FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram Tiktok YouTube Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
Log In
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Restoration
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
Log In

Discussion Forum

Discussion Forum

Falling a Big Fir

BobSmalser | Posted in General Discussion on December 5, 2003 10:34am

Joe Emel.  47. From an old logging and pioneer family here…Scandinavian origins, of course.  High Climber.  Arborist.  Good friend.  Son Joey on a full academic ride at Univ Idaho in Forestry…with a minor in Wetlands Science.

Joe Emel

Danger tree… developing root rot and too close to the house.  52†Diameter at Breast Height (DBH)…120’ tall…already limbed and topped the hard way and a bed prepared for falling.

Danger Tree

Face Cut…people and dogs out of the house at a safe distance…

Back Cut and Driving Wedges…that’s a falling axe for wedging the tree down in helper Billy’s hands…he’s waiting for Joe to signal him when to drive based on Joe’s “feel” on the depth and shape of the hinge neither can see, as accuracy of fall is crucial here…

Finishing Hinge as the bole tips…

Falling  (I was too close and the camera shook.)  Boom!

Bucking and Trimming…notice the hinge was cut fatter on the side away from the house? Think thru how the tree was wedged down (not cut down completely) and you’ll understand why. The tree could have been turned during the fall in either direction based on the shape of that hinge.

 

Loading for the Trip to the Mill

The tree was a disappointment…and it went to the commercial mill at the request of the owner.  Construction wood.  Sun-grown, rough (big knots) 100 year old second growth….4-6 rings per inch on inside and 8 rings per inch on outside.  Dimensional structural lumber from the lower logs and beams from the rough upper logs.

Wasn’t a forest tree….the coastal strip here (Hood Canal in the background) was logged beginning in 1850 from the water, and the subsequent full-sun and full-wind trees are wide-ringed, pitch-pocketed and rough.

The second one we did later in the day…slightly smaller but much better…I’m moving the mill to…and will post pics in the future of milling the logs for 85-year-old Earl Johnson on shares.  If you’ve never made boards starting from a standing tree, you may find it interesting.

 

Copyright 2003.  Bob Smalser, Habitat Biologist, Sprague Pond Wildlife Refuge, Camp Union, Washington.

Reply
  • X
  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • pinterest
  • email
  • add to favorites Log in or Sign up to save your favorite articles

Replies

  1. xMikeSmith | Dec 06, 2003 04:47am | #1

    you're right.. i do find it interesting ... keep 'em comming

    Mike Smith   Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

  2. User avater
    Mongo | Dec 06, 2003 08:15am | #2

    Bob,

    Good post, an enjoyable read. Looking forward to Chapter 2.

    Thanks.

    1. joeh | Dec 06, 2003 09:04am | #3

      Nothing this interesting since "Boogering with Blue"

      Outstanding entertainment.

      My little saw is ashamed though.

      Joe H

  3. toast953 | Dec 06, 2003 09:18am | #4

    Bob, when can you send Joe E, down my way??, I just dropped an 65' Ponderosa Pine, just before darkthirty,today. hmmm, I just missed the main Elec. line by all of 2'. Yep, tell ol Joe E I really could use some of his knowledge. And Yes keep those pics acoming. 52" DBH wow, around here it's more like maybe 24", average,pine. Nice  work in those pictures.

    1. User avater
      BobSmalser | Dec 06, 2003 09:35am | #5

      That thar fir weighed 30 tons, boys.....and 35 feet from the house, too....ya only get one chance to do it right.“When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone. Let it be such work as our descendants will thank us for; and let us think...that a time is to come when those (heirlooms) will be held sacred because our hands have touched them, and that men will say, as they look upon the labor and wrought substance of them, ‘See! This our father did for us.’ “ --John Ruskin.Audels Carpenters and Builders Guide #1 -#41923 Theo Audel & CO. New York.

      1. toast953 | Dec 07, 2003 08:56am | #6

        What did the falling "Bed" consist of?, and what type of cable/rope, did Joe use on that tree, and how far up was it positoned??, and what did he use to draw/pull tension on it with??   35' from the house, hmm, a 120' tall tree, let's do the math, naw on second thought lets don't do the math. I vote we let Joe do the Math, and leave me out of it. Be safe out there Jim J

        1. User avater
          BobSmalser | Dec 07, 2003 11:28am | #7

          The bed for this one was mostly lawn, with slash from the limbing operation filling the holes and dips for a flat surface.

          A 3/8" wire rope from a common 9000lb truck winch was rigged about 60' high in the tree aligned in the direction intended for the tree to fall as small insurance...a winch can help on the initial tilt of the wedged bole if something goes wrong but obviously isn't capable of redirecting 30 tons after it builds up a bit of momentum and speed.

          The tree was falled parallel with the front of the house...the only math involved was the figuring a safe distance for the winch truck.

          Safe? 

          You can see the safety gear on all of us...but while i'm not pooh-poohing the importance of face shields and chaps, that's all mostly eyewash as true "safe" is a thorough and objective understanding of the physics or the operation, the species of tree and nature of big wood, and most importantly...your skills or lack of them...so as to properly manage the risks.

          I'm a decent faller in my own woods, although it scares my mouth dry and my palms wet every single time I do it...but under no circumstances would I attempt anything like this so close to a dwelling...that's why God gave us guys like Joe who fall these danger trees every day.  The completely "safe" way out would have been to chunk this tree down in short sections, but then the owner would not have been able to offset arborists costs by selling the logs to the mill.  The risks and probablilities are explained in detail, the insurance and bond verified and the owner makes the final decision on these.  As you might expect, guys like Joe work mostly on referrals.

          “When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone. Let it be such work as our descendants will thank us for; and let us think...that a time is to come when those (heirlooms) will be held sacred because our hands have touched them, and that men will say, as they look upon the labor and wrought substance of them, ‘See! This our father did for us.’ “ --John Ruskin.

          Edited 12/7/2003 3:43:19 AM ET by Bob Smalser

          1. toast953 | Dec 08, 2003 09:00am | #8

            Bob, thanks for a well written response, with a whole lot of truth in those words of yours. Jim J

          2. User avater
            BobSmalser | Dec 11, 2003 12:30am | #9

            Look at the lower right log on the truck...an upper crown log...that discoloration is Phellinus weirii (Poria Root Rot )...and the crown was dying.The entire pith would have rotted in another 20 years...and then it truly would have been hazardous to take down.Bang your questionable trees hard with your falling axe and make some plunge cuts to test soundness, first....if they barber-chair on you during the face cut while you are on your knees, you may not live to meet your grandchildren.Better, smarter and safer to take the tree down and market the logs to offset the arborist costs...and also provide somebody somewhere some lumber that would have had to come from a healthy tree someplace anyway.“When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone. Let it be such work as our descendants will thank us for; and let us think...that a time is to come when those (heirlooms) will be held sacred because our hands have touched them, and that men will say, as they look upon the labor and wrought substance of them, ‘See! This our father did for us.’ “ --John Ruskin.

          3. Clay | Dec 11, 2003 10:24am | #10

            I felled a recently dead black cherry in my backyard (a timbered draw) a few years ago.  It was a very satisfying piece of work.  The tree was in a standing forest and there was but one clear path to fell it into.  To make the fall without snagging on nearby trees I had to make the tree start falling one way and then swing leftward.  A VERY tricky cut.  I eyed it up REAL careful (it was about 28" diameter and 70'or so tall).  When I made the pie cut I aligned it in the initial direction to clear close trees and then I left a wedge that was significantly thicker on the left side.  When the back cut began to open up I made a very quick exit along a carefully prechosen route and turned to watch.  The tree did a beautiful little dance beginning her fall directly downhill and then swinging strongly to the left.  I was elated at the targeting!  I could've driven a stake fourty feet out with the trunk!  It hit exactly where I was aiming.  I had a few anxieties too as the tree was growing a bit heavy in the wrong direction.  A mere breath of breeze at just the right moment may have helped!  Anyway it was an exciting project.  I did take one inadvisable risk by cutting the tree alone ... I should've had a watcher.  If I had had a mishap it might have been many hours before I had been rescued.  Big trees are beautiful things.  BTW I had some experience felling large tamaracks in northern Idaho for state park barrier poles and madrone and fir and pine for firewood, so I wasn't just guessing about what I was doing.

          4. User avater
            BobSmalser | Dec 11, 2003 05:52pm | #11

            I figure there's be more folks here who would have experience in these areas....I wrote this and my gallery on "Milling Earl's Fir"  for the woodworker's forums.  On those, there are no shortage of beginners who don'y have a good handle on where their boards come from or how they are made.  I float these on forums as a trial balloon to figure what needs to be made more clear for the target audience...and with some folks, that's considerable...am working on a glossary.“When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone. Let it be such work as our descendants will thank us for; and let us think...that a time is to come when those (heirlooms) will be held sacred because our hands have touched them, and that men will say, as they look upon the labor and wrought substance of them, ‘See! This our father did for us.’ “ --John Ruskin.

          5. ak373 | Dec 11, 2003 06:06pm | #13

            Bob, you post made me feel like my little boys watching their earthmover videos, couldn't stop reading, thanks for taking the time to present it to us.

            I have a beginner tree cutting story for you.  We were at my wife's grandfather's house.  I looked out the back porch and saw a guy about 10' up a maybe 40' tree.  It was growing in the shade so it was tall and thin.  He had a cordless sawzall and was cutting the main trunk which was maybe 8-10" thick.  He worked at it for more than half an hour.  Finally I heard a loud crack, a big bang and the lights went out.  He didn't kill himself but the tree crashed into some high tension wires at the property perimeter.  One of those times when you ask yourself, "What was he thinking?"

          6. User avater
            SamT | Dec 11, 2003 09:41pm | #14

            You never know for sure...

            Stated maintaining 3 ancient Salt Cedars at 14yo. 2 of these grandfathers (48" DBH) were 15' from house and 12' from fence.

            These trees resemble a 60' tall bush. I kept the main trunks topped at about 12'. They would grow secondaries up to 50' taller about 6" to 12" dia 40" above main.

            I learned to drop them within inches of where I wanted, turn them 90 degrees to get a side branch away from the house.

            So, after 25 years of dealing with these trees, I was dropping a little 6" horizontal branch about 20' long. I had looked at it and decided a straight hinge for a straight drop will miss the power line by 6'.

            Before the end of the limb had fallen 2', that sucker twisted a full 180 degrees and dropped the only side branch it had directly on the lines!

            You never know for sure.

            SamT

            "You will do me the justice to remember that I have always strenuously supported the right of every man to his opinion, however different that opinion may be to mine. He who denies to another this right, makes a slave of himself to his present opinion, because he precludes himself the right of changing it."   Thomas Paine

          7. User avater
            BobSmalser | Dec 11, 2003 10:11pm | #15

            Notice the hood of my truck?  Dinged a bit, eh?

            Pulling down a pissant alder danger tree on my property boundary hanging over a neighbor's house using the winch thru a block at 90 degrees....tree hits another during it's fall and deflects onto the truck which wasn't quite far enuf away.  We unassed the truck for sure.

            Scuffed up F250 Work Truck

            “When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone. Let it be such work as our descendants will thank us for; and let us think...that a time is to come when those (heirlooms) will be held sacred because our hands have touched them, and that men will say, as they look upon the labor and wrought substance of them, ‘See! This our father did for us.’ “ --John Ruskin.

          8. Clay | Dec 12, 2003 02:30am | #17

            Bob; I'd like to see some barber chair photos.  I've never had a tree do it but I've heard lots of warnings and horror stories. 

          9. User avater
            BobSmalser | Dec 12, 2003 03:43am | #18

            The couple that have happened to me...I wasn't in the mood to record for posterity.

            Beware the skinny but tall tree that's leaning a bit.  Alders are the big killers here.“When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone. Let it be such work as our descendants will thank us for; and let us think...that a time is to come when those (heirlooms) will be held sacred because our hands have touched them, and that men will say, as they look upon the labor and wrought substance of them, ‘See! This our father did for us.’ “ --John Ruskin.

          10. User avater
            johnnyd | Dec 11, 2003 05:53pm | #12

            Clearing white oak to make space for an addiiton and associated excavation.  There IS something about the "dance" a falling tree makes when you get it right, and the "pop" of the hinge breaking after it has done its work, sending the trunk and limbs all the way to grade in the direction you intended.

            Then there was the dead red elm in dense woods.  Didn't cut a big enough wedge, tree (about 50 foot long, 12" in diameter) slowly leaned over before backcut was all the way through, hung up on next tree over...waving in the breeze.

            DW and I got out of there and went accross the valley for a little cribbage on the deck.  About 1/2 hour later, what a commotion as the elm came down!  Answered the question, "If a tree fall in the woods when no-one is around, does it make any noise?"

            Took about two cords of gormet firewood off that elm. 

          11. Clay | Dec 12, 2003 02:20am | #16

            Johnny be careful cutting the dead ones ... back in Idaho the loggers call those "widowmakers" .  They will often drop a big limb on the guy who is cutting them or sometimes they will just send their whole top down like a GIANT spear.  It is doubly dangerous because with the noise of the saw and your attention riveted on your cutting zone you are very vulnerable to these insidious attacks from above.  It is helpful to have a spotter watching your overhead but then they are also in the danger zone.  It is better to cut them when they are just recently deceased but there are no guarantees.

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Video Shorts

Categories

  • Business
  • Code Questions
  • Construction Techniques
  • Energy, Heating & Insulation
  • General Discussion
  • Help/Work Wanted
  • Photo Gallery
  • Reader Classified
  • Tools for Home Building

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
View More Create Post

Up Next

Video Shorts

Featured Story

Guest Suite With a Garden House

This 654-sq.-ft. ADU combines vaulted ceilings, reclaimed materials, and efficient design, offering a flexible guest suite and home office above a new garage.

Featured Video

Video: Build a Fireplace, Brick by Brick

Watch mason Mike Mehaffey construct a traditional-style fireplace that burns well and meets current building codes.

Related Stories

  • Old House Air-Sealing Basics
  • A Drip-Free, Through-Window Heat Pump
  • Insulation for Homes in the Wildland Urban Interface
  • An Impressive Air-to-Water Heat Pump

Highlights

Fine Homebuilding All Access
Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Tool Tech
Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20

"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 332 - July 2025
    • Custom Built-ins With Job-Site Tools
    • Fight House Fires Through Design
    • Making the Move to Multifamily
  • Issue 331 - June 2025
    • A More Resilient Roof
    • Tool Test: You Need a Drywall Sander
    • Ducted vs. Ductless Heat Pumps
  • Issue 330 - April/May 2025
    • Deck Details for Durability
    • FAQs on HPWHs
    • 10 Tips for a Long-Lasting Paint Job
  • Old House Journal – August 2025
    • Designing the Perfect Garden Gate
    • Old House Air-Sealing Basics
  • Issue 329 - Feb/Mar 2025
    • Smart Foundation for a Small Addition
    • A Kominka Comes West
    • Making Small Kitchens Work

Fine Home Building

Newsletter Sign-up

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox.

  • Green Building Advisor

    Building science and energy efficiency advice, plus special offers, in your inbox.

  • Old House Journal

    Repair, renovation, and restoration tips, plus special offers, in your inbox.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters

Follow

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2025 Active Interest Media. All rights reserved.

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

  • Home Group
  • Antique Trader
  • Arts & Crafts Homes
  • Bank Note Reporter
  • Cabin Life
  • Cuisine at Home
  • Fine Gardening
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Green Building Advisor
  • Garden Gate
  • Horticulture
  • Keep Craft Alive
  • Log Home Living
  • Military Trader/Vehicles
  • Numismatic News
  • Numismaster
  • Old Cars Weekly
  • Old House Journal
  • Period Homes
  • Popular Woodworking
  • Script
  • ShopNotes
  • Sports Collectors Digest
  • Threads
  • Timber Home Living
  • Traditional Building
  • Woodsmith
  • World Coin News
  • Writer's Digest
Active Interest Media logo
X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Online Learning

  • Courses
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • FHB House
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • X
  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

Enjoy unlimited access to Fine Homebuilding. Join Now

Already a member? Log in

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in

Privacy Policy Update

We use cookies, pixels, script and other tracking technologies to analyze and improve our service, to improve and personalize content, and for advertising to you. We also share information about your use of our site with third-party social media, advertising and analytics partners. You can view our Privacy Policy here and our Terms of Use here.

Cookies

Analytics

These cookies help us track site metrics to improve our sites and provide a better user experience.

Advertising/Social Media

These cookies are used to serve advertisements aligned with your interests.

Essential

These cookies are required to provide basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website.

Delete My Data

Delete all cookies and associated data