Big tree removal with the pro logger bunch

You paid them $400 per tree, gave them the logs, AND they left the slash for you to clean up...

Around these parts, that is called getting screwed badly.

Around here, your cost would be considered a fine bargain. jamesp

A bargain

You didn't get your house or sheds or car (or you) crushed so a bargain.

I recently had six huge Eucalypts cut down, Around $300 Australian Dollars a tree, well worth getting the experts to do it.
They cut them up into 4 metre lengths and piled them near my firewood stack, also stacked up the tops near my bonfire. I blocked them to firewood size in the winter before they dried and stacked them to dry, a rough calculation says I got about 40 tons of firewood.

Neighbor had a giant walnut removed. They took the slash, the log, and cleaned up. Cost 450.

They left the stump and took giant bites out of my lawn which they never came back and fixed.

Everyone except Leonard thought they screwed him.

I think the problem would be sawing them into lumber and then getting it dried so it could be used.  It all has to be done by someone who knows what they are doing.  

Definitely hard and dangerous work and worth it to have a pro do it IMHO. Too much can go wrong when cutting the big trees. I knew a climber in Montana who was in his late 50's and still climbing like a dang monkey. A good experienced climber is a thrill to see in action. Those climbers can be totally crazy. When I was cutting trees I preferred to stay in a safe cherry picker plus it takes a lot more courage and skill to be a climber.

You stand very correct Diane. You know this work.

No way a $200/tree man is going to be cutting 100 foot oaks leaning over my $250,000 worth of buildings.
Heavy insurance is costly. Then 8 men busted their butts for 5 hours and had stooped by twice to quote job.
40 man hours alone at $20/hour is $800. Then machinery, profit, etc. Uh, where is the profit ?
Two of the oaks were challenging the strength of the winch rope, had to be tied way high.
I felt bad, tipped them $200 too.
I have done that work for 35 years down here. Full respect. They were underpaid IMO.

Check out my 1st day cleaning up where 4 big ones crossed each other. Not bad for old man.
used about 50 pounds of polyethylene to create enough heat to get the green wood going.



Note saw stuck in limb upper left, was taking a short cut. Cut it out with other saw. Been there done that Diane ?



check out steel grown into 20 inch log at lower right. Wife had hammered all kinds of steel in those dang trees.



Will be sleeping well tonight. Am cleansing body.

Fire is the best way to get rid of 40 tons of basically garbage in your yard.
That igloo design pile creates intense heat in center and so burning green wood.
That oak wood is heavy, it sinks in water because it is so wet.

Stuff grows so fast here.
The mast of these oaks had climbed into the sun and were doing an inch in diameter annually.
Was time to eradicate.

It drizzled all day. Clothes soaked and temp in mid 40's, fire no concern.
That type of work will have you in a t-shirt on a windy 20F day. Nonstop work. fun

Now gunstock companies pay 1000's of dollars for giant walnuts in these parts. $10,000 is not uncommon.