I HATE Getting Firewood Like This! (Trying to Make The Best of It)

[@calebmiller1875]

Thanks for all the positive comments about our little tree business!

[@sassafrasvalley1939]

Your work was impressive!

[@JMAWWorks]

Really impressive tree work! Rarely see a safe tree crew at work, but glad to see all the control you guys displayed taking it down.

[@allaboutperspective650]

Always nice to see a professional at work, I live in Sweden and have been using a Husqvarna chainsaw for 30 years.

[@buildlife]

I love the clip at the end moving the jug!

[@calebmiller1875]

I should have trusted my original position of the jug!

[@pneumatic00]

Your folks really have a beautiful, idyllic place.

[@rstephe]

Ya just had to move that jug, didn't ya!! Great vid and thanks for sharing.

[@ReganClem]

Great video. We've used Caleb's business three times. Always happy.

[@digdrivediy]

That's great to hear Regan! Thanks so much for checking out the video!

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

Just liked & Subscribed. We are in the Ozarks. And here the oak trees will die of old age at about 75 years. And we also have a infestation of the wood Boer insect. So many trees are dying. Then there is the fact that for the last 200 years about every 25 years the timber was harvested. The very best more valuable trees where taken. leaving the cull and undesirable trees. This high Grading has resulted in most of the woods being a overcrowded stand of marginal value. So we are pretty much clear cutting our woodlands. Making firewood. Only leaving healthy young saplings and select trees like hornbeam and hollow still living post oak den trees. Too many stems per acre is determental to the growth and health of trees. We also have planted Osage Orange in the fence rows and let the cedar grow in the fence row. A hedge type fence row gives privacy. is a haven for songbirds and a wind break and can prevent erosion.

[@digdrivediy]

Great insight and thoughts on redevelopment of our over harvested woodlands. We face many of the same issues. Lots of clear cutting being done here for farmland or to make pallet wood. I hate seeing nice mature trees like this die. Thanks so much for the comment and sub! Great to hear from you folks!

[@jaygerke6746]

luckily you moved the water jug out of harms way at the last moment!

[@RockhillfarmYT]

Great content seeing a professional at his craft. Very cool. I am really impressed with the variety of camera angles you used And mixing all the different audio and how cohesively edited it all was Phenomenal job as always Neil

[@digdrivediy]

Thanks a bunch Brock. Yeah, this was a monster to edit but I thought it came out OK. My nephew and I both worked on this one and I bet we have 20 hours in the edit :)

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Your family has the prettiest houses and yards on KZbin.....so much attention to detail. I winced a little when that gravel got kicked up by the crook in the tree and messed up the driveway!

[@digdrivediy]

Oh man, you and I both!!! I hated that the driveway took a beating but he's got it all fixed up again already 😂 The yard on the other hand....

[@Anders_HeymSR30]

What an absolutely stunning homestead!

[@digdrivediy]

It is beautiful back there.

[@Mityob67]

The organization and precision is very cool. Everything is deliberate and calculated, nothing left to chance. Very nice.

[@KNLFirewood]

6:42 !!! LOL! Lots of Wood Pirate Club members here.

[@digdrivediy]

No doubt!

[@tonynieuwlandt5407]

Good job Caleb, and Maddie. I really learned a lot working with you guys on that big Elm you took down for my friend. You two really work well together, also good to see the new truck in action. Stay safe.

[@digdrivediy]

That truck is a great asset for them! Thanks Tony!

[@calebmiller1875]

It was fun working with you!

[@HometownAcres]

Excellent video. Loved the bucket truck

[@digdrivediy]

It's good to know someone with a bucket truck!!! Thanks Adam :)

[@jdhogyellowhelmetproductio358]

Awesome video Neil ....Buckin billy ray would be proud of you !

[@digdrivediy]

I could only hope so!

[@hollandduck79]

Hello from the Netherlands and thanks for the video. Sincerely, Hollandduck

[@digdrivediy]

Great to see you friend! Thanks Hollanduck!

[@michaelmcguire3983]

After that last frame someone is in the doghouse 😅. Thanks for taking us along! Take care my friend

[@digdrivediy]

😁 Thanks Mike!

[@joebacarella2829]

The wooded setting on that home is just beautiful, you don`t realize how wide that tree was, until it hit the ground, wow. That was some great chainsaw work, you wouldn`t see me up in that bucket.

[@digdrivediy]

I can't stand to be in the bucket either!!!

[@russorpcom]

I started watching this video, thinking I'd watch part of it, then get on with my day. Need lest to say I watched the whole thing in one sitting. This was exciting to watch, especially near the end with felling of the trunk. Great camera work and editing. I always enjoy your postings

[@digdrivediy]

Hey Richard! I appreciate comments like this a bunch!

[@calebmiller1875]

Thanks for watching! We are so excited about this video Neil made with us! It was a fun family project!

[@thedelcodave]

Trees like every living thing have a lifespan. Good job salvaging as much of the tree as you did for lumber and firewood.

[@daniele.woodhead1218]

Neil , another 5 ⭐ video I often watch Cotontop3 Tim is amazing at at bringing trees down, it nice to see how other people in the business do it God bless y'all from Gaffney South Carolina viewer 🙏❤️💯

[@digdrivediy]

Awesome! I've seen some of Cotontop3's videos and he is fun to watch for sure. Thanks so much for watching! BTW we love it in South Carolina!

[@calebmiller1875]

Thanks!

[@vancochran7344]

It was a sad day when Dolmar was purchased by Makita and shut down the gas chainsaw line. They still make only battery-operated chainsaws now. I own 23 saws and 2 are Makita and one Dolmar. The rest are Stihls. My favorite is an 038 MAG II. You have a nice truck set up. Looks great and seems to work well for you.

[@calebmiller1875]

Yes the Dolmar gas saws were great saws!

[@henryholliday1]

I have a Makita gas saw that I bought 3 years ago brand new and had modded for more power and it is an awesome saw

[@BigFarles]

Very cool video. I love seeing professionals talk through their work.

[@digdrivediy]

Me too! Thanks Marcus.

[@gregd931]

Good thing you have all these "skilled" trades as family members brother. Caleb sent your butt to school. Without all these folks around, I could see you living in a Yurt and selling "Dream Catchers" at the Indiana State Fair for a living. That was a fun post to watch and see a job done professionally, safely and in a timely manner. it's ok to admit that you really loved wearing the storm trooper helmet with Micky Mouse ears for a couple days. Thank you for the post and all the work that went into making it. Love home brother, kiss the girls for me.

[@digdrivediy]

That helmet is something else, isn't it! For some reason my wife won't take me seriously whenever I'm wearing it! But I guess it was a little overkill for the dinner table...

[@C-M-E]

We have a few trees like this around the back of our fence line that the power company has had their way with multiple times. One drops rather large branches after storms and such, but every time I think it's ready to kiss the world goodbye, I come out with the chainsaw and somehow manage to scare it back to life. The worst one was like a sixty footer when we first moved into this house, now it's down to about 30ish but refuses to die from bugs, drought, high wind storms, etc. At this point I don't have the heart to give it the axe (so to speak) but nearly went after it during the big power outage in 2021. I like to think that it's shedding unnecessary weight to survive, kinda like my old shed. 😁

[@digdrivediy]

Ha! I wish this tree could have made a resurgence and had a rebirth. For some reason a couple of the trees in their woods have fell to the same fate. Hate to see the big ones go like this.

[@terryrogers1025]

Nice job, more to taking down a tree than meets the eye. Safety first and always. Thanks for the ride along sir.

[@calebmiller1875]

I've always been interested in safety, and I'm always trying to mitigate risk to myself, employees, customers and their property. Thank you to all the trainers who have provided classes in our industry to improve this area of the business!

[@JimFinlayson]

Nice video. Really surprised a pro has gone to the battery saws. I didn’t expect it.

[@digdrivediy]

No doubt. But the newest battery saws are getting pretty good. Still very expensive though. Thanks Jim.

[@JamesLeatherman]

Oh, wow. Beautifully shot and edited - probably one of your best.

[@digdrivediy]

Hey thanks a million James! I'm really glad you liked it.

[@davidmicalizio824]

Taking down a big tree is a lot of work. Great job!

[@digdrivediy]

Yes, it sure is. Caleb and Maddie did much of the work but the tractor and grapple were a huge help to cut down on labor. Thanks for checking out the video!

[@jeanvaljohn3921]

The general consensus with homeowners here is " wait ten years" To cut a dying tree. Nobody wants to admit that they need to cut down an 75 y.o. tree. The neighbor Anne was told by the tree service that she would have saved $700.00 by getting her dying tree cut down 10 years ago. That's how much prices have increased. Nice video today ,many great camera angles. Much admiration for those talented tree cutters , the skill and doing it safely is commendable.

[@digdrivediy]

Thanks so much Jean. Yes, it was very tough to swallow the fact it wasn't coming back. Hate losing a piece of history like this tree. But, better to do it earlier than wait till it is causing damage, just as you suggested. Thanks so much for watching!

[@verteup]

The oak tree in this video is every bit of 150 years old. Or more. Well it was before it died.

[@sassafrasvalley1939]

Neil, that was a smashing job! (Almost) Watching him choose which chunks and where to cut them was fascinating. And the wedge cut… 90degrees, perpendicular to the direction of fall and perfectly level with the ground… that tells you that your watching a pro! Nice job all around. Safe, tidy and professional… my guess is that they never run out of work! Neil, this is another excellently thought out, shot, edited and entertaining video! 👍👍

[@digdrivediy]

Thanks so much Dave! Caleb does a great job and I'm always just hoping that I've captured it well enough to do him justice. I think I learn something new every time I get to help out on a job too! Hope you have a terrific week and thanks as always for tuning in! :)

[@mmathis3947]

You guys did a great job my father-in-law does the same work in tn...neil better get that driveway fixed back-up haha

[@digdrivediy]

My father-in-law already beat me to that driveway repair!!

[@mmathis3947]

Haha its hard to keep up with the older generation 😅

[@Steve.5]

This was a family event. Neil thank you for sharing a really great video! Thanks! 😊

[@ericreinoehl9402]

Good show to all involved, sad to loose the tree good to have the firewood. Good use of the grapple it worked well

[@digdrivediy]

That grapple has changed the way I think about things...

[@jawadkbw]

Nice Video, Tree cutting Service is very difficult & hardworking job, Respect for persons those related to this service. Love Tree Service & Firewood splitting related videos. Thanks

[@digdrivediy]

Thanks Jawad!

[@casycasy5199]

nice job.i love seeing that house.that ramp he built looks sweet

[@calebmiller1875]

The ramp is a back saver, previous to welding the 4 of them into a single unit i would handle they so many times a day by hand, its a much more stable platform now also

[@digdrivediy]

That ramp is super cool!

[@theeapco]

Beautiful home and awesome video!

[@digdrivediy]

Thanks!

[@BG-vq9fd]

Great video. As usual an interesting presentation.

[@digdrivediy]

Thanks BG!

[@brianh6987]

Great video showing the “ behind the scenes “ of tree work.

[@gaoutdooradventures]

Well.... at least your brother Caleb showed he had some common sense (jokingly I say that) and was using a STIHL when bucking the log.... LOL...HaHa!! You gotta get him to get rid of all those Husky's man..... :) Kind of a Ford vs. Chevy thing I suppose. So...., I have some great things to say about this video if you would like to read this comment in its entirety..... I recently commented on your firewood processing rental video as I previously owned a large firewood business. However, my main source of income, at the same time, was being a tree service business owner (hey.... I had all the free logs I could have ever used so why not get into selling firewood). I performed tree work for 25 years and I did all of my own climbing. I also owned a High Ranger lift, a really nice crane, along with chippers, bobcats, etc.... and all the tools, wraps, blocks, etc. that are an absolute necessity to do this type of work. I actually made a lot of my own equipment such as port-a-wraps and heavy duty spring latch opening blocks to name a few things. Unfortunately, I eventually had to hang up my spikes due to health issues beyond my control. I would first of all like to say that this take down was 110% perfect!! It was spot on, safe, and very professionally done. I cannot say that about too many tree service companies, but Caleb and everyone involved here had their junk together to say the least, major kudos!! A couple of things I noticed in the video that I just felt compelled to bring to your viewer's attention. These are very important aspects I observed here and unless you've devoted half of your life to tree work, these things would never be given a second look. 1- Did anyone notice that Caleb left the huge branch intact, saving it for last, that was "pointing" in the direction of the house around the 13:05 and 13:07 mark in the video and why? Did anyone notice the predominant lean of this rather massive White Oak? In addition, does anyone know about the delicate root structure characteristics of a White Oak? 2- Did anyone notice the time he spent on cutting the face notch prior to felling the pole? Did anyone take notice of the center of the tree stump at 16:43 into the video? To answer question #1: That large branch atop the tree (pointing at the house) that Caleb left until last, was actually acting as a counterweight for helping balance out the lean of the tree. Granted the tree appeared to be leaning away from the house and most of the top of the tree was already dismantled, but you can NEVER be too safe in this line of work. Yes, there are very specific things you MUST know as a tree service professional that if overlooked could have devastating, or even deadly, consequences. For example, I had a good friend many years ago, a very professional and experienced tree guy, that took off a huge branch on a 100+ year old MASSIVE White Oak who knew this very thing I'm about to tell you. The homeowners were advised that taking off the huge branch was not a good idea because it was helping maintain the tree's overall dynamic balance. A liability waiver was signed, the massive branch was cut (in several sections obviously), and you guessed it....... this gigantic tree, which was very much alive, immediately uprooted due to disrupting it's weight/balance and landed directly on the homeowner's house!!!!! True story!!! Luckily, no one was in the house and my friend was smart enough to be on the "correct" side of the tree, in his bucket truck, when this occurred. He got banged up pretty bad from some other branches below his bucket whacking him as the tree uprooted and fell, but he was ok for the most part thanks to our Lord!!! White Oaks have one of the most delicate and sensitive root systems here where I live in the southeast. White Oaks are much more susceptible to die from soil compaction and root disturbance issues than just about any other species of tree that grows in my region. I could go on and on, but I'll stop on that note.... Question #2: At 16:43 in the video you can see the rotten hole in the heartwood of the stump. Caleb appeared to have taken several small sections, one at a time, out of the face cut/notch of the tree. Good job there! I can only assume he did this due to knowing this one VERY important factor: LOSE YOUR HINGE, LOSE YOUR CONTROL!!!! That is why I ALWAYS put a pull rope atop a pole prior to dropping it. I believe Caleb alluded to this earlier, prior to felling the pole, when he said, "If he needed the rope". I have dismantled tops and have dropped poles of trees that appeared to be as healthy as possible only to discover that the entire center of the tree was rotten!! Red Oaks are really bad about this. I've cut many massive red oaks over the years that literally only had a few inches of wood, around the entire inner circumference of the bottom of the pole, that was keeping the tree standing!! Believe me....that's never a fun thing to run into when a tree like this is close to a home AND leaning towards the home. So.... I'm about done with my novel here...LOL... and I hope some folks learned a few very important aspects of the tree service trade. I could mention many more things, but KZbin surely has a limit on the length of a comment.... haha. The hard work in tree work is not the actual cutting of the tree from top to bottom (although holding a pole saw over your head for hours at a time is extremely tiring... been there, done that) it is the cleanup that is by far the most time consuming and tedious task in tree work as you can see in this GREAT video. In closing, THE MOST IMPORTANT thing at the end of the day in tree work is this: No one got hurt!!! Tree work is obviously an inherently dangerous occupation. Our workers comp. and liability insurance premiums can prove that, I assure you. It's definitely not a job for the weak at heart or stomach. I miss tree work as it was my passion in life. Maybe I need to post some videos of some cool tree work stuff I did over the years on my pitiful little YT channel..... Hmmmm...... Thank you for this great and extremely well made video. Two thumbs up!

[@digdrivediy]

Thanks for the terrific comment! I'll make sure that Caleb sees this. He really is a professional and goes to great lengths to be safe and keep everyone else safe. I have learned a lot from him and I hope that folks can see this video and read comments like yours and have a take away that helps to keep them safer in their tree work. Thanks for checking out the video!

[@calebmiller1875]

Thanks for the comments, takes a tree guy to notice the details!

[@calebmiller1875]

I have a couple stihl 200t's that need some maintenance ( my favorite saw ever built)

[@gaoutdooradventures]

@@calebmiller1875 YUP!!! I had half a dozen of those 200T's. Best little top handle saw ever made. I also purchased an Echo T handle just to try it out. I have to say I was very impressed with it as well. The older Stihl 200T's were the best. The newer ones they came out with about 6 or so years ago, with the much smaller spark plug, were complete junk. Take care Caleb and be safe up there my friend!!!

[@gaoutdooradventures]

@@calebmiller1875 You're very welcome Caleb. I don't give a lot of credit to very many tree guys, but what I observed in that video needed to be commended. People that are not in this line of work have no idea what all is involved. We don't get a second chance after a cut!!! One minor screw up and things can go wrong FAST!!! One funny story here (funny now....not at the time) was pulling over a massive water oak pole that probably weighed 5 or 6 tons. It was the weirdest thing in that the pole was leaning exactly where it needed felled. However, after my face cut and then back cut, the tree actually sat down on my saw bar. To this day, I don't know how that happened due to a predominant lean directly where I wanted it to go! The tree was healthy as could be all the way through unlike maybe a tree with rot where the good healthy holding wood (hinge) has actually made a tree pole sit back down on my bar in the past. Anyway..... my two guy's pulling the rope needed an extra hand to pull this sucker down. I go over to them, we put all of our might into it, and the pole finally topples over. However....... right about the time that pole hit the ground, I found myself 10 feet up in the air looking down at the ground!!! Yup, my foot was in the ONE SPOT IT WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE!!!! On top of the pull rope. And here I was the one ALWAYS preaching about not wrapping a rope around your wrist, arm and making sure you're not standing on the rope!!!! Well..... I broke one of my main tree work rules and paid for it severely. I didn't get hurt all that bad, but the ground is really hard without a parachute!!!!! hahahaha. The absolute worst thing about the entire incident was that several neighbors were videoing us....LOL!!!! I'm sure that epic fail of a video wound up somewhere on the internet back when it happened. And of course, I never heard the end of "breaking my own main rules" from my crew. Good times and glad I lived to tell the story. Take care!

[@TimothysTractors]

Great work! Interesting to see a professional company using electric saws so much.

[@calebmiller1875]

I'm really happy with the lower maintenance costs of the battery equipment!

[@jamesjohnson6239]

Great video ! Very interesting and what a Tree!

[@digdrivediy]

Thank you very much!

[@GaRocketman]

I knew before it fell it was going to hit that driveway. I have always had an eye for felling trees and making them land where I want them to. Especially if I had access to a tractor and the right rope. Mostly its still done with the eye and making the correct cuts. I am retired now thank goodness. Nice equipment though.

[@digdrivediy]

Thanks a lot Phil. Yeah, I think he knew it would likely hit the driveway as well. Fortunately it's all fixed back up now!

[@tee-steel.0158]

Great family time. ❤

[@blackdogexcavator21]

A friend of mine is an arborist and he uses the battery saws too. He seems to love them and seldom cranks a gas powered saw unless the diameter of the wood dictates a bigger saw. It is kinda cool that the noise level isn't what it would be with a gas saw.

[@calebmiller1875]

I agree, I would like to try the Stihl battered powered saws sometime.

[@blackdogexcavator21]

@@calebmiller1875 That's what my friend uses. He loves that thing. I told him if I was going to keep helping him he had to buy one for the ground/chipper man (me). Lol. You do great work.

[@calebmiller1875]

Yes I do enjoy the lower noise of the battery saws

[@shauldsouza5378]

Good job Caleb…love the family togetherness

[@johnallen7398]

Hey Neil I loved your choice of classical music (edvard greig's morning mood) for the lead in. Wouldnt mind some more of this in future videos.

[@crae1972]

We cut down a large Maple tree right behind our house that had been struck by lightning at one point, it had a large hole in the trunk like that from top to bottom

[@Oklahoman-in6ph]

Nice Job. Should've left the jug where it was. man I hate when that happens, lol

[@digdrivediy]

Haha! I know. So close!!!

[@stromxtc2033]

This video was filled with technology from the wheels up. Neat!

[@calebmiller1875]

The headsets really have been great for us, a little communication goes a long ways towards safety, productivity, and less yelling and frustration. We use intercoms designed for motercycle helmets!

[@cliffpalermo]

What a video great production bud

[@digdrivediy]

Thanks Cliff!

[@Cedarburg3w]

Great family project! Hope you got a stick for some white oak lumber.

[@digdrivediy]

He had one stick left for some lumber! :)

[@JMAWWorks]

Great drone shots and very good video. It’s a shame not much of it will be sawn for craft use, though hopefully there is a chair or something left in there yet!

[@calebmiller1875]

Yes I hope we can do something with the log , maybe another video on what we make out of it?

[@digdrivediy]

Thanks Jeremy. Yes, I hate that there wasn't as much as they'd hoped to use for craft wood. But at least there was a bit left for something. I bet Rick will come up with a good plan for it. Thanks for watching!

[@edsecorr7812]

Great job keep up the good work love your videos

[@digdrivediy]

Thanks so much Ed! I appreciate you watching!

[@PeaceIntheValley]

great video! I've been using a DeWalt saw lately. I love the battery power. It's only an 18" bar, but works great! I didn't see Ethan out there helping. :) Have a great day!

[@digdrivediy]

I'll have to get me one of those battery saws eventually. For now it is pretty handy to just have Caleb over to help me! We probably could have put Ethan to work on this one!

[@gaoutdooradventures]

A few suggestions if I may. I thought about these helpful tips after I wrote my "novel" below... I always used a golf or hunting range finder (even the old "rake trick" which actually works and is pretty darn accurate) to determine the height of a tree prior to felling it in whole or just the pole. I also always carried a small green laser pointer with me when doing estimates and speaking with customers as well as while in the tree so I could point things out to my groundies so that we were on the exact same page. A green laser can very easily be seen in broad daylight whereas a red laser cannot (just be extremely careful not to shine it in someone's eyes). I would use it to point out certain things while answering my customer's questions. Using a green laser pointer to point out a branch, or anything at all on a tree while talking to a customer, is WAY better than pointing at something with your finger and hoping they are looking at the same thing you are pointing your finger at. Amazon and eBay are full of quality green laser pointers and they are very inexpensive. Just don't order those lasers sold by the major tree service industry suppliers like the mammoth company that starts with an S and ends in Tree. Hope this helps.

[@digdrivediy]

Laser pointer is a great idea. Caleb uses one a lot for client consultation.

[@calebmiller1875]

Yes I actually have a blue laser i use for the same thing! Works great! Good tip

[@Chr.U.Cas1622]

👍👌👏 2) Now you definitely need a bandsaw- mill! 😁 ;-) Best regards luck and health to all involved people.

[@digdrivediy]

Thanks!

[@Chr.U.Cas1622]

@@digdrivediy You're welcome, it's my pleasure. Thanks for replying and especially for another heart. I totally appreciate both very much. Sincerely yours.

[@sargentslaughter3509]

Looks like everyone had a great time and was safe.

[@ritterjon]

💥 Great team effort there! Very impressed with the audio you were able to get! Looked like a lot of grapple fun 😁 *Keep on tractoring!*

[@digdrivediy]

Thanks a lot Jon! That was some real good tractor fun for sure!

[@shanesherwood343]

Great Video looks the grapple is already paying off I see I enjoyed watching Caleb cutting that tree down I leaned a lot but the biggest lesson I leaned I don’t want to be a tree guy to high up in the sky for me

[@daw162]

white oak logs are high unless something has changed. I'll admit I don't know if that's not the case for residential trees - I know a lot of larger mills won't touch anything that could have been in a yard or public area.

[@calebmiller1875]

I do have a mill that will take "yard trees" , we will be taking the best log there!

[@countryroadslife]

I feel your pain. Before we built our house a few years ago we had a beautiful 200+ year old huge white oak that was going to be a focal point of our back yard. The tree was well over 100’ tall almost 6’ in diameter & in great health & a beautiful canopy. Unfortunately it was blown over in a massive storm & lost. We salvaged some logs & some huge cookie slices from it plus it heated my in-laws home for a winter. We planted a tree in its place, just gotta wait 200 years now lol.

[@digdrivediy]

Oh man, that's awful. Yes, we were all just sick about this tree. Worked around it during all the construction and even had a perimeter roped off around it to keep from compacting over the drip line. Wish we knew for sure why it died.

[@wfemp_4730]

Firewood from that tree for only one winter?

[@digdrivediy]

@@wfemp_4730 In the coldest part of the winter, that tree will only last me about 2 months. Max

[@countryroadslife]

(@wfemp) Plus, as I said we tried to salvage as much of the tree as possible to live on in other forms than just a heat source. Thank you Neil 👍🏼

[@outinthebackyard7579]

That is some skill not many tree fellers can get within a foot of the target.

[@jaybrown7177]

Did not take long to master the grapple. Great information on tree felling.

[@carolinacoins]

Love the shirts. Great video. Thanks for sharing.

[@scottsoper]

Nice work!

[@calebmiller1875]

Thanks!

[@Erhorn300]

Nice video! I love the firewood videos, excited to see some more eastonmade axis action. I sell firewood and get all my wood from a tree service, they recently dropped off some 5' across oak, luckily its cut to a length I can sell(thank goodness for big boiler customers) and it's straight so it should split good. I rent a lot from a friend and can use his backhoe when I want, I'm considering copying your backhoe splitter for his.

[@digdrivediy]

Thanks! I'm glad that folks like firewood videos. I've already split up about half of this by now with the Eastonmade. It was a true test for it, but so far so good.

[@calebmiller1875]

How long have you sold firewood? Do you make any of the campfire wood bundles?

[@Erhorn300]

@@calebmiller1875 about 6 years now, no bundles, mostly boiler wood.

[@tomogletree1]

Great stuff Neil

[@digdrivediy]

Thank you kindly

[@edsecorr7812]

Great job lot of work love your videos

[@marilynwitherell186]

Great job, loved it.

[@paulatkinson2849]

Hell of a job by all and no casualties which is important 👍

[@phillipjgustafson9792]

I always say that there is a difference between those that know what they're doing in those who think they know you're one of those who knows and your professionalism shows quite well I can also tell you I hope that you have seen buckin Billy Ray Smith and his channel you would be impressed with the stuff that he does too he's a lot bigger trees but you got to expect that in Vancouver BC I will just tell you one thing join the army of kindness and be kind to all the friends and people you got around you it pays back big and it looks like that's exactly what you and your family does so thank you for your 🥰😎🤠

[@meirionevans5137]

Battery saws have improved a lot. Great for comms, firing up an engine saw is almost a nuisance. That bucket truck the biz too.

[@calebmiller1875]

Its an older truck but was well taken care of and certified last year

[@calebmiller1875]

Ty!

[@stephenlehr6020]

Great video!! I have the single battery, top handle Makita saw with a 10" bar (looking to get a 12" bar for it, for fun) and I love it, really interesting that a pro is using the Makita's, I thought they seemed better than the typical home-owner battery saws. I choose the single battery over the double battery purely for the chain speed (4,720 FPM (SB) vs. 3,940 FPM (DB) ), that is as close to gas saw speed I could find, makes it so nice. The lighter weight and smaller size I think is a real advantage, as swapping 5 AH batteries is no big deal and actually they last quite awhile in the little saw. Quite a bit of firewood in that tree, good use of an expired tree, have a good one!!

[@digdrivediy]

Those makitas seem to be just the ticket.

[@calebmiller1875]

Yes I have enjoyed the lower maintenance of the battery saws, less shop time, more work time so far! I hope they well prove themselves long term so far so good!

[@stephenlehr6020]

@@calebmiller1875 That's awesome, I am hoping the same long term as well, have a good one!!👍

[@mcd5082]

Beautiful house! A great video with a ton of knowledge! Thank you for sharing!

[@matthartlage889]

What plans do you have for the stump? Have you heard of the “charcoal” method? I have done this on the same species of tree, but a much larger diameter. A few bags of charcoal on top of the stump, maybe down inside as well. Light it and let it go. It burns hot, we didn’t have any flame like a campfire would though. Even though it rained it kept going and disappeared in a week. Craziest thing I’ve ever seen, as it was the first time I’d done it. Two scoops of dirt on the trailer and you wouldn’t even know it was there.

[@digdrivediy]

I think they were gonna have someone grind it out. I'd love to see that charcoal method though. I bet my father in law would like that approach.

[@matthartlage889]

@@digdrivediy when I was told about it I thought it was crazy. But it really works. I was shocked, and no clean up.

[@tonynieuwlandt5407]

I would like to see that charcoal method, I need to check it out, I’ve still got 2 stumps to get rid of

[@matthartlage889]

@@tonynieuwlandt5407 it’s easy to do. At the moment I’m “stumpless”, lol. But try it on one of them and see what you think. The stump that I used was as big around as a dining room table. So I used two big bags of charcoal.

[@gregrupar135]

That’s why climbers are still needed. Little trucks can reach the big wood 😉

[@calebmiller1875]

Climbers are Definitely still needed in the tree industry!

[@scottdesart275]

Great job! Now, what about the stump? Removing that stump would be as tough as taking the tree down

[@digdrivediy]

Someone is supposed to be coming to grind it out I guess.

[@scottdesart275]

@@digdrivediy that would have been a massive hole for sure

[@verteup]

Smart people don't remove stumps. They let the stump remove itself. Take a mattock and dig around the stump until it's level with grade and cut the stump off even with the grade. Throw some dirt on it and it will rot out by itself. No heavy machinery needed.

[@randywilson6869]

A home owner did believe I could land it where I marked it because it was leaning over the other way a little so he went in hid garage and stepped out with a 5 gallon bucket with something in it. When he sat it down I told him over just a bit. Then I joked and said back 1 inch. I landed it squared on that bucket and stuff flew out every where. That dummy looked at me and said u broke every thing in that bucke t. I said I didn’t go get it and set it there

[@RVJimD]

I guess we’ll see a driveway repair/grading video in a week ur so? I would have had fun there with my little 4” PTO woodland mills chipper.

[@digdrivediy]

My father in law already has the driveway all patched up and looking good again. The yard lays in wait however until the stump is gone.

[@DavidDragonhammer]

wish he worked in Minnesota,especially where I live,he have tons of business up here,cause the group in this area never want to work.

[@calebmiller1875]

What part of Minnesota? I may have a friend i could recommend

[@patrickbernard84]

good job on your videos. I really like the content and delivery!! You will have 1m subscribers sooner than later! Keep it up!

[@digdrivediy]

Thanks so much Patrick. I hope you're right 👍🏻

[@jerrybriggs3233]

Great video 🤗.

[@digdrivediy]

Thanks!

[@homesteadspirit9209]

Watching these guys work that do this for a living is incredible. It's a true artform

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

I would leave the stump. just put grain and other feed on top and enjoy watching the wildlife eat the feed.

[@digdrivediy]

Certainly no shortage of wildlife around here and my in-laws love watching the deer and birds play in the yard. The stump was removed so that they could level up the yard and plant a new tree in it's place!

[@marykoch5168]

I've always enjoyed watching Caleb whenever I've had the opportunity. It both fascinates and scares me how he can climb a tree and move around in it so effortlessly, and drop limbs exactly where he wants them to go. That grapple is a game changer for cleaning up brush. That was my least favorite part of helping do firewood.

[@sassafrasvalley1939]

Mary, you got that right… watching a pro work safely is like watching an artist sculpt a masterpiece! And, the grapple? Yep, it’s indispensable once you’ve used one!

[@digdrivediy]

He certainly makes it look easy! You should try running the grapple Mom! :)

[@calebmiller1875]

Thanks Mary we enjoyed working on your trees!

[@Taxationisstealing]

Such a great family! Beautiful property. Beautiful saws and tractors. I love Sunday mornings because I’m excited to see what Neil has uploaded

[@davidedwards3734]

Great felling. Always amazed at Arborists!! Looking to get some arborist pants, any suggestions?? Stay Hydrated and Have a Safe Day

[@digdrivediy]

I really like the new chainsaw apparel from Stihl. The ones I was wearing are from Klein I believe. I'm not sure what brand my arborist Brother-in-law was wearing. My next pair will hopefully be the Stihl brand as they look really cool and are very light weight. Expensive though...

[@calebmiller1875]

There are lots of great brands, my favorite brand is Cloggers they have several types to choose from cold weather, hot weather, medium weather and also different styles and colors. They are made in New Zealand

[@martinkaye4184]

Gotta do a good job for the mother in law !!!!!! Great work you made it look easy

[@digdrivediy]

That's right! She takes great care of all of us so always nice to return a favor to the in-laws!

[@JohncMorrison]

I run Makita. Good saw

[@HomesteadJay]

Looks like one heck of a time! Nice cherry picker truck there! Seems to be small enough to get in to tight spots versus a giant crane!

[@calebmiller1875]

Its a 57' could have used a little taller on this job, but yes it is a little lighter on the turf than the bigger units!

[@KingsOutdoorLife]

It he had left the jug it would have nailed it! great video!

[@digdrivediy]

No kidding! Gotta go with your gut! :)

[@johnnelligan4847]

I bet the grapple made cleaning up a heck of a lot easier for this project!

[@digdrivediy]

It made it almost enjoyable to clean up!!! :)

[@calebmiller1875]

The grapple is great sure beats the Wheelbarrow !

[@rickbell3402]

Nice safe job!

[@halliwilljon]

Thats how i get 60 perc of my wood, of course i work for my local DPW, so the wood is easy to get to.

[@AroundTheYard-MN]

@Neil Koch: Dig-Drive-DIY - I need more information on that ramp 1:17 - 1:35. I need that for loading my mini ex, 12” wide tracks on 12” wide ramps gives a bit of a pucker factor to loading. Any chance of a quick closer look on the ramp? TIA - Brent

[@digdrivediy]

I probably have a close up of the ramp. He just welded two sets of ramps together. Works great 👍🏻

[@calebmiller1875]

I just welded 4 standard ramps together, feels a lot safer being in and out of the trailor so many times a day

[@jacquesblaque7728]

Best kind of fun, especially with no casualties. Too bad white oak takes so long to air-dry.

[@localcrew]

Sometimes a dead tree’s best use is very pretty firewood.

[@toddgillespie5198]

@11:03 what about that dead tree off to the left?

[@digdrivediy]

It wasn't a risk to people or property so he has let it stand.

[@daviddial7010]

What are the yellow dingle balls on your loader? Why do I often see face shields up when cutting?

[@DonDomel]

another documentary master piece !

[@digdrivediy]

Wow, thanks!