noyb72
ArboristSite Member
OK
After the last big blow I had a 16"" 60-80 ft tall maple fall into a 28-30"" hemlock across my driveway. The maple was in the crock of a branch on the hemlock that was about as big as the maple and 20"" or so in the air.
I felled the hemlock, pulling the maple the rest of the way down (was pretty pleased with myself, fell right where I wanted it along the inside fence line.) Here's where I apparently blew it, I went to the other side of the drive (15 ft wide or so,) and started cutting on the maple. The maple had about 20 ft in the neighbors yard where the trunk went into the ground. I'm sure some of you know what happened next, I started cutting and got maybe 4 inches into the tree and "POP!!" a big loud 12 gauge 3" magnum like sound and suddenly my chainsaw is up in the air over my head! Thankfully I didn't let go of the saw. So once I got my breath back and listened to my brother explain how he needed to clean his shorts I looked at the maple, it had splintered 3/4 through the tree. Looked like a broke leaf spring.
So what should I have done? I don't see how cutting from the bottom first would have helped, it would have just bound the chain and bar of my wimpy little saw. I have walked around my property and can see this happening several more times so I'd like to know a safer way of doing things.
Thanks
Ron
After the last big blow I had a 16"" 60-80 ft tall maple fall into a 28-30"" hemlock across my driveway. The maple was in the crock of a branch on the hemlock that was about as big as the maple and 20"" or so in the air.
I felled the hemlock, pulling the maple the rest of the way down (was pretty pleased with myself, fell right where I wanted it along the inside fence line.) Here's where I apparently blew it, I went to the other side of the drive (15 ft wide or so,) and started cutting on the maple. The maple had about 20 ft in the neighbors yard where the trunk went into the ground. I'm sure some of you know what happened next, I started cutting and got maybe 4 inches into the tree and "POP!!" a big loud 12 gauge 3" magnum like sound and suddenly my chainsaw is up in the air over my head! Thankfully I didn't let go of the saw. So once I got my breath back and listened to my brother explain how he needed to clean his shorts I looked at the maple, it had splintered 3/4 through the tree. Looked like a broke leaf spring.
So what should I have done? I don't see how cutting from the bottom first would have helped, it would have just bound the chain and bar of my wimpy little saw. I have walked around my property and can see this happening several more times so I'd like to know a safer way of doing things.
Thanks
Ron