Is there any type of felling cut that would leave the stump with a 45*? Almost looks like an open face notch, but done upside down and WAY too deep (easily 50-60% of the stump.) Whatever was done I'd guess 30% of the stumps had barber chaired. Two separate areas I've found stumps like this. I had taken photos but they aren't to be found on my phone.
My guess would be a humboldt with a "farmer's" back cut. For some reason people think an angled back cut is helpful and I've heard these called "farmers" cuts, will a whole lot of disrespect towards farmers out there.
That makes sense. I was reading a notch guide and I guess I do a conventional/open bastardized notch. According to that guide Open is top and bottom angled around 90* notch. Conventional is flat bottom, 45* top. I do a 60-70* angle, but flat bottom.. Always been called open notch. Backcut above notch point, but they are saying open notch back it is in line. Hope that makes sense, typi g on phone sucks.
For sure this is what I was getting at. Some think if they make the back cut at an angle it will help guide the tree but it won't help at all.
I've seen arborists and landscapers who have been cutting trees for many, many years both cut like that. I've been told because the tree is too small to use wedges, less likely to get bar caught, easier to move away when the tree starts falling, amongst a few reasons that I remember. Just plain looks wrong to me, I'd have to cut that funny looking stump parallel to the ground and not leave it looking like that. Plus that last round with the matching cut often wants to slide out of the splitter.
There's ways to use wedges on small trees.back cut first or bore through the hinge first and set a wedge then release the straps.
I thought I read that sometimes loggers will cut flat on the top of the notch to get more lumber out of the log.
I understand the Humbolt for hill side logging where the trees are dropped downhill. I did a computer drawing to show what I'm seeing. Stumps left knee high.
Did you leave the notch out of your drawing Nate or was there not really one visible? Either way, I can't see how these were safely cut with the methods you describe. I've walked through the woods around here shaking my head at some of the stumps.
Sort of a notch on the left side. The trees are dropped in every which direction (making it real fun to limb and skid)
I usually make a notch that is at least 90 degrees, with the top face and bottom face both angled. I make the back cut usually more or less horizontal and a few inches above the point of the notch. When the tree falls the stump is left with about a third of the stump horizontally cut, then the hinge that is jagged and broken, then the 45 degree down sloping part of the stump. Apart from the fact that the notch wouldn't extend 60% of the way through the stump, my stumps sound like the ones you described.
What is a stump shot? Doing a Humbolt notch on level ground would mean a tall stump (like in that photo) or running the chain in the dirt. I usually make a tall stump cause of my bad back. I can't bend down/twist much without kneeling and that's a bad idea when felling a tree!
Stump shot is the height of back cut above the notch. Those were in my yard and weren't going for maximum length on the log. The power lines was behind me 6' and the fence was right beside it. I like higher stumps on stuff like that for comfort like you said.
Hmm, I had written more to my post and its not showing. I don't understand how the board could only post part of the post??!! My phone seems to really not get along well! A taller stump isn't always a bad thing, I hope my post that showed up didn't seem rude. I'd rather have a tall stump if it means a safer situation. It's much easier to cut it down later without a tree on top! I didn't realize the back cut height had a specific name!". Good info. I also realize there are TONS of non "textbook" ways to drop a tree. That's some if the reason I was curious about the technique I saw . I wasn't quite sure
