[ARCHIVED THREAD] - This cannot end well (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 3/15/2008 1:15:37 PM EDT
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Our old disabled neighbor is trying to cut down a tree with the help of a younger guy and his young kid. The tree is right next to our garage (hanging over it) and he's attached a thin rope to the tree, tying it to his truck. Now the young guy is on a ladder using an electric chainsaw to cut through the tree part way down. Who wants to take bets? Will they destroy our garage? Kill themselves? Both? Or will it go as planned? Stay tuned to find out.  
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we did something similar to this with our tractor on the farm. What I would do is shimmy up the tree and about 3/4 the way up tie it off to the tractor that was about 150 feet away.. climb down the tree on the far side to about the half way point, saw through it a little bit. Get out of the tree and have the tractor break it in half and it would fall down by the base. Then cut the second half down. This way you can kinda control the fall alot easier, this is especially convenient if you have fences or a building nearby. |
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If the rope parts at the knot they tied around the tree (most knots reduce the breaking strain of rope by as much as 50%), Rope will snap back to the truck with enough force to really injure. always use straps not rope. Rope will stretch 40% and break at 12,500 lbs (minus the bad knot), have fun. tag |
They don't need my help getting crushed by the tree. 
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If the neighbor has someone helping already, one more person will just be getting in the way. Have you ever cut down a tree that size? It doesn't take 4 people to do it. |
Plus, as pointed out in a different thread, the wood might magically become your property if you help cut it. And it might end up stacked in front of your garage door. |
Why don't you lend a hand, so you don't end up with a fucked garage? |
Yeah except that one is apparently handicap, another young and they apparently are inexperienced. Hey, you run your own life but if it were me I'd be going over to see if I could help keep something or someone from getting hurt or broken. I don't know, maybe helping others is out of style but if so it would be everyones loss. |
If he "lends a hand" as you say, and he STILL ends up with a fucked up garage (which is entirely possible), then it is 5 vs 1 that it was "his fault" that the tree landed on the garage, and they absolve themselves of liability. |
I'm all for helping other people. But I know when to stay out of the way and let people do their thing, too. Maybe I missed where the OP said he was experienced at felling trees, and would be able to help in any real fashion. |
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Annnnnnnd the tree comes down as planned (other than the guy with the chainsaw almost falling off the ladder as the tree snapped). The wives cheer and clap. The kid struts around and climbs the fallen tree like a mighty conquerer. The old guy parks his truck and everyone returns to the safety of the house, alive to cut down trees another day. So ends this almost entertaining story. |
I wanted pics of a smashed garage.
hmm.. OK.. now set your garage on fire and blame them.. post yotube vid.. < its a boring sat here  >
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Hmm, that sounds promising... Edit: Ah, but wait. They left the other half of the tree standing. This could still have some potential. |
He could get out there with an AR and pull security. 
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It's simple logic, really. The tree will fall in the direction of the cut on the trunk, because it's weakest there. I'm not sure why they even bothered with the truck, really. I could be full of shit (I'm not a tree removal dude), but I've cut down a few. |
Ok, that is an acceptable excuse. It just struck me the wrong way, I hate the "reality TV/lets take pleasure in others misery" attitude that has developed. Pet peeve. Now, go learn how to do basic tree work, its something everyone should know at least a little about. We've had too many hurricanes recently, I just assume everyone knows about tree cutting now . I've done about $20,000 worth in the last 5 years due to hurricanes. Glad it ended well (ish).
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Didn't realize non union slugs couldn't tell the difference between a hitch and a truck bed. Go back to selling hamburgers now. |
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If the point where the rope is tied to the truck has any sharp edges I predict a nice cut at that point. The rope stretch is good to pretension, you want rope used in tree work to stretch, particularly if it is climbing rope. At this point, success will depend on previous experience, if any. If none, luck is a factor in the degree of disaster. I used to do this kinda stuff for a living. Removal, topping, falling, climbing and so on. Still have my well cared for climbing ropes, bullropes, and gear. I have seen some good ones. One guy thought the price too high to fall a monster oak next to his shop and decided to do it himself, no big deal(We removed it later).Without consideration to lean, he notched and began sawing until it fell approx 180 from desired. It TOTALLY flattened his shop(we had insurance, he did not). Similar to pictured above, a nice 3/4" bullrope pulled a 1/2 ton pickup backwards through the nice wet slick grass through the fence while taking down a power line on the tree end. I watched 2 guys after a snowstorm, they had a BIG limb that cracked and lowered down on the 2nd level deck. They got a ladder and were sawing away at the crotch. I stopped and told them that they really should lighten the limb by starting at the tip (resting on deck)to remove load... I was told in no uncertain terms that they knew what they were doingh |
The tree does not always fall in the direction of the notch. It can very easily fall in the direction of its lean, instead. It could also barber chair, and/or go the opposite direction of the way someone intended it to because of that. |