Knocked over

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The title says it all. Did this today. It measured 7'6" at the cut. Cottonwood that was storm damaged this summer.

Weapon of choice Tree Monkey MS880 59" bar full comp chisel with a 9 pin rim. Pulled that chain around like a boss!

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Here's one more

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[lwhaples]

Nice weapon of choice.

 

[Chainsaw Jim]

Sweet, now you can have 880 long bar races.

 

[jakethesnake]

That's a whole lotta sump

 

[Backtroller]

I thought this was going to be a post about how my 346 can't stand stand up and needs a kick stand


Awesome pictures.

 

[jimmorrison]

Man, those cottonwoods can get big. What was it doing, standing there all by itself?

 

[Wolverine]

Knocked over is better than knocked up.

Cool pics.

 

[fearofpavement]

Impressive diameter there. Plus it's nice to have the right tool for the job.
Thanks for posting that.

 

[Basher]

Was there or is there much grit trapped in the folds of these trees? When I cut large trees with multiple folds in them they dull the chain quickly.

 

[DELETED (Struggle)]

Was there or is there much grit trapped in the folds of these trees? When I cut large trees with multiple folds in them they dull the chain quickly.

Yes very much so. Since i have to go back and grind that sumbeech out I try to cut as low as I can. Since the tree is along a corn field the wind has driven a lot of dirt into the bark etc.

I cut the wedge initially with a 880 with a 41". At until it dulled that chain. then finished it off with the 59" bar. So everything will need to be sharpened. I was just glad when I bucked into three pieces I didn't find any metal.

When I deal with these big trees I always bring two 880s one ported one Stock with mm mod and Tree monkey 660 and 461 as well in case I have to cut one free.


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[DELETED (Struggle)]

Man, those cottonwoods can get big. What was it doing, standing there all by itself?

The trunk was all that was left. Storms this past summer took the top out. It was all by itself and as cottonwoods go this one had a massive canopy and was really a neat tree. I was sad to see it go as it is along a roadway that lots of people travel into the middle of our town. Kind of feel like our town lost a landmark of sorts. That was the largest tree we had in our town area that I know of.


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[skidooguy]

I have cut a few that size as well. I always feel like I'm destroying history but I cut them down before they rot and blow over. Then cottonwoods hold a lot of water too so that adds up in weight. Good choice with the 880. I've considered a 3120 just for these and have a buddy that has one. They just get too big to deal with sometimes.

 

[Basher]

Kind of sad when the big ones go down. On the lakeshore I grew up on there was this one huge tree that stood heads and shoulders above the rest, it actually made a great navigational aide, even on foggy days or the dark of night it stood out against the skyline. Sadly one spring after a really hard winter it toppled over when a high wind storm passed through after a quick thaw. Still miss that tree, stood like a straight backed soldier for over 200 years.

 

[skidooguy]

The last big one I laid over was due to the fact it was leaning towards the power line and there used to be a irrigation ditch that fed it water all summer but that got closed off when we put the pivot in. It had a homestead next to it years ago. Grandpa said that tree was huge as long as he could remember and he recently passed away at age 94. I found steel about 1/2 way into the back cut. Ended up using the loader to push harder.

 

[skidooguy]

Very nice job on that one @Struggle Them old cottonwoods are no walk in the park.

 

[DELETED (Struggle)]

I will add as fun as it is too post some pictures of big stuff like this the work into just knocking over the trunk never seems that easy.

There just is nothing easy about moving a trunk around like this. Just bucking it can be a battle if it closes up even with wedges. Then standing next to it and if it rolled and a person doesn't get out of the way there would be little hope for a person. You sure have to be mindful of escape route and realize for myself let go of the saw if it rolls and run the other way. Instinct seems to be save the saw naturally.

Since there was no top on this trunk I found in past big trunks I have to cut more than half way in the face cut as I have had the trees not tip and they just sit down on the bar and that sucks. So I would rather give myself plenty of face depth to make sure it will tip over without help. It can be really dangerous trying to push it over with me a guy cutting at the same time if the trunk rolls


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[Basher]

Even a short section of a big tree like that one equals big weight and it will kill or maim anyone that gets in its way as it falls. Planning and being quick to move/escape is high priority when working with stuff this size.
Around the farms here there were huge Elm trees especially along drainage ditches, they all died from bark borers and many farmers wanted them cut down. They dulled chain real fast from the sand and grit right in the wood fiber and the wood itself was rather worthless.