Brown ballistics time

[Tim Williams]

Was clearing the drop zone for a large very screwed beech we are going to fell, was a very straight stem sycamore and the crown was weighted to one side, was anchored into another beech next to it as i didnt trust the sycamore at all. was advised by my forman that the best thing to do was top 30ft out. i was extreamly worried about it barber chairing but went ahead any way, long story short i put my gob, in cut 1/4 into the tree and the stem split 1m above and below my backcut, absoloutly crapped my self , shouted to the guy on the ground that it had gone wrong and to ease off the pull rope, which he thought i was shouting to pull it, which he did and the split grew larger, wacked my saw back into the back cut and some how pulled it off without it going bad. first time somthing has had serious potential of going very wrong for me since iv been climbing in the industry (3 months). made me relise that im the one who should be making decisions when im up the tree and that i cant always shout for help, a turning point as a climber me thinks:001_tongue:

 

to help prevent barber chair make a small cut either side of your hinge this will help prevent the stem splitting as you make your back cut.

[Steve Bullman]

those cuts are primarily for preventing tears...i dont think they will do a huge amount in preventing barber chair on succeptible wood

[David Humphries]

Placed to prevent tears

[Pete Mctree]

to help prevent barber chair make a small cut either side of your hinge this will help prevent the stem splitting as you make your back cut.

 

Sap cuts are primarily used for the prevention of fibre tear. How would they prevent the occourance of a barbers chair?

[skyhuck]

Placed to prevent tears

 

Two tie in's! Tim will be pleased!!

 

Although personally I would have the strop higher and the rope lower, I'd sooner cut my strop than my rope, plus when they are so close you could possibly cut both

 

Not a dig mate!, I'm sure I've done it.

[skyhuck]

Sap cuts are primarily used for the prevention of fibre tear. How would they prevent the occourance of a barbers chair?

 

Infact they could help cause one, as you are weakening the stem.

[treequip]

to help prevent barber chair make a small cut either side of your hinge this will help prevent the stem splitting as you make your back cut.

 

I can see where you are coming from with this but there are better techniques.

It is possible to put “Ears” in and if they are deep enough, parallel enough and properly lined up with the felling cut they will man there is less material for the saw to shift when it comes down to the gravy and a faster moving saw will mean less chance of a barber chair. It would need some pretty accurate carpentry though.

Andy

[David Humphries]

Two tie in's! Tim will be pleased!!

 

Although personally I would have the strop higher and the rope lower, I'd sooner cut my strop than my rope, plus when they are so close you could possibly cut both

 

Not a dig mate!, I'm sure I've done it.

 

 

I'll pass on your concerns to the climber Dave.

 

Thought you'd be able to tell it wasn't me...............No MEWP

 

 

 

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[Marc]

Another tip pointed out to me by Qtip is to put your sap wood cuts above your back cut, before this was pointed out to me i'd put the sap wood cuts either in line or below my back so as to prevent fiber tear interfering with my strop.

The problem is these little sap wood cuts can act like a step cut as your felling sections out and can trap your saw if not accurate enough or below your back cut, especially a problem on big piece's and not a good thing!!.

 

As for sap wood cut preventing barber chairing i kind of think it does, well on big limbs going out horizontal when i put big sap wood cuts it does seem to prevent the fibers spliting along the grain and allow the piece to pop off quicker. Just an observation.

[vduben]

ive never had a barber chair in the tree but its not a nice experience anywhere, the sap cuts hel it break off easier and stop tears like everyone has said, i worked with a guy who used to put massive 'sap cuts' in the side of his gob!!!! not below it, thus making the hinge half the size!!!!!!!!! i did ask him what he was doing and he said he had seen me doing it!!! obviously not paying propper attention which can cause major accidents