It seems like a good % of the forum members fell trees fairly regularly. Curious about everyone's view on the topic. I have had one close friend and one acquaintance killed in tree felling accidents, and know more people than I can count who have been seriously injured. Due to that I am extremely weary of the process. I have brought a few trees down, but up to this point I am mostly scrounger of what is already on the ground. In a recent conversation with a neighbor, he brought up having a large number of honey locusts that he wanted to bring down and suggested I could have half the firewood if I would fell them. My instinct says no way, but the hoarder in me really wants that sweet burning honey locust. The reality is I am not freezing to death and have access to plenty of firewood, so its hard to justify the risk.
I fell trees often but feel very comfortable doing it. I’ve cut trees long before I burned wood and have practiced as I’ve learned. Start with something small and health and learn to control the fall with a correct knotch, hinge, and falling wedges if desired. That’s my go to method. I’ve had success falling 80’ elms, and very heavy 60’ Locust’s too. You are wise to be safe cause it ain’t worth the heat to get injured or killed. Just like many things in life, if you don’t feel safe doing it, then maybe don’t do it. But if desired, take your time, read about it and watch tons of YouTube videos on the art of falling and then have a go while a seasoned hoarder watches and advises. Remember, look up! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I got standard training by a forrester, which is the minimum requirement for cutting in a state forest or on someone elses private land. If you have the chance to do such training go for it. Im by far no professional, cutting mibes 30 trees a year max, those aint high numbers. But it helped quite a bit, you just need to remember the right thing at the right time Cutting trees can be dangerous, having the right gear and beeing focused can help alot... just my 2 euro-cents.
If you know someone who is more experienced and confident than you, bring them with you. Let them coach you and critique what you are doing. Bring a bull rope and tie it up in the tree you are planning to cut. It’s easier to get it up there before your first cut than after you’ve put the saw in the tree. Don’t be afraid to walk away if you end up over your head. Have a plan to cordon off the area if you leave a widow maker up in the air.
Warning!! Felling trees, without proper training, can be hazardous to you health! I feel comfortable felling most, but not all trees. Too much lean, too many widow makers, hollow sounding or looking and I pass. Like Inspector Harry Callahan said: "A man's got to know his limitations." Find a class and learn the safe way. Check the Husqvarna website, and look for one of their classes, or, if no classes are available in your area, study their felling videos. Start small and work your way up. Never fell alone, even though many of us do, including myself. Be careful of Youtube videos because any fool can post a felling video and call him/herself an 'expert' feller. I gotta say, there is just something way cool and rewarding about the sight and sound of a tree you cut safely falling to the ground.
Does this include limbing as well as cleanup? If so, you will expend a lot of time and energy for 1/2 the load. As to the actual felling, the others gave some great advice. Only you can determine what you feel comfortable with. Be safe.
As RB said if you dont feel comfortable doing it then dont. Im kinda in the same boat right now. I have access to a 28" white oak. Gypsy moth caterpillars killed it off two summers ago. I can have all the wood if i fell it, cut it and take away wood. Homeowner will do clean up/raking etc. The tree is in the middle of the back yard, pretty straight so it could be felled in any direction. Close enough to the house and a gazebo is the issue. Im confident enough to fell it in the right direction, but have second thoughts. Problem is ive already told homeowner id do it. I was having problems with my bigger saw and need ground to be frozen to do it and have scrouged PLENTY of would since November when i committe Ive felled enough trees without issue or injury. I feel your pain! Do you have know someone else who could just fell them for you? Are they clear drops with no structures in close proximity?
I've done it on occasion when I have a situation where the direction it is going to go is pretty much a given. Fortunately I live in country where there are a lot of professional fallers and I have called them up on several occasions. Most of the time they will do it for little or no fee. Happy to be cutting on a log deck now and only cutting in the woodlot when the wind takes something down. I have cut down several small snags this winter but they weren't very tall and there weren't any branches to worry about. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Take your time and assess each tree. If any are leaning and have a clear path to fall, start there. Don’t rush and do it right. Draw the desired cuts with a marker crayon, and walk all the way around each. Use a come along for some insurance if you need to. Being safe is number 1. Enjoy
Since i mostly cut out of my own woods, i will pick out trees to cut months ahead of actual cutting. I will look them over several times before cutting to figure out the way that the tree wants to fall. I dont try to make trees fall in a direction that they dont want to go as i know thats beyond my capability. I dont have much else to add from the smart things said above.
go with it tell the neighbor to get them on the ground. then you'll gladly split the wood with him working together.
I am self taught and have used sources like this forum, books, and you tube to learn. I do about 20 trees a year mostly on national forest land up in the mountains. If I make a mistake there it usually means the tree fell the wrong way. I have great respect for felling trees and I do not want to become a statistic. I always have my wife with me which makes for a extra set of eyes. You can only learn by doing but always putting safe practices in place. I have never had a close call with a falling tree due to those safe practices. One of the more important things to me that I learned was figuring the lean of the tree, and if not leaning where I needed then using a good and safe way to get it to fall the direction I wanted. That information came from some good books and I improvised.
I’ve smashed a few tent platforms at the local Scout camp but ya live and ya learn. Wear a hard hat I say again wear a hard hat. I prefer the full brim to just the visor. Don’t grab Grandpas antique hard hat off the back shelf. Go to Fastenall and buy a new one they’re 22 dollars. MAKE SURE you have an escape route clear of limbs and brush if things go south on you. If things do go bad DROP THE SAW and beat feet. I’m a tightwad and would hate to have my Dolmar smashed but I’ve dropped it and got outta there a few times. I try to drop behind another tree but sometimes you can’t.
This is a pretty good read for wood cutters at every level. It is like I tell my kids with baseball and life. Every coach has something to teach you. No one knows it all. And sometimes the lesson isn't the one that was intended (what not to do). Anyway, like I said, pretty good read.
Starting with smaller trees and working your way up is a good idea. If you're not comfortable with something because you lack the confidence from experience don't cross that boundary. At least not today. You wouldn't walk into a gym and try to bench press /lift weights you weren't comfortable or capable of either.
I watched an expert do it and learned on my own after that, and then simply took it for granted for a number of years that I was good to go, in fact in over 2 decades of felling I developed a lot of confidence. Until one day about 10 years ago I had a large poplar fall the exact opposite direction that I notched it. I must have been careless enough to cut the notch a bit too deep into the tree. It really shook me up because this tree was right by our cabin and it fell right outside the front door, just nicking the corner of the roof. I was alone at the cabin, but still shudder to this day over the thought of a loved one walking out the door at the wrong time. Since then, to this day, I approach felling with a lot of awareness and thought behind the entire process, including now always wearing proper safety gear.
Great input everyone, thanks! I need to talk to my neighbor again and then get out an look at how many trees, access, etc. I do know a couple guys who would probably drop them for very little money.
Lots of great advice here. My two cents would be to find someone to mentor you so you can see the thought process and actual felling first hand. No two trees are exactly the same and may react differently to the same cut. PPEs are vital when felling, especially a hardhat to protect your noggin.
I say to never try to learn alone. But be very careful who you pick to teach you! Don't pick someone who just cuts a few trees now and then. It can amaze you when you know what is to be done but watch someone else do it...and do it wrong. This is why you have to be careful who you learn from. As for the task you mention, I say pass as you just don't have the experience yet.
There are a couple close call and PPE threads that would be good reads on the FHC site. Not to scare you on the close calls but to maybe pick up why what went wrong so you don't or know what to do or not do when it does. And the PPE people give opinions on what they like or disliked on something so before you drop coin on something you may know what to look for because if PPE is that not well suited it just gives you one more excuse to not use it when you know you should be using it.
