How do you cut down trees?

[Dzone]

TweetI have about 6 very huge trees that died after my horses stripped all the bark off them. It sucks. Some of these trees are probably 50 years old. There are powerlines close by some of them. So, my question is, do professional tree cutters know how to make the cuts so the tree will fall in a certain direction? Some local dude was cutting down a tree and it landed on him and killed him. So, this is serious shyt.
I know a guy who owns a tree service and he has offered to cut them down for free in exchange for a favor I did for him in winning a lawsuit. How much does it usually cost to cut down a tree that big?
Thanks

[skinnyman]

Tweetfunny how you bring this up. I actuall contracted a company to cut down 4 trees from my yard. cost was $1,020 including carting everything away. Did not include stump grinding. these guys were pro's as there were home close by and they needed to cut them to the proper direction.

[tn94z]

TweetWhen I used to help my dad in his construction business, we used to cut trees down but I am no professional, so take this advice for what it's worth. Basically, we would cut a wedge out of the side that we wanted the tree to fall towards. Then you get on the back side of that wedge and start cutting and the tree will fall toward the wedge you cut out. Sometime we would use the backhoe to guide the tree. You could tie a rope tight in the direction you want in to fall, then do the cutting. You want to do what you can to start it falling the direction you want....but once it starts, it will go wherever it wants...lol.

Good luck. I would verfiy this with some more experienced loggers.

[rc10j1]

TweetA good tree cutter can make it land any spot you pick.

[daved150]

Tweeti've dropped alot of trees...this past soummer i had a side job dropping and carting of and removing stumps on 15 trees....there was powerlines and i had to drop 1 between a gazeebo and the back of the house...about a 3 or 4' distance. these were some big ass oaks!! 4,5,6 story's tall!! had to go buy a new 24inch blade and cut from both directions.....if your not familiar with it and you can afford a service, go that way...me? well, i just use common sence in knowing how they will drop depending on the cut...obviously, they tend to fall the oppisite side they are cut on...you gotta pay attention to the things that would effect a straight drop...like other trees and the way the branches intertwine...it can cause the one your cutting to "spin" in one direction or the other (usually towards the other tree)...its not really hard if you can look and figure, by the cut, what natural way it'll fall.

[Dzone]

TweetThanks a lot guys. That helps. I was figuring it to cost about a $1,000 or so. So if this guy will do it as a barter, then Im saving some money for sure.
There is a big cottonwood that is huge, about 20 feet from my house. It is totally dead and is leaning toward my house. Kinda looks like the roots are already popping out on the opposite side, so a big huge wind could possibly send this huge tree right into the top of my house...just hope can get it cut down before we get a wicked wind storm