Step cutting unrigged large white willow branches

[Steve Bullman]

If you're doing a lot of Willows its worth having a separate chain for the occassion with the depth gages filed down lower than would normally be recommended.

[Wonky]

Maybe if I add this pic. It may help 

Tree Cutting Techniques - Detailed Manual [2021]

TREECUTTINGINFO.COM

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There are a huge number of tree cutting techniques, and in this article, we will look at the main ones.

 

[headgroundsman]

Put a felling cut in. Bore through and create your hinge. If the branch is too thin to bore through, angle your bore cut so you leave some holding wood. On very thin leaning branches your bore cut could end up vertical. Cut either side of the hinge as already said, then cut the holding wood!

[MattyF]

Sharp saws and V cut

[bigtreedon]

Box cut [emoji106]

[carlos]

2 hours ago, Retired Climber said:

I can't picture this in my head. Would someone be kind enough to draw a picture or something (for the hard of thinking). 

its for big limbs that are more horizontal then verticle and dont need any direction, well thats what i use it on anyways

[AHPP]

Box and maybe even bore the box if you’ve got space.

[Rich Rule]

2 hours ago, bigtreedon said:

Box cut

I try to be efficient, the v cut is one less cut than the box cut, but works almost identically.  

 

One less cut means one less chance to get it pinched.

 

 

 

 

[richyrich]

14 hours ago, hesslemount said:

 

Has anyone any tips for step cutting larger willow branches? I pollarded a willow and all the branches were free fall as zero collateral. Branches had leans of 10-55 degrees and were 10cm-40cm diameter weighing up to 3/4 tonne. I’m 16 years a climber and 27 years qualified. Very few of the step cuts were playing ball with no clean breaks, many unprofessional tares and one very unpredictable rip from just an undercut on the largest branch that 99/100 times would have trapped the top handled saw with a 45 degree lean.

 

Undercut carefully - not too far as will trap easily. Then cut in line with the undercut at both sides from above- meeting at a point in centre. So as to leave a triangle hinge with apex/point at top of branch. Then final top cut is made into the hinge through the top of the triangle. Not sure if this is v cut. Prob same idea as box cut. Works for felling leaning willows where a boring cut would trap the saw. Try on small stuff first in case get it wrong.

[bigtreedon]

7 hours ago, Rich Rule said:

I try to be efficient, the v cut is one less cut than the box cut, but works almost identically.  

 

One less cut means one less chance to get it pinched.

 

 

 

 

I do a version often that I find the most efficient starting on the far side of the limb saw under it bar pointing up to sky cut with a pushing chain then in one fluid motion bring it under the cut making the under cut then pulling chain side cut infront of me then top cut saw never leaves the wood till limb falls to hard describe in writing especially me been illiterate 🙄 the wood fibers left end up looking semi box/ v cut