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Re: Gentle persuasion over time

Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2020 4:33 pm
by mediatechnology
WRT to fire ants I sometimes used Tide detergent when I had run out of Amdro.
When I swore off P&G products a couple of years ago I saved the Tide powder I had for that very purpose.
I haven't used it though because...

Fire ants are beginning to die off a little bit here in Texas.
We don't see the huge mounds anymore.
Apparently the fire ants cross-bred with regular ants and weakened.

Fire ants decimated our wild rabbit population and I'm now beginning to see rabbits again in my yard.

There's a guy here in Texas who used to pour hot molten metal into fire ant mounds.
I recall him using either silver and/or nickle.
He would then dig out the mass of metal after it cooled and it produced some really cool looking art where it flowed into the various subterranean tunnels.
Made nice mobiles.

I suppose pouring hot metal into fire ant mounds is not "gentle persuasion."

Re: Gentle persuasion over time

Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2020 8:47 am
by JR.
mediatechnology wrote: Sun Jul 19, 2020 4:33 pm WRT to fire ants I sometimes used Tide detergent when I had run out of Amdro.
When I swore off P&G products a couple of years ago I saved the Tide powder I had for that very purpose.
I haven't used it though because...

Fire ants are beginning to die off a little bit here in Texas.
We don't see the huge mounds anymore.
Apparently the fire ants cross-bred with regular ants and weakened.
I wish the fires ants here would die off.... they are still alive and active. After every new rain I see fresh mounds popping up as they dig out.

I use a two step approach Orthene mixed with water and poured directly down the mound, followed by Bifen bait distributed with a broadcast spreader for several feet around the mound (in case the queen wasn't killed by the othene and tries to set up housekeeping again nearby). This seems to be pretty effective.
Fire ants decimated our wild rabbit population and I'm now beginning to see rabbits again in my yard.

There's a guy here in Texas who used to pour hot molten metal into fire ant mounds.
I recall him using either silver and/or nickle.
He would then dig out the mass of metal after it cooled and it produced some really cool looking art where it flowed into the various subterranean tunnels.
Made nice mobiles.

I suppose pouring hot metal into fire ant mounds is not "gentle persuasion."
There is something satisfying about that... The ones I saw were made with molten aluminum, too big and heavy for a mobile. Probably more appreciated by fire ant haters, like me.

Image

JR

Re: Gentle persuasion over time

Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2020 5:54 pm
by JR.
Here is my latest precision tree drop... First of three I have planned to take down to get sunlight for next summer's expanded garden.
1of3.jpg
It is leaning up against tree #2.... I considered taking #2 down first but I didn't like the way it was leaning. I expect tree #1 leaning against #2 will help drop it in the appropriate direction.

These trees always seem bigger after they are down... lots of carbon to release.

JR

Re: Gentle persuasion over time

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2020 11:52 am
by mediatechnology
Good job.

Was that an Ash?

I just had a diseased Ash removed and the bark looks identical.

Re: Gentle persuasion over time

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2020 2:07 pm
by JR.
maple I suspect...

I still have the main trunk leaning up against tree #2 that looks like it has a bad lean in the wrong direction.

Tree #3 scheduled for removal doesn't have any branches below 60 or 70 feet making me think my problem is other trees adjacent to my property (I can't cut).

I am reviewing my sun and shadows, may not drop all three trees.

JR

Re: Gentle persuasion over time

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2020 9:07 am
by JR.
Some days you execute your plan, some days it fights back...

My first cut yesterday afternoon was supposed to be easy... A long unsupported smaller trunk of the tree, cut from above should have cleanly dropped away. Inexplicably the smaller trunk split and locked the chainsaw bar in place... After a few hours using my come along to free up my chainsaw I gave up... too embarrassed to leave the chainsaw out all night I disassembled it and left the bar in the tree..

Today's plan is to use the scissor jack from my car to pry the trunks apart and free the bar... Professional tree guys carry multiple chain saws so if one gets stuck they just use another saw to cut it free. (I watched them working in my yard and even the pros get stuck). :oops:

JR
bar.jpg
[update plan B failed... working on plan C... details to come. /update]

Re: Gentle persuasion over time

Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2020 1:47 am
by terkio
A crowbar should come handy to free the chainsaw blade.

Re: Gentle persuasion over time

Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2020 8:06 am
by mediatechnology
My Dad left me a metal wedge on the property.
I've never had to use it but a stuck bar predicament looks like an ideal use for it.

Re: Gentle persuasion over time

Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2020 9:09 am
by JR.
terkio wrote: Wed Oct 21, 2020 1:47 am A crowbar should come handy to free the chainsaw blade.
Tried it... that too failed

JR

Re: Gentle persuasion over time

Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2020 9:25 am
by JR.
mediatechnology wrote: Wed Oct 21, 2020 8:06 am My Dad left me a metal wedge on the property.
I've never had to use it but a stuck bar predicament looks like an ideal use for it.
Yes a wedge and sledge manner might work... I took a few whacks at it with my axe, but it is too far up in the air to get a good swing at it.

===

Plan c "maybe" was to borrow my neighbors electric pole saw, but i don't have extension cords long enough reach all the way back there.

Plan C already in process is to buy a new bar (on order), much cheaper than a new saw and I already have a new spare chain, so I will be back making sawdust by this time next week.

Inspection of the trapped bar/blade it looks like I didn't cut enough from the very top down, but more from the side in. The weight of the secondary trunk still attached at the top split and twisted. So I will try again when I get my saw working again but I will cut more accurately from the top down. The weight of the trunk will then pull the saw cut open.

If I get my saw stuck again, I will consider using dynamite next time. :lol:

JR

PS: I may need to cut tree #2 to get it untangled from tree #1 and both down. #1 leaning against it will help steer the fall safely away from buildings and power lines. I have had issues with leaners even using steering lines, I expect leaving #1 leaning against it in the right direction, and a steering line may help direct it.

[update] I just looked at #2 again... It is leaning so much and so tall that I don't feel lucky about dropping it cleanly into my yard, most likely safe fall would be deep in my neighbors yard, while he probably doesn't care. If the tree goes rogue it could do some real damage so I may just leave it. /update]