Chainsaw or tradesman?

[Roger465]

When I moved into this house about 7 years ago, there was a row of very mature Leylandii above a retaining wall at the back of the garden. The branches stretched out well over the garden, blocking all the light – also over the neighbour’s garden behind.

I decided to try and use them as a feature, by getting a tree guy to cut all the branches off. Leylandii die when you do this, but I was gambling that the trunks would survive a long time, as I’ve seen ancient conifer trunks sticking up towards the sky elsewhere.

So I stapled stock fencing to the back of them, and grew various climbers etc up the fence. It’s been great since – till I discovered one of them has rotted clean through at the bottom now, and is only hanging in place from the fencing and (now quite strong) climbers. It's this one:

All the others are still rock solid. The problem may be that I ran one of those sprinkler systems along behind the trunks 3 years ago, and have been drenching them to water the climbers. Not sure why only one trunk rotted, but there you go…

So it’s going to have to go. Along with the sprinkler system. Now I know you’re going to tell me they’ll all have to come down, and maybe they will, but there is no sign of rot, so not yet.

I am struggling to get anybody to come round and do it, so I thought about maybe doing it myself with a chainsaw? There’s a cheap one in B&Q, only £75. I’d probably only use it this once, but that alone would probably be cheaper than getting somebody in – even if I could.

What do you reckon? Easy job? The trunk is maybe 6-8” thick towards the bottom.

Anywhere I could get a decent video tutorial on chainsaw safety?

Cheers

 

[DAZB]

Just use a bow saw, with a trunk that thick it won't take that long.

 

[Roger465]

Just use a bow saw, with a trunk that thick it won't take that long.

Yeah... I don't think that would work... as the trunk is no longer attached at the bottom, it flops around if you try and manipulate it, so would just wave back and forward with the saw sticking in it, if I tried that, I think...

 

[Munroast]

I think bringing them down with a chainsaw for your first experience of using a chainsaw wouldn't be wise - they can do you a lot of harm very quickly - as mentioned above, a descent bow saw and do one a day.

 

[Munroast]

Yeah... I don't think that would work... as the trunk is no longer attached at the bottom, it flops around if you try and manipulate it, so would just wave back and forward with the saw sticking in it, if I tried that, I think...

eh ?
if the trunk is no longer attached at the bottom, i'm now very puzzled

 

[Roger465]

"one of them has rotted clean through at the bottom now, and is only hanging in place from the fencing"

 

[SFK]

Reciprocating saw with a long Bosch blade.
Safer than chain saw and usable for other DIY applications.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/bosch-s1531l-green-wood-reciprocating-saw-blades-240mm-5-pack/71339?

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Surely you can just pull it down if it's rotted clean through at the bottom?

 

[Roger465]

Reciprocating saw with a long Bosch blade.
Safer than chain saw and usable for other DIY applications.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/bosch-s1531l-green-wood-reciprocating-saw-blades-240mm-5-pack/71339?

Hhmmm... no experience of them, but I think you have a point.... will investigate

Surely you can just pull it down if it's rotted clean through at the bottom?

Oh, if I pulled the staples out, it would come crashing down. Trouble is, the operative word is "crashing" - it's a lot bigger than it looks.

When I said 8" thick earlier, it is actually TWO 8" trunks, which join at the bottom. So while I could cut the trunks into manageable chunks and remove them, then manhandle the base down, the whole thing is pretty big and heavy

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Well supposing you have a chainsaw of which you say you've never used before, how do you plan on taking it down?

 

[Roger465]

Well supposing you have a chainsaw of which you say you've never used before, how do you plan on taking it down?

Well, I intended to start at the top, and cut off maybe 1' lengths till I got to the bottom? No?

I don't really know any more than that - which is why I've asked here!

 

[pcaouolte]

Please don't try this with a chainsaw, the blade can very easily kick back and cut your head/arm/leg off before you realise what has happened.

You would be surprised how easily they are to cut with a simple and cheap bow saw.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Well I'm no tree surgeon (and have no desire to use a chainsaw either) but I gather a tree surgeon would do similar but I'd not fancy any of that stood on a ladder with a chainsaw.

 

[pcaouolte]

Tree surgeons are very experienced in using chainsaws and have all of the correct (very expensive) safety wear.

Cutting logs that are firmly clamped in place whilst standing on the ground is dangerous enough with a chainsaw. Using one to cut a trunk which is waving about whilst on a ladder with the chainsaw at waist height is beyond ridiculous for a new chainsaw user with none of the safety gear.

I have used a chainsaw for many years in a DIY capacity and I would still not use one to cut down a standing tree trunk.

 

[Roger465]

Please don't try this with a chainsaw, the blade can very easily kick back and cut your head/arm/leg off before you realise what has happened.

You would be surprised how easily they are to cut with a simple and cheap bow saw.

Advice about the chainsaw understood. But my friend did actually bring his bow saw up a few weeks ago, and I had a quick go. (a) with the angle I had to approach it from, I couldn't apply much force; (b) as I mentioned above, the trunk wobbles back and forward. The combination of these two factors makes it pretty much impossible.

Well I'm no tree surgeon (and have no desire to use a chainsaw either) but I gather a tree surgeon would do similar but I'd not fancy any of that stood on a ladder with a chainsaw.

No, think you're right. I'm looking at the reciprocating saw idea... probably a great deal safer.

Another possibility might be to tie ropes round it from behind, pull the staples out, and lower it down in one piece...will have to assess its weight.