Spear Cut

[5 shires]

Been doing a lot of wind blown/storm Damaged trees over last few day,nothing major or big but was thinking bout different type cuts possible to remove/fell a tree and was wondering how often any of us use a Spear Cut apart from smallish trees and or branches  and got me thinking has anyone used this cut on a decent sized tree and if yes what was the circumstances and the out come?

[nepia]

Daniel Murphy - dadio on here - uses them and somehow always sparks a lengthy - ahem - debate ?

 

 

[Stubby]

22 minutes ago, 5 shires said:

Been doing a lot of wind blown/storm Damaged trees over last few day,nothing major or big but was thinking bout different type cuts possible to remove/fell a tree and was wondering how often any of us use a Spear Cut apart from smallish trees and or branches  and got me thinking has anyone used this cut on a decent sized tree and if yes what was the circumstances and the out come?

I have used it on a very few occasions . The hung up tree was very vertical still , and space was tight . just kept slicing . Each time it would drop still vertical until it was my height . It was only ever going to be fire wood . The out come was fine .

[difflock]

Well I will be dammned!

I have used this method, (which I did not know had a name and imagined it to be highly unorothodox, to say the least) to remove Sitka and Birch that were shading aspiring Oak or Beech.

Ya learn sommat new every day.

[Stere]

Done similar bit dodgy when the tree ends up  vertical sometimes after several cuts then can then fall any direction, also end of hung up top can jump back towards you hence why  standing far a possible bach like in that vid.

 

 

Edited February 14, 2020 by Stere

[nepia]

Dadio got slated when he first posted the idea years ago but I tried it on a hung up Horse Chestnut and it worked a treat.  Mind you that tree was far flatter than in the video; it just needed a nudge from the base.

[Stephen Blair]

It’s nothing knew, it’s what you do when you can’t be arsed going for the correct equipment and it’s a combination of fear, luck and skill!

  Not something that should be taught!

a bit like a hand brake turn in your driving lessons, you find out after playing in an empty field, but try it in your mates driveway without thinking about it and it can all go wrong very quickly!

  

[difflock]

Where does the fear come in Stephen?

and to quote a Golfer; "the more I practise, the luckier I get"

So that only leaves skill.

[TIMON]

I’ve never used a spear cut on a large hung up tree, but have used the ‘vertical snap cut’ demonstrated by Daniel which worked well. Definitely need your wits about you when using it.
I have found the spear cut a handy ‘go to’ when thinning a crown in a tight spot.

[Mark Bolam]

I've just used step cuts in these situations with bigger timber, but it's a last resort kind of thing.

 

I know spear cuts as razzing through thinner timber that is vertical-ish so the butt drops before the tips have a chance to start moving.

The tips can then give you a damn good thrashing on the way past!