Wedging over a small leaner

iowawoodcutter · Aug 27, 2008

Had a small problem getting a small leaner to fall opposite the lean the other day. I had never dropped a tree this small with a lean but saw a problem I was going to have almost immediately as soon as I started my backcut. The tree was so small (maybe 10", but pretty tall) that as soon as I started the backcut it would start to fall back on it before I could get a wedge in. Well, I made the backcut anyway and got my saw out and it leaned back on the cut before I could get a wedge in. No matter how hard I tried I could not get the wedge in, so I just cut in the facecut a little more and let it fall 180 degree from where I wanted it. Fortunately, I had planned for this eventuality and made sure there was nothing there in case this happened.

Any suggestions on how I could have done this better for next time?

thanks

NDtreehugger · Aug 27, 2008

The best for leaners I have found

would be ropes, cables, or chains.

Or

bore cut the tree and insert wedge b 4 you cut the strap (release wood)

motoroilmccall · Aug 27, 2008

There is a cut called the quarter cut, its pretty simple, and works very well for these small leaners, I'll describe it as best as I can, there might be a few videos of it on youtube.

Step 1. Bore into the tree with the tip of the saw pointing directly where you want the tree to fall, all the way through the tree. Insert wedge and tap in gently.

Step 2. Perform your standard face cut, about an inch above your bore cut if you're using a standard face, or right on the bore cut if you're using a Humboldt (I don't know why you would, its not like wood this small is valuable enough to justify it, and it just makes things more difficult). Smack the wedge in and snug it up.

Step 3. You should now have your face cut, and a bore cut, and 2 straps of holding wood on either side of the bore cut. Now, one at a time, cut the holding wood, leaving a hinge, just past where the bore cut starts. DO NOT CUT ABOVE THE BORE CUT! Cut both sides, one at a time, leaving a strong hinge.

Step 4. Start pounding that wedge in, it shouldn't take much to pop the small amount of vertical wood between the bore cut, and the 2 back cuts, then the tree should follow the face cut right where you wanted it.

Step 5. Celebrate with at least a 6 pack after everything is cleaned up, thats not a procedure a lot of guys know, and now you joined an elite group, :hmm3grin2orange: .

I use that cut more often than you might think, it works very well for its intended purpose, and it'll work on very very small trunks.

2FatGuys · Aug 27, 2008

Ekka has a great video of this procedure. Just do a search for Ekka and quarter cut.

Edit: Never mind the search... Look here: http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=23294&highlight=quarter+cut

avalancher · Aug 27, 2008

motoroilmccall said:
There is a cut called the quarter cut, its pretty simple, and works very well for these small leaners, I'll describe it as best as I can, there might be a few videos of it on youtube.

Step 1. Bore into the tree with the tip of the saw pointing directly where you want the tree to fall, all the way through the tree. Insert wedge and tap in gently.

Step 2. Perform your standard face cut, about an inch above your bore cut if you're using a standard face, or right on the bore cut if you're using a Humboldt (I don't know why you would, its not like wood this small is valuable enough to justify it, and it just makes things more difficult). Smack the wedge in and snug it up.

Step 3. You should now have your face cut, and a bore cut, and 2 straps of holding wood on either side of the bore cut. Now, one at a time, cut the holding wood, leaving a hinge, just past where the bore cut starts. DO NOT CUT ABOVE THE BORE CUT! Cut both sides, one at a time, leaving a strong hinge.

Step 4. Start pounding that wedge in, it shouldn't take much to pop the small amount of vertical wood between the bore cut, and the 2 back cuts, then the tree should follow the face cut right where you wanted it.

Step 5. Celebrate with at least a 6 pack after everything is cleaned up, thats not a procedure a lot of guys know, and now you joined an elite group, :hmm3grin2orange: .

I use that cut more often than you might think, it works very well for its intended purpose, and it'll work on very very small trunks.

Thanks for the tip! I myself have always had to resort to a rope or cable for those leaners that I knew werent going to go the way I wanted. I gotta give this a try!