Slade McCuiston
ArboristSite Member
I was planning to drop a maple for firewood. I did all my usual preparation and limbed the tree up as high as I could. After that, I cut a Humboldt face cut and completed the back cut (and put a wedge in the center of the back cut). As I pounded the wedge in, the tree started to fall in the direction I wanted. Then it happened. It twisted 90 degrees to the left and fell sideways from the face.
So, I decided to look and see why it fell sideways. There was a big knot in the hinge that, I assume, would be equivalent to leaving a lot more hinge wood on that side.
Anyone have any input on dealing with this? I'm definitely no logger, but this is the first time I've had this happen on a tree of any real size (and I've cut quite a few trees).
So, I decided to look and see why it fell sideways. There was a big knot in the hinge that, I assume, would be equivalent to leaving a lot more hinge wood on that side.
Anyone have any input on dealing with this? I'm definitely no logger, but this is the first time I've had this happen on a tree of any real size (and I've cut quite a few trees).