jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Nov 22, 2018 8:56:51 GMT -5
Been here 35 years. Cleared an opening for our house 35 years ago. The 60 to 70 year old oaks have grown rapidly with watering the lawn and grounds. They started growing and leaning into the original opening and threatening the buildings. This is a common occurrence in SE US hardwood forests. Too challenging a task for me and my equipment. Hired the work done... The logs were winched up on a log truck and will be sold for making RR cross ties. One of 6 big ones. Cost was $400/tree. Left the tops, about 100-200+ hours work left for me to pile and burn. Stumpage of fallen oak in video for an idea of size. Man on far left is 55 years old and held world record fastest tree climber when 42 years old. Still climbs like a squirrel. Dangerous work, they made it look effortless.  |
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Mark K
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Post by Mark K on Nov 22, 2018 17:47:59 GMT -5
You paid them $400 per tree, gave them the logs, AND they left the slash for you to clean up...
Around these parts, that is called getting screwed badly.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Nov 22, 2018 17:59:42 GMT -5
You paid them $400 per tree, gave them the logs, AND they left the slash for you to clean up... Around these parts, that is called getting screwed badly. Cross tie logs only bring $9/ton. 35 tons removed = $315... They had to be climbed, roped and partially limbed up high, and all required high speed winch. A bargain around Atlanta for 110 to 120 foot oaks. |
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Post by Pat on Nov 22, 2018 18:14:59 GMT -5
Around here, your cost would be considered a fine bargain. jamesp |
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Post by Garage Rocker on Nov 22, 2018 20:13:33 GMT -5
At least $800 to remove a tree that size around here. Don't know how much they'd knock off if they didn't take the tops.
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Post by pauls on Nov 22, 2018 20:53:31 GMT -5
A bargain
You didn't get your house or sheds or car (or you) crushed so a bargain.
I recently had six huge Eucalypts cut down, Around $300 Australian Dollars a tree, well worth getting the experts to do it.
They cut them up into 4 metre lengths and piled them near my firewood stack, also stacked up the tops near my bonfire. I blocked them to firewood size in the winter before they dried and stacked them to dry, a rough calculation says I got about 40 tons of firewood.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Nov 23, 2018 6:26:03 GMT -5
I cut about 15 trees from 10 to 18 inches for a fall path for the bigger oaks.
Some would have caused the big oaks to have hung which is a bad day.
They too were leaning in the wrong direction and had to be roped and pulled with the tractor.
All had to be fallen on a steep hill and across a creek so clean up will be a big job.
You can't give firewood away in this city, especially if they have to haul it up a steep hill.
The big oaks have a lot of big limbs mostly 8 to 16 inches thru.
Will saw them into shorts and pile them close to where they lay to burn.
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Mark K
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Post by Mark K on Nov 23, 2018 9:21:01 GMT -5
Neighbor had a giant walnut removed. They took the slash, the log, and cleaned up. Cost 450.
They left the stump and took giant bites out of my lawn which they never came back and fixed.
Everyone except Leonard thought they screwed him.
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NRG
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Post by NRG on Nov 23, 2018 13:24:59 GMT -5
jamesp why aren't those old growth logs perfect lumber for cabinet shops and such? I'm sure they would pay more
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Post by woodman on Nov 23, 2018 14:16:32 GMT -5
jamesp why aren't those old growth logs perfect lumber for cabinet shops and such? I'm sure they would pay more I think the problem would be sawing them into lumber and then getting it dried so it could be used. It all has to be done by someone who knows what they are doing. |
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NRG
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Post by NRG on Nov 23, 2018 14:20:01 GMT -5
jamesp why aren't those old growth logs perfect lumber for cabinet shops and such? I'm sure they would pay more I think the problem would be sawing them into lumber and then getting it dried so it could be used. It all has to be done by someone who knows what they are doing. For an amateur I would agree. But that sort of thing is routine for pros. It's those pros I think would pay more than railroad ties money. |
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Post by drocknut on Nov 23, 2018 14:41:13 GMT -5
Definitely hard and dangerous work and worth it to have a pro do it IMHO. Too much can go wrong when cutting the big trees. I knew a climber in Montana who was in his late 50's and still climbing like a dang monkey. A good experienced climber is a thrill to see in action. Those climbers can be totally crazy. When I was cutting trees I preferred to stay in a safe cherry picker plus it takes a lot more courage and skill to be a climber.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Nov 23, 2018 17:51:46 GMT -5
12 to 22 inch pines are crop grown in SE US for large high speed saw mills designed for such sized trees NRG. It is a precision science. Big logs like these are shunned. Too big. Too hard to handle. Often have metal in them. Nobody wants them. Garbage. Seems illogical but it is the way it is. |
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Nov 23, 2018 18:12:43 GMT -5
Definitely hard and dangerous work and worth it to have a pro do it IMHO. Too much can go wrong when cutting the big trees. I knew a climber in Montana who was in his late 50's and still climbing like a dang monkey. A good experienced climber is a thrill to see in action. Those climbers can be totally crazy. When I was cutting trees I preferred to stay in a safe cherry picker plus it takes a lot more courage and skill to be a climber. You stand very correct Diane. You know this work. No way a $200/tree man is going to be cutting 100 foot oaks leaning over my $250,000 worth of buildings. Heavy insurance is costly. Then 8 men busted their butts for 5 hours and had stooped by twice to quote job. 40 man hours alone at $20/hour is $800. Then machinery, profit, etc. Uh, where is the profit ? Two of the oaks were challenging the strength of the winch rope, had to be tied way high. I felt bad, tipped them $200 too. I have done that work for 35 years down here. Full respect. They were underpaid IMO. Check out my 1st day cleaning up where 4 big ones crossed each other. Not bad for old man. used about 50 pounds of polyethylene to create enough heat to get the green wood going.  Note saw stuck in limb upper left, was taking a short cut. Cut it out with other saw. Been there done that Diane ?  check out steel grown into 20 inch log at lower right. Wife had hammered all kinds of steel in those dang trees.  Will be sleeping well tonight. Am cleansing body. |
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NRG
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Post by NRG on Nov 23, 2018 18:27:45 GMT -5
That just freaks me out. Cut a tree down and start a fire where it stood. In Cali that would get you a forest fire for the TV news shows and an arson charge. Consider me freaked out.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Nov 23, 2018 18:45:52 GMT -5
That just freaks me out. Cut a tree down and start a fire where it stood. In Cali that would get you a forest fire for the TV news shows and an arson charge. Consider me freaked out. Fire is the best way to get rid of 40 tons of basically garbage in your yard. That igloo design pile creates intense heat in center and so burning green wood. That oak wood is heavy, it sinks in water because it is so wet. Stuff grows so fast here. The mast of these oaks had climbed into the sun and were doing an inch in diameter annually. Was time to eradicate. It drizzled all day. Clothes soaked and temp in mid 40's, fire no concern. That type of work will have you in a t-shirt on a windy 20F day. Nonstop work. fun |
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Post by Pat on Nov 23, 2018 18:49:20 GMT -5
That just freaks me out. Cut a tree down and start a fire where it stood. In Cali that would get you a forest fire for the TV news shows and an arson charge. Consider me freaked out. We haven’t been able to roast marshmallows this summer due to fire hazard!! |
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
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Post by jamesp on Nov 23, 2018 18:50:03 GMT -5
Neighbor had a giant walnut removed. They took the slash, the log, and cleaned up. Cost 450. They left the stump and took giant bites out of my lawn which they never came back and fixed. Everyone except Leonard thought they screwed him. Now gunstock companies pay 1000's of dollars for giant walnuts in these parts. $10,000 is not uncommon. |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
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Post by jamesp on Nov 23, 2018 18:51:53 GMT -5
That just freaks me out. Cut a tree down and start a fire where it stood. In Cali that would get you a forest fire for the TV news shows and an arson charge. Consider me freaked out. We haven’t been able to roast marshmallows this summer due to fire hazard!! Fire pit sales has been slow in California this year Pat. Idaho is another state that is strict about burning. Most fire pits get converted to natural gas in Cali and Idaho. |
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Post by Pat on Nov 23, 2018 18:54:17 GMT -5
jamesp. I don’t think the marshmallows would taste as good if cooked over gas.
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