Mr_Asa
UltimaDork
9/4/22 6:59 p.m.
With the new Miata being in the driveway, the lil lady was concerned with the tree next to the driveway. It regularly drops branches that are wrist thick, sometimes on the CX-5 or the truck.
So, I marshall my forces. Said forces include an 8" bar pole saw, and a 14" Harbor Freight Special plug-in chainsaw.
Took way to damn long to do this and I should cut down the one up above it cause that one has dead branches that haven't fallen yet.
Bleh. In these pics its the first branch on the bottom right.
I love Cutting trees. Danger and less leaves make it so satisfying.
In reply to Mr_Asa :
As someone that goes up ladders often I don't like you cutting on a ladder unless you are strapped in yourself. Way too easy for something to go the wrong way and knock you off your ladder.
Mr_Asa
UltimaDork
9/4/22 7:15 p.m.
In reply to Stampie :
Believe me, I agree.
I cut most of the way through one side (cause crappy short blade) then went over to the other side and got that side cut through enough till the lil lady started yelling. I dropped the saw and hustled down. Along the way I heard the :pop: of the branch trying to let go. I got down and went to stand ~30 feet away and we watched it droop for a solid three minutes before it got to the point that it actually fell.
I am not gonna die today. Not by no damn water oak.
Stampie said:
In reply to Mr_Asa :
As someone that goes up ladders often I don't like you cutting on a ladder unless you are strapped in yourself. Way too easy for something to go the wrong way and knock you off your ladder.
When I was about sixteen I helped a friend and his dad cut a BIG tree. Part of the day involved me perched up in the crotch of a huge branch with a chain saw and removing one half of the tree above that point. I remember that tree swaying like crazy when the limb went down.
How I dangled my legs and didn't get snagged by the falling branch, even with 35 years of hindsight.. I will never explain. How my buddy's dad (RIP big Al) thought it was a good idea.. I still wonder.
Wait. So nobody died and no cars were caved in? I'm missing the dumb part.
Mr_Asa
UltimaDork
9/4/22 8:23 p.m.
1988RedT2 said:
Wait. So nobody died and no cars were caved in? I'm missing the dumb part.
You may have skipped over the size of the tools I was using. Let me provide a visual aide.
I wasn't even able to get through the center of the branch.
Tree service is cheaper than the ER.
In reply to Mr_Asa :
Yes, but you succeeded in accomplishing that which you set out to do. You persevered. And you learned that you need a bigger saw.
Not dumb. Self-reliant. Determined. Brilliant.
Don't berkeley with things that if you poke them wrong can kill you.
In reply to Floating Doc (Forum Supporter) :
We finally got my 86 year old father-in-law to stop trimming a giant tree in his front yard and pay our local service $350 for a trimming and cleanup. Worth every dollar.
Beer Baron said:
Don't berkeley with things that if you poke them wrong can kill you.
That's the truth. Knowing where that threshold lies is the hard part.
Brasfield and Gorrie is a big general contractor in the southeast. They have a safety program that begins with STCKY. "Stuff that can kill you".
Beer Baron said:
Don't berkeley with things that if you poke them wrong can kill you.
You married into a Sicilian family too?
Floating Doc (Forum Supporter) said:
Tree service is cheaper than the ER.
Yep. In the 5 years I've had my house we've had 5 trees removed and a few more trimmed up.
Still need to have the 5 remaining ones thinned out and trimmed. One still has considerable damage from our ice storms winter before last, since it's in no danger of falling in the street or on the house I've slacked on getting it taken care of.
Mr_Asa said:
Let me provide a visual aide.
I wasn't even able to get through the center of the branch.
I have this same saw. It's great, but I don't think I'd try to cut anything more than half that size with it.
I'm glad you made it through unscathed. I'm a big DIYer but stuff like that I will pay a pro. I have no problem cutting and splitting firewood, but I wont cut them down or run a saw from a ladder. Too dangerous for me.
Never use a chainsaw on a ladder. You can strap yourself in all you want but my friend the hand specialist occupational therapist will see you for months trying to get your hand functional after the surgeons do their best to reconstruct it.
she said the chain saw on ladder and the trying to clear a snow blower with your hand while running keep her busy.
anyways. Glad you are safe and good job.
Jay_W
SuperDork
9/5/22 1:14 p.m.
I have a standing policy. That policy is, that if I'm running a chainsaw, my feet are on the ground. I have people that go up ladders or hang off ropes with tree spurs, while mucking about with chainsaws and they seem to enjoy doing it.
Mr_Asa
UltimaDork
9/7/22 8:51 p.m.
In reply to Fueled by Caffeine :
It just keeps getting worse.
I learned the hard way not to use a chainsaw on a ladder. Actually it was the tree saw I used after the chain saw that did the damage. Damn limb broke loose, dug into the ground, and knocked the ladder out from under my feet. Fortunately I was prepared for my own stupidity by wrapping my free arm around a limb just above me.
Jay_W said:
I have a standing policy. That policy is, that if I'm running a chainsaw, my feet are on the ground. I have people that go up ladders or hang off ropes with tree spurs, while mucking about with chainsaws and they seem to enjoy doing it.
That's why those of us who enjoy our limbs, happily pay those who know what they are doing.
spitfirebill said:
I learned the hard way not to use a chainsaw on a ladder. Actually it was the tree saw I used after the chain saw that did the damage. Damn limb broke loose, dug into the ground, and knocked the ladder out from under my feet. Fortunately I was prepared for my own stupidity by wrapping my free arm around a limb just above me.
I think 5 is the cut off age of when the human body stops bouncing well.
