Straightening the Fence

Several years ago, during an ice storm, a Yellow Pine shed a few large branches that fell on the fence. Taking further advantage of Stuart's visit, we straightened the fence.

I fabricated a tool with a fulcrum and lever that seats in the bottom of the fence and stretches the top upward, still requires as much force as we can exert and some kicking into place of severely bent sections. The tool underwent one revision during our work and I plan to increase the leverage a fraction.

Another Red Oak falls

A dead red oak stood at the back of our woodlot, threatening to tear up other trees when it eventually fell. Over time and in recent high winds, many of the upper branches had been shaken down. It looked less imposing in its current state but still a couple of tons of threat depending on the direction it took when it fell. Son Stuart, visiting for TG, and I checked out the oak with no leaves on adjacent trees to see where it could fall and cause the least damage. Looked good if felled parallel to back fence. Here are the two intrepid woodsmen with trunk cut and ready to wedge.

Well, it fell within 5 degrees of intended path but that was far enough off for an upper branch to fall across the fence. Took a bit of chain sawing to remove that upper branch and free the trunk. We straightened the fence mostly. Lots of heat here for Rich, we'll saw and split it on a nice cold day.