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Hinge or no?

Started by wbrent, April 17, 2021, 04:27:50 PM

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SwampDonkey

Your local forest products marketing board has probably had courses in the past on directional felling techniques. With pandemic, probably nothing like that for a while.
"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

Ianab

And if you have to learn by watching Youtube, make sure it's a good video.

This is one put out by Husqvarna that shows the different "basic" back cuts that you will want to know. There are subtle refinements like nipping the edges of the hinge wood that folks have mentioned, but at least learn the basics.

Note when bore cutting you start with the saw at an angle so the lower section of the bar meets the wood first. Then you swivel the saw and plunge straight it. If you try and plunge straight the saw will probably kick back, but once it's in the cut, it can't.

Tree Felling Back Cut Techniques By Husqvarna - YouTube
Weekend warrior, Peterson JP test pilot, Dolmar 7900 and Stihl MS310 saws and  the usual collection of power tools :)

John Mc

Not that it's any substitute for in-person instruction, but Husqvarna has a pretty good video series on felling using a bore cut. The whole series is long, but you may find some other good tips besides just bore cutting.

The first one is long, and is a lot of background/overview. The others in the series are focused more on particular aspects and are shorter.

Husqvarna Chainsaw Usage & Safety Training

Note, I'm not pushing this as the only way or the "best way" to fell any tree. It's a worthwhile technique to know. There are those on here who are definitely not fans of the bore cut technique, and we can argue all day about the relative merits of various techniques.
If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.   - Abraham Maslow

thecfarm

I have cut many trees, some 4 inches across and some 4 feet across. Lots of hard wood, some red oak and lots of softwood. My Father cut firewood and I was always there helping. Maybe when I was about 14 years old I worked for a guy clearing land for a nursing home. This was a home owner guy that worked for the one that had the land being cleared. He was cutting a tree and I was hauling brush from another tree to the burn pile. All at once I hear him scream RUN!!!! I had no idea what was wrong. Than I saw the tree split. I had no idea what it was. I have never seen one before. Went home and told my father what happened. He told me what went wrong. He always had a certain way to cut a tree, but I never really understood what could go wrong until I saw it. He would cut the notch and than cut into the tree on each side a few inches, or more, depending on the size of the tree. Than do the back cut. He never use to even use wedges. Than when he got about 70 and his eye sight was going he started to use wedges. I had to cut him out a few times. We had some pretty good discussions a few times on which way a tree would fall. Once I got tired of the discussioning  ::) and cut the tree the way I told him it would fall. When it hit the ground he told me, I would of never thought that tree would of fell that way. 
Model 6020-20hp Manual Thomas bandsaw,TC40A 4wd 40 hp New Holland tractor, 450 Norse Winch, Heatmor 400 OWB,YCC 1978-79

SwampDonkey

You can certainly help direct the tree fall by your last cuts, after you have a good hinge. I've been able to direct a tree many many times with my last few cuts, making the tree swing a few degrees into a tight spot. It's more than luck being consistent. :D Of course that's different than preventing barber chairs, but I only seen two of them over the years, and they were cut by 2 other people, not me. One with nothing in it's path and the other from a lodge. :D
"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

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