crotch logs and big knots

[Sawyer Rob]

Nope, I'm taking your advice seriously. I must admit, when I was younger I got a thrill sometimes out of taking chances, the thundering whomp when I took a big one down was very satisfying for a young man wanting to be macho. I didn't know enough about logging to understand the dangers of what I was doing until I had a few near misses. The scariest is the barber chair, this can happen even if you're doing everything right, especially on a tree that's leaning a lot. I've been thinking about this lately and wondering if I can increase my chances of survival by wrapping the trunk every 4 feet or so with logging chain or heavy nylon strapping (the kind they use for tying down loads on 18 wheelers - I've got a bunch of that). A friend of mine knows someone who is paralyzed because a limb came down on the guy while he was tree felling. This friend is a farmer who is now so spooked he does something even I think is way out - he's got a big 100 horse tractor that he brings up to the tree with the loader bucket up in the air. He cuts under the loader bucket, hoping it will serve as a sort of umbrella that's gonna keep him safe from flying dead limbs. I've never heard of anyone else doing this. I think that brings up other issues like not being able to look up and see what your tree is doing.

I wonder if he relaizes how many farmers are "killed" by hoses, cylinders and valves failing on loaders, dropping the buckets on them!!

He's went from the pan, into the fire with his thinking!

Rob

 

[Andrew96]

Nope, I'm taking your advice seriously.

Well alright. I thought maybe you felt I was being the safety police. One farmer I know who gives me trees...pushes them over with an excavator as he is so scared. He won't even let me fell any for him...even though many look easy and I'd do them. There is always someone around that has more experience in that field. Just because you can remove a splinter....doesn't mean you should step up to a spline. Some nasty trees are that much of a step for my abilities.
In my own little world (dropped at most 20 trees)...I've got ugly trees dropped for me for the cost of a nice board or two....or if it's a cash deal...I try to sell what I need from that tree to cover the feller. I really try to cut up windfalls but they come with their own set of problems.

 

[gemniii]

Depends on the tree. If there is room, then it is always easier/faster to just fall it. If there is no room to fall, then the tree will be pieced down. Sometimes you have to pull the tree over with a rope/cable/manpower/winch/truck.

If you have had problems with barberchairs in the past, you may be better to hire a pro to fall the tree for you. Either your technique is off or you are reading the stresses in the tree incorrectly. And we don't want to see you injured or killed.

I'll second that.

I had to piece this one down because of a house and a fence. It's now split into firewood, sawdust and lumber.

You also have to be comfortable with heights.

Often on limbs less than about 8" I'd much rather use a bucksaw.

And I agree - you need to "read the tree". It's a lot easier in the winter w/o leaves.