"I've cut a couple 5ft trees before (red and white oaks) and the 1/4-1/5 of the way in notch worked 100% perfectly."
Was in response to:
"Picture a balanced 30 foot tall 5+ feet in diameter staub. If one were to place a small undercut in one of these guys you would fail. ..............."
******************
How tall were your 5 foot diameter trees and how straight?
My experience has taught me that, on this extreme and somewhat unusual cutting scenario that a shallow face is simply inadequate.
Where this has its best point is that it helps one understand a sliding scale of difficulties. Then, by interpolating in-between, a cutter can see that if nothing else, he can make it easier by adjusting technique.
*************
If you are dropping taller trees with even a little lean with the lean. No sweat.
As you get closer to shorter and straighter, consider a deeper face to make it easier to wedge.
***************
I remember just ignoring some older fallers who would talk about having a 'bucket of wedges'. I thought they must be pretty sloppy going through that much plastic with their chain.
Looking at how flatter long wedges or metal ones drive so much more effectively, then how you need higher lift wedges at times etc. I have changed. I have a five gallon bucket about 2/3rds full of wedges.
You can't do this on a hillside, packing that many wedges, but they can be nice for near the road issues.
