I’ve had a white oak that was leaning over my trail but I’ve been a little hesitant to cut it down for fear of “barber chair”. I read about a technique here where you notch it then plunge cut it until you get your hinge then cut the strap that’s left at the back. I wish I could remember who described it, maybe Scotty Overkill So I tried the technique today on this white oak. It worked flawlessly! It was maybe 11-12” DBH and 55’ tall. It’s hard to tell how much it was leaning when just looking at the stump but it was significant. I highlighted my cuts with my red marking crayon. Now I have to wait for the mud to dry enough to haul this over to my splitter. My wife makes fun of me for being on here and “reading about wood” but I learn a lot from this site. Thanks!
Very nice. Studying the stump is a worthwhile safety exercise. I’ve made a few I wanted to hide afterward. On any tree, and especially a leaner, I would have left considerably more trigger wood.
Doesn't it feel great to learn something that works! Im glad to see that way of felling on here. That, or a slight variation of, is how all trees should be cut. I know a lot of folks will snicker at that, but that is a very safe way to cut a tree, especially when combined with felling wedges. Like Flamestead said, reading the stump is an awesome after action review and can teach a person a lot. On most trees, a bigger trigger would be preferable, especially when you look at that stump and see how much of the trigger was outer sapwood and bark. After cutting many many hazard trees, I've found that you should always allow (even) more trigger on compromised trees, because often that sapwood that has gone punky and therefore weaker for holding.
Man I'm jealous, I love seeing all this beautiful firewood in the making. I only get to cut up downed trees in the National forest nearby or look for free wood on CL, which around here is people trying to get rid of their trash branches and junk.... Great job and that wood it beautiful!!!
You are part of a great group of woodhoarders Brad M We all experience those "looks" from our better halves. My wife thinks it is a bit odd to hear the sound of a running chainsaw at 8:00PM coming from the back of the house. Just me on FHC looking at saw videos
This is a good post to ask I think. I’ve done the plunge cut on leaners. I do it a little different,,,,and most likely because I wasnt taught the right way. Anyway I don’t leave a trigger per say. I just continue cutting from the inside until it falls. Is this bad?
I've done it. Seems fine to me. I usually stop and pound a wedge or 2 in then cut the trigger on the bigger ones or if i need to reposition for a quick exit
The trigger method gives you more control. Assuming you leave an appropriately sized hinge (and that it's good wood), coupled with a good trigger, the tree remains stable and you determine when you're ready for it to fall. When you're done with your plunge, ie all you have is the hinge and trigger holding, you could stop, take a break, get some water, have a snack..whatever...that tree shouldn't go anywhere till you tell it to. And when you're ready to put it on the ground, that's when you pull (cut) the trigger.
It’s a different technique used mostly on trees that are leaning. The plunge or bore cut felling. Here’s a short vid. Not saying he’s doing it right but it’ll give you the idea.
