How to trim a tall tree branch in 20 minutes for only $7 without climbing or a ladder (DIY)

[@chrisgraham2904]

In the late 70's I had a diseased elm tree behind my home, about the same size as the tree in this video, that was difficult to access and very expensive to have it professionally removed. I used this method along with a number of other strategies to engineer removal of the entire tree, branch by branch. Attacking it for a short time each day, it was two and a half months before it was completely removed and my back and shoulders got a hell of a workout, but I saved about $1,800 dollars.

[@bomark2002]

Wow!!

[@annharlan8926]

Brilliant. I hope I can pull it off - over time.

[@ottomatic3123]

Didn't need to pay for a gym membership either.

[@jennyhenley4130]

I am planning on doing the same thing (to save 3,000 dollars). What other methods did you use?

[@defritzel]

$1800? the cheapest quote I got for removing half a tree at my house is $10,000

[@MatthewPlatz]

To me this is the real value of KZbin, offering excellent How-To videos which contribute to higher learning and saving a buck when someone really doesn't have it to give away. Sir, thank you so much for having the desire to share your experience with us! Problem solved, ordering my chainsaw and rope! All the best!

[@Bsquez0129]

How’d it go

[@finharm7981]

This could go wrong on so many ways when the tips hit the floor first like that the log end can land anywhere wear some ppe and maybe consider paying someone because that’s how economy’s work

[@BreakBeatStu]

The real value of KZbin - 💯% 👍

[@pogiewogie]

This lad probably died attempting this.

[@tylermcintyre2489]

Yeah he was lucky and should've paid a professional. The damage he could've donento himself or property was way more than 300. Cheapskate

[@HeldThread]

I love the part where he explains how you don’t want be be standing under the branch and then the next shot he’s cutting much faster by standing under the branch.

[@gzus1482]

Yeah, and then the next shot when the branch is actually about to fall, he's no longer underneath it again. 🤦

[@americanpatriot9865]

A few tips I found that make this method a little easier: spray the chain saw with silicone or WD40. It will make sawing a little easier and prevent binding. Also use leather gloves as it’s very easy to get rope burn.

[@Strangerer69]

Very good advice. I tied the rope onto a large carabiner that has a foam handle that way you have a handle rather than pulling on the rope itself.

[@rachelholmes6483]

It’s not a chainsaw. It’s a saw chain.. that’s the only part of the video I didn’t like. Any suggestions for people who can’t throw and don’t want to get hit with a hammer?

[@drisgorilla5382]

Agree. Also, if it's a bigger limb, or hardwood, it's easier to cut with less binding using two people pulling from each side.

[@leaf427]

@@rachelholmes6483 bag filled with sand tied to fishing line, fishing line tied to rope

[@TicTac-g7m]

​@@Strangerer69 Great idea. Thank you.

[@DiannaAtherton]

This is why I love KZbin. It is a how to get it done tutorial. Thank you and thank you for not pushing a product to buy or begging for subscriptions.

[@boomer3150]

I know...I often turn off the videos where they say, "Don't forget to hit the like button and subscribe..."

[@mercedeslindigenous4219]

I am a climber that has been cutting trees for 18 years and owns his own company and I approve this method if you don't want to pay arborist prices, it was easy and safe, I have gotten a few customers that have hurt themselves trying to do their own tree work and like I tell everyone "Its a lot cheaper than a hospital bill". Great Job

[@onewheelup]

hows it going,but dont you think that big of a tree limb needs tar put on it to keep water out so it doesnt rot the core and then the wind blows and the tree lands on your house and maybe kills someone while their sleeping,i would say yes it needs pruning tar.

[@rtoguidver3651]

@@onewheelup The limb was dead, he's cutting it before it falls on someone ( see the rope swing), the rest of the tree is alive & fine..

[@lizlanman47]

Tar is no longer recommended! Leave it open!

[@marcbergeron8690]

I would wear a protective helmet however, especially when pitching the hammer. And there is always a risk to have the bark of the tree damaged when the branch falls.

[@ianstoyan]

@@lizlanman47 I think it depends on the species.

[@CandC68]

A few comments, based upon having done this many times over the years. Forget throwing the hammer. I used a Wrist Rocket sling shot, a fishing lead weight, and fishing line. The line is coiled loosely in a can so it doesn't tangle. I used the "football" shaped weights to reduce getting caught on tree bark and twigs. You could paint the weight for hi visibility. And neon line for same. The reasons are: It's fin. You can reach higher up a tree. The thin fishing line is used to pull up the heavier cord for sawing. Also the light line could be snapped off if tangled in the tree.. You could tie it to the lead weight with a non locking knot. If the weighted part gets stuck, pull real hard and either the knot unties under load. Or the line snaps. You could use a much lighter strength line just at the weight to allow it to break free if needed. He used the correct cord for sawing. You do not want any stretch when pulling. Some of those chain saws have weighted tabs that can indicate which way the teeth are facing. Some chain saws are too good, and bite into the wood to aggressively. I bent small pieces of copper wire over some teeth so they wouldn't cut at all. This meant less binding, but still effective sawing. Since I over think things like this, I once "topped" a tree by sawing the tree, not the branches, horizontally about 30 feet up. How? I used the sling shot method to tie a couple pulleys to a nearby tree. So the saw lines pulled horizontally, which you can't do otherwise. It took time (I wasn't in a hurry) I made mistakes. It was free. The tree was tall but to thin to climb, and if felled by just cutting the trunk, it would hit the neighbor's property.

[@polishguywithhardtospellna8227]

But how do you correct the saw if the teeth face wrong way after whole contraption is ready?

[@CandC68]

Pull one side of the cord, til the saw is clear of the branch and give a few shakes. It usually will twist around until the opposite side (teeth) face the branch. May be easiest if u have the cord run straight vertical, until you get the saw facing the right way. Then when ready to saw, move out from below the branch. Also, I found that some of these saws have teeth on both sides.

[@CandC68]

@@polishguywithhardtospellna8227 Also, regardless you eyesight, seeing rope and saw among the tree branches 30 or 50 feet up, it is hard to see. So.. Use visible line, yellow red neon. And you can hang a small bit of neon string off the ends of the tooth side of the blade. Just enough to see. Where it points is teeth side.

[@sleepinglioness5754]

I wish you were my neighbor!!! The men living around me are too lazy to even trim the hedges................I have to do it and I'm 20 and 30 years older than they are. Thanks for this detailed advice.

[@CandC68]

@@sleepinglioness5754 Just watched a video of a guy cutting small trees and branches with kevlar cord (200 lb break strength). More physical work on his part, but no saw, just friction.

[@millikenway]

Man, you are a genius. I have been staring at my tall maple trees, like 50 feet tall, how to cut off the top branches so that it won't be too brushy to fall down in one shot. You just save my life. Thank you so very much for taking the time to share your tips. God bless you. From Toronto.

[@PatrickKniesler]

Personally, I'd use having a number of mature trees as an excuse to learn to climb trees, myself.

[@cstevenson1234]

I'd recommend having another rope tied to the limb (throw the rope over the branch, make a loop on one end, pull the other end through the loop until it's snug up on the branch) that someone else can pull to direct the fall of the limb. That fence could've been messed up easy, and it could swing back on you. Also, in the event that a strip of the limb stays intact on the bottom (so the limb "falls" but stays hanging on), that second rope can give you some tension to reposition the chain and finish the cut. Edit: And if you don't have someone to pull the limb, that second line can be tied off to another tree. It's not going to pull the limb in a direction like a person would, but it'll still give you more control over where the limb falls. Can do a "trucker hitch" or use a rachet strap at the anchor point if you want a good bit of tension.

[@blessedwithchallenges9917]

Obviously the other adult there had to hold the camera! 😂😂😂 joking aside, I liked the encouragement she was giving him.

[@csc8697]

Excellent advise

[@charlieboutin3341]

Great advice..Thanks for the info! 👍👌✌️

[@kevind1980]

@@blessedwithchallenges9917 i heard a baby too.

[@lstroud454]

GREATTTTT ADVICE - MUCH SAFER !! 👏👍🙏

[@brandonkarhu5599]

As an arborist this is funny as hell. Whatever works, just don’t hurt yourself. Had a family friend at age 65 get knocked out of a tractor bucket while trying to do some DIY tree work, now he’s wheel chair ridden and will not have the same standard of mobility for the rest of his life. Really sad. Just use caution, doesn’t take a very large branch to destroy you.

[@Desert-edDave]

❄

[@ArbitraryLifestyle]

For dead branches, this is great! The issue I have with cutting live branches is that there's no under-cut to on the branch to prevent the bark from peeling/tearing towards the main trunk once you've almost completed your cut. It's not the end of the world of course, but that "tear" created by this method (or possibly created) can absolutely invite pests and fungus into the injured area, which can lead to major damage down the road. To prevent this issue you should use the "3 cut method", but obviously that's not possible with the tools used here.

[@welcome_to_tara]

Seriously!

[@twodogsruakuri]

Cut it twice. First time further towards tip to remove weight

[@4sho100]

U thinking 2hard... get a life🙏🏾🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

[@Turtlenaide]

@Pèék as a arborist this is retarded

[@836dmar]

Agree. Just like with a chainsaw, it's often easier to cut a few feet out first to remove the bulk of the branch. With that there is a much smaller tear with the final cut. It's a very good point that should be considered.

[@CDyer_BK2NJ]

Just did this on a limb about 30ft high (pole saw only went to 15ft), and worked like a charm! A little tricky as the target branch was protected by some other branches, but my water bottle and QB accuracy did the job 😉😆 Thanks for the video!

[@frankrodriguez4334]

We're did you buy the blade u used

[@barnabyvonrudal1]

What's QB?

[@larsonfamilyhouse]

Back in 82 I used to be able to throw a pigskin a quarter mile.

[@CDyer_BK2NJ]

@@frankrodriguez4334 Either Home Depot or Lowes!

[@CDyer_BK2NJ]

@@barnabyvonrudal1 Quarterback (Football)

[@Amyzgr8r]

Okay, we actually did this for our tree in the backyard which had a branch hanging a little too close to our fire pit. Can't thank you enough for this tip. I was able to do most of the work, but my husband enjoyed pitching in to make the throw and the last part of the sawing. Get 'er done!!!!

[@Skybij]

Heads up for anyone trying to attempt this: you have to have holes in your jeans as big or bigger as the guy in the video, otherwise it would not work.

[@YouTube_can_ESAD]

Dur hur hur hur… Boomer jokes slap.

[@bartonseagrave9605]

I like how he started the video in 2018 and then it was cut to 2019 after sawing manually every day for a year. I can see him branching out into other money saving ideas for the common man.

[@jim-se5xc]

So glad he mentioned not to stand under the falling branch..

[@hope2029]

Wife filming this---- you are so blessed to have such a creative and motivated man! 🙂 Now, 'divorced senior woman' going to go and try this for myself 😧 Already fell out of the tree last time, so I am not going back up there.🤪

[@uup116]

women...lol

[@ejusdem_generis]

You go girl! Maybe buy a harness from a tool shop so you don’t fall again.

[@KingfishStevens-di9ji]

He keeps doing this while making Google eyes at the camera, he's gonna be sorry. Keep your eye on it.

[@mhow7024]

not in a million minutes would I ever come up with something to simple yet so genius like this!! Thanks Bro.

[@939Aed]

Your branch broke off clean, but what you might do at first is to stand along the fence line and take a few initial strokes to score the bottom of the branch, then come back to the camera side to get the other bottom-side. Then you can go at the top. That will increase the chance of a clean break.

[@Alundrahs]

Gee thanks Mr chainsaw 🙄

[@939Aed]

@@Alundrahs Hey, many of us know to score the bottom when we are cutting with a regular handsaw, but I am just offering my experience that, you can't go across the bottom (because gravity), but you can get to the bottom/side at an angle by standing both sides and extending the initial top cut down and around.

[@losfromla1480]

​@@Alundrahs🙄

[@3mtech]

I immediately thought ,must have been bottom cut

[@scooterp7009]

If he stood on top of the fence he would get a better angle at the bottom cut.

[@PapasAnimals]

Love it! This reminds me of a palm tree hanging over our backyard pool. The darned thing was way overdue for a trim, but this guy (me) doesn't do heights. I bought a very small, lightweight, electric chain saw and taped it to the end of two 20 foot aluminum poles. Running an extension cord to the business end of the pole, I had my wife 'plug me in'. Even though it was small, the saw's weight made it tough to control the end of my contraption, and neighbors all around me brought their kids inside while I was working! An electric chainsaw taped to the end of a long aluminum pole, stretched out over a swimming pool full of water... what could POSSIBLY go wrong, right? 😂 Thankfully, I retained my title as the "awesomely cool neighborhood Dad" and no one got hurt. ❤

[@davidvanderklauw]

Excellent. I have been thinking of a remote chainsaw design.

[@AnthonyCashmanHC]

Okay, I just succeeded using your hack. The one difficulty that I encountered was that the spruce tree branch moved as I was trying to use the rope saw. I found that the saw worked more efficiently when I repositioned myself closer to the trunk, i.e. perpendicular to the limb. This also prevented the saw from jumping out of the groove as the limb bobbed up and down. Thank you for the video!😀

[@Tubedog8]

Great video! After reading the comments, I agree that undercutting with a pole saw (if possible) is a good idea. With a branch that long, a cut halfway along the length and then a cut near the trunk could save a fence or shed. Thanks for posting!

[@jerrycaldwell308]

....Wow. Ain't that great???!!! Dude, you saved me $650 - $800 ....which is what I was quoted from 2 tree trimming companies to take down some huge branches from my oak trees. Thank you for sharing. Feel free to share all of your $ saving tips! We need more people like you in this world!!! I will have several top shelf adult beverages in your honor this weekend. You da man!

[@awldune]

This worked for me. Getting the chain oriented the right way to start the cut is very tedious, but when it starts it works almost unbelievably well. When you are getting close to the end, stand over to the side! A small issue I had was the chain (and then the rope) was stuck in the kerf on what was left after the branch broke off. I had to climb up a ladder and then push it out of the kerf with a pole saw. Never let the end of the chain come out of the cut or you may find it really hard to get it back in there. This may be less of an issue for you depending on the chain you have.

[@do7hemath937]

Is there a chain that you can use that doesn't have a Cut & wont cut side?

[@awldune]

@@do7hemath937 There is, and I bought one later after making that post. Try looking for "double sided" chain. Be careful making this kind of cut, it doesn't take a very thick branch to cause serious injury.

[@do7hemath937]

@@awldune thanks. I'm going to try someone's idea & cut the limb in 2 or maybe even 3 sections.

[@harryevans5311]

I appreciate this video. I ordered the blade. I used it. I successfully cut three branches. It saved me money. Thank you !!!

[@pistillocien6375]

Hello friend. I wanted to let you know I tried your method and it worked beautifully. My only mistake was using bungee cord which tends to stretch when you pull hard. I had a huge oak with limbs over my house. Thanks to you I was able to clear most of them. Thank you so much for posting this video. Extremely useful and a very foolproof method.

[@workaholic5066]

This is great simple idea that any person can do. I offer one additional safety tip though. If its possible to rope a limb above and over the one you want to trim, do it, and use that limb to secure a rope to the limb you actually want to cut. This added step can help you control the descent, or guide how the trimmed branch falls; especially if its near your fence. It would really suck to save bunch of money on the trim...only to have to shell out the dough anyway to fix your fence, if a large branch crushes it.

[@checkyoursix5623]

... or have the limb fall on the roof of your pole barn.

[@Geno28]

How do you secure the upper limb to the lower one?

[@JonLovestheLord]

@@Geno28 throw a rope over the upper branch, pull a load strap up, then throw it over the upper branch again capturing the lower branch in the loop.

[@scotty305]

@@JonLovestheLord thanks, this is the most resourceful youtube comments section I've seen in a long time.

[@chateaudisco1436]

@@JonLovestheLord commenting to create breadcrumbs to return to in the future

[@highcotton63664]

Kudos bro, where there is a will there is a way. Most businesses rely on people not wanting to bother with formulating a way to do it themselves.

[@highcotton63664]

@@designstudio8013 If it were the entire tree I would understand, but people with common sense can handle a branch.

[@youarehere1251]

Maybe he should stand inside a cage while cutting.

[@WoodCutr1]

@@highcotton63664 branches this big and heavy are dangerous as frig, that thing swings into someone/something, and they are dead, or atleast a hospital trip, and wood like this behaves un predictably, especially if its dried out like this, because it can snap or explode under certain circumstances

[@sjsomething4936]

This seems to have been a safe enough way to remove this single limb, but depending on location it can often pay to hire *insured* professionals so if something goes sideways, you’re covered. I’m all for doing things like this myself and have felled dozens of small trees, but the really large branches in areas that might cause damage to surrounding buildings I leave to paid pros, cheaper than a lawsuit. There’s times where each is appropriate.

[@anxiousappliance]

Unless it is the rope, hammer and saw business.

[@pburchins]

Nicely Done! They make a two sided chain with teeth on both sides. I have seen the single side chain turn or flip over. Once flipped, it becomes a nightmare to get it out of the groove to flip it back over. PVC pipe worked well to get under it and walk it up.

[@westmcgee9320]

A massive point I thought someone else would’ve mentioned.

[@ddjjss]

I was wondering how to get the saw teeth down? Path of least resistance would have teeth up, I would think.

[@mollysimmons2960]

Liked the addition of the gloves😜 Personally I would have tied the branch end to the trunk of the tree so when it breaks free it only slams against the tree trunk & not the fence. Thank goodness he got the right branch & didn’t lose the tire swing😎

[@basausi]

The hammer throw only works if the tree canopy has lots of clearance, less dense branches. Not to mention a tree that grows so near to the house and windows, throwing hammer could lead to replacing the windows!

[@springer-qb4dv]

For very high branches, this is indeed a superb idea. If you have lots of tree branches to cut, a cheap electric pole saw tied to a pvc pipe extension also works well and is faster (but only good up to 20-25 feet maximum).

[@westmcgee9320]

I haven’t used a pole saw in a while but how do you trigger it once you’ve put an extension 25 ft away?

[@Tony-hx2fj]

@@westmcgee9320 with saw unplugged, tape it at the on position, then plug it in when positioned. do it all the time. I use aluminum swimming pool brush extension as it is lighter .

[@LazzarrusLong]

01:14 When dude said “take our chainsaw and send it up into the tree,” I pictured a GAS-powered chainsaw and was, like, bro, this guy is hard-core. 🙃

[@lindaturner1024]

What a great DIY tip this is! I've got a big oak tree that I have been trying to figure out how to trim the dead branches. Got one of those saws that I picked up years ago at a thrift store. It was in a home made pouch, probably for backpacking use. When I opened it & saw what it was I thought it was just the coolest thing, now I actually have an equally cool use for it!!! Thanks for posting.

[@Quadrenaro]

Oh my god, that's brilliant. We got a wet heavy snowfall last month and I found a solid crack on a large branch about 25ft up. I have a 15ft little giant ladder and a 12ft pole saw that I was able to reach it with, but now it's at an awkward angle, drooping down. It's hanging straight down, so I'm just getting an electric pole saw to finish off the rest of it off. I will remember this technique in the future when I have something this far out of reach. Love the shirt, and again, brilliant. Oh, I was quoted $350 for the removal. I could absolutely finish it on my own with the manual pole saw, but I have an excuse for a new tool, so...

[@judymurray191]

I think you were lucky that it didn’t fall on your fence. I still might try this. It worked so well for you.

[@atlanticearthaerials6197]

Dude thank you for sharing this idea!!!! Got my blade and rope today and already took down some massive tree limbs that ive been wanting to for years. Not sketchy either, I was able to stand way out of the way. That blade in the description is awesome, cuts like butter

[@gardeninginthedesert]

Hi. How do you know which way the teeth are facing, that they're touching the tree? And how would you change it if they're facing the wrong way?

[@danielstump26]

What is the name of the chain saw? I looked at amazon but I couldn’t find what he used. Thanks! Hope I can get an answer!

[@atlanticearthaerials6197]

@@danielstump26 This is the one to get: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GMR0MZS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Then get the rope here, the quick release caribener is clutch for taking saw loops on/off: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07VGRSZNC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Secure a heavy object to the end of the rope, (I used a big wrench) and then throw that up over the limb to take down. It will take many tries on some of the high up ones, and now I'm devising some sort of launch mechanism that can propel this 30+ ft in the air, a lot further than anyone could throw by hand. Good luck!!

[@ciaartin2221]

Thank you for this testimonial. I'm ordering the chain as we speak.

[@dannyfisher6681]

Very well done Sir! I have trimmed trees with the best amateurs on the block. This is genius and bloody brilliant. Thanks for a great bit of knowledge.

[@kimmer6]

I had a similar setup that came with a sandbag to throw over the branch. It worked great at my house on smaller oak branches. I managed a 3 story apartment building in NorCal that had a 50 foot Chinese Elm tree in the front yard near a busy street. The limb drooping over the sidewalk was about 10'' diameter with brown water dripping from where it joined the tree trunk. Obviously, a dangerous limb. I tried the rope chainsaw from the ground and decided that the big limb might end my life if things went wrong. So, I bolted 2 pool cleaning poles together and put a limb saw on one end. I operated it from the 3rd floor apartment balcony and struggled and sweated to make a cut. It was like playing billiards with a rope. The limb finally started crackling. I hauled in my pole saw and sat on a stool resting my burned out arms on the balcony railing. The limb might have been 25 feet long and its weight made the cut widen and crackle. It was about to break on its own. Traffic was stopped and some soccer mom in a minivan was looking up at me just sitting there. I heard some ominous cracking so I stood up and made the Superman one armed flight gesture while shaking my hand menacingly at the branch. The lady had the WTF face on (the ''dude, you're crazy'' look) when the branch snapped off with a big noise and fell 30 feet to the lawn. By now I'm all smiles. I waved to her and she had her hand covering her mouth in disbelief. There was a rag close by to pad my hands and I dabbed my forehead with it like I put some hard mojo vibes into magically breaking that branch. She was staring at me, wide open mouthed now, wondering what she just witnessed. I shook my head ''NO'' and put my finger across my lips like shhhh, don't tell anybody. Traffic moved and she kept looking at me. To the minivan lady on West Street in Concord , Calif, I ain't no space alien nor a bewitched paranormal destructor unit demon. You missed the 20 minutes I spent sawing and sawing until my arms gave up. The limb broke on its own and you just happened to be there.

[@pearlwhite3009]

That's hilarious! 😂😂😂 Next thing you know, there'll be a video on a mystery channel about the guy who brought down a 25 ft. branch with a wave of his hand and some mysterious energy. 😂

[@kimmer6]

@@pearlwhite3009 I still laugh about it. The stunned look on her face was priceless.

[@ReadyUpGo]

Good story well told. Moments like that give me the balance and fortitude to keep on with the sometimes not so wise DIY adventures I’ve survived…so far. Thanks for your effort telling your story.

[@kimmer6]

@@ReadyUpGo Twas fun remembering it. Thanks! At the same apartment building, the wind blew down a big branch across the driveway. I was standing on the ''do not step'' top of a 12 foot aluminum ladder with an arm around the tree trunk and the other operating a small gas chain saw. The branch fell away cleanly but sprung back and knocked the ladder out from under me. I saw myself falling in slow motion looking up at the sky. I landed with my leg tangled in the ladder and my back across a 3 foot chain link fence, bouncing, then hitting the sidewalk. I broke my toe some how in that mess. My helper was sure that I was going to die in the fall. After the pain set in we had a nervous laugh about the whole thing and were amazed that the chainsaw was still idling in the middle of the street. I was 55 years old then and since then, ALL tree work I needed to be done was farmed out to real tree guys. I was lucky that I didn't die or break my back. Think twice as you plan a DIY project!

[@ReadyUpGo]

@@kimmer6 Oh my Gosh! Seeing how much alike we are I am sincerely going to heed the wisdom of your advice going forward. At 73 it really is high time I stopped pushing my luck which is somewhat better than yours to date (I’ll skip my life changing ladder foolishness story from 47 years ago). All my best to you.

[@rickdavis5414]

I used this exact method over the weekend to cut down four high branches ... ranging from 4" to 6" in diameter. I worked, but I found it to be a bit risky. I was able to stand somewhat behind the tree to shield myself from the falling branches, but one of them still managed to graze my arm as it came down. Make sure your health insurance is paid up before attempting.

[@mattsanchez4893]

This is easily one of the most entertaining videos I’ve seen in awhile, great idea and seriously happy the disaster didn’t strike! Also love how proud he looks of himself at the end!

[@phattjohnson]

You were waiting for disaster to strike? Man.. less internet for you I think!

[@RJSoftware2000]

I was thinking of doing this for years now and hadn't got around to it. I was thinking a chainsaw blade, how could I get it to not flop over to non cutting side. But evidently was not too much an issue. My thinking was to get some kind of handle connected to the chain and that handle connected at two points, to control chain from flopping over(rope twist etc.). I was even thinking of using bow and arrow with a lighter string first to pull rope up. Also anchor one end to ground and use a spring or bicycle tire tube to pull rope back. That way I could pull rope from long distance away. But hey! your way works and way simpler...! Much appreciated.!

[@melgibsonfan9082]

Who knew the Nard Dog would teach me how to cut a tree down.

[@japeter89]

He does look like him!

[@ScribbleNuts]

Just remember to say Rit dit dit di do when you're sawing.

[@tonyvo8476]

you win this comment lo l

[@actiondisplays]

This is easy for you, you're a young guy! I'm hurtin' just watching you and I'll still be feeling it tomorrow! 🤣

[@Pr0ph3cy-k5z]

I completely topped 3 trees in my backyard that were 100-122 foot tall using one of those chains with half inch rope. The limbs were 8-10" in diameter. Definitely a workout. I built a diy bag launcher to get my rope and chain over the limbs.

[@joeblundell299]

I've had an orchard for decades, and the one big problem you'll run into doing this regularly, is that cutting from the top without the bottom cut first will cause many fruit trees to tear the bark down the trunk as the top cut falls first, some trees can take a little tear, but many trees will die from the event in a couple years. You can minimize this by only cutting when it's dry, but without the bottom cut, your running a huge risk of killing your tree doing this method, and yes I've killed trees doing this, it seemed like a great idea till the limb ripped down the side of a huge old 40 year old apple, it half died the next year, then fully a couple years later.

[@woohunter1]

Good point! I usually cut limbs off about a foot or two away from the drunk first, then cut it off close to the trunk after, no more tearing.

[@Tubeytime]

You didn't mention that dead limbs are dried up and break off much more easily than live limbs. The branch in the video is dead, the one in your story may have been still alive.

[@jeffjenson7342]

Why aren't you growing dwarfing varieties to maximize space and production while minimizing all the issues, particularly cost and maintenance, inherent to traditional trees?

[@joeblundell299]

@@jeffjenson7342 Just looking at my Duchess of Oldenburg's, the dwarfs produce forty to fifty pounds, my trees are over three hundred lbs yearly. I do the forest garden techniques where you have very tall north row "for cold and wind protection", then medium sized peaches, then naturally smaller Wealthy apples, Shoujo persimmons, and Juju trees. In addition I clone thousands of trees from cuttings every year, having all the extra branches is only a benefit to myself and others, this orchard has been replicated in several locations across the world.

[@Foodforestculture]

​@@joeblundell299sounds like a beautiful orchard

[@ginsengjin]

This is actually really clever. I had low expectations for this video but I'll remember this trick for the future. Thanks!

[@carlpeterson8279]

I also had low expectations for this video.

[@ginsengjin]

@@carlpeterson8279 I actually bought one of these and it really worked well. Buy one with bi directional saw teeth and one that has a lot of teeth. Not all the ones sold online are the same. Also try to look at the handle portion to make sure it's a higher quality handle on each end.

[@snapfinger]

Great video. Shows a cost-saving way to trim high branches in my yard, and explains the effect of gravity on dismembered tree branches. Bravo!

[@josephthomas2226]

Thanks! That was AWESOME! I have been trying to figure some branches out (I've tried a pole saw and a ladder, and my wife would have been a widow, or taking care of a paraplegic if I had not stopped). I have had one of these chain saws for years (it was a gift) and never had a use for it. Now I need to go find it! I was not looking for this - just stumbled across it! Woo Hoo!

[@PaulDant]

Best tool I have ever bought! Cutting down a tree limb by limb and never leaving the ground!

[@TheLambdaPrincess]

I felt like I was watching an episode of what could go wrong on Reddit. Good thing that branch didn’t land on the guy cutting the tree or the fence or any other horrible place. Proper equipment and insurance are priced into that $300 you just saved. Amazing ingenuity. Lucky outcome.

[@The-R-Evolution]

That branch could have swung back and flattened Mr Thrifty. He was soo lucky.

[@dimwitsadvocate6264]

This guy's a friggin' genius! Thank you for solving a big problem I'm having in my yard. I thank you for updating the description. Yes, getting someone to do it for you is expensive. But now I can get my wife to do this for me. "What's that, Honey? I can go to where??"

[@warriormanmaxx8991]

"I can go to where??" = means ... "Hell" !!

[@FRANKSBESEK]

I immensely enjoyed your resourcefulness . You did it safely and cheaply. Great job ! Fresh air and exercise too. No gym needed. Stay well and thanks for the fine vid and info.

[@carlosperla7233]

safely until he stood directly under the chainsaw still hanging on the tree. LOL

[@LouCars]

Throwing hammers aint that safe either

[@ToddStuhr]

Thanks , what a great idea. Without you sharing nobody would know this trick.

[@TheSouthIsHot]

"And you don't want to stand underneath the branch because..." I like how you felt the need to explain that.🤣

[@drophammer776]

Little tip that can save a huge headache. If the limb your cutting is hanging over your house or structure, tie a cable from limb few inches away from where your cutting to trunk so the limb will swing inwards towards trunk. Shorter the cable the quicker the limb will start to swing away.

[@FlyingFun.]

This is exactly what I thought about when I watched this video, that branch came down ok but there was a fence pretty close... House behind me has a huge cherry tree that is over our garage, they won't trim it so just leaving it, would be pretty hard to get down without damaging the garage, it is literally less than a few feet away trunk to my garage, had to replace the roof twice due to rotting cherries eating into the roof felt, last fix was plastic fibreglass though and is holding up.

[@ja3482]

I was thinking similar but using a come along or some other ratcheting device with rope to put tension on the branch in a specific direction. Tbh In this case I think your idea is better

[@drophammer776]

​@@ja3482a ratchet will be overkill and might pinch the sawblade depending on the angle where you have it. You want a little slack so it drops a little bit and end swings away from you.

[@drophammer776]

Those trees that are impossible to climb, if there is a larger size limb rotting from insect or whatever. If there is nothing to damage below. Stand directly underneath the damage limb and follow it to the main limb it is connected to then carefully dig straight down. Cut off the root that is the limb/branch you want removed. Don't damage the root it is connected to. Use tar or rubber to seal the cut so insects won't get inside root and damage tree. In couple weeks the limb will snap off and the tree will heal itself

[@ja3482]

@@drophammer776 I see your point. It'd have to be placed while considering that factor. But since most of the vector of force is toward the ground ( while the chain cuts from above);I think it would be difficult to create that situation. You'd pretty much have to be TRYING to pinch the blade in order to set it up that bad

[@ranradd]

Nice and you made it look very easy. I'm sure I'd probably spend about 8 hours just getting the cutting edge facing in toward the branch.

[@danielreed8536]

Cool idea. However for the health of the tree it would be helpful to provide a "relief" cut so that it doesn't cause damage to the branch collar. Otherwise the weight of the branch will cause last part of the cut to tear away from the tree. By making a relief cut, in this case first cutting the branch further away from the collar, hopefully it will reduce the amount of tear out caused from the final cut. This would reduce the amount of damage and help the tree recover quicker.

[@tested123]

i totally expected it to peel off like a banana and hit him. the under cut is so important unless it dead.

[@sport07-o2l]

Yeah. Totally agree with undercutting or twice cutting, but that poor sapling took the limb right in the crotch. That was unfortunate

[@alexziegler6454]

How can you do a relief cut with a rope saw?

[@tested123]

@@alexziegler6454 it would take a lot of pulleys

[@edwinpino3384]

This is great! I have been trimming with pole but really want to get the bigger branches smaller than yours but high up. I’ve paid up to $900 to trim and love to pay myself. Thank you

[@dennisrphymurphy7929]

Nice job, Bud. I have the same problem with a few long growing branches from a hugh pine tree just 30 feet from my house.. really long branches... 30-50 feet I'm guessing. I'm going to tackle it tomorrow with my buddy. He has a full size tractor with a bucket. I have an electric chainsaw with a 10 foot handle extension. I hope I don't die. I should have seen your vid before I made the commitment with my friend. Wish me luck. I'm 72 and he is 84.

[@travelguy1564]

How that tree trim job work out? I'm trying to figure out how to trim a huge pine tree near my house too.

[@battleofarmageddon1366]

I don't care what anyone else says. This is pure genius!

[@Kmangod]

Two hours later....I still gave you a thumbs up.

[@motorradleder]

One day later, changed into shorts, with bloody blistered hands, the branch comes down. I gave him a thumbs up for perseverance.

[@mathswithclarky1680]

Your resemblance to Ben Stiller smiling at the camera made me think this was going to end badly… but you nailed it in the end so kudos to you mate. Stay safe.

[@mttrailguy]

May work for a dead limb, but it can't make the required bottom cut (first) to prevent damaging the tree when the limb breaks at the cut and strips the cambium below the branch collar. This will likely lead to a diseased area below the limb.

[@WoodCutr1]

finally someone that has a clue as to how to remove limbs on a tree

[@X3Elevate]

Me bringing out my checkbook to pay someone after nearly missing the fence :) In all honesty this is great, just couple things to note. One, you don't get a clean cut and with a beautiful tree like that it leaves it vulnerable to mold, fungus or any other disease since it can't heal over the way it does with a clean cut. For the clean cut, you want to also cut a bit at the bottom of the branch this way it doesn't wound or split the tree. You lucked out but I see others here who are up for doing this themselves. Look up the three cut method to understand. Happy DIY'ing!

[@stevegaines-vq3bd]

I am Shocked, this worked....great job...

[@vwbusguy]

"You dont wanna stand under it" /cut to him standing under it..hehe

[@dearred2923]

I was thinking the same thing. LOL.

[@jaketheauroran]

At least he's looking away from the tree so no debris falls in his eyes.

[@kelse0y0]

@@dearred2923 I

[@Tasaarisr]

Great job! I had this same idea. However I think I will use fishing line and a ball instead of a hammer.

[@Usmctbone]

Also remember to wear some safety glasses as saw dust or chips / debris can get in your eyes. You also want to watch out for falling chain saw blades along with falling limbs so a hard hat may not be a bad idea either.

[@JR-kk6ce]

Amazon sells a 48 inch double sided chain for $20. I use rock climbing, static rope and attach it to the chain with paracord. The static rope doesn't stretch, improving cutting efficiency. The double-sided chain cuts whichever side is on the wood. I store the chain in used motor oil, and I dip it in the oil after each cut.

[@annharlan8926]

Thanks. I bought one of those saws and couldn't figure out how to even get it into the tree (I'm 65). I thought someone was going to have to climb it and put it in there. Now I'll get my adult kids to help saw it out of there.

[@nswilhelm]

This is my new favorite pastime.

[@aerojamoo]

3:28 you look like Kevin McCallister having a party in Home Alone.

[@OfficialJohnnyNelson]

ARBORISTS HATE HIM!

[@atlanticearthaerials6197]

True that!!! I got quotes for this work at $1,500+ and for about $40 and a few afternoons of my time, did it all myself and NOT ONCE did I have to leave the ground

[@cerberusbonsaiarboricultur774]

ROFL am a climbing arborist (and am *personally* happy he posted it) but I bet you are legitimately right so lol well-played sir!! Everyone has a knee-jerk reaction to something that, even existentially, could threaten their livelihood -- I almost had hesitation, just now, when thinking to type "and they/we should be worried as there is a real threat IE the advancements in climbing gear are making it far easier / lower barrier to entry, lithium polesaws are allowing homeowners to achieve far more before needing an arborist etc but, nope, this chain will not affect arborism as a profession but yeah the knee-jerk reaction from most arb's isn't a positive one, this is a brilliant idea/product (and could be used far more effectively w/ understanding of throw-lines, a hammer on 3/8 cordage severely limits where you could get that chain)

[@ec5848]

Doctors also hate him for that one weird trick

[@jaketheauroran]

@@cerberusbonsaiarboricultur774 As an arborist, I would think you'd appreciate the damage this can do to a tree, though? It's my understanding you want to end up with a smooth cut along the collar of a branch that heals cleanly, whereas this will lead to an incomplete cut that snaps, leaving a stub that will weaken the tree in the long run as it unsuccessfully tries to heal itself. If you're just getting rid of a single branch, I wouldn't think it would be a huge threat to a tree, but as an arborist, I thought you'd be more concerned about that.

[@nobodyspecial9035]

Wrong! We love this video for the awareness it will bring to the possible side effects of this method.

[@AndyMcPandy]

brilliant. didnt know where this was going until the chainsaw reveal. would never have thought of this. kudos, sir!

[@michaelnewman5734]

There was a lot happening there we didn't see. You must have pre- cut the underside of the branch to have it break away so cleanly. You were actually standing in the danger zone if it hadn't been undercut. Cheers

[@johnnyparrish4019]

This should have way more views

[@srkaiser1964]

I tried the same thing, I realized that after (four hours) of shimmering back and forth it was time to climb the tree!

[@prsr8564]

😅

[@MattsTechCorner]

Genius, but phew glad no one got hurt. Definitely wanna be safe all around! Great video!

[@EdwardCurrent]

I have a large branch that is already partially broken off by a storm. It's hanging over an out building, so I'm going to try tying a rope (partially using your method), then tying the rope to my riding mower, and getting up some speed with the rope slack to try to yank the branch off and pull it away from the building from some distance away.

[@brendan2599]

It's even better with two people because you can spread apart, which means you concentrate the cutting on the top, which makes it less likely that the tree will pinch and bind the chain as it starts to sag and drop. If you have the handles close together you cut the top and the sides. As the branch starts to sag the cut low down on the sides will pinch the chain. It sucks having your chain stuck 30 feet up in a tree with a dangerously partially cut branch.

[@jpz6072]

I got the same idea but I hate throwing so many times so i end up buying a $30 drone to route fishing string which is attached to my rope saw.

[@NoIAmTheLaw]

JPZ Great solution! And now you have a drone!

[@davidhuynh5600]

He told me $600 I did the same thing you did but the hammer flew and hit my truck

[@Nathan-jt3ov]

david huynh and then landed on your head cuz your stupid

[@ChickensAndGardening]

Well, a $295 windshield repair is still cheaper than $600...

[@ninesixteengenetix]

@@ChickensAndGardening that was comedy

[@8307c4]

Which explains why the arborist would've done it for $600.

[@michaelsherron5750]

LOL! Please forgive me for laughing, it's not funny that the hammer hit your truck. The thing that has me laughing is Imagining the look on your face and how you probably felt when the hammer became a projectile instrument. 😂

[@customcuts1]

Gotta be careful. There’s no way to do an undercut first so if the branch is alive at all it may peel significantly. Could open the tree up to a secondary infection and before long you have a entirely dead tree. Keep in mind you often get what you pay for. A good climbing set and hand saw would run $1200 to $1500 and the professional tree guy is going to have all that stuff.

[@PALM311]

a lot of times your saw is not just going to come through the branch and it's going to drop straight down. it will hinge because of the weight of the limb hanging out. it'll swing down like a pendulum. depending on how long the branch is or how high up in the tree it is it could easily take you out and it happens in the blink of an eye.

[@tealbingy5450]

We've had one of those for years. One of the first times we used it, we had first asked a tree guy working next door how much to cut down the storm-damaged branch (similar to this one). He said, "$85." We said no thanks, and got to work. As we each took turns hauling at the rope, we chanted, "85 bucks, 85 bucks..." It was done in about 5 minutes!

[@ffryan]

What was the length of time from when you began actually cutting to when then branch was cut off and fell to the ground?

[@NoIAmTheLaw]

ffryan maybe 5-10 minutes. Once the saw gets cutting, it goes fast. The entire project from start to finish was about 20 minutes.

[@jenniferjahns4006]

@@NoIAmTheLaw Just saw your reply. I asked about the same thing so no need to answer

[@gtlogic6023]

Some say he is still doing the cutting dance

[@smshh33]

@@gtlogic6023 lmao

[@Mrkevi123]

The Office Web Episode: Andy Cuts a Tree

[@kelse0y0]

I was laughing soooo freakin hard

[@kelse0y0]

Make sure there is no one around to hit with a hammer on the head. Especially yourself.

[@High-Tech-Redneck]

Looks like you killed a smaller tree while dropping the limb. You needed a second rope with someone controlling the fall.

[@anneard1674]

thanks... as a 72 yr old recent widow I have bought one of those wire cutters to get a limb not so far up... didn't even know about using a chain saw chain...

[@ritchsmith2390]

when he said now we're gonna pull the chain saw into the tree, cracked me up. great advice - watch out for the hammer and don't stand under the branch.

[@imsneeky]

i know this is wrong but.i kept waiting for the tree to fall and the branch to stay aloft,too much bugs bunny in my youth

[@ciaartin2221]

Something that would happen to Wyle E. Coyote Super Genious!

[@elrenaud888]

This looks very dangerous to me. Even a small limb if it falls on you, would be dangerous. I'd get a couple estimates by tree companies. $200-$300 may sound expensive, but a broken fence or leg or storage shed would cost a lot more in the long run.

[@ChickensAndGardening]

I mean, you're right, but it seemed like he was standing well back. We probably risk our lives 10x more every time we get in our cars (38,000 killed every year) but we don't even hesitate!!!

[@MiguelGarcia-ew1rf]

I just got quoted $3000 for cutting the main tree on my house. $300 wow I would love to pay that.

[@springer-qb4dv]

Sure tree limbs are quite heavy, but I don't see any risk if you are standing way off the the side using long rope. After cutting through good portion of the branch, you can just use heavy rope to pull it down (standing way off to the side of course).

[@PeterKertesz2013]

3:30 Donald Trump dance move :)

[@Traditionalsheep]

Yahahahhahahaha

[@zebulon2.198]

Pretty good idea. If you put your rope in a figure 8 it will unwind cleanly and not tangle as easily. Use bowline knots to tie anything that will have a lot of tension on it and be easy to untie once you are done. Great video.

[@williskirby9881]

Several comments have mentioned about starting with a under cut. If the saw chain is long enough could it be wrapped around the limb for the first few cuts and then position the chain back in the top cut to finish sawing the limb into. Just a thought. I’ve never have done this, but it’s a great idea.

[@TresJuevos]

The title is misleading! It should be, "How to trim a tall tree branch in 4:16."

[@Robert-fq5wx]

1 tree trimmer dislikes this 😂

[@ffryan]

This is actually how some arborists will cut some branches.

[@JohnSmith63737]

Video is 5 years old. I bet they are divorced and she kept the house

[@greggregg1969]

as someone who was knocked to the ground off my ladder buy a branch I had just cut.....well done mate from Australia

[@jkopvo]

Thanks for the video! Very impressive - I'll have to remember that trick! Two observations: 1) When you started sawing with bare hands, I was thinking that I would wear gloves if I was you. Then in the next shot, I was happy to see that you had the gloves back on! 2) You know that the current style with jeans is to have holes around the knees. You probably paid a lot for those fashionable jeans. Are you sure you want to wear them while out doing yard work? Ha!