For everyone that cuts wood!

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Everybody please be careful whether you use safety equipment or not. I cut a locust tree that was only about 14-16 inches across at the base and maybe 30 feet tall. It got caught in the top of another tree and hopped of the stump but stayed standing. I hooked my long bull rope to the bottom of the tree maybe 3 feet up and pulled with my truck to pull the bottom out and get the tree down. When I stated to pull the butt stated to move then dropped in a whole about a foot deep and the tree stood straight up and fell 90 degrees to the right and landed on my buddies horse trailer. It all happened within about 30 seconds. Things can and will happen fast when cutting wood so don't take anything for granted, and be carefull.
 
woodjack said:
No question, felling trees and chain saws are dangerous play, but lets not get carried away. Whoever's afraid to look at a chain saw, fine for him. However, with proper focus and reasonable knowledge felling, bucking and limbing are not strictly for professionals. I use my chain saw every day. No chaps, no ear muffs, no special gloves and often in sneakers. No accidents. Just be very careful, have full attention on what your doing and don't take unwise chances. I love my chain saws. For me, it's part of the wood burning process.

My father, who worked in construction for years, would take you up on the "no ear muffs" part of your comment.

His mantra on this (as he has lots of hearing problems now) is "Hearing loss is cumulative and permanent."

If you're running the chain saw or the lawn mower or the log splitter, you really should use hearing protection.
 
I f you never want to have a conversation with your grand kids (because you can't hear them) don't wear hearing protection! Did you hear me?
My father really doesn't have a relationship with us because he can't hear and refuses to wear hearing aids.
 
Honestly, do you guys put on hearing muffs every time you start your chain saw? To me it's not that extremely loud, but then again, I'm already half deaf.
 
bambam said:
Everybody please be careful whether you use safety equipment or not. I cut a locust tree that was only about 14-16 inches across at the base and maybe 30 feet tall. It got caught in the top of another tree and hopped of the stump but stayed standing. I hooked my long bull rope to the bottom of the tree maybe 3 feet up and pulled with my truck to pull the bottom out and get the tree down. When I stated to pull the butt stated to move then dropped in a whole about a foot deep and the tree stood straight up and fell 90 degrees to the right and landed on my buddies horse trailer. It all happened within about 30 seconds. Things can and will happen fast when cutting wood so don't take anything for granted, and be carefull.

I guess that could you know, like, theoretically happen. And I guess it could be a pine tree. And maybe it could end up going 45 degrees from where you intended. And maybe it could theoretically land on the power lines running up your driveway and knock the power our for four blocks. Heck while we are conjecturing I guess it could happen on a hot Sunday afternoon in August and knock out all of your neighbor's air conditioning.

Nah. Couldn't happen. :red:

Luckily the lineman that got called out was embarrassed when he couldn't get his chainsaw to start after he got up there in the bucket and had to borrow mine so I didn't receive a bill from the electric company. He said "All I saw was that a pine tree fell on the line.". I asked him what color he wanted his new pickup to be.
 
woodjack said:
Honestly, do you guys put on hearing muffs every time you start your chain saw? To me it's not that extremely loud, but then again, I'm already half deaf.

I put the muffs down because they hold the dang helmet on my head. It took me a while to stop forgetting to raise the mask before I spit. :lol:
 
Hearing loss is accumulative and permanent . For those of you not using hearing protecting, let me repeat that : HEARING LOSS IS ACCUMULATIVE AND PERMANENT. I "forget" my ear protection from time to time when I mow, and I am bad about forgetting it when I use power tool in the shop, but the ear muffs are connected to my helmet, and I always use my helmet when I use my chainsaw. I don't however own a pair of chaps.

I know that I am the only person I cut with using an angled back-cut. I was taught this from my dad when I was 12 or 13, and have always done it. I know that doesn't make it right, but the flat cut just looks like trouble waiting to happen to me. The only problem with it, is that when it's time to split that angled cut, it's a major pain.
 
mike1234 said:
I was taught this from my dad when I was 12 or 13, and have always done it.
Do some reading of info. from pro. fallers. It may save your life or, if you pass the angled back cut techinique on, someone else's.
 
mike1234 said:
The only problem with it, is that when it's time to split that angled cut, it's a major pain.

Ain't it the truth.
 
This was in the news tonight, Obviously a untimely and tragic loss.
http://www.wmur.com/news/21713629/detail.html
Details are scarce. It really does not matter anyway, you cannot push the clock back and put on your safety gear, or re-evaluate the situation. Very Sad.
 
I am a contractor and wear ear plugs and glasses all day long during work. I also use the ear plugs using any power tools. I buy them by the sack (40ea).
I want my grand kids to be able to talk to me.
 
mike1234 said:
Hearing loss is accumulative and permanent . For those of you not using hearing protecting, let me repeat that : HEARING LOSS IS ACCUMULATIVE AND PERMANENT. I "forget" my ear protection from time to time when I mow, and I am bad about forgetting it when I use power tool in the shop, but the ear muffs are connected to my helmet, and I always use my helmet when I use my chainsaw. I don't however own a pair of chaps.

I know that I am the only person I cut with using an angled back-cut. I was taught this from my dad when I was 12 or 13, and have always done it. I know that doesn't make it right, but the flat cut just looks like trouble waiting to happen to me. The only problem with it, is that when it's time to split that angled cut, it's a major pain.


Now, that's where we differ. I'd NEVER EVER NEVER use an angled back cut. That scares the sawdust out of me - a lot more than the sound of my chain saw.

That being said, your point is well taken and I'll start using air protection. . . . but I'm not sure how hip I'll look sporting a pair of noise-canceling headphones at my next rock concert. :lol:
 
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