Falling Pics

[SWE#Kipp]

It looks like a Birch??
If so the smaller ones can be sensitive to cut when the wood is frozen !!

 

[Samlock]

It looks like a Birch??
If so the smaller ones can be sensitive to cut when the wood is frozen !!

Yes, I could almost swear it's a Downy Birch (Betula Pubescens). But it only exists in Europe. I have never seen a Paper Birch, which grows in the North America. Could it look that much alike it's European cousin?

One thing bothers me with the stump, though. Behind the back cut you can see a strip which has been torn off, not cut. And yet some cutting has been made under the cutting level.

Hmm

 

[rodeo]

Now that's a truly bad stump. I'll have to start taking pictures of all the farmer stumps around here...

PS. mtsamlogit. whats up brother. gagne

 

[nw axe man]

Now that's a truly bad stump. I'll have to start taking pictures of all the farmer stumps around here...

PS. mtsamlogit. whats up brother. gagne

Not sure about the whole situation since I wasn't there, however, in dealing with smaller trees that have a back lean and they just can't be fallen that direction, I will backcut the tree first, set a wedge and then insert the undercut.
Now, before anyone jumps on me, let me say that you MUST have all your ducks lined up in a row before you start something like that. You have to figure out how much backcut you're going to make so you can leave enough for a face cut AND the hinge wood. I've used this method hundreds of times in past years with great success. However, if you don't have the experience and have never done it, don't do it in a situation where you have to be perfect and the tree going over backwards is not an option. I just did this the other day with a tree, an alder as a matter of fact, that hung over a guys shop. After I got done and talking to the owner, he said that he thought I was nuts and had a few head bolts gone when he saw me doing it. However, the results showed something else.
Again, we're talking on the internet, not on the ground. Big difference.

 

[Rounder]

Not sure about the whole situation since I wasn't there, however, in dealing with smaller trees that have a back lean and they just can't be fallen that direction, I will backcut the tree first, set a wedge and then insert the undercut.
Now, before anyone jumps on me, let me say that you MUST have all your ducks lined up in a row before you start something like that. You have to figure out how much backcut you're going to make so you can leave enough for a face cut AND the hinge wood. I've used this method hundreds of times in past years with great success. However, if you don't have the experience and have never done it, don't do it in a situation where you have to be perfect and the tree going over backwards is not an option. I just did this the other day with a tree, an alder as a matter of fact, that hung over a guys shop. After I got done and talking to the owner, he said that he thought I was nuts and had a few head bolts gone when he saw me doing it. However, the results showed something else.
Again, we're talking on the internet, not on the ground. Big difference.

You are right on the money. Spent half the week falling lodgepole downhill for the yarders. Pre-wedging is about the only option...unless you like reefing on your saw and trying to push trees over that ain't getting pushed over (not by my 150 pound puny ass anyways, lol) - Sam

 

[nw axe man]

Right on. I don't care how big your ass is, mine's 250 lbs and I still don't like it. As long as you think your way through it before you ever start you're OK. I fell some lodgepole last year in Idaho for hunting camp and did the same thing. Much easier.

 

[Samlock]

Not sure about the whole situation since I wasn't there, however, in dealing with smaller trees that have a back lean and they just can't be fallen that direction, I will backcut the tree first, set a wedge and then insert the undercut.
Now, before anyone jumps on me, let me say that you MUST have all your ducks lined up in a row before you start something like that. You have to figure out how much backcut you're going to make so you can leave enough for a face cut AND the hinge wood. I've used this method hundreds of times in past years with great success. However, if you don't have the experience and have never done it, don't do it in a situation where you have to be perfect and the tree going over backwards is not an option. I just did this the other day with a tree, an alder as a matter of fact, that hung over a guys shop. After I got done and talking to the owner, he said that he thought I was nuts and had a few head bolts gone when he saw me doing it. However, the results showed something else.
Again, we're talking on the internet, not on the ground. Big difference.

Wow, never tried it that way. But, why not.

For the less skilled I would recommend the split level cut for dealing with the small diameter back leaners. Got some pics from the last winter.

 

[wyk]

Yes, I could almost swear it's a Downy Birch (Betula Pubescens). But it only exists in Europe. I have never seen a Paper Birch, which grows in the North America. Could it look that much alike it's European cousin?

From what I have seen here in Ireland, the closest thing I have encountered in the states to European Silver Birch(Betula Pendula) and Downy Birch is American Red Alder (Alnus - Alder Species: Common Trees of the Pacific Northwest). It is a dead ringer for young Silver Birch, but once the Silver Birch and Downy Birch reaches age the bark goes much more gnarled or rough than Alnus Rubra usually does. So, at least from what I have seen from my limited time here in Europe, the Alnus Glutinosa is less like the Alnus Rubra than the Betula P's are.

Alnus Rubra - Red Alder

When I had back leaning Alders, I often used the bore/post cut, carefully inserted wedges on both sides to replace the cut wood, then cut the back and inserted a double wedge to pound it out.

 

[mitch95100]

Me too! i love cuttin timber in the snow.

The coolest thing about it is when the tree falls it kinda makes a snow explosion:biggrin:

 

[Metals406]

Wow, never tried it that way. But, why not.

For the less skilled I would recommend the split level cut for dealing with the small diameter back leaners. Got some pics from the last winter.

Also known as the "1/4 cut" technique. I like it better than a full-on back cut first, as it doesn't let the tree set back if you go a little deep. Works similar in principle to the bore cut and trigger, but without the boring.

 

[Sport Faller]

Big punky butted Larch from today with side order of root pull
3'3" at widest

Also, glamour shot of my 460 stuck bigger than S@#& (thanks Uncle Boyd for cuttin me out) in a blowdown that need a chunk bucked out to make way for the sound portion of the Larch

 

[bitzer]

Hey nice pics Jake! You aren't kiddin, its pretty chewy. If you buck off the entire far half first you have less of a chance of pinching. No gut in the cut.

 

[OregonSawyer]

Boy! Not much holding wood left with all that decay! Glad it all worked out safely. :msp_thumbsup:

 

[Sport Faller]

Hey nice pics Jake! You aren't kiddin, its pretty chewy. If you buck off the entire far half first you have less of a chance of pinching. No gut in the cut.

thanks man, yeah I shoulda done that, I went about 4 inches into the top and then started up from the bottom and as soon as it was severed it slipped down and was waaaay stuck

 

[Sport Faller]

Boy! Not much holding wood left with all that decay! Glad it all worked out safely. :msp_thumbsup:

yeah it was a little sketchy for sure, made sure i had a crystal clear escape path and took off as soon as it started to go

 

[bitzer]

thanks man, yeah I shoulda done that, I went about 4 inches into the top and then started up from the bottom and as soon as it was severed it slipped down and was waaaay stuck

Hey man it happens! If you didn't have a specific length you needed maybe a foot to your right and you woulda been fine. I bet it was good cardio while sending that thing off the stump!

 

[Sport Faller]

Hey man it happens! If you didn't have a specific length you needed maybe a foot to your right and you woulda been fine. I bet it was good cardio while sending that thing off the stump!

nah the blowdown wasn't gonna get cut up just figured I'd whip a big block out of it real quick and get to sending the Larch (was only able to save about 25' that wasn't completely punky) on it's way up the hill. Yeah this fat kid was scrambling like a squirrel
there were 2 "pops" the first was the tree starting to go and the second was me breaking the sound barrier headed the other way

 

[Samlock]

From what I have seen here in Ireland, the closest thing I have encountered in the states to European Silver Birch(Betula Pendula) and Downy Birch is American Red Alder (Alnus - Alder Species: Common Trees of the Pacific Northwest). It is a dead ringer for young Silver Birch, but once the Silver Birch and Downy Birch reaches age the bark goes much more gnarled or rough than Alnus Rubra usually does. So, at least from what I have seen from my limited time here in Europe, the Alnus Glutinosa is less like the Alnus Rubra than the Betula P's are.

Alnus Rubra - Red Alder

When I had back leaning Alders, I often used the bore/post cut, carefully inserted wedges on both sides to replace the cut wood, then cut the back and inserted a double wedge to pound it out.

Thanks for the info. I just like to think I really know something about Birches. That's where the money is in up here.

Currently I'm working with some ugly birches. 3-4 feet on the stump and plenty of mushrooms on the stem. I wish I had brain to buy me a 30 inches bar, as Bitzer told me to do. Birches get truly soft when they do. They stand between the woods and a house. First time I saw the trees I said I need to cut the top first. But the old lady of the house claimed she can not afford the climbing fee. Call me stupid if you want, but I agreed to fall them. AND I HAVE NO PICS!. My lady is now cruising somewhere on the Baltic sea and she took our camera with her.

Nice videos in the tube, wyk!

Sam

 

[Sport Faller]

some more larch pics from today, my poor wedges took the beating and sawing of a lifetime. Also big props to Bitzer for the bucking info 1 page back, it came in really handy today

This one didn't wanna go so I nipped the corners a little and it went where intended

DISCLAIMER: THIS IS NOT MY STUMP I FOUND IT IN THE SAME PATCH OF LARCH WE WERE IN AND WAS SURPRISED TO NOT FIND HBRN UNDER IT

I'm also surprised that there weren't a pair of fully crappy pants nearby when this thing went over what I could only assume (from 1 of 3 face cuts) was backwards

 

[Samlock]

DISCLAIMER: THIS IS NOT MY STUMP I FOUND IT IN THE SAME PATCH OF LARCH WE WERE IN AND WAS SURPRISED TO NOT FIND HBRN UNDER IT

I'm also surprised that there weren't a pair of fully crappy pants nearby when this thing went over what I could only assume (from 1 of 3 face cuts) was backwards

Someone's been busy! Left some timber behind, though.