Back in August we had a major but very localized storm. Of the many downed trees, one was an oak leaner hung up about 20' up on a sassafras. Couple days ago the remains of Patricia knocked it down into my yard still on the sass but at a height that I could cut it.
Now I freely admit I'm no chainsaw expert but I've read and learned from the more experienced folks here and watched the BC feller series. This has given me a healthy respect (fear
) of what can happen.
After cutting everything hanging freely, I started cutting the section against the standing sass. My first cut was a top cut made from the uphill side with the sass between me and the leaner. I cut about 1/4 way through watching carefully for any binding. Satisfied with the top cut I started in from the bottom.
As my bottom cut approached the top cut it started to close as the tree settled which I expected so I went after it. All of a sudden there was movement and being a novice it didn't register and next thing I know the bar is stuck. Now I couldn't figure out how it could be binding both top and bottom but stuck it was.
There was just a little holding wood so I grabbed a bow saw and started to cut with my right hand and holding the saw (off with brake on) in my left. Still with the sass between me and the leaner. Suddenly and without warning the tree broke free and shot uphill (towards me) about 4'. If I was not protected by the sass it would have thrown me 20'.
Turns out the binding was coming from the backside of the cut and looking back if the saw had not bound the tree would have caught the handle of the running saw as it went by and who knows what could've happened. In any case it nipped my knuckles but no damage and I got another 1/4 cord or so added to my to be split pile.
To guys that do this all the time this is probably a mundane story but for the rest of us be careful. In addition with the benefit of hindsight I should have seen this coming as it was "readable". Wood cutting can be exciting.
Now I freely admit I'm no chainsaw expert but I've read and learned from the more experienced folks here and watched the BC feller series. This has given me a healthy respect (fear
) of what can happen.After cutting everything hanging freely, I started cutting the section against the standing sass. My first cut was a top cut made from the uphill side with the sass between me and the leaner. I cut about 1/4 way through watching carefully for any binding. Satisfied with the top cut I started in from the bottom.
As my bottom cut approached the top cut it started to close as the tree settled which I expected so I went after it. All of a sudden there was movement and being a novice it didn't register and next thing I know the bar is stuck. Now I couldn't figure out how it could be binding both top and bottom but stuck it was.
There was just a little holding wood so I grabbed a bow saw and started to cut with my right hand and holding the saw (off with brake on) in my left. Still with the sass between me and the leaner. Suddenly and without warning the tree broke free and shot uphill (towards me) about 4'. If I was not protected by the sass it would have thrown me 20'.
Turns out the binding was coming from the backside of the cut and looking back if the saw had not bound the tree would have caught the handle of the running saw as it went by and who knows what could've happened. In any case it nipped my knuckles but no damage and I got another 1/4 cord or so added to my to be split pile.
To guys that do this all the time this is probably a mundane story but for the rest of us be careful. In addition with the benefit of hindsight I should have seen this coming as it was "readable". Wood cutting can be exciting.
