Reason for low backcut on bore cut leaner?

[Billy_Bob]

This is interesting on felling trees with a heavy lean from New Zealand...

The link is a .pdf and on page 42 of Acrobat (page 43 of document), it shows the face cut (what they call a "scarf"), then a bore cut, then the final cut "as low as possible".

What is the reason for cutting low for the final backcut?

http://www.osh.dol.govt.nz/order/catalogue/pdf/treefell.pdf

 

[Nailsbeats]

I see two reasons. 1st, so the butt log of the tree you are trying to save doesn't split even one little bit. You want it to break lower so you can square off the end of the log perfectly once it's on the ground. 2nd, so your saw doesn't get caught and go over with the tree. With the lower trip you are cutting into the stump not the log.

With a tree that is not leaning bad you can set up your notch, bore it and finnish the bore by cutting straight out the back. You don't want to do this if it's a bad lean because it will try to take off before you finnish the cut, ripping at your saw and splitting fibers.

 

[weenieroaster]

As mentioned, the low back cut in this case is recommended so that when the tree breaks free, it doesn't grab the saw bar and take it with it. Cutting even with or above the bore cut, can grab the saw in the split. Better to nip away at the holding wood below the bore cut, especially for a heavy head leaner.

 

[Pete M]

I thought the reason was explained well in the text of the document.

 

[Billy_Bob]

How low should you cut below the bore cut? (For the final cut.)

 

[weenieroaster]

I thought the reason was explained well in the text of the document.

Where...? It mentions to prevent splitting, but what's wrong with splitting if the tree goes over. Because splitting can........... Fill in the blanks.

 

[weenieroaster]

How low should you cut below the bore cut? (For the final cut.)

There is no definitive answer. It depends on the degree of lean, weight factor, and how much holding wood you have left, both at the hinge and at the back. More lean means cut lower, as the article explains, but that is a somewhat incomplete explanation. If you don't have experience to tell you, just nip away with the tip of the bar little by little beneath the back cut, you can always move higher. It's not a good place to go socking the base of the bar into the cut, better to be delicate.....and still be ready to get the heck out of there if it is a heavy leaner. There is the safer way to cut as the article mentions, but there is no for sure safe way.

 

[Pete M]

Where...? It mentions to prevent splitting, but what's wrong with splitting if the tree goes over. Because splitting can........... Fill in the blanks.

On Page 42

Result in a barber chair, cause you to lose control of the tree...... not to mention you could ruin a nice big bit of wood.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Barberschair and sawtrap are the two biggest reasons.

I've never heard of going more then 2 inches below when cutting the tab, or backstrap out.

On any heavy leaner, it is good practice to put a ratchet strap above the notch, just as cheap insurance.

 

[ATH]

Where...? It mentions to prevent splitting, but what's wrong with splitting if the tree goes over. Because splitting can........... Fill in the blanks.

Because splitting can ... send a an $8,000 veneer tree to the firewood processor instead of the veneer mill