Chainsaw To Remove a Stump. Tips From a Professional.

Once you cut trees, all that is left are tree stumps. These tree stumps could naturally decay over time, from a couple of months to years. However, as a landowner, you may not have the time to wait for nature to take its course. Therefore, when there is a need to use the land for an alternative purpose, such as constructing a house, or if the tree stumps are an eyesore, they can be removed using a chainsaw.

You can easily use a chainsaw to get rid of tree stumps on your land. The first step is ensuring that the ground is well soaked so that the soil around the stump loosens. Ensure that you have protective gear before you start cutting the stump. Next, clear the debris around the stump and expose the roots. Dig a few feet under, depending on how deep the roots run. After cutting all the roots, you can now remove the stump.

This blog will explain how to use a chainsaw to remove a tree stump and guide you on when to remove the tree stump yourself. I will also show how you can hollow a stump using a chainsaw.

Do it Yourself Stump Removal?

Cutting down trees in your yard will leave stumps that are not attractive and makes it difficult for you to do any landscaping work on your yard. You might, therefore, consider removing the tree stumps to have a clear, level yard and better utilize the land.

Removing a stump can be challenging time-consuming, but it is not extremely difficult. If the stump is not too large, dig it out, and cut the roots with a saw or ax. If the stump is large, you can rent a stump grinder. Removing a stump with such a grinder will take a few hours. Another method is to set the tump on fire. Drill as many holes in the stump as possible, and fill them with kerosene. Set the stump on fire. This will take many hours to a few days.

If you think the stump requires special equipment, it will pose a danger to remove it, or you want it removed quickly and efficiently, ask a professional for help.

Can You Use a Chainsaw to Remove a Stump?

You can use a chainsaw to remove a stump as long as you observe measures to keep yourself safe and protect your chainsaw from damage.

A chainsaw is not only effective for pruning branches cutting trees, but it can also come in handy in removing tree stumps. However, it is most effective for small tree stumps with thin and shallow roots. Also, the operator should aim to protect the chainsaw blade from any damage from dirt, sand, or small rocks while removing the stump.

Your chainsaw could damage if you do not use it correctly. First, ensure that the chainsaw blade does not cut through the ground or dirt as this will dull the cutters and causes the chainlinks to wear out. Also, applying too much pressure on the chainsaw could damage the blade and not get the job done.

Instead of applying too much pressure, hold the chainsaw firmly and steadily and grind through the stump going round its edges towards the center until it completely detaches. This not only preserves your chainsaw but also makes the work easier.

How Do You Cut a Small Tree Stump With a Chainsaw?

A small tree stump is relatively easy to remove with a chainsaw compared to a large one. However, you do not just grab a chainsaw and start cutting. Without proper planning, you could sustain injuries or even damage the blade of your chainsaw.

Generally, while cutting the small tree stump, one must plan their work well and methodically follow some steps. Always use protective gear as sand, rocks, and dirt can fly around. First, trim the stump and clear all dirt around the stump. Next, expose the roots and cut them until the stump is loose enough to extract.

These are the steps to follow when cutting that small stump:

● Step 1: Wear protective gear

The safety of the chainsaw operator should be a priority at all times. While cutting a tree stump using a chainsaw, the operator is faced with different risks ranging from operating the chainsaw to injuries due to debris during cutting. These protective gear include:

• Chainsaw Gloves: These ensure that the operator has a firm grip on the chainsaw, especially when applying pressure while cutting. That way, even sweat on the hands cannot affect the grip. Failure to wear suitable chainsaw gloves could cause accidents such as cutting oneself, which can be fatal.
• Long sleeves and pants: Chainsaw pants or chaps ensure that the operator’s arm and legs are covered, thus protecting them from injuries caused by flying debris while cutting. Chainsaw chaps and pants contain unique material that will stop the chainsaw as soon as you hit it.
• Closed boots: They protect the operator from injuries that could occur by stepping on sharp debris.
• Face shield and goggles: The face shield prevents the flying debris from injuring the operator’s face while the goggles protect the eyes.

● Step 2: Trim the stump to ground level

When trees are cut, the stump left is usually above ground level. Therefore, the operator should cut the stump to as close to ground level as possible when removing it. Once you power on the chain saw, place the blade in a horizontal position close to the ground but not touching the ground. Next, cut through the stump in a horizontal grinding motion. Grind the blade around the stump while cutting through it until it detaches. Now put the stump away.

While trimming the stump close to the ground, paying attention to the pressure you apply to the chainsaw is vital. If you apply little pressure, you may not get the work done and ruin the chainsaw blade. Also, using too much pressure could lead to a kickback effect which could cause fatal injuries to the operator. The operator must therefore be steady and firm while handling the chainsaw.

● Step 3: Clear the area around the stump

This step involves removing all debris and dirt around the stump to expose the roots. The roots are often not on the ground surface; hence, dig a few feet down to expose them. The operator needs additional tools such as a hoe to dig and a shovel to collect and remove the dirt. This step is easier when the ground is moist. You can do it after rain or use a hose to wet the ground. The operator should dig and clear the sand and dirt until all the roots can be seen. I recommend watering the soil without rain before removing the stump. Ensure that all sand and dirt is removed until all the roots are visible.

● Step 4: Cut the roots

Now that the roots are exposed, you can easily cut through them using the chainsaw. Ensure that all the dirt around the roots is clear before you start cutting to protect the blade from digging into the soil. With your chainsaw, it will be easy to cut the roots. Always ensure that you work as safely as possible. A kickback from the chainsaw is always possible. Cut Ensure that all the roots attached to the tree stump are cut thus detached from the tree stump.

● Step 5: Remove and dispose of the tree stump

Once you have cut all visible roots, now you can try to pry the stump out. If the stump is small, you can try pulling it out using your hands. However, it is inevitable to find other roots as you try to pull them out. As is the norm, clear the dirt around the newly found roots and cut them using your chainsaw. If it becomes challenging to pull the stump out using your hands, you can find a strong rod such as a crowbar to use as a lever. Use the crowbar to pull the stump out.

You can finally dispose of or reuse the stump as you wish. Most people will use it as firewood or use it for any woodwork around their homes.

How Do You Hollow a Stump With a Chainsaw?

Removing or rotting a tree stump that sits somewhere in your yard is not the only way to handle the tree stump problem. You could utilize the stump rather than going through the trouble of removing it. You can hollow it and use it for your gardening and landscaping needs or as a flowerpot or piece of art.

You can quickly hollow a stump using a chainsaw. Always put on your protective gear, then cut off the top of the stump. Next, map out the edges of the area you want to cut off by drilling through the middle of the stump. Drill around the mapped-out area, then remove the middle of the stump with your chainsaw to create the hollow.

Here are the steps you should follow to hollow out a stump as an  experienced chainsaw operator:

● Step 1:Put on protective gear

As earlier discussed, safety is paramount at all times when handling a chainsaw. Always wear leg and face protection.

● Step 2: Trim off the top of the stump

The top of a tree stump may be irregular; hence trimming it will provide you with a level working space. First, place the blade horizontally at the level you want to trim. Then, slowly cut through the stump until the top layer comes off.

● Step 3: Map out the area of the stump you want to remove

To create a hollow, you must remove the middle section of the stump. Using the chainsaw, vertically drill through the edges of the area you want to remove. Ensure that you measure the depth you drill to use the same depth all through while drilling through the stump.

● Step 4: Drill around the mapped area

Now that the area is mapped out drill around it, ensuring that you use the same depth at all times. Once you have covered the whole section, measure the exact depth vertically on the side of the stump and mark where you will make a horizontal incision. Next, measure the horizontal length of the hollow on the stump’s surface.

Using these horizontal and vertical measurements, make an incision on the side of the stump to dislodge the middle section of the stump. Now remove the dislodged section. The middle incision can be used as drainage for a flower pot.

● Step 5: Smoothen the top and edges of the hollow

After cutting off the middle of the stump, you are left with a hollow that could be rough and uneven. Using your chainsaw, gently brush through the surface and edges of the hollow to make it smooth and appealing. After this, you can now go ahead and use the hollow stump as you desire.