I planted an oak tree in front of the house about 30 years ago. Suddenly "it was all growed up". Although it was a healthy specimen, there were some problems. While it was growing, there was an adjacent silver maple tree that didn't respect the oak's personal space. The oak compensated when it got to a certain height by developing a lean to the West (toward the house). This sealed its fate. The maple had to come down a few years ago because it was rotten inside.
Wifey wanted the oak gone but was nervous about both the lean and that I said it's a DIY project. It came down today while she was out shopping. This was my first chance to use the new winch mount on the Trailblazer. The Warn 9K is on a portable mount I've used in the rear receiver. Had the material for a front mount for a long time, but only recently got the welder out to make it happen.
There are examples on YouTube of cutting a trunk in a sort of tongue and groove shape to help guide the tree as it falls. Between that and connecting to the trunk almost 20' up with the winch line, it went pretty well. I anchored the rear of the Trailblazer to another tree in the lower yard just to make sure it stayed put. The bar on my little Stihl came up short of being able to plunge through the tree, so I first cut flats on opposite sides to make it reach. My BIL came over and kept a thumb on the wireless remote so he could encourage the tree to go in the right directions when things started making cracking sounds. The tree went in the right direction and then rolled down the hill.
Wifey saw the tree on the ground when she got home and was about to chastise me for not having anyone around while dropping it. I explained that her brother was here to assist with the winch and contact EMS if things suddenly went bad.
Wifey wanted the oak gone but was nervous about both the lean and that I said it's a DIY project. It came down today while she was out shopping. This was my first chance to use the new winch mount on the Trailblazer. The Warn 9K is on a portable mount I've used in the rear receiver. Had the material for a front mount for a long time, but only recently got the welder out to make it happen.
There are examples on YouTube of cutting a trunk in a sort of tongue and groove shape to help guide the tree as it falls. Between that and connecting to the trunk almost 20' up with the winch line, it went pretty well. I anchored the rear of the Trailblazer to another tree in the lower yard just to make sure it stayed put. The bar on my little Stihl came up short of being able to plunge through the tree, so I first cut flats on opposite sides to make it reach. My BIL came over and kept a thumb on the wireless remote so he could encourage the tree to go in the right directions when things started making cracking sounds. The tree went in the right direction and then rolled down the hill.
Wifey saw the tree on the ground when she got home and was about to chastise me for not having anyone around while dropping it. I explained that her brother was here to assist with the winch and contact EMS if things suddenly went bad.
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