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Angle grinder to get rid of roots

Mandofred

Mandofred

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Had a large cherry tree removed from the front yard.....but he did a bit of a crap job at grinding. Got the stump and some of the roots.....but left a couple of rather large roots. I was out yesterday with my hoe/axe combo.....I don't mind chopping it out but I was sending large chunks of wood all over the place....hitting cars across the road etc. Got online and there are some guys that are using their angle grinders with a disk with metal cutting pieces stick out like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Carving-Milling-Chainsaw-Woodworking-Grinder/dp/B08GYLTCH2 .........Anybody use something like this?
 
Stuff like this is down to personal risk appetite. Personally I wouldn’t even think about using that, it looks dangerous and probably is. Grinders are incredibly dangerous tools and, in my opinion, are the most misused tool there is.

“Proper” carving grinder discs are solid with carbide “stipple” that removes material. That thing basically has slotted cutters that appear to eject waste material upwards, there’s nothing other than the spindle and blade guard upwards of the cutter so has “will definitely jam” written all over it and the last thing you want is a grinder stalling on you and then releasing, fingers likely to go in that case.

Problem with the online generation of “hacks” is that they are often just blatantly unsafe.
 
I've used a reciprocating saw before when I had roots to be cut to allow bush or small tree removal. However if you had an established cherry tree there before, I would perhaps bore a couple of holes in each root and put some root killer in it. The last thing you want is it possible offshooting new growth.
I had 4 cherry tress between my front an back gardens (2 in each) and once they were cut down, I have left the stumps to die back and rot into the ground. The stag beetles loved them and so much goodness has been released into the ground as they rotted down. Of course, I did have to back fill a couple of holes that appeared in the lawn as the roots collapsed away, but it did show how far the roots did go.
 
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I have a heavy duty electric saw. one of the blades I use is solely for cutting through roots. And I have done loads over the years. the problem is the dirt can blunt the blades and the dirt can fly everywhere. I wouldn’t touch one of those in a months of Sundays.
 
Mandofred said:
All power tools are potentially dangerous.
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Some are made more dangerous by silly designs.

As I said originally, it’s personal risk appetite. I use industrial woodworking tools on a daily basis, some are indeed dangerous, but they have safety systems to mitigate some of that risk.

If you feel comfortable with something off Amazon then have at it.
 
Personally I would use an electric sabre saw. Dig away any soil just under the root so the blade has somewhere to go.

My experience with grinders is that you can be amazed at just how far the debris can be chucked.
 
Have used sthil saw with both metal and diamond tip blades before to zip through roots but even then good chance it’ll catch or kickback, I’d be very wary with a grinder
 
The roots that I am talking about are not an inch or two thick. More like 8+inches.....I'm NOT thrilled with guy doing the grinding. My choices at the moment are 1. Let them rot away....I'll be waiting for a lot of years for that even if I drill holes etc. 2. Use something like an angle grinder to shave off enough of the root so that it will sit under a couple inches of soil. 3. Rig up some kind of wall/screen around the roots so I can chop away without throwing chunks of wood across the road and at passing cars..it was rather surprising to me how far some of these chunks were going. Personally I prefer the chopping method....good exercise as well, I just need to find a way to NOT kill other people/cars.
 
Why don't you give the guy a call and say you're not happy and want him to finish the job properly?
 
Mandofred said:
The roots that I am talking about are not an inch or two thick. More like 8+inches.....I'm NOT thrilled with guy doing the grinding. My choices at the moment are 1. Let them rot away....I'll be waiting for a lot of years for that even if I drill holes etc. 2. Use something like an angle grinder to shave off enough of the root so that it will sit under a couple inches of soil. 3. Rig up some kind of wall/screen around the roots so I can chop away without throwing chunks of wood across the road and at passing cars..it was rather surprising to me how far some of these chunks were going. Personally I prefer the chopping method....good exercise as well, I just need to find a way to NOT kill other people/cars.
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Or do it safely with the correct equipment…

Petrol Tree Stump Grinder Hire | Brandon Hire Station

Our Tree Stump Grinders for hire are compact, yet powerful. With a working depth of 330mm below the ground they make removing tree stumps effortless.
brandonhirestation.com brandonhirestation.com

£105 for the day and it will grind it to 300mm below the ground.

That piece of Chinese junk you linked is a trip to A&E guaranteed. Or maybe as F. Dibnah would say… “ a half day out with the undertaker”
 
Digging roots out with a spade and a hatchet is pretty satisfying, as long as you're wearing eye and toe protection.
 
RichA said:
Digging roots out with a spade and a hatchet is pretty satisfying, as long as you're wearing eye and toe protection.
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Many a day I have done that and my back has been a mess for a week. Not to mention the swear tin has been full. Why is it the last and thickest root is always in the middle and goes straight down. 🤬
 
Tashyboy said:
Many a day I have done that and my back has been a mess for a week. Not to mention the swear tin has been full. Why is it the last and thickest root is always in the middle and goes straight down. 🤬
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It is called the tap root and often is the first to grow to supply a solid anchor. I fine it annoying just how hard it can be to get that root out even on a relatively new self seed sapling. The squirrels bury walnuts all over the place and I had one that had grown over 6 foot before I noticed it in a tight confined space right next to the house. We also get a lot of ash trees that seem to be able to root under established shrubs so get tall before they can be noticed:mad:
 
jim8flog said:
It is called the tap root and often is the first to grow to supply a solid anchor. I fine it annoying just how hard it can be to get that root out even on a relatively new self seed sapling. The squirrels bury walnuts all over the place and I had one that had grown over 6 foot before I noticed it in a tight confined space right next to the house. We also get a lot of ash trees that seem to be able to root under established shrubs so get tall before they can be noticed:mad:
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No ash trees anywhere to be seen near us but they're shooting up all over the garden.
 
Fade and Die said:
Or do it safely with the correct equipment…

Petrol Tree Stump Grinder Hire | Brandon Hire Station

Our Tree Stump Grinders for hire are compact, yet powerful. With a working depth of 330mm below the ground they make removing tree stumps effortless.
brandonhirestation.com brandonhirestation.com

£105 for the day and it will grind it to 300mm below the ground.

That piece of Chinese junk you linked is a trip to A&E guaranteed. Or maybe as F. Dibnah would say… “ a half day out with the undertaker”
Click to expand...
Loved old Fred Dibnah. Reminds me when he had climbed to the top of a 200 foot chimney, he said, "In this job, you only fall off
once!" 😭
 
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