Felling 40 Alders, efficient falling of small trees

dspacio

dspacio

Branched out member
Location
Narragansett Bay
Hi folks,

I am going West this week, and have a gig to bring down about 40 Alder trees for my uncle, south of Bellingham, Wash.. A logger is lined up to take the saw logs, looking for at least 8" full length, 30 footers. Sounds like most of them are about 25 years old, only a foot diameter.

It's been a while since I worked with Alders! I first learned cutting in Oregon, but since then I work mainly in east coast residential settings (usually big trees, high damage risk), so feel I have a lot to learn and remember about this kind of falling.

I am aware of the snappy nature of these guys, especially as a row of them are leaning over the driveway.
I just have a day and a half up there so I am hoping to get some ideas about approaching these trees.

Questions/topics I have:
+ creating openings /lay
+ mitigating barberchair
+reducing impact damage while maximizing boardfeet (humboldt)
+ways to keep up a strong pace
+appropriate persuasion without room for wedges

I appreciate any ideas or conversation around approaching this kind of day. It sounds like I would be felling a tree every 10 minutes to get it all done (uncle will finish what I don't get). Will be a good day to meet my capacity.

Thank you ~
 
I have a lot of experience with alders of various sizes, have some tricks up my sleeve, and have barber-chaired a couple. I'll weigh in on this, later. I have to go wreck a couple trees, now.

One simple thing is to wrap them with a chain, then wedge the chain tight. A chain binder will not fit small trees. I've shared pictures of this trick that I figured out for myself.

My neighbor is a retired, career PNW logger. He used to mix his fuel a bit rich (40:1, maybe). He never lean-seized a saw to his memory. He would lean out his saws for higher chain speed for stands of alders.
I don't do this.



Always razor-sharp chain with powerful powerhead and swift, committed cutting.

Face-cuts are for directional felling. If you are going with the lean, Coos Bay cuts have a place.



How long will you be around?
Olympia is 60 miles from Sea-tac Airport.
I'm open to skilled tree workers as short-term employees. That being said, I'm going on a 3-week vacation starting a week from tomorrow.
 
Chain or heavy trucker's strap above the cut, when ground felling.

If cutting mid-stem, such as while climbing, a heavy leaner in a barberchair-prone species, I try to cut above a knot, with the top or log strapped, if I feel compelled. I may strap it below, too.

I was craning out a forest maple and had wrapped a rope below a top. It started to split up and down. I bailed out, then the crane op pulled it the rest of the way off. Very much well-within capacity of the crane. Pretensioning a tree like this is extra tricky.


Bigleaf maples commonly crack and pop while you are cutting them. One customer of mine is nicknamed, Poppin' Maple Dave. I could feel and hear it while cutting. I think it could be heard from the ground, IIRC.

Certainly, a time to avoid the Circle Of Death.


Gord posted this a long time ago. I'm getting old.

https://www.treebuzz.com/forum/threads/circle-of-death.22911/page-2#post-322607
 
southsoundtree said:
How long will you be around?
Olympia is 60 miles from Sea-tac Airport.
I'm open to skilled tree workers as short-term employees. That being said, I'm going on a 3-week vacation starting a week from tomorrow.
Click to expand...
thanks for the first thoughts.
a week from tomorrow is about when I will get around Seattle. just through the weekend. My family are all out there. I will keep the work chance in mind to make way for another trip. we may head out there with a vehicle (and tools) after summer.
this time I'll have to pack some wedges in the carry-on.
 
I wrecked two maples today. The homeowner is a photographer. He took a couple hundred pics, I bet. He said he could hear the maple poppin' over the saw.

Poppin' Maple Bill.



Just Say No to the Circle of Death!

I used a looser hitch on a HitchHiker that was holding just enough, in case, on my bridge rings. Definitely wasn't going to use a steel-core flip line with a Gibbs ascender.
 
Do y’all have a log buyer lined up? I know alder is pretty damn high on the market for peelers. I just have a hard time seeing 30’ers with 8” tops grossing much.

40 trees with 8” tops would have a hard time filling a truck. Going to pay out of pocket or have the mill hold for trucking expenses?

Granted trucking is expensive here on the island, but I can’t see it penciling out to much
 
Yes, he has a guy who brought a truck there already to fill up. It sounds pretty slim to me too, but the word is that's what's been arranged, and he will bring a skidder or such in to get em out of the bush.
Main objective is clearing space for two outbuildings and removing stuff that falls over his drive. And he mentioned the Alder was high right now so they are making it a show.

The land is up in Bow. I think the logger is a nearby (same road) neighbor. I didn't get the complete word on the economics, it sounds like this guy will pay a first price for the logs. Uncle offered to give me whatever that grosses. it makes me think of that money box where you grab as many bills as you can.
 
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Found this thread while searching. How’d it go?

I have a friend who used to live in bow. Ported a saw for me.

Bore and trigger is a good way to minimize barberchair.
 
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