Why an Angled Back Cut is Bad

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Woodcutteranon

Woodcutteranon

I stack wood on top of wood
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I ran across this video on YouTube of a doofus smashing his neighbor's deck while felling a tree. I noticed, among other things he does wrong, that he made an angled back cut...and when driving his wedge he knocked the tree off the stump, hanging the tree up in the canopy. Bummer.

I had always heard the risk of driving the tree from its stump was one of the major reasons why an angled back cut should be avoided but here is the proof in video. The proper technique is to make a level back cut so the wedge will lift the tree, instead of pushing it off the stump.

There is nothing gory in this video so watch and learn!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVTDpYRYE2E&feature=related
 
How Not To Make the Fell Cut

Actually, the best way to drop a tree backwards and in the opposite (and wrong) direction is to always make the felling cut about 2" to 3" below the wedge vertex.

Then regardless if the felling cut is flat or angled, the tree will usually fall right back and in the opposite direction that you wanted it to fall and thus jeopardize the life of the chain saw operator and anyone standing behind him.
 
I've seen the palm tree video before . I could maybe believe one man allowing something like this to happen but a group of grown men watching and working --- one of the dumbest things I have ever seen on film.

Nosmo
 
Wood Doctor said:
Actually, the best way to drop a tree backwards and in the opposite (and wrong) direction is to always make the felling cut about 2" to 3" below the wedge vertex.

Then regardless if the felling cut is flat or angled, the tree will usually fall right back and in the opposite direction that you wanted it to fall and thus jeopardize the life of the chain saw operator and anyone standing behind him.
Click to expand...

Ed, maybe you can explain this one ? I agree that the back cut should be above the apex of the face cut, but for much different reasons.

In the video it was a Humbolt cut just like they probably seen on Axemen just not done by seasoned proffessionals that knew what they were doing or able to read the tree. Wedges MIGHT have helped if they had known what they were doing.



Good friends don't let their friends screw-up , alone.
 
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Palm was fixed there are never that many stupid people together at once are there:monkey:
The other true imo never mind the angled back cut the face looked scary as hell.
 
Mike Van said:
GOOBER - Boy, that says it all~ :clap:
Click to expand...

Lol yeah he is a bit north of me we just callem goobs here <a href="http://www.sweetim.com/s.asp?im=gen&lpver=3&ref=11" target="_blank"><img src="http://content.sweetim.com/sim/cpie/emoticons/00020468.gif" border="0" title="Click to get more." ></a>
 
You have to watch the clip titled dumbest tree fellers
It's on you tube too and you won't believe anyone can be so stupid
 
KsWoodsMan said:
Ed, maybe you can explain this one ? I agree that the back cut should be above the apex of the face cut, but for much different reasons.
Click to expand...

That's because you build the hinge backwards (or upside down). The tree's weight then takes it the wrong way because of the undercut. You would be safe only if the tree had an enormous lean to it on the wedge side.

What "different reasons" are you referring to? Just curious.
 
Other reason an angle back cut is a no-no is that wedging can split the stump side of the backcut off the back and leave less wedging room or let the tree go over backwards, worst case. Also harder to aim for in an inch or so above the face apex.
 
Marc said:
Other reason an angle back cut is a no-no is that wedging can split the stump side of the backcut off the back and leave less wedging room or let the tree go over backwards, worst case. Also harder to aim for in an inch or so above the face apex.
Click to expand...
I've also watched another problem when the back cut finishes too low. The tree started to fall slowly the wrong way and trapped the chain saw bar. Then the tree stopped falling and sat there on top of it, precariously. When it eventually fell backwards, the bar was ruined by the pinch and so was the operator's nerves.

Luckily, that's all that was ruined.
 
ropensaddle said:
Lol yeah he is a bit north of me we just callem goobs here <a href="http://www.sweetim.com/s.asp?im=gen&lpver=3&ref=11" target="_blank"><img src="http://content.sweetim.com/sim/cpie/emoticons/00020468.gif" border="0" title="Click to get more." ></a>
Click to expand...
That's what i usually say but figured i'd use the whole name this time.lol
 
Ed, With a low back-cut you are increasing the chances of a barber chair. The extra few inches, below the hinge instead of above it, is stiffer than the hinge. When it starts to go over that stiff leg gets peeled away from the rest of the trunk. The face cut should start just a bit of lean on it's own as the holding wood starts to compress.

Regardless of if the back cut is above or below the hinge, if you have read your tree right, the wind is in your favor and not trying to fell it opposite of the lean/wind, a low back cut isn't going to pull it back on your bar. For it to sit back on the bar it has to be leaning that direction initially.

If he hadn't cut through the hinge he should have been able to wedge it over instead of it settling on his sawbar. The angled back-cut alloed the tree to fall off the stump when it settled. After that happened the tree fell the exact opposite direction it was intended to, causing property damage.
 
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KsWoodsMan said:
Ed, With a low back-cut you are increasing the chances of a barber chair. The extra few inches, below the hinge instead of above it, is stiffer than the hinge. When it starts to go over that stiff leg gets peeled away from the rest of the trunk. The face cut should start just a bit of lean on it's own as the holding wood starts to compress.

Regardless of if the back cut is above or below the hinge, if you have read your tree right, the wind is in your favor and not trying to fell it opposite of the lean/wind, a low back cut isn't going to pull it back on your bar. For it to sit back on the bar it has to be leaning that direction initially.

If he hadn't cut through the hinge he should have been able to wedge it over instead of it settling on his sawbar. The angled back-cut alloed the tree to fall off the stump when it settled. After that happened the tree fell the exact opposite direction it was intended to, causing property damage.
Click to expand...

Yup I have had them set back no panic just tap the wedge in then another or get more pull on the winch line depending on your poison. If it is notched and back cut proper and it sets back the holding wood still should hold as long as it ain't gum or Cottonwood and you will be fine. If I ain't winching I have a wedge started before I get near done with my hinge.
 
stihl sawing said:
That's what i usually say but figured i'd use the whole name this time.lol
Click to expand...

In that case you forgot smootch <a href="http://www.sweetim.com/s.asp?im=gen&lpver=3&ref=11" target="_blank"><img src="http://content.sweetim.com/sim/cpie/emoticons/00020468.gif" border="0" title="Click to get more." ></a>
 

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