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cutting down a conifer tree
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By *riskygaz OP Man
over a year ago
birmingham |
I have a massive conifer right in front of my living room window, it has to go lol, has anyone done a DIY job on one without falling and breaking your neck lol, trying to get my hands on a climbing harness and rope, I think I could do it if I had the equipment. |
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"I have a massive conifer right in front of my living room window, it has to go lol, has anyone done a DIY job on one without falling and breaking your neck lol, trying to get my hands on a climbing harness and rope, I think I could do it if I had the equipment."
How tall is it? |
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By *riskygaz OP Man
over a year ago
birmingham |
"
Harness? How tall is the damn thing?
In any event i seriously doubt the upper trunk will be suitable to hang an harness off. "
I would say it's about 20 foot tall, I cant really let go with both hands to use a chainsaw if I am not attached to the tree in some way. |
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Harness? How tall is the damn thing?
In any event i seriously doubt the upper trunk will be suitable to hang an harness off. I would say it's about 20 foot tall, I cant really let go with both hands to use a chainsaw if I am not attached to the tree in some way."
Lol - what could possibly go wrong?
Is it near anything that it might fall on that you could video of to send to You've Been Framed and get £250 to offset the damage? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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at 20 feet, its not strong enough to support you on a harness, best bet would be to hire a local pro to take the top off then do rest yourself. personally i stood on the roof of my mates van... but it wasnt all that safe.  |
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Cut lower branches off with a bush saw leave about 8in on the trunk and then work your way up it standing on the cut stumps till you just have the trunk then you can use the chainsaw to do the final felling |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I have a massive conifer right in front of my living room window, it has to go lol, has anyone done a DIY job on one without falling and breaking your neck lol, trying to get my hands on a climbing harness and rope, I think I could do it if I had the equipment."
Depending how big it is and if your explaining on removing the stump don't cut it at ground level do it about waist height then you can use that hight as leverage when truing to get the stump out once you've cut all the big roots and need to break the ones directly underneath. |
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"Cut lower branches off with a bush saw leave about 8in on the trunk and then work your way up it standing on the cut stumps till you just have the trunk then you can use the chainsaw to do the final felling "
The first sensible thing said in this thread |
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By *riskygaz OP Man
over a year ago
birmingham |
"Cut lower branches off with a bush saw leave about 8in on the trunk and then work your way up it standing on the cut stumps till you just have the trunk then you can use the chainsaw to do the final felling
The first sensible thing said in this thread"
I was going to just climb up the tree branches and cut what I feel are safe to cut, but the more I think about it I really would like to cut down the main trunk, I wouldn't risk cutting the whole thing down from the ground, I might flatten the house if it fell the wrong way lol |
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"I was going to just climb up the tree branches and cut what I feel are safe to cut, but the more I think about it I really would like to cut down the main trunk, I wouldn't risk cutting the whole thing down from the ground, I might flatten the house if it fell the wrong way lol"
Now you have a plan.
Don't forget the video camera  |
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"... I cant really let go with both hands to use a chainsaw if I am not attached to the tree in some way."
Chainsaw?
Chainsaws are for pussies.
Get a work-out and use a handsaw.
You can hang on with one hand that way.
Invite a hotty round telling her you need her there just in case... as a safety measure y'know?
You'll be pumped, sweaty, hot, manly... she'll wanna fuck your brains out when that trunk is sunk  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Dynamite, I thought mmm nope I see the house suffering again lol"
Wrap det cord around the base enough to cut it then plant a kicker charge at the top on the side facing the house.
The det cord cuts the tree the kicker knocks it to fall the right way ^_^ |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Conifer ?
That narrows it down a bit 
It's more than likely a Leylandii in which case you're not going to be climbing it.
As said above start at the bottom and work up Bow saw until it's stripped.
And you're going to love digging the stump out |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I have a massive conifer right in front of my living room window, it has to go lol, has anyone done a DIY job on one without falling and breaking your neck lol, trying to get my hands on a climbing harness and rope, I think I could do it if I had the equipment."
We have conifer issues it totally blocks all the sun in our back garden ts taller than the house and god knows how wide it is. its not ours its next doors along with her pissing ivy I constantly battle with  |
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It depends on which conifer it is - there are many species. Typically shallow rooted, without tap roots anchoring them to the ground, they can be easily pushed or blown over.
I've had friendly young men get up them for me, taking them down from the top, piece by piece. It helps if there's a structure by it, to climb over from, such as a hardwood tree.
Id love one outside my bedroom window now, due to long day light early in the morning. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Conifer ?
That narrows it down a bit
It's more than likely a Leylandii in which case you're not going to be climbing it.
As said above start at the bottom and work up Bow saw until it's stripped.
And you're going to love digging the stump out "
You can always burn the stump out. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Ohhh, please do video. More fuckwits die atempting diy tree felling than any other diy job.
It's the most dangerous profession to be in for a reason, 3 tree surgeons killed so far this year.
You never know, you could win a Darwin award
Love
Jane
X |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Ohhh, please do video. More fuckwits die atempting diy tree felling than any other diy job.
It's the most dangerous profession to be in for a reason, 3 tree surgeons killed so far this year.
You never know, you could win a Darwin award
Love
Jane
X"
.......& tree fellers from Dublin!  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Ohhh, please do video. More fuckwits die atempting diy tree felling than any other diy job.
It's the most dangerous profession to be in for a reason, 3 tree surgeons killed so far this year.
You never know, you could win a Darwin award
Love
Jane
X"
I didn't notice much love, Jane! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"
Harness? How tall is the damn thing?
In any event i seriously doubt the upper trunk will be suitable to hang an harness off. I would say it's about 20 foot tall, I cant really let go with both hands to use a chainsaw if I am not attached to the tree in some way."
Dude I'm a trained tree surgeon and viking.... Do you have room to drop it on the garden? If not jus get half way up on a ladder and use a silky saw! They'll rip through a conifer tree no sweat |
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By *arry247Couple
over a year ago
Wakefield |
"
The first sensible thing said in this threadI was going to just climb up the tree branches and cut what I feel are safe to cut, but the more I think about it I really would like to cut down the main trunk, I wouldn't risk cutting the whole thing down from the ground, I might flatten the house if it fell the wrong way lol"
If you are not capable of cutting it down leave it alone asking a forum will not provide you with the skills to do the job.
Or you could stack some milk crates up and climb them. Then cut the tree from the top down |
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By *inaTitzTV/TS
over a year ago
Titz Towers, North Notts |
I've been out on a few felling jobs with a friend and the likelihood of something going wrong is pretty high. I'd get someone in to not only fell it, but to also dispose of the rubbish, as that is a pain in itself.  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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When it comes to removing the stump.
Drill a few holes down into it, as far as you can. Add some caustic solution with bit of copper sulphate in. The copper will kill it. The caustic will rot the fibres. Leave it for a week or two then the stump will come up easily.
L |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"
The first sensible thing said in this threadI was going to just climb up the tree branches and cut what I feel are safe to cut, but the more I think about it I really would like to cut down the main trunk, I wouldn't risk cutting the whole thing down from the ground, I might flatten the house if it fell the wrong way lol
If you are not capable of cutting it down leave it alone asking a forum will not provide you with the skills to do the job.
Or you could stack some milk crates up and climb them. Then cut the tree from the top down"
not seen a milkman for years  think Ernie was the last one but he was the fasted milkman in the west |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Cut lower branches off with a bush saw leave about 8in on the trunk and then work your way up it standing on the cut stumps till you just have the trunk then you can use the chainsaw to do the final felling "
This is the right way to go about it.
At 20' tall I don't imagine the trunk is very big, so you wouldn't be able to get to the top, anyway. How much clearance do you have in front? If enough tie a rope over half way up, get a mate to hold it and guide it down as you cut. You could top it out first if you prefer. You shouldn't need a chainsaw, just a good pruning saw.
If you intend to remove the root, as somebody else said, leave enough trunk for leverage. Around 4-5' is good. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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20 feet!!.
Get a ladder lean it on branches five feet from top.
Attach rope around ladder to trunk.
Cut the five foot off the top with a hand saw....DO NOT use a chainsaw .
Drop ladder down another five feet from top and repeat.
Leave the small branches on the trunk as there'll steady your ladder!
DO NOT USE A CHAINSAW EVER unless your trained and have the correct safety equipment. That includes trousers boots and gloves not just some goggles |
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"
Harness? How tall is the damn thing?
In any event i seriously doubt the upper trunk will be suitable to hang an harness off. I would say it's about 20 foot tall, I cant really let go with both hands to use a chainsaw if I am not attached to the tree in some way.
Lol - what could possibly go wrong?
Is it near anything that it might fall on that you could video of to send to You've Been Framed and get £250 to offset the damage?"
|
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"When it comes to removing the stump.
Drill a few holes down into it, as far as you can. Add some caustic solution with bit of copper sulphate in. The copper will kill it. The caustic will rot the fibres. Leave it for a week or two then the stump will come up easily.
L"
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By *uby0000Woman
over a year ago
hertfordshire |
my hubby planted a line of leylandi 20 years ago in our back garden two years ago we had to get a man in to lop the tops off as they were 13 foot high I would recommend getting someone in cos disposing of it is dreadful |
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"When it comes to removing the stump.
Drill a few holes down into it, as far as you can. Add some caustic solution with bit of copper sulphate in. The copper will kill it. The caustic will rot the fibres. Leave it for a week or two then the stump will come up easily.
L"
Where would I be able to pick up these items plz |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I've cut down a tree or two in my time.
My advice to you OP, is if you're not sure about how to go about it - call an expert tree surgeon in to do the job.
If you get it wrong, you can cause damage to your own or your neighbours property. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"When it comes to removing the stump.
Drill a few holes down into it, as far as you can. Add some caustic solution with bit of copper sulphate in. The copper will kill it. The caustic will rot the fibres. Leave it for a week or two then the stump will come up easily.
L
Where would I be able to pick up these items plz "
Caustic from a diy shop, copper sulphate from any good copper sulphate shops! Kidding, some chemists might do it, or order it in for you. You only need about 25g. If you can't get it there, get it from a lab supplier like fisher scientific or sigma Aldrich. It's very cheap and not dangerous so it won't be a problem ordering it. I got a 250g to kill some roots off and showed the kids how to grow a crystal. |
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"When it comes to removing the stump.
Drill a few holes down into it, as far as you can. Add some caustic solution with bit of copper sulphate in. The copper will kill it. The caustic will rot the fibres. Leave it for a week or two then the stump will come up easily.
L"
This would also work for killing off the previously mentioned Nuisance Neighbour Tree... but don't say I told you  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I have just knocked 42 evergreen leylandys they were 40 ft lim any heavy branches from tree u can cut birds beak out about foot off ground in direction u want it to fall then cut at 45degree angle about ft above tip birds beak all tress I knocked perfect and they were about 10 ft from the house |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"When it comes to removing the stump.
Drill a few holes down into it, as far as you can. Add some caustic solution with bit of copper sulphate in. The copper will kill it. The caustic will rot the fibres. Leave it for a week or two then the stump will come up easily.
L"
Can you get rid of bodies using this method? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Bodies take longer and you need concentrated caustic solution for that. Hyd uoric acid will do it in a couple of minutes though. Bones, teeth, fillings. The only thing it won't touch is PTFE. |
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By *avebi48Man
over a year ago
Lordswood |
"When it comes to removing the stump.
Drill a few holes down into it, as far as you can. Add some caustic solution with bit of copper sulphate in. The copper will kill it. The caustic will rot the fibres. Leave it for a week or two then the stump will come up easily.
L
This would also work for killing off the previously mentioned Nuisance Neighbour Tree... but don't say I told you "
or dig a hole your side as close as you can to the base of their tree and find it's roots, pour in some sulfuric acid and fill the hole back in
Or hammer some copper nails into the trunk when they're not around...
to OP as others have said, if you've not done this before get someone in. Being up a ladder even with a handsaw if you get it wrong and the section falls your way you'll be in trouble. |
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Having removed 3 or 4 15 to 20 foot conifers and a dozen or so 10 foot ones from my garden the advice about removing lower branches and then using rope to help direct the various higher sections as you cut them is what I've done.
All done with a handsaw as chainsaws are real nasty when they go wrong.
Cut back one large laurel that was close to neighbours greenhouse and found a small hand axe worked better than the saw, with a rope and ground anchor to tension and direct falling trunks. Never chopped to the point things fell on their own, but stopped early so that extra weight on the rope snapped the tree.
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By *amplemeMan
over a year ago
Working here. |
My mate got a traveller/gypsy to do his!!!
Chain around the tree, hook onto a loaded wagon and drive off.... Resulting in a damaged drive, water main and nearby car....
Worst of it all was ..............I didn't get it on video ;-( |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I have just knocked 42 evergreen leylandys they were 40 ft lim any heavy branches from tree u can cut birds beak out about foot off ground in direction u want it to fall then cut at 45degree angle about ft above tip birds beak all tress I knocked perfect and they were about 10 ft from the house "
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing indeed.
Love
Jane |
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By *avebi48Man
over a year ago
Lordswood |
"Don't get last comment aimed at me is it I have 20 years experience use in chainsaws the tree he is knocking is only 20 feet small thing really "
yeah its small but if he's never done it before the info here so far could encourage a try that leads to a mishap... Same with anything tho, electrics, working under a car etc. In the end he needs to assess the risk and decide if its a job to try or get a man in... |
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By *umpkinMan
over a year ago
near the sounds of the wimborne quarter jack! |
"Don't get last comment aimed at me is it I have 20 years experience use in chainsaws the tree he is knocking is only 20 feet small thing really
yeah its small but if he's never done it before the info here so far could encourage a try that leads to a mishap... Same with anything tho, electrics, working under a car etc. In the end he needs to assess the risk and decide if its a job to try or get a man in..."
You can bet your life that the height estimation is much shorter than the reality and the available space to drop the tree into is much smaller than what you imagine. Trouble is you only find out when the tree crashes through your neighbour! window!!! OP, just get an expert in!  |
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By *riskygaz OP Man
over a year ago
birmingham |
"Don't get last comment aimed at me is it I have 20 years experience use in chainsaws the tree he is knocking is only 20 feet small thing really
yeah its small but if he's never done it before the info here so far could encourage a try that leads to a mishap... Same with anything tho, electrics, working under a car etc. In the end he needs to assess the risk and decide if its a job to try or get a man in...
You can bet your life that the height estimation is much shorter than the reality and the available space to drop the tree into is much smaller than what you imagine. Trouble is you only find out when the tree crashes through your neighbour! window!!! OP, just get an expert in! "
you got that right I said 20 foot, I was up it today and have made a start on it, the tree is actually taller that the roof off the house, so I think more like 30 foot+ lol, I have been using a titan electric pole pruner, basically a small chainsaw on a 2.7 metre extendable pole, only a 20 centimetre chain, I have been very impressed with how well it cuts thick branches. |
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"you got that right I said 20 foot, I was up it today and have made a start on it, the tree is actually taller that the roof off the house, so I think more like 30 foot+ lol, I have been using a titan electric pole pruner, basically a small chainsaw on a 2.7 metre extendable pole, only a 20 centimetre chain, I have been very impressed with how well it cuts thick branches."
Lol - just be careful - and don;t forget to video it! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Just be careful with that cutter as branches may fall wrong better with chain saw u are there at base tree u can see what wat it falling and move best luck hope house still standing worse case u knock house build tree house in one them |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Use a professional, I'm not a tree surgeon, but I work with chainsaws. Too dangerous a DIY job to be honest. A chainsaw need only to bite you once...... P. |
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someone's going to have to nip round n check 