Fish
Tree Freak
gawd,this turd is still floating????????
Guys, don't get complacent out there!!!
- Thread starter blsnelling
- Start date
Help Support Arborist Forum:
paccity
Addicted to ArboristSite
lotts of corn.:msp_rolleyes:
Thanks Brad
I'm glad you're ok Brad and thanks for posting this. I just saw this post and I’m way late in responding.
I have only read the first few pages of this thread but wanted to post this photo. Like some of the other guys on here said, only Brad knows how the tree was leaning. For the poster who showed the red line as an indicator of the lean, I could have taken that picture 90* angle and told you that it was lying on the ground. LMAO
I hope this picture is viewable since I’m not sure how to post photos. I took two small trees from the background which are at the same angle and showed that same line in relationship to the tree Brad was felling. By no means am I saying that the yellow line is correct but more trying to show the guy that posted the red line photo that just because you draw a line does not make it so.
Thanks again Brad for posting this.
View attachment 248409
I'm glad you're ok Brad and thanks for posting this. I just saw this post and I’m way late in responding.
I have only read the first few pages of this thread but wanted to post this photo. Like some of the other guys on here said, only Brad knows how the tree was leaning. For the poster who showed the red line as an indicator of the lean, I could have taken that picture 90* angle and told you that it was lying on the ground. LMAO
I hope this picture is viewable since I’m not sure how to post photos. I took two small trees from the background which are at the same angle and showed that same line in relationship to the tree Brad was felling. By no means am I saying that the yellow line is correct but more trying to show the guy that posted the red line photo that just because you draw a line does not make it so.
Thanks again Brad for posting this.
View attachment 248409
The mule cheated. His line was where the tree actually fell.
Ndigity26
ArboristSite Operative
I nearly bought the farm Saturday afternoon while out testing out the 390XP. I've debated back and forth whether or not to share this. Hopefully, someone can learn from my mistakes.
First of all, I'm FAR from a professional. What frustrates me most, is that I know how to do this right. I know all the mistakes I made and how to avoid them. Yes, it's rather embarrasing.
Anyway, here's what happened. I was out videoing the 390XP for you guys. I was alone. I decided to drop about a 30" DBH tree. Why not go ahead and video that too? I've dropped trees twice this big, no biggie. Right there's where I started going wrong. Every tree is a biggie. I had no backup saw, no wedges, no helmet............. Get the picture? Complacent and careless. I know! I slapped a nice notch in there, back barred the first side of the back cut, walked around and finished the other side. She sat back on me! I had misread the lean. I took the power head off the 28" Oregon Reduced Weight bar. Not a deal at all had I used wedges like I normally would.
Now I had to run home and grab another bar, a 32" Oregon Reduced Weight this time. This time I've got wedges and get them in the cut as soon as I have room. This is no big deal, right? Cut, drive wedges, pull out stuck bar. Then the 32" bar gets stuck. What I didn't yet realize was that I had cut through the hinge on the far side. So I'm driving wedges to push it over. No big deal, that's what wedges are for. Until.....she started falling 90###° to where I intended. I realize what's happening. Instead of stepping back, I hang onto the handle of the saw to pull it free as soon as the tree releases it. I'm standing clear behind the tree. Instead, the saw is yanked from my hand and SMACK.............everything goes black. As the tree fell, it took the top out of another tree. That fell clear. What got me was a limb on the tree I was falling hit the same tree now missing it's top, folding a branch back towards me. So, this branch isn't just falling, it's being levered and accellerated towards me. Of course, I don't know this until it hits me. I was too busy trying to save my saw and wasn't looking up, as I know to do. Had I simply stepped back, none of this would have happened.
The branch that hit me forked into two. I was hit by both, driving my forehead into the stump twice. Also, I had a heavy leather and fleece lined hat on. Had I not, the split on the back of my head would have been much worse.
I didn't know that I had been knocked unconsious until studying the video. Immediately after the impact, I reached for the back of my head with my left hand. You can then see my left hand fall limp, and then I collapse to my side and back. I laid there for 20 seconds before moving. I thought I had simply been knocked to the ground and got up almost immediately. It really shook me up to realize what had really happened.
I'm very fortunate to have not been either killed, or much more seriously injured. They did a CAT scan of my head, which was ok. They also x-rayed my left thumb, which I sprained. I smashed two finger tips, and have a sore jaw. I have 4 staples in the back of my head.
I know I deserve all of the scolding you guys can give me, but I know the mistakes I made. That's what makes this so bad, and embarrasing. Hopefully, someone will learn something from my mistakes and avoid a serious accident. Stay safe out there guys! Don't drop trees alone, study your tree carefully, NEVER cut through your hinge, always have wedges, always have a backup saw and/or bar, always look up, and never try to save a saw! There's a reason falling limbs are called widow makers!
[video=youtube;1VWtM2BKsGk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VWtM2BKsGk[/video]
This afternoon. It looks like blood from the knot is draining into my eyelid.
Sir that was intense to watch. I'm glad thats all that happened to you, because that was a large branch. I hope your not going to let haste get the better of you again because this looks to be your lucky day.
Philip Wheelock
Finis Origine Pendet
Thanks, Brad, for having the guts to detail the accident. Much appreciated. There are people who will avoid a really bad day because of this thread. I know I'll be doing a lot more looking up and figuring all the ways things could go wrong.
No scolding from me either. I got clobbered on my forestry helmet hard enough to see stars for a few seconds when I was felling a 20" elm. Don't want to imagine what that would have been like without the helmet.
Spit happens and it's good you are around to berate yourself about it.
Spit happens and it's good you are around to berate yourself about it.
RiverRocket
ArboristSite Guru
Haven't read all the post..Just the first page, Just wanted to say I'm Glad your alright...Thinking back on all the dumb #### I've done over the years with a chainsaw, It's a wonder I'm Still alive.
I learned allot the hard way...I'm thankful for this site now...I've learned allot here that makes me allot safer now..I never wore a hard hat, but I'm gonna start...
The stupidest mistake I've ever made was while felling a hard leaning big Red Oak and not making the face cut large enough and when the tree started over the hinge closed when the tree was only 1/4 of the way over
Needless to say a huge barber chair just about took my head off...still makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck when i think about it..
Anyway thanks for sharing, and again i'm glad your OK
I learned allot the hard way...I'm thankful for this site now...I've learned allot here that makes me allot safer now..I never wore a hard hat, but I'm gonna start...
The stupidest mistake I've ever made was while felling a hard leaning big Red Oak and not making the face cut large enough and when the tree started over the hinge closed when the tree was only 1/4 of the way over
Needless to say a huge barber chair just about took my head off...still makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck when i think about it..
Anyway thanks for sharing, and again i'm glad your OK
bucknfeller
Opportunistic Hooligan
Get well soon Brad.
Guido Salvage
Supreme Saw Whoreder
You are aware this thread is over a year old?
bucknfeller
Opportunistic Hooligan
naturelover
Tree Freak
You know, I almost did this spring just walking through the woods. Had a branch come out of a tree right in front of me. Had it hit me, I'd not be typing this..... :msp_unsure:
Curious why this thread got stickied.
PARTSWOODCHUCK
ArboristSite Operative
Curious why this thread got stickied.
Even though it's common sense for some of us, this thread is a real good reminder that the saw isn't worth it.
RandyMac
Stiff Member
I hope that is the reason.
Art Vandelay
Bovinius Maximus
DSS done it.
bucknfeller
Opportunistic Hooligan
I doubt it......
I don't know why the thread was stickied but I think it's a good read for anybody who falls trees.
It's not often that we get to see the entire chain of mistakes that leads to a near fatal accident. In this thread we get to see not only the events themselves but the damage they caused to the person who made the mistakes. We also get to see what he learned from his mistakes.
It's a great learning opportunity and an excellent reminder of what not to do.
I think it took a lot of guts for Brad to share his mishap. He's constantly thinking of things that are good for the AS community. This is one of them.
It's not often that we get to see the entire chain of mistakes that leads to a near fatal accident. In this thread we get to see not only the events themselves but the damage they caused to the person who made the mistakes. We also get to see what he learned from his mistakes.
It's a great learning opportunity and an excellent reminder of what not to do.
I think it took a lot of guts for Brad to share his mishap. He's constantly thinking of things that are good for the AS community. This is one of them.
It's all for the good of the community:hmm3grin2orange::jester:
Thanks Bob.
Thanks Bob.
