Proper use of "Gunning" Sights

[chris_girard]

I know that most expercienced fallers will know this, but how many of you guys have had to show someone the proper way to use the "gunning" sights on the saw?

See my attached sketch. Seems like most people believe that you should be aiming for the location that they want the center of the tree to fall. This is not the case. You should be aiming ("gunning") for the location that the side of the tree will land.

What do you guys think?

 

[MasterBlaster]

I thing you're correct. You just realize where the tree will actually fall in relation to that sight, it just points you in the right direction.

Most excellent topic.

 

[glens]

That's called <a href="http://www.dict.org/bin/Dict?Form=Dict2&Database=*&Query=parallax" target="_blank">parallax</a>.

 

[okietreedude1]

when im ready to make the felling cut, I stand in the yard where I want tthe tree to land, look back at the trunk and pick the spot on the tree of where to cut. After I make the bottom cut, Ill step back and look again, make the top (angled) cut, look, make any corrective cuts needed (rare), and then make the back cut.

I had a prof in college that told a logging story of an old class of his visiting a logging site. A smart alec student bet the 'old timer' he couldnt put a tree 'anywhere he wanted'- the claim laid by the ot. Money was laid and the student put out a stake. cuts were made and in the ground went the stake. Old timers- 1 -- student-0.

since then, thats kind of what i try to envision. sometimes for fun ill even put out a traffic cone (smashed one last week ). a lot of times i will put a stick in the yard for the pullers to know the direction of pull.

 

[NeTree]

Mike, if he's a screw-up, does he have to stay there while you make the backcut?

 

[TheTreeSpyder]

i thought that was called The Parallax View

Aboulutely Superior IMLHO!

 

[murphy4trees]

I know Jerry B explains paralax very well in "Fundamentals"

I think its good to know the concept and I AM sure its application will be of some value somewhere along the line... However if it's that close a call, I'll usually rig rather than drop...

 

[NeTree]

... the sign of a smarter, safer worker.

 

[arboromega]

yeah on big drops around the house its rare not to have a rope just to be safe if nothing else. when in question id always either me or a coworker stay up a for a few more blocks to come out and get that spar to an acceptable height to drop.