sierratree
ArboristSite Member
Always have had trouble matching corners with sloping and horizontal cuts with humboldt undercut. Tips appreciated.
how to match corners
- Thread starter sierratree
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joesawer
Addicted to ArboristSite
One thing that helped me was to not move your feet or change your grip on the saw when you take the saw out of the gunning cut and starting your undercut.
forestryworks
Addicted to ArboristSite
:agree2:
Also using your sights helps too. When the sight on your match cut lines up with your gun cut, stop cutting and check the corner(s).
I never matched up on my first of many attempts at the humboldt. Practice makes perfect.
If you do it enough like pro fallers do, it becomes muscle memory I'm sure.
GASoline71
Mr. Nice Guy
Tilt the saw a little more than you think it needs to be tilted when making that Humboldt undercut. It's not rocket science but it is a deceiving cut that takes a little practice.
Gary
Gary
sierratree
ArboristSite Member
humboldt underut perfection
just looking for that perfect undercut which slips right out. you know, the one where you just say out loud, "yes".
just looking for that perfect undercut which slips right out. you know, the one where you just say out loud, "yes".
Burvol
Bullbuck
Better off to come up a tad short and pin your dawg in and take a little bit of the dutchman out rather than go too far and end up faced half way in.
Good advice Jameson. Exactly. Remember where you gunned the top sight to. When your close to it on the bottom, you should be right about there. Don't rely on an axe to pop out the cut every time. Learn to do it right.
Good advice Jameson. Exactly. Remember where you gunned the top sight to. When your close to it on the bottom, you should be right about there. Don't rely on an axe to pop out the cut every time. Learn to do it right.
Slamm
Addicted to ArboristSite
Agreed, you will miss sometimes but getting to where you can get the wedge to pop out or sling out with the bar and chain is a real time saver when compared to recutting or fighting it with an ax.
Sam
That's what we're all looking for, too. If the tree and the terrain allow it you can experiment a little, take the time you need, and learn as you go.Nobody gets it perfect every time and part of the learning is figuring out how to correct your mistakes.
I've found that dogging in real tight on the corner before you start your bottom cut seems to help. If the tree is small enough you can see if your angle is good and just sweep up to the first cut. While you're learning, try for a shallower second cut than you think you need. If your angle is off, and sometimes it will be, you'll see it pretty quick and you can either adjust or back out and start again. No disgrace in that. I've seen stumps that looked like they were gnawed on by a beaver with two or three tries to get the angles right...some of them were mine.
Put a small twig on the far side of your sight cut. That way you have something to aim for that's easy to see.
Burvol
Bullbuck
Match that cut from the side with the tree to your right shoulder. Gotta have a sharp chain that means it with stout saw to back bar it, other wise flip her over and use that wrap handle. Don't cut under the lean cause you don't want to get it figured out. I can't stress this enough.
It just takes practice. When I worked, I could slap em in like a machine, a few months without falling and my cuts are all Fed up.
Just being able to manipulate the saw is important, gaining accuracy is about being able to keep that saw from moving around in your hands when you give it the juice, dogging in before you start the 2nd face cut can be helpful. Once you get real good, you can pull the saw out the gunning cut and slap it on into the 2nd face cut without much thought at all.
Just being able to manipulate the saw is important, gaining accuracy is about being able to keep that saw from moving around in your hands when you give it the juice, dogging in before you start the 2nd face cut can be helpful. Once you get real good, you can pull the saw out the gunning cut and slap it on into the 2nd face cut without much thought at all.
bitzer
******** Timber Expert
Comfort. Cut where its easiest for you if you can. If its high stumps or on your knees. Like Burvol said better to come up short first too. Clean it up after if you need too. Take your time. I've seen a lot of guys hurry through the face like the damn tree is going to fall on them. Pick your gunning point a little ways out.
ChainsawmanXX
Addicted to ArboristSite
I dont do any humboldts But i make a regular chip. My method is alittle more time consuming, first i start my cut on the left side of my chip. Mark the end of the cut on my chip with the saw. Then i crawl over to the right side of my chip look down my bar and line up the bar with the ends of each of the chip and start my cut. I get it perfect everytime!
Every time? Really? Wow.
forestryworks
Addicted to ArboristSite
There are wood chips and then there are tortilla or potato chips...
Corn chips, chocolate chips, and maybe some bull chips too.
I got a bunch of blue chips, they still good??
A Humboldt is more natural to me than a conventional undercut. I hit my marks most of the time using a Humboldt. Sometimes though I have to wonder why I ever picked up a chainsaw in the first place. That's when I cut the top of the stump off and hide it.
bitzer
******** Timber Expert
Tossin cookies. We've all had too.
forestryworks
Addicted to ArboristSite
I sent one down the hill and into the creek today. The fish are using it for poker night.
