How To Fell A Tree With A Chainsaw | Step By Step
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 ส.ค. 2024
- Kip Adams with QDMA provides step by step detailed instructions on how to properly fell a tree with a chainsaw. Safety is crucial when running a chainsaw, especially when felling a tree. Knowing a few safety tips can ensure a safe and successful job!
What this video refers to as a wedge is more commonly called a hinge because it's the line along with the tree bends as it falls. A wedge is a small inclined plane, usually made of metal or plastic, that you drive into the back cut to push the tree over in a particular direction.
Thanks for the precise measurements information. I just used all of it today, and actually used a slightly larger hinge to swing the tree away from my fence . Ive watched my dad when we were hauling pulp wood make trees turn almost completely around, or make them fall uphill all kinds of stuff, and always wondered how he knew so much about it. He showed me the wedge process but not the why of it. It was always well thats good enough or cut a little more, leave some on this side, etc, that was 40 plus years ago, and ive always done ok with my trees, but today i was putting them exactly where I wanted them and I knew why they were falling there and how to duplicate the results time and time again. So thanks again. Hap
Very cool that your dad was so proficient in felling trees! It can be a daunting task, especially with bigger trees! We're glad you found the video helpful!
I believe you meant to say hinge not wedge?
Wedge, as some people call it, is that piece of wood leftover from the face cut... Personally, I think it looks like a a piece of pie?
However, it can become very confusing for people new to this process, because wedges are important tools and should be within reach anytime you fell a tree!
(Knock them in your cut, then cut a little more, hammer them in further and/or add additional wedges.) Basically what ends up happening, if used correctly, is you push the tree precisely where you desire it to land. Rope puller is also used to accomplish same thing!
He made the face cut very wide so the tree would fall a long way before the gap closed, which prevents the bottom of the tree from kicking backwards. This effect can also be achieved by making the back cut an inch or two higher than the face cut.
I'm assuming the reason why the tree "popped suddenly" and came down (at the 5:30 minute mark) may not have been so much about the "soft spot" but more about the radical 20 degree lean that stressed the rear of the tree (to hold up the tree).
With the open face cut and then, the plunge-cut and removal of most of that center wood leaving only a tiny bit (at the back end), that tiny bit of wood left wasn't enough to hold back against the severe lean, and it tore out. Popped.
This is probably a good lesson. If a tree leans drastically, you probably have to leave a sizeable bit more wood at the rear of the lean to be safe --- before you make your final release-cut.
I'm new to felling and trying to absorb as much as possible. Thank god for the comments, looks like you could've got me killed. How bout removing this video and save some lives.
The back of the tree split vertically as it fell. Had he not used a plunge cut it almost certainly would have split sooner and produced what's called a "barber chair", which is very dangerous. The split could have been avoided by making a shallow cut through the bark on the back side before extending the plunge cut outwards. It's also a good idea to wrap a leaning tree with strong ropes, straps, or chains before felling it to prevent splitting.
Showing the proper PPE was the best part of the video. “Sawing” back and forth shows inexperienced use of a saw. Let the saw do the cutting (like you said a sharp saw would have been best option for an informational video like this.
The “hinge” not the wedge is used to guide the tree down.
Would not recommend telling people to use the plunge cut method for setting the hinge without actually showing how you properly do it. The video skipped that part entirely! Someone who tries is and accidentally cuts through their hinge will end up in big trouble.
Never cut from the inside out with the final cut. Leave a nice trigger when you’ve set your trigger and always finish from outside at full throttle. This will not allow that ugly piece of fiber that pulled out at the end and won’t have the chance to catch your saw and take it down with the tree. Huge fan of the channel but this was poor advice to people learning
We appreciate the feedback
That's right, ALWAYS from behind to finish (full throttle) this method of felling plants on slopes!
About to buy some land and need to clear some trees. Thanks for the know-how to safely. Hopefully I can use some of it for a log home.
You bet!
First - Kip Adams needs to learn how to fell trees before YT demonstration. I'm really just want to be nice, simple good advise. What you doing there will get someone hurt! - And second Learn to sharpen your chain. 3. Be smart, learn proper procedure, practice, think safety ... and please, again ... sharpen your chain sir!
Dull saw, Dutchmen in your notch, uneven/unleveled notch, improper cut on the trigger of your plunge cut, notch cut should be 30% average. I’m not stating this to ridicule your work, I’m saying this because I’ve seen people get hurt doing what you’re doing.
Good comment
Amen
Right I'm like geeze is That powder comming out crazy stop and sharpen that chain
And he called the hinge the wedge. I was so confused by this video.
It is a hinge, not a wedge
Ha!
Dutchman in the face cut sure showed experience
I would advise you find a different video for learning how to fell a tree
I stopped watching when I saw the saw dust coming off that chain instead of the nice shavings that you get with a sharp chain. Also, the sawing motion made me quite nauseous. How did it turn out? 🙈
Luckily he survived.
Watching you use a sawing motion with your chainsaw, shows just how inexperienced you are... you have a good idea of what you're doing, but have never fell a tree bigger than 1-2 feet at the butt.
As habitat managers, not loggers, we probably never will fell a tree thats 1-2' diameter at the butt.
@@Whitetail_Properties so don’t attempt to teach people! You’re not a pro, and it shows! That was hurtful to watch! Dangerous all the way around!
I'm just a lowly land owner and have felled trees 4 feet thick for firewood. Tree was kind of in the way so down it goes.
@@roberthartley2009 i liked his verbal explanation ...I appreciate his attempt to teach us . do u have any people you'd recommend to watch ?
Stop saying wedge it’s called Hinge.
I have a new chain, how do I get it dull enough to fell a tree properly?
A pile of rocks would work. Or your driveway.
I myself after cutting the heart all the way through would have left around 2 inches on the back and cut down at 45 degree angle and the tree wouldn't have ripped like it did. In the uk we call it a dogs tooth
Dude, you need to delete this video immediately.
Don't be posting BS like this until you know what your doing.
Need to see how, where, when you began cutting into the side of the tree (plunge cut)
Now I know why a birds mouth notch is preferred over 90° cut on the bottom. Thank you❤
Perfectly felled tree...
Except for the dutchman, barber chair, incorrect angle on the cuts.
great video appreciate the time but have to say that is one dull chain or the rakes are too high
Huh I was taught the notch and diagonal downward back cut....though it was proper curious as to why that is not the case?
The 45 degree safety zone is a great tip. It reminds me of 1980's cartoons where the character would run down a hill being followed by a rolling rock, at 7 years old id puzzle as to why they just didnt run to the side ? 🤔
Lol! It kept the young ones entertained!
3:34
This guy should not be teaching anything.
Why
That rumble is so annoying
Hard to follow.
Clear and concise unlike many of the other similar videos.
In text it all sounds good but there are many issues in wgat you do.
Sharpen your chain. Do not move the saw like a hand saw. Cut horizontally show the plunge cut. Get away when the tree starts falling. Do have wedges at hand. ....
Its along list.
Thanks for the great video. In Germany we cut the trees lower to the ground and do a different style notch but you showed al relevant security points. By the way, if the tree is hanging as much in the felling direction it makes sense to do the very last cut backside in, then the wood will not splinter as much in the end.
I'm an operator in the USA and my dad and I like fellers to leave the stumps taller, helps to get more leverage with the excavator to pop them out.
@@tommyw.9424 It depends a lot on why you're felling the tree. If it's for lumber, you usually want to cut it low with a Humboldt notch so as to maximize the amount of usable wood. For firewood or simple removal a standard notch is easier. And as you wrote, for easier stump removal cut it high.
Holding a chainsaw left handed can put you in the path of the chain if kickback occurs.
Perfectly leaning tree. Of course perfectly felled 😂
Lets see? Dull saw! clearly does not know how to fall a tree! Am I missing anything else?
But he's got all the gear?!
@@Gigachadly sad part is, I just bought my first chainsaw (Stihl MS170) and I was looking to buy the same chaps and helmet/ear muffs as he was wearing.
You missed the part where he gets someone killed doing it this way.
Thank you. Very good explanation.
How many beers first though?
'Wedge' = 'HINGE'
Exactly what I was looking for, thanks!
Dont follow his steps. He only does about 30% of felling a tree correctly.
@@i7887 30% is using a chainsaw?
@@aguyandhiscomputer You okay?
Thank you...
It's not a wedge It's a hinge
If you cut your chaps or they get a hole in them you should replace the per osha standard. Not criticizing just giving the info out there to who might need it.
What if the tree is not leaning to one side but straight up in the air how do you cut that kind of a tree. 🤔🤔🤔🤔
How about same tree same hill, but you wanna fell up the hill due to structure downhill?
Never been in the lumber business, just curious. How do you gauge if you have enough clearance for the tree to fall without hitting any other trees in the area?
Most likely it’s going to come in contact with other trees. Depending on the location, tree size, slop etc. will determine how much contact a tree that is being cut down will have with other trees.
Find a stick the length of your arm and hold it in your grip so it's pointing straight up. When you are the distance of the height of the tree away from the tree the stick will appear the same height as the tree to your perspective if you are holding the bottom of the stick at the bottom of the tree. If the tree looks taller than the stick walk backward until they are the same. Opposite if the tree looks shorter. This is simple triangle geometry that the ancients figured out centuries ago. They measured mountains with the same basic technique. It works great for trees.
Pythagoras therum
Just move on to another video, if you wanna learn this.
Not a bad video. For those watching, looking to find out how to cut a tree of their own. Please watch more videos before going out and cutting a tree of this size down on your own.
Some things about the technique in this video really need some work to be actually safe. Your terminology is off when it comes to hinge/wedge. You completely left out any mention of felling sights. That's a big one. Yes while i'll agree that the tree fell mostly properly, some more education on the part of the person making the video intended to educate other people would be nice. Barber chair. You almost had a barber chair even though you did a pluge cut due to the lean of the tree. There was no "soft spot". The tension wood almost got the better of you and if you have had your face there, you'd be going to the hospital. Definitely not a safe way to fell a tree. It's relatively safe but not safe enough to be using it as a demonstration video.
Step 3: Perfectly felled tree... love the confidence, buddy.
Because a heavy leaner that was felled right into its lean is something to call perfect lol. This guy!
Well, when the tree is leaning 30 degrees in the direction you want it to fall, it's not so bad.
Yup, that helps.
When u know how to actually use a chainsaw helps too haha
Sorry, but i feel cringe every time these so called professional fellers teaching people while using dull chainsaw. Working with dull chain is dangerous and easy way to shorten chainsaws life. If you can't sharpen it don't use it
Hands down the worst example on youtube. Mate give it up you will either hurt yourself or hurt others. First step sharpen your saw.
In your opinion what did we do wrong or what would you have done differently? Making sure you have a sharp saw goes without saying.
@@Whitetail_Properties Your explanation of the headlighted perfectly felled tree had me shaking my head. The stump was a mess. Almost Barber Chaired. If I had of ruined the butt end of my logs in the bush like you did that would have been game over. The Scarf or Notch defied belief. Just watch someone who does it right for a day. Its dangerous to say this is the safe way when clearly it is not at all safe. Your 1st cut is the most importamt your second cut should have been horozontal but a sharp saw would go a long way towards some credibility.
@whitetail properties. What state are yall based out of? Mainly where is kip based out of?
We are in Illinois, Kip is In PA
@@Whitetail_Properties I gotcha, I am a chainsaw safety instructor out of Missouri, we mainly teach in Missouri and Indiana. I would highly recommend yall send kip or whoever will be doing your videos to either one of our classes or a game of logging class. Theres a few things mentioned and showed in the video that isnt quite right and can get someone hurt, not throwing stones just trying to keep everyone safe!
Very nice video and very helpful. Thank you! Best way to fell a tree hands down.
efitzger Glad it helped out!
Which saw model is that?
That face cut 🤣🤣
I was running this saw for about 2 hours at about a 30-50% duty cycle th-cam.com/users/postUgkxfQm1wmg0ItKDLavxj1nXtQY9HP7EF504 and it did a great job. I used the lever for the built in sharpener to clear chip buildup out more than to actually sharpen the chain. It managed to cut some hardwood stumps much larger than it's size without bothering the neighbors with hours of 2 stroke noise.
I would have given more detail after step 1. Your next cut after step 1 wedge is unclear.
do you mean hinge ?
Nah, the triangle things you wedge into the back of the tree are the hinge.
🤔
@@aguyandhiscomputer really !
i thought they called wedges
🤨
@@MAAAH1581 actually, you are correct. Both are wedges. Had to watch it again.
@@aguyandhiscomputer no wait
i understand that you are trying to make fun of me but why ?
@@MAAAH1581 No, I'm not.
A good cut don't bust the log you can tell you've never logged before I hope too many people don't watch you
I am sorry but you did not follow your own “45 degree escape route” if you are going to tell people that this is what the need to do you need to do it as well.
Also move if the saw back and fourth like a hand saw that is also very dangerous and you are using that saw with your left hand. Your seem to be asking for trouble. I am 15 and I have more saw education and discipline than you do sir.
The worst thing I’ve ever seen
The first cut is ok the plunge cut was bullshit.
"Let's see what we got..." Well you have a really dull blade, that's what. My Farm Boss would have made that wedge cut in about 2 seconds. Change or sharpen your chain my man. And I would never make the felling cut from the inside back, jeeeze. Tree falling while your saw is buried in it. I'm no expert, but I just wouldn't do it that way.
Yeah that wasn’t sketchy
That is a pretty dull chain
You Need a new chain
Barbar chair! You will be yelling instead of timber.
Please do not use this video to learn how to fell a tree. Almost everything in it is wrong, the fact that he starts the video by saying he's blown out a pair of chaps by cutting himself so much should scare you away.
Chain is dull and you had a pretty bad Dutchman on the face cut
Super dangerous
Remove this video i is not safe to do it as shown.
Agree!!
I also agree.
Hinge ugly. I've never heard 25% for a face cut. I've always heard a third. Pretty bad instructional video honestly. I mean he used ppe but running the saw backwards hes raised his chances of needing ppe about 1000%.
@@sanityfade it is 25% notch, 10% hinge. About 1/3 total. The other 2/3 is back cut. But...yeah this dude is a joke 🤦🏻♂️
@@roberthartley2009 it's called a wedge, not a hinge.
A hinge is what you wedge into the back of the tree...
I didn't understand the 2" thing
Basically what Kip was saying was that leaving 10% (in this case 2") of the tree behind the notch will help the tree fall more slow and controlled. The graphics on the screen at 3:39 show about a 2" of tree that were not cut through in order to help control the fall speed of the tree. Around 5:30-5:58 you can see the 2" wedge in action slowing the fall of the tree. Hope this helps clarify for you!
Ce gars là se prétend un expert! Je n'aurait pas voulu qu'il soit mon professeur. La position de son corps n'est pas la bonne.
You lost credibility with the sawing back and forth , let the saw do the work that's what it's for!. Also seems dangerous doing a plunge cut never use the tip of a saw like that, kick back is mad , plus the possibility if the saw getting pinched ?????
Is this one of those prank videos?? Oh my . Don't take any advise from this dude felling a tree. Please don't!!!
REMOVE VIDEO!!
1. Holding chainsaw left handed not how it is designed right hand on rear handle left hand on top handle.
2. The area behind the notch is called the HINGE not the wedge
3. Get the saw out of the tree and hit the holding strap
Although I appreciate the idea of making safety videos you must follow ANSI Z133 arboriculture standards and OSHA standards there are no arguments or excuses for not following the standards set by years of mistakes and fatalities.
Nice video and technique... For the YT experts... "There is no perfect way to fell a tree."👍
Your wrong dude there is perfect ways of doin it and this dude was wrong plain and simple lol
How he cut the tree it could have split and went wrong really quick type into TH-cam
barber chair tree and see how it could have went wrong dude in my opinion
Yes it was a small tree but u cut small ones just like u would the big ones so u do not get into a stupid routine that will eventually risk your life and the people your working with
Running a chainsaw "left handed" sure isnt it. Lmao
@@disco7749 He used the plunge cut... How can it barber chair?... but his chainsaw is badly adjusted... missed that.
Everything you were teaching was wrong ,for being a bigger guy,the way you held the saw was how a little girl would ,the way you rocked the saw on your undercut and your back cut ,wow😅 beeeee careful
Pointless wearing chaps with a shirt sleeved shirt & no gloves on.