Split stem felling!

[Pete Mctree]

The cuts in the centre of the stem may well help by relieving the tensions within the stem @ the point of the split. Very interesting & thanks for posting

[Stephen Blair]

The 2nd hinge didnt work as a hinge, you just unknowingly put all the tension on the back strap.

I think you were lucky and your get away run doesnt tell the story of a well thought out new type of felling . You gave something a bash, luckily it worked this time, but not in the way you think it did:001_rolleyes:

[arbmark]

some great lateral thinking but i think the use of two fulcrums (if i understand what is happening) and two slightly different arcs would put a lot of shear along the longitudinal split and thats whi i think its comes apart so dramatically.

The use of a strap is the simple answer i hadnt thought of:blushing: but i would have thought boring out the middle and working to the back of the tree is the one most would use. is there a reason not to do this?

question is after all our 'constructive criticism' would you do it again?!

good post - what are you like over 100metres?

[arbmark]

actually i can see that there is a possibility of getting the saw stuck if the tree has the potential to shear and trap it so the dual hinge is a good idea in that respect. in this instance its a good solution but if the two parts werent pretty much destined to fall the same youd have to be able to run even faster! i guess you had to be there man. cheers for posting

[skyhuck]

actually i can see that there is a possibility of getting the saw stuck if the tree has the potential to shear and trap it so the dual hinge is a good idea in that respect. in this instance its a good solution but if the two parts werent pretty much destined to fall the same youd have to be able to run even faster! i guess you had to be there man. cheers for posting

 

In which case, the center hinge is a hinge, but packing to stop the saw being trapped.

 

As for the hinge releasing tension, if this were the case I think the saw would have become trapped.

[Stevietrees]

In which case, the center hinge is a hinge, but packing to stop the saw being trapped.

 

As for the hinge releasing tension, if this were the case I think the saw would have become trapped.

 

Thanks skyhuck. You summed up my reasoning perfectly. The back section needed a stabiliser rather than a step cut in it. Here is a video of the stem and cut close up. I'm sure there will be comments about tony's in and out saw technique! And I think the front sink should have been cut before the back cut also.

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-E5WH7_zVk]Split stem fell - YouTube[/ame]

 

 

Treestyle Arboriculture: Professional Tree Surgeons, Manchester

[David Goss]

Thanks skyhuck. You summed up my reasoning perfectly. The back section needed a stabiliser rather than a step cut in it. Here is a video of the stem and cut close up. I'm sure there will be comments about tony's in and out saw technique! And I think the front sink should have been cut before the back cut also.

 

 

 

Treestyle Arboriculture: Professional Tree Surgeons, Manchester

 

I think that also, the back cut should for sure have been the last one. I still dont see the point in that cut anyway, it never worked as a hinge and just popped off as soon as the tree started to move due to the arc of movement created by the fall. If the 2 pieces were for sure separate then this would have worked. I stick by my original post that it would have been better and safer to start from the front hinge and work back.

[Stevietrees]

I think that also, the back cut should for sure have been the last one. I still dont see the point in that cut anyway, it never worked as a hinge and just popped off as soon as the tree started to move due to the arc of movement created by the fall. If the 2 pieces were for sure separate then this would have worked. I stick by my original post that it would have been better and safer to start from the front hinge and work back.

 

I think the split was totally seperated but the branches were totally entangled at the top causing the lack of pivot on the second hinge. I think the above suggestion is correct backed up with a wratchet strap.

Still learning every day after 17 years of this toil.

Thanks all for your comments.

 

Treestyle Arboriculture: Professional Tree Surgeons, Manchester

[David Goss]

Every day is a school day for all of us

[blazer]

Im still new in to the arbor, To limit the danger of the tree splitting like it did could you not use a ratchet strap to reduce it so far. To give the feller a better idea on where it will go once it has hit the ground. From the video you only get to see one angle

 

Another vote for a rachet strap & 'dog tooth' I noticed on a video a while ago a climber who swopped the ends of his ratchet strap so one end had a loop and the other a hook, so no shackle needed:thumbup1:

 

I will put up a video of my son felling a large tree with a 60 degree lean tomorrow

Edited November 1, 2011 by blazer