Tree cutting skills. Be careful who you learn or take advise from

[Loony661]

I made a mistake yesterday lt could have cost me. 461 got hung up as I let a fir go.. I tried to get the saw free, couldn't and thought man I know better leave the saw and stump. Which I did and let the saw go. Point is I hesitated and knew better. Don't make that mistake.

Thanks for sharing Norm. I’m glad you didn’t get hurt.

Sharing close calls is an important tool that we can all learn from.

 

[Stevetheboatguy]

Know when to let go........

Third and last tree. All were 32-36 shag bark hickory this happened to be the smaller of the three. First two went like silk. The last one i was off slightly on my cut and the hinge was punky.

Completely and 100% my fault. Mistake #1 I didn't inspect the face cut wedge when I kicked it out. Mistake #2 I didn't check my chips mid cut. Didn't make mistake #3 I felt pressure on the bar. I let go and exited stage left. Got complacent and lost a saw. Greatful that was all.

No regrets about the saw either. Had a guardian angel as far as im concerned. Could have been bad.



Steven

 

[jakethesnake]

Know when to let go........

Third and last tree. All were 32-36 shag bark hickory this happened to be the smaller of the three. First two went like silk. The last one i was off slightly on my cut and the hinge was punky.

Completely and 100% my fault. Mistake #1 I didn't inspect the face cut wedge when I kicked it out. Mistake #2 I didn't check my chips mid cut. Didn't make mistake #3 I felt pressure on the bar. I let go and exited stage left. Got complacent and lost a saw. Greatful that was all.

No regrets about the saw either. Had a guardian angel as far as im concerned. Could have been bad.

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Steven

Screw that saw Steve. They are easy to replace

 

[Stevetheboatguy]

Screw that saw Steve. They are easy to replace

Exactly. No hesitation here.

Have extra saws. Won't miss one. And definitely wasn't going to try and save one. Knew thing's were about to get real when I felt the pressure on the bar and had 4-6 in of what I thought were hinge left.

Plan was to cut about another inch or so and pull some on the winch line. But never made it that far. Very glad I had a cable on the tree and wedges on the back side. But the combination of slight hill, limbs and soft center....... Nothing short of a full pull over would have helped.

The cautions/ dangers of working alone.


Steven

 

[jakethesnake]

Exactly. No hesitation here.

Have extra saws. Won't miss one. And definitely wasn't going to try and save one. Knew thing's were about to get real when I felt the pressure on the bar and had 4-6 in of what I thought were hinge left.

Plan was to cut about another inch or so and pull some on the winch line. But never made it that far. Very glad I had a cable on the tree and wedges on the back side. But the combination of slight hill, limbs and soft center....... Nothing short of a full pull over would have helped.

The cautions/ dangers of working alone.


Steven

Stay safe buddy. Some would’ve tried to make a miraculous save. I leave them. If he gets mashed I’ll laugh at it. (The saw). I schooled my little cuz on that one because instinct tells you to pick up your tools. When it’s stuck you leave it. You did well

 

[Normzilla]

Thanks for sharing Norm. I’m glad you didn’t get hurt.

Sharing close calls is an important tool that we can all learn from.

Tree work to me, is accountability to yourself, or you won't improve or live long. Imo usually the Ego guys wash out or die. Thanks for the kind words Amigo. Gotta see mistakes and push through and inprove.

 

[Normzilla]

Exactly. No hesitation here.

Have extra saws. Won't miss one. And definitely wasn't going to try and save one. Knew thing's were about to get real when I felt the pressure on the bar and had 4-6 in of what I thought were hinge left.

Plan was to cut about another inch or so and pull some on the winch line. But never made it that far. Very glad I had a cable on the tree and wedges on the back side. But the combination of slight hill, limbs and soft center....... Nothing short of a full pull over would have helped.

The cautions/ dangers of working alone.


Steven

Agreed, except saw wise I woulda cried if I smashed it lol! But yeah gotta drip and fly. And definitely agree with ya

 

[Stevetheboatguy]

I made a mistake yesterday lt could have cost me. 461 got hung up as I let a fir go.. I tried to get the saw free, couldn't and thought man I know better leave the saw and stump. Which I did and let the saw go. Point is I hesitated and knew better. Don't make that mistake.

Agreed, except saw wise I woulda cried if I smashed it lol! But yeah gotta drip and fly. And definitely agree with ya

I had no idea you had just previously posted about your own near miss. I was a few pages behind.

Glad your saw had a better outcome than mine. I actually thought the way the tree came off the stump. The saw might have had a chance. But nope the thing got flattened like a pancake. Actually laughed a little and said man that sucks.... Ehh ohh well. I'll scab it back together eventually.

Was actually keeping that saw around just for harry/cautious cuts. Never thought the tree I was on would be the one to give a problem.

I'm going to be extra vigilant from here on out. No skipped steps or excuses.

Steven

 

[Loony661]

Never thought the tree I was on would be the one to give a problem.

Nobody expects the tree that bites them to be the one. Trust me, that’s how I got my foot smashed and broken last year. It wasn’t even a big tree.

 

[Normzilla]

I had no idea you had just previously posted about your own near miss. I was a few pages behind.

Glad your saw had a better outcome than mine. I actually thought the way the tree came off the stump. The saw might have had a chance. But nope the thing got flattened like a pancake. Actually laughed a little and said man that sucks.... Ehh ohh well. I'll scab it back together eventually.

Was actually keeping that saw around just for harry/cautious cuts. Never thought the tree I was on would be the one to give a problem.

I'm going to be extra vigilant from here on out. No skipped steps or excuses.

Steven

Agree no excuses darn man sorry about your saw

 

[Normzilla]

Nobody expects the tree that bites them to be the one. Trust me, that’s how I got my foot smashed and broken last year. It wasn’t even a big tree.

I hear that

 

[Catman]

No piece of equipment is Worth Your Life!

 

[Normzilla]

No piece of equipment is Worth Your Life!

Truth!

 

[jacob j.]

Nobody expects the tree that bites them to be the one. Trust me, that’s how I got my foot smashed and broken last year. It wasn’t even a big tree.

I helped pack a guy out of the strip in 2004 that was hit by a smaller tree - He fell a 17" Doug Fir into a brushy Madrone. It shot back, hit him in the chest, rolled over, and then pushed his head
into another Madrone. He made it and eventually recovered almost fully but never cut timber again, and he was never quite the "same" after that. Moving Timber can do strange things to a man.

 

[Loony661]

I helped pack a guy out of the strip in 2004 that was hit by a smaller tree - He fell a 17" Doug Fir into a brushy Madrone. It shot back, hit him in the chest, rolled over, and then pushed his head
into another Madrone. He made it and eventually recovered almost fully but never cut timber again, and he was never quite the "same" after that. Moving Timber can do strange things to a man.

I’m glad to hear he made it. It always happens so fast.

 

[sawmikaze]

Nobody expects the tree that bites them to be the one. Trust me, that’s how I got my foot smashed and broken last year. It wasn’t even a big tree.

Killing trees for a living can be a humbling experience at times...

 

[Loony661]

Killing trees for a living can be a humbling experience at times...

Well said.

 

[Cat 525]

Killing trees for a living can be a humbling experience at times...

Yep! The cock can go out of the cockiness for sure!

 

[davidwyby]

You guys are giving me second thoughts about my hobby.

that ‘n Jed.

 

[Loony661]

You guys are giving me second thoughts about my hobby.

that ‘n Jed.

It’s no joke. My wife understands that each morning I leave, I might not come back. Of course I plan to die of old age, but tree work is dangerous. Period. There are a lot of things we can do to mitigate injury or death, but trees still remain unpredictable, and no 2 trees are the same.

Getting cocky, over confident, or simply thinking that it’s “easy” because a guy has tipped a couple over before, is the most dangerous place to be mentally when felling, removing, or trimming trees.