How do cut down this tree???
 

Seriously...I don't know where to start. Pretty weird the way it fell on the post.
So all you engineers, where do I make the first cut?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1300393247.jpg


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I would move right to left. Gradually taking weight off the base.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1300393962.jpg

Edit: I just realized I was contradicting myself. way to mix up my left and rights! Doh!

How about right to left.

I was trying to preserve the fence.

Right to left. Cut off the overhang first moving towards the post. Once you have a minimum of overhang over the post I'd move the other side of the fence. Chock the trunk up with some of the wood from the other end so you can chop it into managable pieces.

I'm not a tree surgeon, nor do I play one on T.V.

I'm not too worried about the fence, its only hot wire with tee-posts. I'm just concerned that when I start cutting, it will fall off the post thats holding it up. Looking for the safest way. Thanks.:)

Sounds like a reasonable plan. Thats why I love this forum! SmileWavy

If you don't care about the fence, then I would undercut a notch near the base of the tree and then cut downward until the trunk falls, smashing the fence.

I have cut down hundreds, if not thousands, of trees. If it's a big tree, like yours, I like to get as much weight on the ground as possible.

burn it

Build a guitar out of it.

Stand it back up !!

A stick or two of dynamite should do it.

Wait.....this is in Ca?......by the time you get a permit to cut it down it will have turned into worm food.

You may have to do a environmental study to determine the best way to remove the tree.

The post isn't holding up the tree, the lower, large trunk-like branch is...I bet it is embedded six inches deep in the ground. That tree weights many, many tons.

I'd get a good pole saw and and trim right to left, get the weight off as Burnin' Oil mentioned. Before you do anything, however, clean the little stuff first and make sure you get all the crap around the tree cleared. I always want a clear path to scoot, exercising the better part of valor.

You'll know a lot more on how best to attack the big stuff after that. My bet is that trimming off the top large branch first, leaving the lower section to support while you cut, will work best.

I've had to deal with two Oaks that fell on my farm. Get the weight off.

Just a random thought.
Don't know what kind of tree that is, but there is a guy around here that mills and sells "reclaimed lumber" at a hefty price. Mostly hardwoods like cherry and oak. People with wood stoves are always looking for fuel as well(edit oops forgot this is cauli).

The small stuff would make a good brush/multch pile, mabye even get some rabbits in there. The big stuff could be carved for a lawn sculpture.

I'm surprised daryl Hanna and a bunch of smelly berkeley hippies aren't living in it to protest it getting cut down ;)

+1