Help solving Tornado Tree Problem in Alabama

[MrPennywhistl]

Howdy from the tornado ravaged state of Alabama. We've been going out with chainsaws for days on end trying to help anyone we can. This guy wants to get this tree down so his grand children won't get hurt. What is the safest way to do this? I only have about 10 hours to figure it out. I'm taking a crew out tomorrow and will stay all day until this tree is down. Any help would be appreciated.



Please post your answers on the YouTube page and I will use the best answer. Also, if you subscribe I will upload a video showing how I solve the problem.
I am a Mechanical Engineer who has almost finished my Master's in Aersopace Engineering, so feel free to throw out all the technical jargon you want.

Help!

Destin

 

[pallidin]

What is the safest way to do this?

Not being insensitive at all, but: The safest way is to hire professionals with liability insurance.
Damaged trees can be extremely dangerous to deal with.
A wrong cut/inappropriate bracing can result in severe injury or death.

I've seen a case where "medium sized" tree branches were cut-off in the intent of reducing the size of the damaged tree prior to full removal, only to have the trees center of gravity altered and crashing onto a neighbors roof.

 

[MrPennywhistl]

I agree with your viewpoint, but the scale of destruction down here is much larger than you probably have imagined. People are having to do the best they can with what they have on hand. This tree has already been in place like this for a week, with no crews available to get to him. The man is concerned for his children. We're going to do something about it.

 

[pallidin]

OK.
Let's work with the fact that this is a disaster scenario with little hope of "professionals' able to respond.

Here's what you do:

1) With the co-operation of the homeowner, REMOVE THE CHILDREN AND ALL OCCUPANTS TO A SAFER LOCATION DURING THIS TIME. Your own house, perhaps, or the Red Cross.

2) I will further consider this and get back to you.

EDIT: Nevermind occupant removal in this case. Just saw the vid. There appears to be no direct danger on the home or those inside. My bad.

 

[pallidin]

Anyway, some of you friends have some good suggestions.
Unfourtunately, none of them are safe.

I would chain-saw the base of the leaning tree, keeping in mind that it may well violently pivot. Remember, there is considerable tension there. So, stand BEHIND THE CUT, yet be aware that it might ALSO forcefully move backwards during break.

So, I guess no scanario is safe. Hmmm... this is a tough one. So much weight, so much danger.

Ah! What you need is someway to do a "stand-off" cut or serious roping to brace the tree during cut. Hmmmm...

 

[DickL]

The best advice I can give is to ask about this problem on one of the many woodworking forums. They are more likely to have people experienced in cutting trees out of such problem situations. One forum I can suggest is the Ridgid forum (ridgidforum.com). I'm pretty sure there are a number of others, but I don't have the info on them. Woodworkers tend to be pretty helpful people.

Good luck.

 

[MrPennywhistl]

Great advice. I'll try the folks over at Rigid. I have a hand operated chain pull saw. I was thinking of notching a groove with a power chain saw then using the hand saw with a long rope.

EDIT. I posted over at RIGID. We'll see what they say.