The owners of a residential property in Madrid faced a challenging situation: a large pine tree was growing right through the middle of their home. Threatening the structural integrity of the building and its neighbours, it required expert removal.

Jorge, owner of ARBÓREA was commissioned to undertake this complex task, and immediately recognised the challenge ahead. Seeing the extent of the tree’s growth and its awkward positioning, he knew he would need to deploy specialist tools to achieve success. He also took a number of careful steps to minimise disruption to the property and surrounding area. In his own words, “As an arborist, we all like challenging jobs and when I first saw it, I could see it was something different to tackle. I thought to myself, ‘I want to do this job’.”

The unique project would not only showcase Jorge’s team’s immense skill, but also how the tree was carefully cut and removed using MILWAUKEE®'s battery-powered M18 FUEL™ Dual Battery 50cm Chainsaw; simultaneously proving the tools’ exceptional performance, safety benefits, and environmental advantages in demanding conditions.

The challenge

The project would test both equipment and expertise. Located in a densely populated residential area, the team faced strict noise restrictions and heightened safety concerns. The tree’s situation posed significant difficulties. Growing directly through the middle of an enclosed residential patio, the task required almost surgical precision, both outside and inside the property.

The tree itself was c.80cms wide at its trunk, rising to an estimated 15-17 metres in height, and weighed in at around 7-8,000 kilos. Adding complexity, structurally the pine tree had a large crown balanced on a relatively narrow trunk, creating significant stability concerns during the removal process. At its top, the pine spread across the roofs of four houses and the team couldn’t drop any branches during their cuts for the risk of damaging the neighbour’s properties.

The narrow street (only 6-metres wide) also limited access for the 60-tonne crane, and the tree’s proximity to surrounding buildings demanded exceptional levels of control and accuracy throughout its felling. Critically, the team needed to maintain clear communication throughout the process to ensure safety.

The solution

After assessing the unique demands, Jorge and his team selected The M18 FUEL™ Dual Battery 50cm Chainsaw as their tool of choice as it offered several advantages when working within the unusual parameters of this project.

The battery power source eliminated the need for petrol, removing operational emissions during its use; a critical requirement in a residential setting, especially as Madrid is working towards becoming a no-emission city¹. The chainsaw also operated at significantly reduced noise levels compared to petrol alternatives, enabling clear communication between team members and minimising noise pollution. Furthermore, the enhanced safety through clearer communication proved invaluable throughout the project, with team members better able to co-ordinate manoeuvres and reduce risk.

One area the team didn’t need to compromise on, was sheer cutting power. The M18 FUEL™ Dual Battery 50cm Chainsaw delivered the performance needed for cutting the substantial timber sections, showing its true strength and versatility as it performed brilliantly for both external limb removal and the more intricate cutting work.

The process

Working systematically from top to bottom, the arborists removed the tree’s tip, then tackled crown reduction, carefully removing the upper branches using the MILWAUKEE® M18 FUEL™ Dual Battery 50cm Chainsaw to make precise cuts. The crane removed sections weighing up to 2,200kilos. The larger sections of the tree required particular care. These substantial pieces were carefully cut and controlled using crane assistance to prevent any damage to the surrounding properties.

Once the external portions were successfully removed, the team continued their work inside the house. Here, they cut through the remaining trunk sections that had grown through the outbuilding, working in more confined spaces that demanded even greater precision, with only 2cms of tolerance to remove the trunk through the roof.

Results and benefits

Despite the complexity, the entire tree was removed without incident or property damage; an impressive testament to both the team’s expertise and their choice of equipment.

The M18 FUEL™ Dual Battery 50cm Chainsaw from MILWAUKEE® performed consistently throughout the demanding job, requiring no refuelling stops that would have interrupted workflow.

The enhanced communication, enabled by the quieter chainsaw allowed the crane driver, groundcrew and the arborist within the canopy to talk to each other without shouting or stopping work. This improved efficiency throughout the operation.

Crucially, the chainsaw also provided the control needed for accurate cuts in tight spaces, both externally and inside the property, demonstrating its versatility across different working conditions.

A word from the expert

Jorge was particularly impressed with the chainsaw’s performance: “Today, we’ve used the MILWAUKEE® dual battery, rear handled chainsaw. A 50cms balanced chainsaw. The main benefits were the communication (due to the quiet performance), and the lower vibrations. But mainly communications and the (lack of) fumes when we were working inside the house. (…) That was critical. Having no fumes was really nice.”

Jorge continued; “The power was great through the cuts, especially through the canopy cuts, which were from 40 to 50, to 60cms. (…) The power was great (...) It went through all the cuts with no problem. Torque is a really important feature on saw… So (that) it goes through the cut continuously. That’s very important, as running out of power can be very dangerous on some cuts. You want constant, stable, power delivery. And that was something this saw did. It surprised me, basically (…) It was quite shocking. Other saws, like 60cc and 70 cc saws, will bog when you push them hard; (but) this one, keeps going through the cuts.”

Jorge went through two sets of batteries to complete all the cuts. The first was an 8.0Ah Battery set, used to complete all the canopy cuts down to the trunk. After that, Jorge swapped to a 12.0Ah Battery set to finish the trunk cuts at the tree’s thicker base. He added, “I’m a big fan of battery changes (…) I try to use battery chainsaws all the time. Because they keep vibrations very low. Communication, it’s very clear with the ground guys, For me, it’s all benefits. (…) With battery chainsaws, I feel a lot less fatigue through the job so I can keep working, or doing more trees on a single day.”

Conclusion

This challenging Madrid tree removal demonstrates how MILWAUKEE®’s M18 FUEL™ Dual Battery chainsaws can meet the demands of professional arborists in complex urban environments; combining the power needed for serious cutting tasks with the benefits of reduced noise, zero emissions, and enhanced safety.