How I check to see if a tree is hollow

This is how I was shown how to see if and how hollow a tree is.
I do not know if this is the best way or if it is even safe.
I know you can use a hammer but I am not as reliable that way.
What are your thoughts? Do you know a better way?

 

I like it
When in doubt, that's a good way to check.

Watch for a change of color of the chips too, could be punky ( birch chips got from white to brown if punky in the middle)
Sound & RPM change of the saw is another thing to pay attention to.

What I've noticed in Alaska is :
if there are dead limbs in the top of the birch trees,
it's getting rotten in the middle.
Just about all big cottonwood, are rotten in the middle.

 

I usually can tell when it hits me on my head

 

How long do you have before your birch starts to rot after it has been cut and split ?

 

Hope I didn't mis-speak with that, I did not (can't) watch the video.

 

Once split/stacked, the Birch is stable just like any other wood.

 

No, the video just showed that I do a vertical plunge cut from the back in the direction of the intended fall.

 

That makes perfect sence! Hollow tree's can do some weird chit.

 

Yes they can and sometimes the risk is not worth the fire wood.

 

Logarithms.

 

I like that you mentioned to do your test perpendicular to the notch. No reason to give a barber chair a head start. I've seen some rotted out trees that you would have never guessed by looking at them.

 

Ya those hickory trees can be some nasty barber chairing buggers without any help.

 

With the watertight bark, it just has to be split so it can dry
I split everything , even the 3" stuff
When dry, & kept dry, it'll last forever like most wood

 

Yup. And always do it above the notch and back cut. If it is hollow above then it surely is below....not necessarily vice versa.