proper way to fell a tree

[jerry sundberg]

I've been falling trees for fifty years and have not had any accidents doing it yet.(Hope I didn't curse myself).But what is the proper way?Can you show a picture of how?
                           Your brother in Christ  Jerry

[Logging logginglogging]

if you been doing it for 50 years with no acidents. then I say you are doing it right.

[Weekend_Sawyer]

I was in my late 40's a few years ago when a buddy of mine took the tree felling class. I believe it was part of the Game Of Logging. He and I felled a couple of trees together and the tips he gave me were priceless. Evaluating the tree, aiming the chainsaw, plunge cuts, using wedges, great stuff.

There is always room for more info in this head of mine, or should I say plenty of room.  :D

[beenthere]

Welcome to the Forestry Forum

The GOL is great, as it gives a basis for making the individual tree decisions for more accurate felling possible. There is no single proper way, as each tree is, or can be, slightly different.

After this many years, what is causing you to have some doubts about your technique?
Do your trees drop where you need them to drop or just wherever they happen to fall? 

Basic rule seems to be to create a good hinge that will control the direction of the fall, and have an undercut that will keep the tree from breaking that hinge too early in the fall. The back cuts are important when there is a need to use wedges to assist the process for a happy and safe ending.

Don't wait for the accident to happen.  Your interest in learning more about falling trees is a good plan.

A pic of a stump or two will help critique your procedure if you would like that. ;)

[jerry sundberg]

Well I usually make a birds mouth under cut in the direction it is to fall, then a back cut a couple of inches higher. I also use the winch cable and snatch block to get it to go in the right direction even if it's leaning in the opposite direction. There's been a time or two when the tree spins and doesn't go where I want it to,just have to make sure I have a clear escape route! I don't think I've ever seen the" correct way " To fell a tree,just learned from my Grandpa many years ago.
                      Your brother in Christ  Jerry

[Ianab]

What you are doing sounds correct for a straight forward simple to fell tree. 99% of the time this is what you should be doing.

Programs like the GOL are more about spotting hazards, and what to do about them. Heavy leaners, rotten hearts, multiple leaders, oversize trees. Things that require a slightly different techniques, and can be traps for the inexperienced.

This is a brochure put out by the NZ Govt (OSH), intended for part time chainsaw users. Farmers, firewood cutters etc. Professional loggers have their own industry training that's even more advanced, but this is just a simple guide to some of the hazards, and what to so about them.
http://www.osh.govt.nz/order/catalogue/archive/treefell.pdf

Ian

[Peter Smallidge]

Hi Jerry:

Others have proclaimed the great virtues of Game of Logging, to which I add my enthusiastic endorsement.  I've completed through level III.  It was perhaps the best educational experience of my life.  The things that even seasoned fellers learn during the training will surprise them.  I've hosted trainings through a certified GOL instructor for more than 10 years, and I don't recall ever having anyone (landowner or logger) leaving without admiration for what they learned.  The instructors I've met are top notch.  Class size is limited, and every student has a chance for active learning. Level I is the starting point and teaches the basics of determining a felling plan, determining lean of the tree, aiming the front notch, the bore (plunge) cut, double checking for safety, and finishing the cut.  Levels II and III will help with felling when there is side and back lean, without ropes, cables, tractors, etc.   It's all applied physics, but great fun.  You will learn what you are and are not capable of with your saw. The training will promptly pay for itself in saved work and effort.

Game of Logging is fairly common and accessible in the Northeast; I'm less certain about availability as you move west and south.  Maybe others know.

Play safe!



 



 

[thecfarm]

jerry,welcome to the forum.I've been at it for years too. Sounds like you cut the tree right off the stump. Need to hold some wood. But you know that, I cut on each side of my notch just a little,never had a barber chair,yet.

[WDH]

Yes, don't cut through the hinge and the tree will not spin.

[Okrafarmer]

There are several recognized, and several non-recognized methods. Choosing the one that works best will depend on several things, including the shape and size of the tree, how much it is leaning, and whether it is leaning toward or near or away from where you want it to fall, how big your chainsaw is, what the species is, what obstacles you ahve to avoid or overcome, and what the intended use of the wood is.

Different methods can either minimize or maximize accuracy of fall-placement, maximize or minimize damage to the logs you plan to cut from the tree, and either speed up or slow down the rate of descent. Some methods are safer than others, and some are safer under some circumstances, and more dangerous under others.

These are some of the considerations, among other things. I am sure if we collaborated, we could come up with at least ten different cuts that are widely used by professionals, and others that are either not as widely known, or are "the wrong way" to do it.

It would be great to have a chart showing all the "endorsed" felling cuts with little explanations of when are the best times to use them.

[Logging logginglogging]

Next time game of logging comes to Northeastern VT i am gonna do it!!!!

[jerry sundberg]

Many thanks Guys,I appreciate the coments ,and will look into the GOL.
                      Your brother in Christ  Jerry

[Logging logginglogging]

Yes, don't cut through the hinge and the tree will not spin.

Unless of course if the tree is very very dead and punkey or dry and the hinge snaps.  I cut a lot of stuff that has been dead for a long time and ocasionally when i really dont trust a tree enough to even wedge it I hook my winch on it and set it up for the direction i want it to go and then cut it. Once I have it close I simply winch it over from a safe direction. Can also be done with a come-a-long as well.

[WDH]

Yes, many bets are off with the dead ones.

[Logging logginglogging]

Next time game of logging comes to Northeastern VT i am gonna do it!!!!

Oh wait the class costs money and the push Bore cutting like every tree.
Never mind.... :-\

[Al_Smith]

Well pretty simple if you cut away enough of it gravity will put it down .You just have to kind of aim where it goes and preferabley not into a house or on top of yourself .Not good .

A rope is okay but keep in mind the rope doesn't steer the fall ,the hinge does that .Bad hinge ,bad fall .Once gravity takes over it's too late to correct it then .

[celliott]

Next time game of logging comes to Northeastern VT i am gonna do it!!!!

Oh wait the class costs money and the push Bore cutting like every tree.
Never mind.... :-\

Levels 1-4 are offered at least every fall at Northwoods stewardship center in West Charleston.
Why are you against bore cutting? The GOL method really is a very safe method to fell trees, in large part because of the bore cut. The only reason to cut straight back when making your back cut, like a traditional method, is if you are using a crosscut saw. That is where those methods descended from.  With modern equipment, you can bore cut with a chainsaw, set the hinge, set wedges so the tree isn't going to fall backwards, and still have the tree attached to the stump, ready to fall when you want it to.
The class is well worth the money IMO, if you are going to be felling any trees at all.

[Brux]

A video my wife took when the neighbor took down a very large cottonwood. Just a cell video and my first time using to utube.



http://youtu.be/TnsoyS9uF54

[Al_Smith]

Bore or plunge ? I plunged a bad leaner ash today as a matter of fact with humbolt face cut and a back strap release  and I'm not even on the west coast nor have I participated in the game of logging .Sawman of the corn field .

There's nothing wrong with either a bore or a plunge if they are done correctly and in  the right situation nor the game of logging which quite frankly really isn't a game .

[Okrafarmer]

What's the difference between a bore and a plunge? don't they both stab in from the tip?

[Ianab]

A video my wife took when the neighbor took down a very large cottonwood. Just a cell video and my first time using to utube.

Actually, using explosives IS an approved way of removing a hazard tree, and much more fun.

Tends to make a mess of the butt log though, or else it would probably see much more use.  :D

Ian

[beenthere]

Blasting was last years' USFS solution to taking several trees down because the hillside was too steep for cutters.   : :  They didn't explain how the blasting charges were set, but I'd assume manually and not by robots.  Maybe a drone ?

[Al_Smith]

What's the difference between a bore and a plunge? don't they both stab in from the tip?

In that in my way of thinking a plunge goes in one side and out the other using the tip .A bore goes in from the back cut  side to the hinge done both sides leaving a hold wood in the middle which is cut last for the release .

The neat thing about a bore is you can set wedges to prevent a back  lean without worrying of hitting the wedges .Dang saw cutting orange plastic really isn't the thing to do .Yes I've cut the wedges in case you were going to ask .

Now  I have no idea how others use a bore cut ,really don't care truth be known .In my case generally only on larger trees say 36" or so .I like that method myself and wish I'd known about it years ago .So I guess in a way there are some new tricks an old dog can pick up .--even a junk yard dawg--- ;)

[Logging logginglogging]

I have used bore cuts leaving a backstrap when needed. Just not every tree, as it is much more work that way. Also more risk of kickback.

[Okrafarmer]

It's pretty good for a leaning tree that you don't want to split.