Harvesting valuable trees safely.

[gomipile]

The safety procedures I was taught in my youth for cutting down trees sacrifice a fair bit of the trunk in exchange for a safer, more predictable fall.

So, how do you safely harvest a valuable tree while preserving as much salable height as possible? Also, since this would involve a cut parallel to the ground, how do you keep the chainsaw from binding?

Do you use some sort of harness and structure/machinery to support the tree while cutting it? I'm really new to this field, only having cut trees for landscaping and trail management before, not for lumber.

[Troy H]

I'm not certain where this subject would go where it would get the most relevant attention. I don't think Wilderness Survival is the right place, though.

I'm going to move it to The Workshop. Hopefully that will be more appropriate. Good luck finding answer to your question!

[willseeyalater]

There are a lot of things to consider since each tree is in a unique location with trees, buildings or whatever in the area. What species of tree are you looking at? Is the base double or triple your chain bar length? Are there solid trees or anchor points if you use a strap and come along to guide the drop? Yes, on the cut you want to save as much stump for sale use so your drop side notch has to be as low as you can safely work without being in the dirt. Same for your back cut. Keep non essential bystanders out of the area, if they need to watch designate a safe view location and spray paint a 'do not cross' line around the drop area. As far a binding if you can find the composite wedges to pop into the back cut those are handy and your chain can nip them without ruining the links. In an ideal scenario your drop angle pulls the back cut open as you work toward the notch. If you are working against a lean angle then the come along and strap method is going to open up your back cut. Use good strap or chain and get them up 15 to 20 feet on the tree to take advantage of the angle of pull. Be careful and don't get complacent in watching out for safety. A tree halfway cut down is a thing to be respected, many an experienced cutter have tapped out because they misread a drop or got a widow maker over the head.

[shanny19]

The technical term for what you're talking about is a Humboldt cut (as opposed to a conventional undercut) but it's not really
for the inexperienced.

[Arathol]

Bore cut with wedges. The tree won't fall until you cut the release, plenty of time to make sure your ropes are secure and much safer and more predictable than the standard face cut and back cut. Not for the novice or inexperienced though.
Side note here - if you intend on doing this professionally, you are required to have a certain amount of training. Read the OSHA regualtions that cover the logging industry. Where I live you also need to have a certain amount of training every year in good forestry managment, enviromental practices, etc etc to maintain your license. Lots of rules and regulations to be followed, you can't just buy a saw and go out and cut everything in sight.

[omniviking]

Remember you are of more value the the log and the chain saw combined. you can't out run a falling tree but you can side step it if you are near the stump and it goes the wrong way. kinda hard to show pointers on a forum thread. look for someone that has a lot of time at logging and maybe ask if they would give you some pointers.

[Skimo]

Yep, and don't stand behind the tree as it's falling, amazing amount of force that will make getting kicked by a horse look like a joke.

[gadgetgeek]

it would be worth asking a local arbourist for an opinion, maybe even to do the drop for you, then again, how much would the cost of that be compared to the extra timber gained? As for straps and wedges as mentioned, I do know that it now falls outside of the safe accepted practice guidelines in some places.

[willseeyalater]

it would be worth asking a local arbourist for an opinion, maybe even to do the drop for you, then again, how much would the cost of that be compared to the extra timber gained? As for straps and wedges as mentioned, I do know that it now falls outside of the safe accepted practice guidelines in some places.

Definitely use caution and get onsite guidance if dropping trees is not a well developed skill for you. Plenty of experienced wood cutters get hurt so a team approach is smart. Using straps and wedges is taking your risk level up a lot so don't rely on any of those tools when there are many better methods. You don't have to watch the 'funny video' shows to many times to see how bad dropping trees can be. The difference between funny and tragic is not very far. Near miss equals near funeral in many cases.