I was cutting with my Dad today up in his woods, and I decided to take down a standing dead red oak. It was about 32" and had no upper story branches at all. I was using my Mac with a 24" bar and my new square ground chain. I marked the cuts with my hatchet (training wheels - I'm trying to improve my cut accuracy), and made a nice face cut - for a change. Then I did the back cut, and got that level for a change. I put in two wedges - the outer inch or so was punky so that made them a little less effective. But the back cut was getting really close, I drove the wedges in further and nothing was happening. Eventually I decided to get the heck out of there, so I ran like a scared kid. Well, I walked off to give it some thought. As my Dad and were looking at it it just went over - fast. Right where I aimed it. My main mistake may have been that the step to the back cut was a little big - more like 3" than the 2" I wanted, but there just wasn't anything to pull it over with no branches. And I could have used a bigger wedge, as all I had were the small 6" pocket wedges.
But man I hate those things with no branches - it seems like every time I get into one I end up with it just sitting there laughing at me.
But man I hate those things with no branches - it seems like every time I get into one I end up with it just sitting there laughing at me.