Tree felling jacks

[J D]

Question on this technique maybe you can help with? I’m a volunteer sawyer working in Colorado. We do lots of fuel mitigation work clearing Ponderosas and Lodge Pole Pines in this size range. Typically they are dead from fire or beetle kill. I can do the face cut, then the plunge cut, insert wedge, and notch the sides. All good so far, but when I drive the wedge it frequently just cause the hinge wood to snap and the tree, with no hinge wood control, then just falls where ever it wants. Any suggestions?

You can do the back cut first, set a wedge & then make the face cut. That at least gives you a bit more hinge wood.
There's more judgement involved with this method, & you have to get your cuts & wedge selection right