Yes it helps prevent pull. If you want to avoid pull, talk to or watch
@afleetcommand stuff on YT.
Yeah have done a lot of ash over the years. Also have a bunch of video's demonstrating the pro's and cons
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But to the gut the hinge thing.... you HAVE to know your tree's , last thing u want to do is take too much and let the leaner release too soon with too weak a hinge while your cutting. Here is one of many from a coupled years back where I wrestle with that
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A few things I don't know if I mentioned, the open face means the tree is almost on the ground before there is a chance of that face cut closing and snapping the hinge. Something many don't think about, when ever the hinge closes to soon on these, it either pulls or breaks and pulls
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IF if breaks... it drops to the heavy side as the hinge no longer has any control....its broke
Also on heavy lean tree's they "stick" as they want to go to the heavy side, not where the hinge tries to guide them, so need enough hinge to "hang" on while wedging over that tree. And often I support the heavy side hinge with wedges. as well.
On that tree the hinge broke before closing the hinge....what I want. Partly because the OTHER little detail is the tree is crushing the hinge as it begins it's journey down, and that at times can compromise the hinge as well.....and it was cold, real cold that day also effecting the wood characteristics
This was with a 372 based saw with a 28inch bar & chain combo. Had to cut root flares both to reduce chance of pulls but also the reach thru with that 28 inch Bare.
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Also left a little "heavier" than usual hinge because it was a heavy lean tree... I'll post a video later I guess of some HUGE dead and rotter Ash felling. That was scary stuff. But first this one :