Edged Tools for Tree Stump Removal

R

Ryan Meyering

Joined
May 4, 1999
Messages
534
I'm going to be removing several tree stumps from my back yard, and need some suggestions for the best edged tool to use. I've read the archived material on axes, but I'm not really sure what type of axe to get, or even if that's the right tool for the job. Have any of you removed tree stumps before? What did you use? A two-handed axe? A maul? Something else? Any tips regarding technique would be appreciated, too.

Thanks!

Ryan



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For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:23
 
Not edged tool, but the best thing to remove Treestumps is commonly known as C-4
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James

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The beast we are, lest the beast we become.
 
That's exactly what I told my wife! Problem is, she wants just the stumps gone, not the whole yard.

Besides, you can't sharpen C-4.
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Ryan



------------------
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:23
 
I just had a eucalyptus stumped today. We used a tree stumper. It's a big wheel with carbide tips that you lower as it cuts. You can probably get one at a rental yard.
 
I think Frank has the right idea. Anything else is gonna take a long time and become a very tedious chore.

If your not too far from Walt Welch, you could ask him to show you how well his turbo Porsche Carrera with the Big tires pulls stumps. In the old days, one horse was enough. But Walt swears that 300+ does the job much quicker.

Paracelsus, not being terribly helpful, sorry
 
If you use a reasonable ammount (30kg will just about do it
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), then your wife will have nothing to complain about. And it will take an edge, just a fairly soft one.
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James

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The beast we are, lest the beast we become.
 
That would all depend on the type of stump. If its not deep rooted, you can dig around it and cut it out with an axe pretty easily.Just cut all the big roots and then pull it with a truck or tractor. If it goes way down, the best thing to do is dig out around it a little ways and cut it off below ground level, then fill in the hole. cutting it off below ground level can be done with an axe, although if the stump is starting to rot and is spongy the axe will do a lot more bouncing than cutting unless its really sharp. Its easier to cut it away with a chainsaw, and split it off in chunks with an axe if you need to.
You can burn stumps off too, although it takes acouple trys to get the whole thing. And you have to soak the stump in something that will displace the water in it and make it burn. I probably shouldn't go into all the details of that, but if you try it, don't use gasoline.

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It'll feel better when it stops hurting.
 
Look in the yellow pages and call for a stump grinder to come out. Anything else is a waste of time, and you usually only have to pay x-amount of dollars per inch in diameter, it's not too bad.

Brandon

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I've got the schizophrenic blues
No I don't
Yes I do...
 
Ah, and adventure, just waiting to happen. If you have to do the job yourself try this.

Dig a smallish hole on the back side of the stump and find something solid in the roots to hook a chain on to. Run the chain up over the top of the stump and attack to tractor, truck, jeep, car (in that order) and pull. As the stump gives dig around, find what is holding it and cut it, repeat until the stump is out.

Let off on the chain a little before you dig/cut.

Chain is always better than cable because cable stretches and stores energy. If it lets go look out. Nothing is safe within the radius of the cable.

Old timers would use a large diameter log with a long pole sticking out. A chain was rapped around the log, and hooked into the stump. The lever arm (pole) was either pulled by hand for small stumps or with horse or ox on larger stumps. A lot of fields were cleared like this and there is no reason it would not work today.


Mike
 
Hey Mike-

I had a friend who did that, and it was his first time. I think the repair bill from the auto shop was around $1500.00 for the rear windshield, and the body work from the backlash when the chain snapped.

Be careful out there!

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Brandon

------------------
I've got the schizophrenic blues
No I don't
Yes I do...
 
How big is the stump? If it is a full size tree you will most likely end up renting a stump grinder or having someone come out and take it out.

If it is smaller, like 6" at base and roots no bigger than 2-3" (like mine) than you can try my method, which worked perfectly if I do say so my damned self. Here it is. . .

Take an old shovel head, or buy a cheap regular shovel (not the flat, squared of edge, but the kind of pointed one) and remove the handle by hook or by crook - it can be hard to get it out of there, but keep trying. Now go to the plumbing section of your local home improvement place and get a 6 foot piece of STEEL pipe (not aluminum) 1" in diameter, or slightly smaller than the hole that the handle came out of. Also get 2 or 3 sturdy metal hose clamps, the type that you screw and the threads engage slots in the band of metal and tighten.

Now, if you have a vice or something to hold the shovel head, try and pry open the end that the handle goes in a little bit with a prybar. If you can't do this it is OK, it just makes the next step a little more effective.

Put the 2 or 3 hose clamps over the end of the shovel head where the handle goes and cram the steel pipe in as far as you can where the handle used to be. Now if you have a vise, put the handle section of the shovel head in the vise and sinch it down tight on the pipe. When it's as tight as you can get it, tighten down the hose clamps as tight as you can. Now take a dremel to the shovel edge and sharpen.

If you were lucky enough to get a piece of pipe that was threaded on one end, leave that end exposed and you can put a cap on it and fill the shovel with sand for more weight. I haven't done this as the steel pipe was enough weigth for my wimpy a$$.

This thing works like a dream for smaller stumps. Sorry for the long and idiot proof instructions, just wanted to be clear on everything. Now start digging!
 
Brandon,

That is the adventure that is waiting to happen!
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Definitely, Be careful out there!

Also use logging chain (heavy). It is more likely that the chain will come off the stump rather than break, good idea to tie something fairly heavy to the end of the chain. with a little slack in the line.

Also pull on the chain, don't back up and hit the slack at full throttle.


Mike

P.S. Danger is the spice of life! use it sparingly.
 
Please notice that I'm from Los Angeles, CA. My backyard is maybe 2500 square feet, and the only way I'm getting a vehicle back there is to drive it through the house.
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Maybe I've just seen Shane too many times; I sorta liked the idea of going out there and hacking the things out of the ground, but they're pretty big (about 15" diameter average), so maybe I'll rely on the collective experience of those who have volunteered information and get someone else to do it... that or rent one of those tree stumpers... that might be fun.
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Thanks, guys.

Ryan



------------------
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:23
 
Ryan,

I think you got it figured out.

Good luck, and let us know what happened on Monday.


Mike
 
Actually, I'm not moving in for three more weeks, just wanted to plan ahead. I'll let you know after I move.

Ryan

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For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:23
 
Ryan,

A rented stump grinder or a guy with a stump grinder is the best way to go....

But if you're looking for excitement, contact me by email for a safe recipe to remove stumps... It's a lot of fun....

Michael

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He who has smelt the smoke is never free again...
 
Ryan,

Old timers used a method to greatly accelerate the rotting process. I cannot remember it offhand, but if you are interested, email me, and I will look for it.

 
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