Mac-Forums' Bar & Grill II

[cwa107]

So i realise what the Member, Premium Member, Senior Member and Moderator badge means. What does the Staff badge mean? Just another term for Moderator?

- Simon

Moderator or Admin - the "Moderator" badge doesn't exist anymore.

 

[Buzzard2010]

Ahhhh I didn't realise that, cheers cwa, btw I love my new MotM badge teehee

- Simon

 

[schweb]

Yeah, honestly the terms "moderator" and "admin" are relics of a bygone era. Most average consumers, especially those new to a forum don't even really know what they mean anyway, so we decided to change it up a bit.

And in most communications, we refer to us collectively as "staff" so figured why not have the badge match.

By this weekend, we'll actually have an explanation page for the badges so when you click any badge it will take you to that page so you can read about what they all mean if you need to.

I was toying with "MF Staff" but "MF" can mean a few different things depending on who you're talking to

 

[Aptmunich]

i was toying with "mf staff" but "mf" can mean a few different things depending on who you're talking to

Isn't there a famous line in a Tarantino film about us?
"English Mac-Forums, do you speak it?"

 

[Buzzard2010]

Hahaha, very clever Aptmunich!!!

- Simon

 

[Buzzard2010]

Man I want an iBoard

- Simon

 

[cwa107]

Ugh... sick to my stomach right now.

We've had some strong storms blowing through the last couple of days. Tonight, the wind kicked up and the rain was pelting the house so hard, it really caught my attention. No tornadoes or anything (thank God), but I walked over to the front window just in time to see my mature 30' silver maple split in half.

Just got done pruning and shaping it this afternoon, only to see it break in half just a few hours later. What a drag. I will miss the shade from the afternoon sun. I'll also miss the several hundred dollars it's going to cost me to have the tree cut down and stump ground out.

Anybody have any suggestions on a good shade tree that isn't overwhelming for a relatively small front yard?

 

[pigoo3]

but I walked over to the front window just in time to see my mature 30' silver maple split in half.

Anybody have any suggestions on a good shade tree that isn't overwhelming for a relatively small front yard?

Sorry to hear about that. I hate when that sort of thing happens to a nice tree. But on the positive side at least nothing hit your house.

I had a BIG tree fall over during a big storm not too long ago...took out the railing on my deck, scratched the wood siding of the house, and took out a couple double pane windows & bent up the frame. But I still consider myself lucky that it didn't land on the roof...and collapse it (during the storm of course).

As far as another small shade tree...I don't think that you can go wrong with another Maple. Lots of other shade trees...but they'd be too large.

- Nick

 

[cwa107]

Yeah, I'm looking online right now. I like this one that's known as an "Autumn Blaze" maple. Seems to be the perfect shape and size for the front of my house. Now the big question is how I'm going to get the downed part of the tree out tomorrow. I might be picking up a chain saw from Home Depot. At least I'll get a new power tool out of it

 

[iWhat]

Ouch that sucks. Dealing with old trees is never good news.

My parents have a Japanese Maple in front of the house. It's easy to manage and shape just like a bonsai tree. I like that the tree brings a totally different color to dull areas. My parents' tree is very close to this shape and kind.

 

[dtravis7]

So sorry to hear that Chris. Hope you find another to your liking.

 

[Kevriano]

You guys certainly have had some rough weather recently, and generally the world's weather seems all topsy turvy. Dry as a desert here. No real rain in the south of England since Febuary 27th, just very occasional showers this week. Playing havoc with the wife's hayfever.
Anyway, glad your safe, and +1 on the Maple. Lovely trees.

 

[schweb]

Chris I know how you feel. We had to have a big maple tree cut down from our back yard a few years back, I loved that tree. And then the next year the maple in front of our house on the tree lawn.

In the back we planted an Elm tree and the city put another Maple out front. Will be awhile until they're big again though.

 

[BrianLachoreVPI]

Thought I'd make my thousandth post my first post here at the Bar, especially fitting as I'm about to pour myself a drink. Cheers gents - thanks for having me and looking forward to a thousand more of equally dubious quality as my first 1k .

And yes - let me 3rd the vote for a maple. Nothing better than the reds and oranges of maple leaves in the fall.

 

[schweb]

So what's everyone's vodka of choice?

 

[cwa107]

Chris I know how you feel. We had to have a big maple tree cut down from our back yard a few years back, I loved that tree. And then the next year the maple in front of our house on the tree lawn.

In the back we planted an Elm tree and the city put another Maple out front. Will be awhile until they're big again though.

Yeah. I guess you could call me a "treehugger", maybe not in the general sense, but I really do like trees. I looked forward to seeing this maple bud in very early spring. I could always see it in the morning from my son's bedroom as I was getting him up and out of bed. It was always one of the first signs of spring.

I realize it can be replaced and at least the house wasn't damaged, but it will literally be years before its replacement will be even close to the size of this tree. I will certainly miss it - and since my house faces west, it will now take the full brunt of the sun in the afternoon, which will make it a lot warmer in the front of the house.

 

[cwa107]

Thought I'd make my thousandth post my first post here at the Bar, especially fitting as I'm about to pour myself a drink. Cheers gents - thanks for having me and looking forward to a thousand more of equally dubious quality as my first 1k .

And yes - let me 3rd the vote for a maple. Nothing better than the reds and oranges of maple leaves in the fall.

Congrats Brian - and good luck on MOTM too, I'm pulling for you!

 

[pigoo3]

Now the big question is how I'm going to get the downed part of the tree out tomorrow. I might be picking up a chain saw from Home Depot. At least I'll get a new power tool out of it

Depending on how much you want to remove (tree trunk flush as possible with the ground...or tree trunk out completely) and how big the trunk is (diameter)...you're gonna need:

- chainsaw (maybe)
- pick axe
- shovel
- pry bar
- axe (maybe)
- limb trimmer/pruner (not a pole-pruner but the hand held type with the approx. 2 foot long handles)
- heavy duty chain
- 4x4 SUV or pickup truck with toe-hitch

If this is a BIG trunk (let's say 10"-12" in diameter or larger) this is the procedure I usually follow:

1. Dig as much dirt away from the roots & trunk as possible (12-18" radius around trunk)
2. Using the axe and/or limb trimmer...cut thru as many of the exposed surface roots as possible
3. Get out the pry bar & start prying
4. Repeat steps 1, 2, and 3 as necessary (as more roots are uncovered or exposed).

Sometimes the hardest part to do is to sever the trees "tap root". The major root that usually goes strain down into the ground under the trunk.

Now the "FUN" part! This is when you get out the heavy-duty chain...and the 4x4 SUV or pickup truck. Wrap the chain around the roots/trunk...and attach chain to 4x4 vehicle. Let 'er Rip!!!

- Nick

 

[cwa107]

Thanks Nick. I actually cut apart the downed part this morning. It took me about two hours. Fortunately, I have a semi wooded lot with plenty of dumping grounds for yard waste. Tip did it all with a bow saw and a sawzall.

The upright part is going to be done professionally. Not sure if they can pull the stump or just grind it out since I intend to plant a new tree there right away.

 

[pigoo3]

Thanks Nick. I actually cut apart the downed part this morning. It took me about two hours. Fortunately, I have a semi wooded lot with plenty of dumping grounds for yard waste. Tip did it all with a bow saw and a sawzall.

The upright part is going to be done professionally. Not sure if they can pull the stump or just grind it out since I intend to plant a new tree there right away.

Yeah...I thought maybe I was going to be late if you were motivated to get it done today. Yes...the stump grinder it a great idea as well. Since I have all the tools already, I usually try to save money with the stump grinder rental. But it can certainly save a lot of time...and a LOT of back-breaking work.

I had to take out two smaller Maple trees this Spring (about 10"-12") each in diameter, and about 35-40 foot tall. I think both died due to drought conditions the last 1-2 Summers.

Since both trees were very close to my house & close to the neighbors property/fence...I was unable to just chop them down at the base & let it them fall. I was 30+ feet up in the air cutting limbs & shortening the truck section by section until it was about 12-15 feet remaining. Then I went "Paul Bunyan" on both of them...and cut them down just using the axe. I have a chainsaw...but there's something very "Primal" about cutting down a tree with just an axe!

I now have two trunks to deal with. I may just cut them as flush as possible with the chainsaw...and call the projects done.

Congrats on getting that project off the list.

- Nick