Thanks for everyone's input. I decided to cut it down and to do it ourselves. I don't regret cutting it down ourselves. I REALLY regret digging the stump with my backhoe and not having someone grind it. I regret not renting a dump trailer, ended up spending more hiring the neighbor kids to help me unload the trailer but hey,,, good money for them at 13 yo.
Quote to cut down: $1600
Half day 55' man-lift: $226
Harbor Freight Pole saw: $100
Already had the chainsaw, borrowed a buddies trailer.
The wife went to town pruning like a champ. I was scared shitless swaying around up there in the breeze but I hate heights.
by Jabroni2009
30 Comments
Rent fall protection too next time, yikes.
Who cut the trunk up and did you get it down without incident?
Glad it went well but the absolute lack of safety gear and fall protection is exactly why homeowners die every year trying to do this job. Y’all got out safe but reflect on safety next time please.
Fall protection harness?
Fall protection! All it takes is one big branch to knock you out of the bucket!
Jesus. surprised they rented you that machine without making sure you had fall protection.
I see you saved money on fall protection. Great job I guess.
lol. How wonderful to see a DIY drop a tree with little safety gear or knowledge. Only to inspire the next one to do the same, with likely a very different outcome.
No helmet. No fall prevention.
She used up all her 9 lives in 1 afternoon.
That’s cheap as hell to have that professionally cut down. This was so dumb lol
About the only thing OP got right was his username… 😖😬
Edit: autocorrect
Honestly, $1600 wasn’t a terrible estimate.
Username checks out
Curious whether the owner gets any money from selling wood from trees?
Not sure if you should buy a lottery ticket or not. You’ve used up your luck and your kids luck and your grandkids luck.
Posts like this are why this is my favorite subreddit.
You are absolutely reckless fools to do this how you did.
Flexing stupidity is bold.
this worked out but you would have felt really fucking stupid if your wife fell to her death over 800 dollars
You better hope your wife doesn’t see this thread and realize how much danger she could have been in without any fall protection. That being said, your wife is a total badass for getting up there and doing the cutting!
It’s not that she would fall out but if you caught one of those branch nubs on the way up and loaded that boom she could get ejected out of the top 15 or 20 feet. It’s really not that hard to do.
Ya took the fence apart just fell the damn tree. Almost won a Darwin going piecemeal
The second picture stopped me in my tracks man. Everyone thinks they can cut down trees and constantly take value away from the industry. Also no cones or signs working right over a sidewalk and road. All around stupid and insulting to the company that quoted you.
Glad you’re all safe and please listen to what us professionals are telling you. You could get away with it a few more times but all it takes is just once.
The lack of PPE is sending me (looks the falling protection has been pretty well covered)! Chaps, safety glasses, hearing protection, and a hard hat are cheap! You can’t undo hearing or eye damage
Well Im glad both of y’all are still with us
OP will defend this to the death (his wife’s death, that is).
As someone with an aerial lift operator cert, I wanna fucking slap you. Jesus h Christ … 🤦🏻♀️
All I’ll say is this:
You only know what you know. It’s the unknown unknowns that’ll bite you in the ass trying shit like this. It’s the Dunning-Kruger effect on full display here. You’re only capable of recognizing the risks you’re aware of, so you, in your vast ignorance, assume it is safe….because of course you do.
The list of people who have destroyed their lives, their health, or their property because they don’t actually know anything while trying to save a buck is miles long.
At least wear PPE and fall protection next time 🤦♂️ even an ignoramous should know that a helmet is a good idea in a situation like this, surely.
Dumb af.
This. Sunglass safety squints, fall protection, foot wear, helmet, etc. Folks that do this professionally earn every penny. Homeowner got lucky.