Walnut Trees Up the Creek

Magicman · January 24, 2012, 05:57:36 PM

Really they are falling in the creek. Our soil is so soft that as the creek bank washes, over a period of time, they gradually slough off and settle further into the creek. My challenge is to drag them out stump and all for sawing. I'm thinking that sawing the whole tree should produce some interesting lumber.

These two trees are 16"-18" DBH.

cypresskayaksllc · January 24, 2012, 07:53:45 PM

Looks like a good challenge.

jueston · January 24, 2012, 08:01:31 PM

can't wait to see the lumber....

pineywoods · January 24, 2012, 08:19:01 PM

Methinks you need to borrow Banjo picker's winch.

Bill Gaiche · January 24, 2012, 08:28:23 PM

Is that creek big enough to take them out on a barge? bg

Buck · January 24, 2012, 10:12:26 PM

That big ole loader tractor and a couple of snatch blocks you oughta be in business.

WDH · January 24, 2012, 10:31:39 PM

Get them out of there and get the logs cut-to-length. As I hear that they are poisonous to horses and donkeys, and I know that you custom saw around horses and donkeys, you cannot afford to take that chance with your customers. So, I will take them off your hands and free you up from all that liability :

.

Magicman · January 24, 2012, 10:41:35 PM

No horses or donkeys on my place, only one 68 year old magic jackass. I was just taking a leisurely walk on my place this morning and started wondering what I should do with them. I'm going to need the old Oliver to help me get them knocked loose and pulled out. They looked exactly like a couple of "thousand dollar trees". ;D ;D

WDH · January 24, 2012, 10:45:28 PM

Those really are "highly valuable black walnut trees"!

Magicman · January 24, 2012, 11:04:23 PM

No sleep for me tonight worrying about someone ripping me off. I've got more $$$ hanging in the creek than in the bank.

Bill Gaiche · January 24, 2012, 11:16:26 PM

Maybe a tree on the bank is better than money in the bank. bg

WDH · January 24, 2012, 11:20:25 PM

Unless it finds itself up the creek without a paddle.

paul case · January 24, 2012, 11:27:28 PM

Highly Valueable Creekside Black Walnut Tree! ;D PC

Radar67 · January 25, 2012, 12:23:44 AM

Let me get my 2 pair of 5000 pound block and tackles. He won't make the night without sleeping..... ;)

Bill Gaiche · January 25, 2012, 11:24:39 AM

Radar do you have a key to the gate? Will come and help you if needed.bg

mad murdock · January 25, 2012, 03:16:04 PM

Well, the day is here again. hope you slept ok Magicman. Any luck making a withdrawal from your bank today?

jueston · January 25, 2012, 03:29:47 PM

did you have to spend last night sitting on the bank with a gun defending your highly valueble black wallnut truee?

Magicman · January 25, 2012, 03:33:13 PM

My bank assets are well grounded. ;D

My plans changed drastically this morning when the phone rang. Note the "Parbuckle" thread.

I postponed a road trip (115 mile) sawing job this week because the forecast said rain. It hasn't rained in the daytime and three more jobs have come in. What the heck, I'm gonna load up and go to the Cabin for a few days. ;D

Raider Bill · January 25, 2012, 03:38:29 PM

I know I'm jumping the gun here asking but how are you going to get them down?
Do you notch them on the bottom then top cut or top cut and hope they don't split or is there another way?

Just trying to learn as I have a few pines doing the same thing over some of my trails that run on the bottom of a dry creek bed and for safety's sake would like to get them down.

jueston · January 25, 2012, 03:47:54 PM

i am no expert, but i would create a small hinge on the bottom and then cut from the top.....

Magicman · January 25, 2012, 03:56:24 PM

When I get time my plan is to chainsaw those roots loose from the bank and let them fall on over. That first one may need some backhoe persuasion. After they fall on over, I should be able to top them and drag the whole tree out, stump and all.

Walnut trees are similar to Pecan in that they have a tap root and really cling to the ground. Kinda like resisting a withdrawal. :D

reride82 · January 25, 2012, 03:58:06 PM

I thought I read a thread on cutting heavy leaners and have done it in the past. :P Start with the wedge cut, then a bore cut thru the tree on the back side of the hinge wood but not all the way out the back side, and then cut from the back side until it falls. If you just do a back cut, the tree has a high chance of 'barber chairing' and is very dangerous for the guy on the saw, the bore cut to establish the hinge wood prevents this. There will be some tearing and pulling of the wood fibres between the bore cut and the back cut, but that is much better than getting hurt.

reride82 · January 25, 2012, 04:05:20 PM

I believe this is the one:

https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,22582.0.html

Magicman · January 25, 2012, 04:13:37 PM

I do not intend to actually fell them because I want the stump still attached. When I saw the butt log, I want to saw stump and all.

beenthere · January 25, 2012, 04:35:44 PM

So you may be putting a line up in the tree and use a backhoe to dig out the roots in the bank above? Then try to pull them over?

Or maybe just a line in the tree and pulling would be enough to dislodge rootball and all?
Pulling and with a little help then axing roots still holding in the bank and the tap root might work.

Now there are some folks will get undies in a bundle doing anything like that on a stream bank.

I'd do it with as little fanfare as possible, then beg for foregiveness if necessary.