Need some Tree trimming advice

[/pine]

Sorry to detract from the thread topic but the dialog about the rope saw made me think of the old trick of cutting PVC pipe with nylon string...it works great in a pinch...

 

[Coyote machine]

Sorry to detract from the thread topic but the dialog about the rope saw made me think of the old trick of cutting PVC pipe with nylon string...it works great in a pinch...

I prefer using my X-Ray vision, especially when in a pinch, its much faster to burn through plastic!:superman:

 

[Jim Shooz]

In that situation a credit card and a cellphone....safest option

 

[/pine]

I prefer using my X-Ray vision, especially when in a pinch, its much faster to burn through plastic!:superman:

Does your x-ray vision work this good?

Cutting PVC Pipe with Twine - YouTube

 

[newbury]

<snip>
If all else fails, I can always wait for it to fall on it's own & just do the clean up when needed.
I do have a way around it if it blocks the drive.

Well heck, I thought you had to get it out of there!

Then just get a rope over the far end and pull on it occasionally. No sense on spending money on what Mother Nature will do for free if you can just go around.

 

[LD48750]

Get a friend so one of you can be 15' back from the limb on one side, the other way over on the other side, and work up a rhythm. The rope saw can be used looped completely over the limb so you've got both rope ends, but it's more likely to get bound up in that manner.

This is the plan I had in mind.

I vote for waiting. The limb is still strong, as it is firmly attached at the trunk, and not broken at the top of the split. If it doesn't appear rotten, which isn't likely, until it looks dead, as far as I can see, leave it alone.

By the way, what is the vine in the tree?

Problem with waiting is it won't fall until the coldest snowiest pert of the winter & I would rathe cut it up now & BURN it in the wood stove this winter.
I don't know what the vine is. Generally I figured these were poison ivy but looking closer, this one isn't.

I really think the limb will be a real test for the rope saw being that it is oak. Be very careful when it swings down and bounces back at you. If it was me I would get a 5/16" minimum cable over the branch and jerk it down with the truck. I would bet most would come flying off the tree, and then maybe rope saw what is left. Either way I would put a cable on it to keep it going in one direction only.

I take may chances with things but I would never cut it while on a ladder or scaffolding or even hanging on the tree. That would be a couple thousand pounds flying at you and being 70 you probably wouldn't outrun the beast.

No real place to get a good pulling angle on it where I can get a truck near it. I also don't thing my 3/4 ton 4x4 could pull this down without some cutting first.
I agree, I don't intend to be under or really near it when it comes down.

Yes, the cutting links alternate.



It'll definitely take some time. You definitely don't want to be under that branch while cutting - my suggestion is to be far back on one side, and have a helper with the other end of the rope on the other side. You could also go with a pulley setup to simulate having someone on the other side.

Figure I'll try the rope saw on a couple small branches first then have wife help me on something bigger. If that works, I'll get my much younger B-I-L over here to help me with the actual problem branch.
I have thought about using a pulley but B-I-L can also help with clean up & beer drinking. Besides, if I get him over the girls will fix the food & they are GOOOOD cooks.

Well heck, I thought you had to get it out of there!

Then just get a rope over the far end and pull on it occasionally. No sense on spending money on what Mother Nature will do for free if you can just go around.

Again, I would rather do it when I want to not when Mother Nature thinks I need to be punished.

I think I got everything
Thanks to all for the help.

 

[Coyote machine]

Try to make one cut and not too close to the Oak's trunk. Leave a few inches of the leader, (branch) sticking off the trunk to allow for proper healing of the tree's trunk. It will eventually grow over the cut, and keep insects/etc. from doing damage.
Whatever the vine is it too should be cut at it's root and completely removed from the tree. Make sure it's not poison ivy or similar, before you mess with it. No matter what don't burn it! If it is poison ivy or similar burning it in or outdoors can cause very nasty smoke that can cause blindness, or worse from exposure to the poison oils in the vine.

 

[newbury]

[

Figure I'll try the rope saw on a couple small branches first then have wife help me on something bigger. If that works, I'll get my much younger B-I-L over here to help me with the actual problem branch.
I have thought about using a pulley but B-I-L can also help with clean up & beer drinking. Besides, if I get him over the girls will fix the food & they are GOOOOD cooks.

Key words:
Younger BIL
Beer drinking
girls will fix the food & they are GOOOOD cooks

Reads like a great plan!

 

[2manyrocks]

A rope saw doesn't allow you to make an undercut on the bottom of the limb. Without an undercut and being a long limb, you could damage the tree more because it's going to want to split or tear off.

If you are still intent on doing this, then my suggestion is that you at least cut off the longer portion of the limb to reduce the amount of weight of the final piece that you're going to saw off to try to avoid this.

Hard hat + eye protection good idea, too.

 

[downsizingnow48]

I have had professionals come in to take care of problem limbs and problem trees. They do not cut from anywhere under a heavy branch, they get above it, usually using a bucket lift, sometimes climbing. And they whittle it down in manageable pieces, sometimes using ropes or even a crane to lower them under control. I agree with someone above who said the right tools for this job are a credit card and a cell phone.