Tongue & Groove Method?

[canopyboy]

So I was cruising around online and stumbled across this video showing the tongue and groove method.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLkgWFh9lDs

I've brought down and lot of trees and watched a lot of old timers take 'em down too. But I've never seen this.

All I can think of is that the finger helps to guide the tree in wood that may be too brittle to hold much of a hinge. Although maybe it's a way to wedge over a small dia. without driving the wedge into the hinge?

Can anyone explain why you'd use this?

 

[TDunk]

That would be Ekka, he's a member on here. If you do some "searching" on here you can find a thread on that subject. Ekka is a master at palm trees, so there's probably some reason he cut it that way.

 

[tree md]

Ha, Ekka does have some slick felling vids!

I have never used the tongue and groove method but I will often put a kerf in both sides of the notch to reduce the risk of a barber chair.

 

[tree md]

Here is Ekka's comments (found on his youtube page) on why he uses this technique:

I have an maul and a block splitter however used the claw hammer as many trees here get a good dose of nails in them for lights etc, so I just get used to using that. It also shows that you dont need a sledge hammer.

The point of the technique ...

You would primarily use that when the tree is too thin to get a wedge behind the bar.

You could also use it when you have a slight side lean.

 

[ozzy42]

I've seen that video before.I agree if you felt you had to use wedge and had limited space in the back,I guess it works.Other than that,seems like a big waste of time.

 

[371groundie]

my comments from a previous thread regarding this video:

"i have used that cut extensively in spruce. exactly as has been said, its for small trees without room for wedges. in larger trees i can bore cut, or double bore and have plenty of room for wedges. spruce tends to be small diameter and spindley around here. under 5 inches i can usually just let it sit back on the bar and push it over by hand. 5 to 10 inches i use the "tounge and groove" technique. ( never had a name for it, just did it as i was taught.) 10" and up i can bore cut it, pull the saw out, wedge, cut the strap.

very useful, but for very specific scenarios."

 

[canopyboy]

A'ight then....learn something new every day. Soon as I finish my little glass of whiskey here, I'll go to bed with the day complete.

Thanks.

 

[outofmytree]

Interesting technique. Ekkas video editing is getting better.

I would put this technique in the "nice to know but unlikely to use basket". It is slower and less sure than a good groundie on a rope. If you fell solo this may be useful but I never do, so give me a well placed haulng rope every time.