Slade McCuiston
ArboristSite Member
Today, I was felling a severely leaning hackberry in the woods on our farm. I made the face cut (probably a bit too deep for the angle it was leaning at) and bored in from the side like usual to prevent barber-chairing and the tree started to fall forward a bit, then stopped. This resulted in it pinching the chain on the bottom of my bar. I couldn't spin the chain to cut myself out, so I grabbed my Fiskars axe from the Kubota RTV. I started chopping through the tree and hit something in the tree (probably a nail, but definitely wasn't my saw) and chipped the bit. But, I did end up felling the tree. Then, I broke out my sharpener and started buffing the chip out of the Fiskars... Then it happened. My hand slipped. I managed to make a deep slice from my upper palm to up past my wrist.
I usually don't make these kinds of mistakes. Guys, don't get complacent. That's when it gets you. It did me.
Before I cut my hand, the thought crossed my mind, "I'm going to slip, my hands are sweaty. I better put my gloves on." But, no. I was in too big of a hurry. Well, now I'm not. It'll be a few days before I'm able to get back out and finish cutting wood that we need for the winter. Listen to that inner voice. It's smarter that you are... or was for me, at least.
Take care, guys.
I usually don't make these kinds of mistakes. Guys, don't get complacent. That's when it gets you. It did me.
Before I cut my hand, the thought crossed my mind, "I'm going to slip, my hands are sweaty. I better put my gloves on." But, no. I was in too big of a hurry. Well, now I'm not. It'll be a few days before I'm able to get back out and finish cutting wood that we need for the winter. Listen to that inner voice. It's smarter that you are... or was for me, at least.
Take care, guys.