I planted a 50p tiny decorated Xmas tree in my garden many many years ago ... it is now as nearly as high as the roof of the house and is casting shade all over my garden ... not good.

Jim has suggested posting on here to see if anyone has a chain saw we could borrow ... well I saw "we" ... I will be hiding in the house in case he runs amok ala The Chain Saw Massacre which he saw recently ...

Alternatively if anyone is handy with a chain saw and quite cheap I can offer cash and a roast dinner and pudding in exchange for removing the goliath from my garden.

you realy have to no what you are doing when you are cuting down a tree i do have a frend at work who can do them

Do you? Do i know him? I wonder whether he would get rid of mine for me please? For money ... I can't use electric hedgeclippers in case I chop my hand off. I use the old fashioned ones.

It's a lovely tree. It has just got out of hand and is taking over the garden.

hi sue

we've got a chain saw, which you are welcome to borrow. but if tree is as tall as you say, would seriously suggest a professional. we chopped a couple of 20's down, and it was a daunting job, trees don't fall quite where you'd like them to.

debs

Hi GT thanks. Will speak to Jimbo to see what he thinks. I know he has chopped a tree down before with a chain saw but not sure how big that one was.

Also Avilon has recommended someone who knows what he is doing. So a few options there.

Thanks anyway.

Our neighbour chopped down the tree in their garden in a DIY fashion (thankfully as it was as high as our roof and cast a shadow over our garden) but it was scary to watch...The ladder seemed totally flimsy and I'm sure that they nearly sliced off numerous limbs The branches and bits of trunk were falling everywhere. I'd use a professional if I were you.

How timely is this thread??? I was only talking the other day about getting a BIG damson tree in my back garden chopped down as well.

Chris, if this mate of yours is available I'm willing to pay for his services!!!

Advice for anyone trying it:

1) Use a reciprocating saw- it's an awful lot safer
2) Lop off the low branches first- that's where a lot of the weight is & they're easy to get at
3) Think of chopping the tree halfway up first
4) Have a rope on the tree above the cut line so you can make it fall (almost!) in the direction you want
5) Get a professional

RH

RH - thanks. not sure what a reciprocating saw is ...

Marigold Liz knows of a professional tree cutter downer ... so maybe best to go with him. I like Jim having all four limbs and shall try and remember to ask the professional if his saw is reciprocating ...

Just a shame to get rid of such a beautiful tree but it is trying to take over my garden. It is a form of fir tree with a very round shape at the top.

Is a reciprocating saw in any way like a pot of elbow grease or a left handed screwdriver

sounds like one that say 'thankyou' back to you

debs

It's like a normal handsaw but it has an electric motor that makes the blade vibrate backwards & forwards. Not as fast as a chainsaw, it's a great deal safer.

I used one to chop a garden shed into small pieces & think they are ideal tools for what you want.

RH

Not exactly a tree though RH

Chain saw? CHAIN SAW?????

What's wrong with a *good quality* axe?

My conifer was about the same size (same source too! Not sure whether my father actually planted or if it self rooted after being chucked over the hedge....) and took that down with an axe.... Mind you it did fall over next door's hedge despite mine and Liz's best efforts on the ropes for it to fall the other way....

quote:

Originally posted by RovingHawk:
Advice for anyone trying it:

4) Have a rope on the tree above the cut line so you can make it fall (almost!) in the direction you want...

Ha..haaaa....haaaa - see my posting!

Point to note... tie rope to tree BEFORE cutting halfway through tree... gets precarious climbing up afterwards as I can vouch to.... Still lived though!

i thought you said the tree was big
The trees only about 10 to 15 foot high

It looks high when I look out of the bedroom window ...

Jim thinks he can chop it down okay so hopefully we will be able to borrow a chain saw to do it ...

He thinks 15 to 20' ... I'm a female Avilon I don't do spatial awareness very well ...

quote:

Originally posted by Drucilla:
hopefully we will be able to borrow a chain saw to do it ...

Hopefully you'll be able to borrow the protective clothing to go with it.

RH

quote:

Originally posted by RovingHawk:

quote:

Originally posted by Drucilla:
hopefully we will be able to borrow a chain saw to do it ...

Hopefully you'll be able to borrow the protective clothing to go with it.

RH

Always amazes me when you go to somewhere like Glastonbury and see the 'tree trunk carvers' whittling away with a chain saw --- dressed only in shorts and sandals.....

Definately looks like a death wish thing to me...

And I'm not allowed things like chain saws... Liz has banned such things after seeing the damage I'm capable of doing to myself with hedge trimmers, electric drills... and even some manual devices...

Hi Sue,

have dug chainsaw out of garage, but tony not happy to hand it over until he can find the instructions for it, which of course are missing (got every other instruction book). he will go on website to track down instructions. he says it has quite a complicated lubrication and chain adjustment system (bit like myself)
which will need to be explained face to face if he can't find instructions on web.

We bog off on hols on Sunday, so give me a call if you need it before then. Again need to stress how lethal this machine is, if instructions not followed to the letter.


deb

Hi GT

Thanks. Will ask Jimbo when he is free to cut down tree. He did say he has used chain saws before and chopped down bigger trees. But will make sure he comes with me to collect it so Tony can explain it to him.

Where are you going for your hols?

Am sure tree can wait until your return. Thanks again.

Sue x

Hi Sue,

We're off to Cyprus for the week, will be travelling in bike gear with helmet as hand luggage , biking up troudos mountains for Tony, and kit off on the beach with a book for me.
Tony usually around 7pmish, if you want to collect before we go, give me a call

debs

Hi Thanks. Troudos Mountains sound familiar. My brother was stationed in Cyprus a few times when he was in the RAF. My eldest niece was born there 28 years ago and my daughter had a six week holiday with his family when she was 11! I think she spent most of the time up in a glider ...

Have fun. I'll phone you when Jim is free to comee with me to collect the chain saw.

Just helped Jim to chop down half of a huge pine tree in my garden ... WOW!

Lauren - have you thought of having it as a Spice event - it was really good. Jim chain sawed through a huge branch which had a rope tied to it with me and Jack pulling on the rope ... until I realised that I was standing next to the holly shrub so we moved a little to one side - had visions of me falling over, onto the holly shrub with half a tree on top of me ...

It was amazing when the tree fell towards us - there was a huge dust storm ... exciting!

Pond dipping and tree felling in the same day ... can I cope with this much excitement ...

Globetrotter - Mr. Globetrotter will be getting his chain saw back very soon. Thanks very much

Goodness, Dru! If you weren't careful, it could've been simultaneous pond-dipping and tree-felling, with you ending up in the pond!

Tweety - falling into pond would have been preferable to falling onto holly shrub! All those prickles!

Jim still sawing up branches into more manageable size ... will have to take them to the tip unless any one has a wood burning stove ...

you can't beat a log fire, we have one in the back room, but we can only be bothered lighting it on Christmas day

deb