Hairy Hemlock

[Dutch cut]

I felled my first tree close to a house this weekend. My landlord is a bit of a do it yourselfer and wanted a hemlock in his yard gone. I didn't want to get involved having only a few months of training etc, but it became obvious he might get himself in some trouble if I didn't offer my help. I was first going to block it down, but the ground guy I had lined up backed out and I wasn't climbing alone. He decided he wanted it taken down anyway and was going to do it himself. I offered to help any way I could and set a pull and holding line. At the last minute he offered to let me fell it. It took me a long time to get everything set, but it fell 2ft to the safe side of my intended lay and exactly as far as I thought it would. While I was examining the stump he commented that he learned you were supposed to make the back cut at least a foot above the hinge, I was glad he let me fell it.

I'd appreciate feedback on my cuts, I was using his 260 with an 18in bar that was about 6in short. I have a couple things in mind I would like to do better next time, but I'm interested to see what you guys have to say.

 

[flushcut]

Well you back cut should be higher than your undercut by an inch or two depending on diameter but sure as hell not a foot unless you are cutting a 10-14 footer. From the pics it looks like you came in under your undercut which is not good but it looks nice and level. Practice practice and more practice.

 

[flushcut]

Also you could have cut up the hinge a little finer.

 

[Dutch cut]

Forgot to mention it was an open face notch, kinda hard to tell from the pic, thats why the backcut is level to the face cut.

Thanks for the feedback, the longer hinge was one of the things I didn't like so much.

 

[pbtree]

I think you did pretty darn good, especially if it fell where you planned.

Experience will help you get better and better at getting the end result you want with planning - keep at it!

 

[climberjones]

Only thing i question is your reason for doing it if your not sure what your doing dont risk your life for your land lord that being said if you know what your doing go for it!And if that were an open faced cut the front would be much more sloped down then that it looks about flat in the pics ! Good luck and be careful!