree as I tugged at that pine cone. It was a huge limb, I was blessed it did not hit me. Hubby did not believe me when he saw it laying on the ground, he thought I paid someone to cut the low limb. I told him something was wrong with the tree even though it looked perfectly healthy, he didn't believe that either. Then one day he was working in the yard and fell as he stepped on a surface root because it was hollow and it collapsed under his weight. I saw what looked like termites all in that collapsed root. Then he believed me...and still that tree looked healthy. Never did see any rot in the trunk when we had it cut down. Now I wonder if I did the right thing. I love my trees.

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

deborah dee did an Arborist concur? Sounds like your hubby needs to believe you more!

[@deborahdee3387]

I did not talk to the Arborist, at that point my hubby just wanted it gone. I wish I would have spoken to him but I am just so intimidated by men who are so accomplished and effectual that I just stayed in the house. I so wanted to watch them cut it down too, but I was afraid I would make them nervous or they would think I was making sure they didn't make a mistake. I am in awe of you guys! After watching Mr. Hunicke's videos I wonder if I should even be commenting on your videos, being not of the brotherhood and all. I'm sorry if I spoke out of line. I came back to your videos to delete my comments and saw you had responded to me, but youtube never notified me at all. That kinda upsets me not being able to respond when I'm being spoken to. I am not rude, just un-notified. Nope hubby will never believe me even though I'm a credible person. Heck I just joke about it now and tell him its kinda his job to doubt me. Like Mr. Hunicke said, it is more important to understand than it is to be understood.

[@yellowlabrador]

quite a few leilandii in my area have suddenly died. it's latin name is Cupressus × leylandii, do you know of any diseases that would cause this? there's no signs on the bark, they just died within weeks

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

yellowlabrador pitch Canker or seridium Canker

[@yellowlabrador]

I've just googled images and it looks like seridium canker. It's the first time I,ve ever seen it.

[@rustybird4955]

And that's why we talk /teach each other😁😋

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

yellowlabrador this is a community of like minded Tree lovers who learn from each other.

[@JustinCglass]

I like to bring a rope-a-Long when I’m doing felling jobs It also helps get the ones that hang up out

[@kianfabian7867]

i realize I am kinda randomly asking but do anybody know a good place to watch newly released tv shows online?

[@christianoliver5244]

@Kian Fabian try FlixZone. Just search on google for it =)

[@markraphael7975]

@Christian Oliver Yup, been using Flixzone for months myself :D

[@kianfabian7867]

@Christian Oliver thank you, I went there and it seems like they got a lot of movies there =) I really appreciate it !

[@christianoliver5244]

@Kian Fabian No problem xD

[@peterwesth5396]

Why do you use an arborists saw? Would it not have been easier to use a felling saw? I know you have both,

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Peter Westh you saw me cut it in real time. Was that not fast enough? A bigger felling saw for bigger trees but lightweight, really sharp saw makes for an easy escape.

[@peterwesth5396]

I bow to your greater expertise - just wondering

[@timcrosby4651]

This may be a dumb question by why not just leave them and let nature take its course? Is this a public park or something? Cheers from KC

[@buillioncubes]

If you're dealing with Sudden Oak Death in tan oak country, they pile up fast! Also, standing dead trees pose a significant fire hazard so even just getting them down and cut up greatly helps the situation.

[@CosmicStargoat]

Because it hurts when a 20,000 lb. dead tree falls on your head.

[@astrodiver1]

He said it was on his property.

[@timcrosby4651]

Astrodiver 1 Thank you, I must have missed that in the beginning

[@timcrosby4651]

buillioncubes The fire hazard makes great sense, being from Kansas City we really don't think of such things

[@JimsEquipmentShed]

Its always fun to see the pro's go runnin' I thought it was just me. ;-) I did a small Larch tree last weekend, but I cheated, and set up a pulley, and had the boss pull with the machine as soon as it started asking to hit the ground.

[@rustybird4955]

Ain't no cheat if everyone is safe 😂😎😘

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

JimsEquipmentShed we planned the run,

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

rusty bird sometimes you plan to run like hell!

[@JimsEquipmentShed]

Yea, I do too, I could tell before you mentioned it (due to the lack of PPE) that you were streamlining for speed. ;-)

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

JimsEquipmentShed yup

[@jmhannnon]

Explosives would take them down without being close.

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Jim Hannon that would be too much fun!

[@03bonneville]

Nice work

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Thanks

[@springer-qb4dv]

With dead trees, it seems best way to take it down is by using rope chain saw and working from safe distance, cut it by chunks from the top. Rope chain saw is slow but safe way of cutting down trees, and combined with sturdy rope tied to the tree and winch, any rotten tree can be taken down safely.

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

If you say so-- have you used one of those gadgets on dead wood?

[@KarlBunker]

Looks like Kyle was dressed up to rob a bank after this job.

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

KarlBunker he has issues with dust. Not a regular in my crew. He lives up here and I often ask him to give me a hand. This was a learning experience for him.

[@feez357]

Well shoot, he has to rob a bank because we know Glenn isn't paying him much ; )

[@paulmurphy612]

Good job

[@kenbeattie1958]

If you ever have wished for a "SkyHook", huh?

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

ken beattie like a crane? Had one. Sold it.