removing a tree stump (how to)

[tpolley]

how can a guy remove a tree stump? its about 10-12 inches in diameter and about 6-8 inches above the ground. i've heard people cut the bottom out of a 55gal drum and burn the stump but that isn't an option in the city limits. i thought about taking a chain saw and spending an afternoon cutting it out of the ground a piece at a time which may be the best option.

 

[herd]

I used the chain saw to cut the stump below ground level. I dug out around the stump, use a water hose to remove the dirt and expose more cutting area and then went to sawing. Your chain will be dull and need sharpening afterwards.

You can drill holes in the stump and use a "stump rottening" products that can be found at Lowe's; I think it's ''Stump out."

You didn't say what kind of stump, is it pine, if so, it will have a pretty good taproot.

 

[Western]

You can use a saw but you will likely ruin the chain. What I have done using a saw. I dig as deep as possible with my FEL and/or shovel, get all the dirt you can from around the bigger roots. I then get the water hose and rinse as much dirt off of the roots so they are as clean as possible, then i use the saw, and push/pull the stump.

Best is a backhoe., it would take less than 10 minutes.

 

[tpolley]

the stump is in the back yard. theres just a small walk thru gate so the heavy equipment not an option. looks like i'll be digging and sawing. i might try cutting it in quarters like a pie, screwing a few of the biggest eye bolts i can find and using a 4,000lb come along strapped to another tree.

 

[/pine]

If time is not of essence...you can bore some holes and pour some sour buttermilk in the holes then seal them up with hot wax...in 9 months to a year the stump will be all rotten and you will just need some earth to fill the void... there are also some commercial products available that do the same thing as the sour buttermilk...

( Just a missive, I know this does not help a low cut stump)

personally I dig most stumps out...and often I take down many trees right along with the stump...

If I want to remove a tree that is not "too" big and there is room I use a come-a-long and get the tree leaning a little in the direction I want it to fall (for larger trees I cut them leaving as tall as a stump as I can reach up to cut)...then I start digging and cutting the roots and keep tightening the come-a-long...until the tree is down and the stump is with it...The taller the stump left the more leverage you have against the roots...

There are two tools that are most important to make digging stumps much less difficult...one is an irrigation ditch shovel ( a regular shovel that is only 4" wide) for digging between roots...and a short 10-12 inch chain saw (the shorter overall the better...can be electric)...These two tools and a pair of loppers are the key to digging stumps...

 

[biggerten]

Have you tried renting a stump grinder? They have self powered walk behind models, kinda like a roto-tiller on steroids, instead of the tiller they have a rotating disk with teeth that you sweep from side to side while lowering into the ground. Works great.

 

[Tig]

I dig around the stump and chop all the roots I can get at with an axe. I then attach a come along and start pulling on the top of the stump to try to roll it out of the hole. When I can't pull any more I dig on the far side of the stump to find more roots. Dig, cut, pull, repeat until the stump rolls out of the hole. Each stump is different but I pulled a 20" stump, cut off at 4" in an hour using this method.

 

[chucko]

"theres just a small walk thru gate so the heavy equipment not an option"


Sure you can you just need heaver eq and the right state of mind

 

[kthompson]

Don't see where you are but have a friend who grew up in cold country. He said they would drill holes in the stumps, fill with water and drive plugs in them so the ice would not come out and the water when it froze busted the stump.

As has been said there are several options depending on the stump. If it does not have a tap root that you can not get to shovel and Axe work. It really will not take long with a good auger bit of say 1 inch to drill a lot of it out (cut off with saw as low as possible first) and then normal grilling charcoal can burn it out. A warning on burning stump in town though, depending on type of stump the fire can follow the roots and catch something else on fire or do damage.

 

[GaryM]

Forget the chain saw, unless it's a rented one of course. Borrow or rent a good reciprocating saw, Saws-All is a good one, and get the 12" pruning blade. These are made for cutting wet or green wood. Dig around it and start cutting roots and all you can reach with the blade. Don't worry about the blade, they only cost a buck or so each. No kick back to be concerned about either.

As you say it's in your backyard you probably have an extension cord that's long enough.