How easy is it to remove a tree stump & what would you do in my situation?

DanDare999

IvyFlood said:

FreeBear said:

IvyFlood said:

DanDare999 said:

You won't need a chainsaw to remove it. Ideally it would have been about 1200mm tall.

It will involve a fair bit of heavy digging to expose and cut the roots then some effort to snap the tap root. It will also be heavy to remove it from the location.

A good few hours of hard heavy work involved.

I'm no stranger to hard work. I have just finished digging 24 tonnes of earth and rubble from said area! Digging it out doesn't phase me at all - providing I can!

When I did my patio, hired a mini-digger plus operator for the day (along with a dump truck). In the course of digging out the area, four tree stumps were also pulled out - No need for a stump grinder.

For various reasons, it turned in to a two day job, but it was still worth it in my opinion - Digging out by hand would have taken me a couple of years and wrecked my back even further.

Unfortunately we cant fit a digger down the side of our house (just a wheelbarrow hence the hand digging) otherwise we would have done it that way. I get what you are saying though as the attempted holly bush removal done my back in! But this stump is completely rotten - its just mushing away, and there's more rain today and tomorrow! 

I'd be surprised if you couldn't fit a micro digger down the access. 

Section62

LV_426 said:

I'd do that myself. What's the worst that could happen?

Loss of one or more arms or legs?  Death?

Removing a tree stump with a chainsaw is dangerous and shouldn't be attempted by someone without the right equipment and experience.

Also, potentially one of the least-worst outcomes is wrecking the friend's chainsaw by cutting through stones and soil.  I'd consider doing the job with one of my own saws (I've got acces to the right equipment and experience) but wouldn't do it with a borrowed saw.

IvyFlood

DanDare999 said:

IvyFlood said:

FreeBear said:

IvyFlood said:

DanDare999 said:

You won't need a chainsaw to remove it. Ideally it would have been about 1200mm tall.

It will involve a fair bit of heavy digging to expose and cut the roots then some effort to snap the tap root. It will also be heavy to remove it from the location.

A good few hours of hard heavy work involved.

I'm no stranger to hard work. I have just finished digging 24 tonnes of earth and rubble from said area! Digging it out doesn't phase me at all - providing I can!

When I did my patio, hired a mini-digger plus operator for the day (along with a dump truck). In the course of digging out the area, four tree stumps were also pulled out - No need for a stump grinder.

For various reasons, it turned in to a two day job, but it was still worth it in my opinion - Digging out by hand would have taken me a couple of years and wrecked my back even further.

Unfortunately we cant fit a digger down the side of our house (just a wheelbarrow hence the hand digging) otherwise we would have done it that way. I get what you are saying though as the attempted holly bush removal done my back in! But this stump is completely rotten - its just mushing away, and there's more rain today and tomorrow! 

I'd be surprised if you couldn't fit a micro digger down the access. 

Still too wide and it definitely wouldn't be able to fit round the corner, that's the issue

IvyFlood

Section62 said:

LV_426 said:

I'd do that myself. What's the worst that could happen?

Loss of one or more arms or legs?  Death?

Removing a tree stump with a chainsaw is dangerous and shouldn't be attempted by someone without the right equipment and experience.

Also, potentially one of the least-worst outcomes is wrecking the friend's chainsaw by cutting through stones and soil.  I'd consider doing the job with one of my own saws (I've got acces to the right equipment and experience) but wouldn't do it with a borrowed saw.

This has also occurred to me! Said friend has offered to come and do it however not sure just how much he meant that!

Regardless, not sure we absolutely need it, I think its more digging.

LV_426

Section62 said:

LV_426 said:

I'd do that myself. What's the worst that could happen?

Loss of one or more arms or legs?  Death?

Removing a tree stump with a chainsaw is dangerous and shouldn't be attempted by someone without the right equipment and experience.

Also, potentially one of the least-worst outcomes is wrecking the friend's chainsaw by cutting through stones and soil.  I'd consider doing the job with one of my own saws (I've got acces to the right equipment and experience) but wouldn't do it with a borrowed saw.

I have utmost respect for the chainsaw. Probably the most dangerous piece of equipment that a DIYer can use. Got to say mine's been really useful as the last house had so much vegetation, including a way overgrown Leylandii hedge which the previous owner planted in some fit of madness!
As long as you realise the dangers and don't be silly with it, you should be ok.

Eldi_Dos

IvyFlood said:

Eldi_Dos said:

Tend to agree, they have probably turned down other work to book you in for tomorrow so cancelling at this late stage is something that could stop them from earning a wage tomorrow.

If they cancel tomorrow because of bad weather come back on and you will get advice about best way to remove stump.

I doubt it. They were pretty quick to say Friday and they didn't know it was urgent. Its small job to them compared to what they are used to dealing with. 

Urgent? tree was cut down in 2007, wonder what timescale priority work gets dealt with.

Ganga

I removed three in total ,a lot of digging to expose the roots and then used my chainsaw which i am happy to use safely then a lot of hard work with a large pry bar ( 6ft long ) to lift the stump and expose the roots that are underneath ,if your friend is happy to use the chainsaw they can reduce the stump down to managable bits for disposal.

Bendy_House

Hi Ivy.

Can you do this? Almost certainly yes.

My only hesitation would be that the crew have been booked in for tomorrow - I'm with those who reckon to cancel at this late stage would be a bit unfair on them. 

Why not make a judgement based on whether THEY postpone due to the weather? If they do, say to re book for Sat or Monday, tell them you really fancy giving it a shot yourself, and you'll call them if you fail!

Tackle the job systematically; dig away enough to expose each main root, and then tackle them one at a time. Tools to use? An axe would be good, either hand or a biggie - for the latter, keep yer feet well apart. Or, even an SDS drill with a chisel bit, nicely sharpened. Secret, I'd suggest, is to not chisel right in, but to start on one edge of a root and slice down. Move chisel bit in a half blade width, and slice again - work your way through systematically.

A long wrench/wrecking bar is also a great tool - good chance you'll be able to insert it into a half-cut root, and split it, especially if it's rotten.

And the best, safest, easiest, most effective tool of all is a bow saw. The root will need well exposing for this, tho'. Perhaps a 1' jobbie will get in there. But if you CAN get a bow saw blade to the roots, you'll be good to go.

Once the peripheral roots are cut, you'll need some hefty levers to prise the stump sideways to get at the tap and others. That will likely be the awkward bit.

It's the kind of job where you stop after a knackering hour for a cuppa, and cannae wait to get back to it

FTB_Dan

You can rent a stump grinder for less than £100 and it'll make very easy work of it, especially if it's already degrading.