Advice needed for best way to fell a 28" walnut for chainsaw milling

[chainsaw_louie]

Hi Fellas,

I got a line on 2 medium sized walnut trees that the owner wants to get rid of and see the wood go to
a good home.   I responded and told him I just had a chainsaw mill  and he was fine with that .

What are your suggestions for felling these trees so as to not damage the trunks. 
All I have is a couple of chainsaws (no climbing gear or fancy bucket truck) and would much prefer to NOT climb and cut.
In fact ,  I thought that leaving all the branches on the tree would coushion the impact.
The falling area is wide open, on soft ground, we have had lots of rain recently here in NYS.
What do you think ?

Thanks,

Tim

[rickywashere]

hinge cut them best way to do it and the safest way

[rickywashere]

here is a link to help

hope its ok to post the link



http://www.forestapps.com/tips/backcut/backcut.htm

[beenthere]

Very good illustrations and explanations in that link.
Thanks


chainsaw louie
The lower the stump, the more wood for you. Just keep safety in mind and have the chaps on while cutting. 

A pic or two of the tree would be good too.   

[Larry]

Walnut likes to split a slab off the front side when it falls.  Cut like the illustration but add "ears" on each side of the hinge to prevent splitting.

[PAFaller]

I would bore the heart too, thats how we always cut walnut. Open face notch, ears on both sides, and bore the heart. By braking the plane of the hinge you are less likely to have a large split should the tree 'roll' so to speak. Also, always lay them flat onto a "Y" crotch, otherwise its guaranteed to make toothpicks out of the butt.

[rickywashere]

i always leave a small hinge in the front and break the edges of the hinge on each side most of the time thats the part that tends to tear and not break when cutting .. as little a 1/2 inch on each side will make a huge difference when cutting 

[inwoodcutter]

here is a link to help

hope its ok to post the link



http://www.forestapps.com/tips/backcut/backcut.htm

Did anyone else notice the chainsaws in the pictures are right or left handed?