How to cut a high tree branch

Invest in the tools below, instead of hiring a professional arborist! How I cut down high tree limbs.

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[robertsherrow]

Ice storm came through Michigan in February this year and have three broken limbs 20-30 feet up in a couple trees. Think I’ll try this approach and your video was an excellent real-world demonstration of how it works. Thanks!

[LazzarrusLong]

02:25 Designed by Wiley Coyote, lol

Love it! 😍

[cunningplan]

I am going to try this soon.
I have made an air cannon where a ½" pipe fits the inside of the barrel very snug.
The "throwbag" is a piece of ½" pipe closed at both ends with a plastic plug and a nylon string attached. Filled with 100 psi it will shoot the pipe about 80 feet vertically into the air.
The cannon costs next to nothing to make. The most expensive part is the release valve. I have seen something like it for sale in the US for about $300. They use a butterfly valve, but a ball valve also works.
I haven´t tried the whole kit in practice yet, but I am looking forward to it.

[whinnycritter]

When cutting large branches, you cannot avoid getting the chain pinched when doing this alone. Safety dictates you need to be off to the side, so the branch doesn't fall on you. That makes the chain cut on the top, far side, and bottom. The chain will be deep in the cut when the branch sags and jams it on the bottom side. With two people, each standing well out to each side, it never cuts on the bottom, so it can't jam. The strap handles will destroy your hands. Make a set of handles with short pieces of pvc pipe and steel rod. You'll be glad you did. I found the best way to accurately get a line over a high branch is with bow and arrow. An archery shop can make you a flu flu arrow that has little pieces of feather all around the arrow. It will slow down rapidly in flight, so you can get it over the branch and drop just beyond it. I found the best line to shoot is monofilament fishing line, perhaps 30 pound test. Use a large spinning reel, like would be used for surf casting. The rod needs to be next to the shooter and pointed exactly where the arrow will fly, in order to avoid line breakage. The high limb kit I have has a strip of sheet metal that is permanently attached to an end link at right angles. It acts as a weight to help the chain orient itself to the teeth down position. hallsarrowdotcom has the flu flu arrows. Use one with blunt tip for safety.

[nhtom]

Watching you deal with the snags is as useful as the original intent. I nothing else it sets expectations.

[joequillun]

Good information here, and glad you showed ways to get around obstacles. Well done, and thanks for posting.
P.S. (Nice fish pond)

[joe-hpnk]

Plan B and plan C always come in handy.

[Rockingruvin]

As others have alluded, probably a good idea to have a decent rope on the branch so you can control it, and jerk it around to snap off the holding wood once the chain stops cutting.

[gmjunky]

When I was a kid my dad used one of these. What he did was use a fishing rod with a nut, then tie mason line to the fishing line and so forth

[vincentbailleul]

Many thanks. I was sure it's possible and you show me the all process.

[rustypanels]

Great job, showing a difficult situation.

[davidwanner]

tie a light string/rope to a hammer head and throw. (For trees with many branches I use a child's first bow and arrow set)
By the way if you are just 1 person using the saw it will likely bind the saw. If you have 2 people standing on opposite sides of the tree it will not bind.

[robertr]

I tried using one of these on a thick oak branch about 25' up. Chain got stuck repeatedly so I gave up. I wondered if having two people to pull, and maybe standing 20' apart, the chain would be less likely to get stuck. Also thought since I didn't have a helper if a garage door spring anchored on one end of the rope would enable me to get a see saw motion going.

[haroldped]

Good video. It was good that you used a safety harness when climbing the tree. I have a $100 harness that I have yet to use so I am not tempted to take risks at height. It may have been easier and safer to take the whole tree down with a winch cutting from the ground.

[custom]

FYI - I bought a kids rocket ( rubber band launcher ) and tied fishing line to it. It was easy to shoot over the branch and then pull the rope and saw blade over the branch.

[samueladams]

Mike Haduck would put those rocks to use in the back of your yard lol 😂

[Wietzevanderlaan]

Thanks for the video i never saw this before

[M_Ladd]

Great job! Thank you very much!
At 4.27 mark, when you are using the sling shot, what are those two cables to the left of you used for? They appear to be going to one of the tree limbs?

[EVUK-bdvn]

Some videos show people using a fishing rod and casting nylon line over the branches - then attach the saw's rope to the nylon line and then reel it back up and over the branch.
Far quicker and less bizarre than spending three hours shivering in the cold and rain with a rod and line waiting for a fish to bite...
Paul G

[ProRatStreet]

Do you have a method to pull down a deadman branch?
A broken branch hanging down.