Hang-up Tree Removal, Step-Cut Technique
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ส.ค. 2024
- Instructor Jeff McGinnis demonstrates step-cutting the base of a hang-up tree during an S-212 Wildland Fire Chain Saws class. The lower sections are removed in about 3 foot lengths, using a pie-cut on the top bind and a bottom release cut. The chainsaw is a Stihl 460 Magnum with full wrap handle.
This is definitely one of the better how to videos I've ever seen on TH-cam partners wildland firefighting goes, and in defense of the video I believe somebody said at a 1:30 or so "why cut up so high?" I've never seen a crew cut a standing tree at any level other than waist high and then short stump at. There is also a comment at 3:00 about not cutting on the other side of the hang up, what was failed to be noticed was where he was located at 4:40. There was another tree blocking his way, it would have been pointless to start from the other side... Very well done, I relearned a technique that I haven't uzed in quite some time.
This is just the sort of situation that's been the source of many "watch these idiots fail at trying to bring down this tree" videos. It's nice to see how a professional does it.
I will try your cutting method, I have an uprooted hung up poplar that's caught up in another tree. Thanks, Dave.
Dave Kana I have two uprooted hung up maples at least twice the girth as this one. Hell if I could get them down.
The most in safe video on the net
Nice hands on video. Learn a few tips here. Thanks!
some people are saying its unsafe... why? he's cutting on the compression side first (top) and finishing it off with an under cut... how else would you cut it under tension like that?
Sometimes, as the stick gets a bit vertical for my taste, I'll make these cuts sideways (as opposed to up/down). Set a hand winch a bit above the cuts to a solid tree off to the side. Make a face cut opposite the winch & backcut not too deep facing the winch. Leave the area while the winch "folds the tree. And ... remaining stick is closer to horizontal (or down). This gets to be more of interest with larger sticks, of course. Bud likes winching from safe distance.
Ah, step cutting, didn't know what to call it before. I always just keep right on cutting until it's so vertical it can fall back on itself. Of course my escape route at that point is usually behind the tree the hang is in. I think the cantilever and splinter base cuttings are the most dangerous so I hightail it no matter what as soon as I see the tree start to accelerate. Hang ups don't bother me.
Great info, thanks.
@EdVidz You're welcome.
Better safe than squished!
My technique?
Put a rope on it, hitch it to my dumper truck, and haul the tree out.
Much quicker, and no need to cut anything else.
niklar55 - Sure, thats one way to do it.
However, these are techniques for foresters who don’t have access to tractors in the mountains and forests.
This technique goes against everything i was taught in the UK in my felling school, City and Guilds. Anyone else?
Yep
Step cutting, ie this video, is how all US Forest Service wildland firefighting sawyers are trained to fell a hung up tree. The US Forest Service arguably cuts more trees annually for both wildland fires and forestry work than any other professional agency in the world. And, their safety record reflects the practical use and application of these standard operating procedures. These procedures are “written in blood”, meaning they have been advanced and perfected through corrections and perfections learned by accidents, injuries, and fatalities. The hard lessons learned have been applied to the protocol of step cutting today.
I would do it as shown in the video (minus destroying the small trees). How were you taught?
at 1:48...why cut up so high? cut it at the base- gives you better leverage when pushing it over if it doesn't fall, and removes the need for cutting the tall stump off. Sawing safety is also about efficiency. And again at 3:00- why work under that hang-up? Might the escape route be better on the other side of the tree the dead one is hung up in!? Work smarter, not harder.
What?
I don't understand why you need to kill two trees to remove one??🤔. In my place we would use a machete only to cut the branches and trunks first then continue to cut the lower part in two area and pull the tree down. Maybe different places have different ways of clearing fallen trees. Anyway, good video.
I'm surprised they cut living trees. In the Angeles National Forest when we remove hazard trees, we don't kill living trees. Ever.
I have to agree with you. However, one thing Ive encountered when building trails is people getting upset when we cut trees that are still living. What they don't know is that it may still have leaves but the tree may be on the verge of becoming dead. Might as well catch it early before it completely rots and becomes a hazard to hikers or to the trail crew trying to remove it later on. Last thing we want to do is kill healthy trees. Get so much shit from the public about that and sick as hell for having to explain every time haha
I think, but im not positive that he removed a live tree so that removing the hung tree would be less dangerous to himself. I would rather see him cut a live tree that to get seriously injured or killed doing his job. Sometimes the crews cant get big equipment to every job site. Just my thoughts
Hey look, he's cutting down a cute lil baby tree....and struggling to do so.... lol what a turkey.
if not that this was for a particular learning/training experience, it seems to me that a cable winch to a nearby tree would be fastest and safest. The entire tree would be down in 5 min with virtually zero risk, no?
LoL... and these guys are trainers..
The most un safe video on the net
Then post a vid the proper way to do it! Some of us r here to learn. We see your comment and are curious! So post a vid! No?? Just a shitty comment then nothing??? Typical....