Getting towards the end of the day and I'm thinking I'll drop this Bitter Hickory to open up the canopy for a nice younger White Oak that was right next to it. It was already leaning just a tad exactly the way I wanted to take it down. I put a small notch in but that side of the tree was a little flat and I didn't go in very far for the notch. Making the felling cut I was being tentative and let off and pulled out as soon as it started to go instead of staying on it. The hinge was too thick and when the wedge closed instead of popping off, it barber chaired... @#$%^&* I know better than this... Plan the cut and stick with the plan and don't hesitate in the felling cut. Should've called it a day instead of "dropping one more"... All I could think of was those stupid little animated cartoons they show on the Ax Men show... They always show a barber chair popping the fellers head like a pimple... LOL I would never think of standing directly behind a tree while felling... But they gotta have drama on that show... LOL Safety first. Stupid Stupid Stupid... No damage to me or my equipment, but I had hopes of getting some boards out of that trunk and I just wasted the best 8' of it... Don't be tentative or slow in the felling cut. Get it lined up and GO.
I've had red maples do that to me and just 1/3 of the way in to the hinge. I had one barber just a tiny bit, grab and pinch the bar and while I was unbolting the saw from the bar it let go throwing the saw out. I don't like cutting them any more. I have had enough down by storm lately I haven't had to.
Yep, a wasted board is a small price compared to all the other possible outcomes. Chainsaw's trigger is a lot like drawing a gun. Once you commit you gotta stay on the trigger. Glad you're safe.
That sure did barber chair. You do not have to do a fast back cut if the notch on the front is big enough.
Yeh, like I say, I know better than this... just out there too long probably. Small notch and lollygaggin around in the felling cut are a nono and I know it (and I was lollygaggin around in the felling cut and I knew it, taking my time and looking up into the tree and checking things out waiting on it to start tipping and well, you saw how that works out)... Just brainfarted... Not good to do with a chainsaw in your hands... I do use plunge cuts on leaners typically, but this one was not leaning very much. Just enough that I felt totally confident in not walking over to the tractor to get my wedges and hatchet to have at my side. I'm always preaching to my neighbor and nephew that cut with me sometimes, planning, technique, planning, technique, planning, technique, and then follow through. I would have been dissapointed if it had happened to them after all the times I've shown them different techniques for different situations and why, and how to be safe. I'm pizzed at myself for letting it happen, I KNOW BETTER, but I let it happen anyway. grrrrrr. Lesson learned and re-enforced. Don't be afraid, be respectful, learn from every situation, and move forward.
I dunno, I've cut a lot of red maples. Even doing everything 'by the book' they still barber chair sometimes. It's more trust than faith.
At least it didn't totally explode on you. Looks like a solid tree in the pics. From above comments it sounds like some hardwood species are very prone to barberchair. I'm happy you and your chainsaw didn't get hurt, this stuff happens to all of us sometimes.
This is really weird Bill as I have cut hundreds of red maple and have never had a barber chair. They are one of the easiest trees to fell.
If you wanted boards from that tree, you can still get some. Just look at that as a large slab taken off and continue from there.
Glad to see no injury. I’ve not had one do that yet. I have taken down a nasty one that Mother Nature caused. Had a big tree right beside it for me to hide behind. How’d ya finish taking it down?
For sure I'll get what I can from it. I'm eyeing that little crotch on it for sure. Always interesting grain patterns there. You can see the crotch bulges on top and bottom in the pictures near the edge of the brush pile. I'll whittle away at it from the top, then chain it to the tractor and cut it off from the other side so it can't possible come towards me. Maybe this evening. I already removed most of it down to the crotch I'm wanting to keep. Probably notch it on the tractor side and cut in from the opposite side and let it drop towards the tractor. Hard to explain without pix. I'll try to remember to get some as I'm SAFELY taking it down. I didn't want to go any farther last night so I could get back to it with a clear, fresh brain and body... (ahh to be 20 years younger)... I've had a few barber chairs over the years, but never an explosive dangerous one. Just like this one, they've always been like a slow motion event to watch and by the time the tree reached the ground I had already realized what I had done wrong or could have done better. I try to not worry about pride and ego. I view this as a learning experience and teachable moment so others can learn from my errors as well. And one of the things my dad always stressed from when I was a kid, "NEVER have any of your body directly behind a cut when felling. Always be out to the side and that hinge is your best friend."
I wish I had someone to teach me how to correctly use a chainsaw when I first started. No media, no teacher, It was open the box and follow assembly instruction then you are on your own. I fell some trees on an acre, the rest was working up delivered tree length. About 6 cord each year. The Lord kept watch over me. Today there are so many to learn from. So many videos to watch of good and bad cuts.
