face cuts

[parkmark]

i have a friend that puts his face cut in before the directional cut on a humboldt.  i thought it looked wrong and i was wondering if that was a pretty common thing?

[Rocky_J]

You're going to have to be more specific as to what you're calling a 'face cut' and a 'directional cut'.
???

[beenthere]

Same question as Rocky_J...as to which is what.

Seems the Humbolt cut, both cuts will dictate the direction...so either could be first, depending on the feller and his skills at having the two cuts meet right to fix the hinge.

[Mr Mom]

What is a humboldt cut look like??
I might be using it and dont know it.

Thanks Alot Mr Mom

[beenthere]

I believe the Humbolt cut has the face cut angled down into the stump, rather than angled up into the first/butt log.

[Maineloggerkid]

^^ right. The top cut is horizontal, and the bottom cut angles up to meet it.

I think he means that his chum makes the bottom cut first, then makes his horizontal cut to meet the bottom one. Kinda backwards then most, but if it works for him, more power to him I guess.

[RSteiner]

i have a friend that puts his face cut in before the directional cut on a humboldt.  i thought it looked wrong and i was wondering if that was a pretty common thing?

I don't use the humbolt cut much, but I would make the top cut of the face first which will set the direction of the fall to a degree and determine how much of the stem ends up as log and how low the stump will be.  The bottom cut will determine to amount the tree can fall over before the notch closes and the tree breaks free from the stump.  Adding a snipe to the bottom cut will project the whole tree forward as it falls. 

The main factor in determining the direction of fall will be the back of the hindge.  The front corners of the hindge are normally used to "gun" the direction of fall but the back of the hindge will contirbute greatly to how the tree follows the original "gun".

I don't really think it matters which cut is made first, top or bottom, as long as they come out so the tree falls in the intended direction.

Randy