Falling a big leaner

[TexasTimbers]

I thought I would try your cut today on a big red oak. I didn't too very well I don't think. I did lay it where I wanted, but my cuts weren't as accurate as I would like.

A big red oak but the top still has a bunch you can't see.

Looks good so far, but . . . . . . .

Not exactly level would ya say.  :

Pulling the plunge toward the back

It didn't land on me, the skid steer, or the deer blind so i guess I passed; barely.


This is not me doing a freehand upcut on a big limb with a big, heavy chainsaw. We all know that is impossible for a little guy.  :D



i guess it turned out okay. the main log was way too much for my little skid steer buyt I got it loaded anyway by hefting one end at a time, with alot of prayer added for good measure.
So that was my first leaner using that method. I like it! Thanks ianab and all who contributed. i will practice and get better.

[Furby]

We all know that is impossible for a little guy.  :D

But we do it anyways don't we. ;D

[Ianab]

It didn't land on me, the skid steer, or the deer blind so i guess I passed

Thats the main thing  ;D

I have found you have a fair bit of leeway in getting the main cuts to line up, they dont actually HAVE to be exact. As long as they completely bypass each other reasonably close the little bit of fibre will just break off.

Anyway, the method is pretty safe, the tree did what you expected and landed in the right place, so I'd call it a success too  ;)

Cheers

Ian

[oldsaw]

Geez Ian, I watched the vid, but it took forever.  You woulda thought it was a 50" plus tree or something with the time it took....oh, it was.

Good job.  Have fun milling that one up.  That should replenish the stack a bit.

Mark

[Ianab]

Got the saw all back together... one loose screw  :

Had to take off the carby to get at that...
Had to take off the top handle to get the carby off...
Anyway I go the screw back in.. with a drop of loctite to keep it there  ;D

Lubing the noisey clutch bearing it a whole other story

Anyway I got an afternoon of milling in 

This is the big log opened up, there are a few more bark inclusions than I would like, but I was able to cut around them and get some really nice boards. The log was actually too big to double cut boards  :(



This is one of the many clear 8x1s I cut out of it.



Closeup of the grain. 



The little trailer has a fair load on  ;D



and thats about 1/3 of the log sawed  8)




Cheers

Ian

[blaze83]

Ian,

that is some beautiful wood,  thank's for the pic's

steve

[LeeB]

Ian,
      would it be do able to roll the log up on ti's side now to double cut and get som of those wide boards? LeeB

[Ianab]

Ian,
      would it be do able to roll the log up on ti's side now to double cut and get som of those wide boards? LeeB

That would work if we still had the excavator on site  :

I'm guessing I have whittled the log down to about 2 ton now, even my big cant hook aint going to make much impression on it  :D

I could turn the mill around on the rails, but because of the bark inclusions I'm not going to get clear wide boards. So I'm thinking that some carefull cutting will give me the best results cutting clear 4, 6 and 8" boards, and taking out the dodgy sections in 2x1s that I can still use as shorts.

Anyway the rain seems to have set in tonight for a couple of days. It was refreshing  loading the boards in the light rain. Wasn't overly hot today, but humidity was in the 90s, so when the rain started it was rather nice.

Ian

[blaze83]

Hi Ian,

well I had a chance to utilize the falling technique discussed in this post, It was a doug fir about 24" DBH.  My 28" bar went through so I didn't have to cut in from both sides. Everything went well and it fell were I wanted it to ( didn't crush the neighbors grage 8) )  I do have a quick question, I noticed in your picture that the cut to release the holding strap is lower than your back cut, I cut mine the same way and it worked ok, I was wondering if this is normal or should the cut be more aligned with the back cut?  Just curious.  Sorry no pictures  >:(

Steve

[Ianab]

I noticed in your picture that the cut to release the holding strap is lower than your back cut, I cut mine the same way and it worked ok

Yup cut the holding strap a little below the main cut. If you cut above the saw could get caught in the cut as tree goes over and you dont want to be fighting with the tree for possesion of your saw at that time  :D

Cutting below also seem to reduce fibre pull from the log, there is more tendancy for the wood to shear off between to 2 cuts, instead off just pulling out the last bit of fibre as it releases.

Cheers

Ian

[blaze83]

Thanks,

that's kinda the way I had it figured

[Kevin]

These are the modifications you might consider for that same red oak.

#1 having a larger face cut lower using the humboldt notch to save wood and reduce fiber pull.

#2 a scarf below the hinge wood to reduce fiber pull from the stump.

#3 the bore.

#4 cutting the back strap.

You can also bore the middle out of the hinge to reduce fiber pull.

[sawguy21]

That is an excellent diagram. Now I know what a humboldt notch is. :D

[Fla._Deadheader]

  Me too.  8) 8) 8) 8)  Now I can quit usin that "Knucklehead Notch".  ;D ;D ;D

[TexasTimbers]

Thanks Kev I has to study that in case you give me a pop quiz. I take the diagram into the bush next time. 

[Furby]

Rule of thumb, how big (open and deep) should a notch be ???

[bitternut]

Notch should be deep enough to give you a hinge width that is 80% of the DBH. Hinge thickness should be 10% of DBH. This is what we were taught in the GOL classes. Certain woods or conditions may require adjustment of these figures.

[Kevin]

The apex where the two face cuts meet is where the fiber will pull the wood out of the hinge from a good saw log.
You don't want the notch closing too early because when it does the fiber gets yanked out of the tree.
In the large coastal redwoods they would put a gap at the apex which would allow the fibers to bend over and break off rather than pull out.
That's why an open face notch will keep the tree on the stump, the apex isn't in a pinch and the fibers bend rather than break.
The depth can be determined by what you want the tree to do.
The further back you place the hinge the less leverage will be required to lift it but you want to be careful once past the half way point.
The general rule is placing the hinge at 1/3 to 1/2 the trees diameter.
The deeper you go with the hinge up to half the diameter is where the most holding wood will be across the stump.

[Ianab]

Finished sawing up the logs today.
The logs had a lot of bark inclusions that stuffed up the wide table slabs, but I did get this one cut.



Had to get a couple of teenagers to help haul it up the hill to the trailer though.



Lil is on light duties at the moment, short boards only  ;) About 6 weeks to go  ;D



I had to drag the 14' 6x4 landscaping timbers off the mill by myself today. I needed a rest after that  ;)



But at least it's summer here   8)

Cheers

Ian

[Fla._Deadheader]

Why is it that all the biggest prettiest stuff is DOWNHILL from the truck-trailer ??

  Ever notice that ??  : : ;D

  Nice lookin lumber, Ian. Careful workin Lil too much. ;) ;D ;D

[Tom]

There is a belief, today, that unborns learn by listening to the outside.  They know Mom and Dad and even some others when they are born.  There are sounds that they like and sounds that they don't.  Soothing music is common to keep them from kicking.   Of Course, there is always someone like me that pictures them dancing, not kicking.

I'm wondering what this one thinks of chainsaws and sawmills?  You may have to have a recording so that the little rascal feels at home.  :D :D

[Raphael]

I'm open to any ideas on how to fell this not so big leaner.



It has a few issues: Here's the first 6' of tree where my open faced notch should go.



and this is my holding wood.  :



I figure this is a good one to wrap with a chain.

[Tom]

Nothing says you have to cut it off at the ground.  I think I would start at about my armpits.  I would have said stomach, but I've shrunk a bunch.

[Ianab]

I'm wondering what this one thinks of chainsaws and sawmills?  You may have to have a recording so that the little rascal feels at home

Baby definately reacts to the chainsaw and mill. Lil says there is a few good kicks when they start up, and then all calm again once they are running  :D

Maybe he's going to need a chainsaw 'music box' to get him to sleep  ;)

Cheers

Ian

[Jeff]

Long as your not scared of old heavy metal you could play this one from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A52p9jc-gOo