removing tree stumps ...

countryboy84 · #21 01/24/11, 08:06 PM

No cash you can not buy any explosive any more with out a blasting lisence. This is a fact that in away sucks but at the same time I do not want most people out the a hold of that stuff. Not just terroist either. I let my lisence run out like 2 years ago and the amount of crap that I have to go back through to get them even though I had it, is not somthing that I am going to do. Just incase anyone was thinking about getting their lisence. Baileys sells a product called stump out. It makes the stump porus so that it will absorbe fuel like diesel and basicly turn the stump in to a big smoldering wick. Works well and not very high cost if you only have a few large stumps or a bunch of little ones.

Molly Mckee · #22 01/24/11, 08:10 PM

I don't think you can buy dynamite without a license and old dynamite can be very unstable. I was told by an army expert that a dynamite blast powerful enough to blow a good sized tree trunk will set off earthquake sensors--and official visitors will visit. It is not legal to use dynamite on your own property.

Harry Chickpea · #23 01/24/11, 11:35 PM

Suggest to David that the risk/benefit ratio is not in his favor. A lot of us know how to do dangerous things, but avoid them in favor of safer alternatives. You can't make real dynamite without nitro, and nitro is super dangerous in the hands of the untrained. If he is trying to beef up M-80s or other stuff, it might be fun but isn't wise.

Archimedes famously once said "Give me a place to stand and a long enough lever, and I can move the Earth." (Well, he didn't speak English, and the exact phrasing was different, but that was the point.) Blowing stuff up isn't required...

motdaugrnds · #24 01/26/11, 10:23 AM

Well, he is actually making gun powder out of potassium nitrate. He is thinking he might harness that into tiny tubes, stick a wick in it (made from same stuff) and insert it under the larger (1-1/2 ft diameter) stumps. Am wondering, if making gun powder is illegal, why is potassium nitrate being sold?

ChristopherReed · #25 01/26/11, 11:11 AM

I am on the hogs list. Fence it in with good hot wire, feed them pretty well, and then start backing down a little on feed. Dig some holes around the stumps and put some corn and stuff in there. They will clear it out fast. Even if you have standing timber it is really no match for some hogs. Then stock up the freezers.

Harry Chickpea · #26 01/26/11, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motdaugrnds

Well, he is actually making gun powder out of potassium nitrate. He is thinking he might harness that into tiny tubes, stick a wick in it (made from same stuff) and insert it under the larger (1-1/2 ft diameter) stumps. Am wondering, if making gun powder is illegal, why is potassium nitrate being sold?

Making gun powder (black powder) is not illegal many places. I made some when I was about eight years old - outside, being very careful. (FWIW, it also won't clear the stumps.) Potassium nitrate is a good fertilizer, and when mixed with water is a good quick coolant. If I told you the number of basic everyday chemicals (including water) that could easily be made into something extremely dangerous, you would be astounded. Nanny states are scared witless about such things, helped along by large doses of unreasoned fear and fearmongering from the media. Never mind that the gasoline we buy by the gallons has enough energy in 1/4 cup (under the right conditions) to blow out one of your stumps. Those of us who have lived past our twenties just aren't as fascinated in such stuff as the ones who blew themselves up.

A stump puller is easily made, a backhoe easily rented, and I had forgotten completely about those trucks with the claws. There is no rational reason to resort to violence.

Hank · #27 01/26/11, 04:00 PM

Had a very large stump on back corner of farm. Always in the way when turning the tractor. Bought two gallon jugs of deer bait, I think the name was "Deer Lix".
Poured these onto stump and let it soak in. In about two months the deer had completely removed said stump.

Hank

http://www.doublemfarmandchuckwagon.webs.com

motdaugrnds · #28 01/27/11, 12:04 AM

Well, I do appreciate the information and all your efforts to help. The problem is that the area is "inside" our garden; so we sure don't want deer in there; we have enough animals now to feed and the stumps are among the blackberry vines we are trying to cultivate; so that lets out the hogs; we cannot afford a backhoe and are unable to dig them out.

I know all this sounds like "yes, but ...." to all that has been suggested. I am sorry; however, our situation leaves us fewer possible solutions than some of you may have.

Looking more and more like those stumps are going to stay awhile.

oregon woodsmok · #29 01/27/11, 02:40 AM

If they have to stay, you can set pots on top of them, put them to use.

michiganfarmer · #30 01/27/11, 07:46 AM

Ive dug around the roots them choped the roots off below grouund

#31 01/27/11, 08:30 AM

I pulled up a whole lot of big stumps with a tractor, but there were always one or two that were stubborn. I rented a stump grinder once from that place in Tightsqueeze(my son lived in Java and picked it up on the way down here) and spent a weekend grinding the worst ones down below grade. I came to that solution after spending about 80 hours manually burning, digging, cutting roots and everything else I could think of on one stump.

fishhead · #32 01/27/11, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motdaugrnds

Well, I do appreciate the information and all your efforts to help. The problem is that the area is "inside" our garden; so we sure don't want deer in there; we have enough animals now to feed and the stumps are among the blackberry vines we are trying to cultivate; so that lets out the hogs; we cannot afford a backhoe and are unable to dig them out.

I know all this sounds like "yes, but ...." to all that has been suggested. I am sorry; however, our situation leaves us fewer possible solutions than some of you may have.

Looking more and more like those stumps are going to stay awhile.

You can still speed up the decay of the stumps. In your climate I'll bet you could rot them down below the level of the ground in 2 years.

motdaugrnds · #33 01/27/11, 11:03 AM

Rotting them! hmmmmmm ......

This is looking more like a solution for us; and we certainly have plenty of fresh chicken manure. Would this work on those 1-1/2 ft. diameter stumps too?

I have been wanting to grow edible mushrooms. These stumps are "gum ball" (the larger ones are pine). Would the "mushroom kits" some catalogs offer work; and if so, how on earth do you get it started? I have never grown mushrooms; but heard you had to lay a log in a wet ditch to do so. (Do I dig around the stumps and keep that area full of water?) I know my ignorance is showing again and it is difficult for me to understand some things that are probably quite simple and easy for most to understand; so I would greatly appreciate your patience.

fishhead · #34 01/27/11, 11:29 AM

The size of the stump shouldn't matter. Just drill lots and lots of holes in the stump itself to hold water. You want wet conditions with nitrogen to balance out the carbon in the stump.

As far as the mushrooms you'll have to do some digging to find out which ones grow on different tree species. If you just want the stumps gone find some mushrooms growing on similar trees in your area and crush them into the holes. They may not be edible but they will still rot the stump.

I drilled a maple stump full of holes, filled them with water and covered it with manure last summer and it's probably going to be gone by the end of this next summer.

motdaugrnds · #35 01/27/11, 04:34 PM

Ok will do. Thank you fishhead.

Smallfarm · #36 01/30/11, 07:54 AM

THey seem very soft, I am curious how a rented stump grinder would work on these. My small kubota is not strong enough to pull them up and I am not able to do the digging and root cutting needed for manual removal. Probably will have 20 or so when finished, can cut them low to ground with reciprocating saw, the stumps are only probably 8 to 12 inc diameter.

BruceC · #37 01/30/11, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geo in mi

Whatever you do, don't be tempted to use a chain attached to a tractor--we want you around for a long, long time...

I got to ask… that’s because if the chain slips or breaks it will whip back and might hit you, right? I was digging some bushes out and my neighbor came over with a 1.5’ sisal rope and we pulled them with the truck. He said the rope won’t whip if it breaks, it got no elasticity and just goes dead when it breaks. Can anyone confirm this?

And what do y’all think about pulling stumps and bushes when the ground is soggy. Roots pull easier but traction is less.

dragonjaze · #38 01/30/11, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BruceC

I got to ask… that’s because if the chain slips or breaks it will whip back and might hit you, right? I was digging some bushes out and my neighbor came over with a 1.5’ sisal rope and we pulled them with the truck. He said the rope won’t whip if it breaks, it got no elasticity and just goes dead when it breaks. Can anyone confirm this?

And what do y’all think about pulling stumps and bushes when the ground is soggy. Roots pull easier but traction is less.

Sounds like your neighbor might actually know what he's talking about there.

From here:

Energy Absorption: The energy absorption capacity of Sisal is low, and as a result Sisal Ropes do not stretch significantly when under load. This makes them ideal for applications not requiring high strength or great elasticity.

fishhead · #39 01/30/11, 12:43 PM

It all depends on the type of rope. Some stretch and will snap back and others are less likely to do that.

Wire cable is deadly because of snap back but chains usually aren't because they don't stretch.

Some people run the chain through an old tire and tie it to absorb the snap.

BruceC · #40 01/30/11, 01:35 PM

Yeah, it would take a lot of pull to elongate a link I guess. I’d like to see a chain break with my own eyes to get a sense of security. The cable probably gets it’s elongation from the twist. I think you can get braided cable, maybe it’s not as stretchy.