Long day but I got a lot done! Went to her grandpa’s.... it wasnt so bad but still not easy. There isnt any hickory, but lots of red oak, probably 2-3 more trailer loads.... though its super hard work. Got back, and was still in the spirit, so I unloaded and went around the corner to the farm. Theres a few odd cherry tree that are hanging over the field so I wacked one of them and loaded it. I then went up on top of the hill and entered the woods. Theres 3 decent sized dead standing red oaks that I dropped. One barber chaired, I should be able to poop by the end of the week again, hahahahahahaha... There is also a huge dead standing red oak there, but its kinda past my comfort zone with cutting... I’m a bit nervous to try and conquer it, we’ll see. The oaks I bucked but left. I drove the truck over and they are in the woods 50-60yards... tractor will go right to them. With what Ive cut so far, the cord and a half I didnt split that was left over from last winter, and whats left at pops.... Im way ahead of my normal annual take!
The one that barber chaired, did you notch it on the side it fell to? Looks like it was leaning heavily to the side it fell. I find that trees that lean heavily to one side tend to barb pole easily assuming your cutting on the side opposite the lean. Even if they will fall without a notch leaners are best to notch as deep as possible to prevent the barber pole. If that isn't enough notch, plunge in with saw to establish hinge first then cut out to allow it to fall. It also seems that Hickory and oaks like to barber pole, Hickories are the worst.
It was notched, i always do, pic just doesnt show it as im on opposite side. I have a pic of a different one. Its why Im nervous to try the much larger tree. Its probably 36” at the base, very big tree... i want it bad, but Id prefer to live and enjoy my farm for years to come.
Glad you're safe! I think you'll want to learn to plunge cut then cut the trigger. It should keep the barber chair from happening.
Never had a oak tree barber chair but red maples more often than I'd like. One grabbed a saw bar and another splintered pretty bad. I'm always nervous cutting maple especially some distance from the house alone.
Glad you got the wood down safe and thanks for the pics. I had a white oak chair on me once, but it was my own fault as when it was just starting to go i didnt leave the saw in the back cut for just that extra couple of seconds. Didnt matter as i was way clear of the tree when it started.
Looks like you need to notch a little deeper. The big tree should be notched, bore cut if you have a big enough bar or you can cut in from each side a little ways and then finish with the back cut. YouTube has some great videos on tree felling. Look up BC Faller Training Standard. They have several different training scenarios.
Strange that I've never seen an oak barber chair. The only tree that ever barber chaired on me was an ash and it was my own fault as I slowed down and didn't complete the cut quick enough. No harm was done though even though it did tend to concentrate my attention for a bit.
