Dealing with chainsaw stupidity

[Apprentice_GM]

So I have a neighbour who bought a new chainsaw and of course because he owns one, knows how to fell trees

He starts with the tree nearest to his house as his first attempt, but worried about it's proximity, decides to use a ladder to climb up and make a high cut, holding the chainsaw just above his eye level. He ropes the tree and gets a mate to use a car winch for tension along the desired fall line, but doesn't front notch, just back cuts in short bursts - cuts, down the ladder, increase rope tension, no fall, back up the ladder, cut a bit more, repeat - until with one mighty crack the tree breaks at the backcut spot and falls (fortunately, where intended).

My question for the wiser-than-I folk here is do I say anything to him, and if so what & how? He's a bit arrogant and not the most friendly dude so I am not sure if I should say anything or just leave it alone. In my opinion what he did was pretty dangerous . . . thoughts?

 

[BrotherBart]

He ain't gonna listen.

He is "experienced" now.

 

[Prof]

Yeah, he probably won't listen. A few weeks ago my neighbor had a few trees dropped by pros and he was trying to cut up the larger rounds with the saw. Smoke was pouring from the bar. then I saw him run the saw into the ground a couple times. Well, that explained how the chain was so dull. I offered to split the rounds, but he refused help. I suggested that he should sharpen his chain--he said that it had to be sharp since it was new, the wood was just tough (it was pine). It was painful to watch him beat his saw that way. Oh, and he did not have any protective gear. Who knows, maybe your neighbor is more open to suggestions than mine. Good luck.

 

[blades]

Just walk away, no sense getting into some sort of snit with a neighbor of that type. On the tree, he got lucky, that will run out soon enough. Education can be tough on knot heads. Might want to make sure your home owners policy is up to date though.

 

[bpirger]

Well, I guess I a, different. How will you feel if tomorrow he drops a tree on his house? Maybe not so bad. How about if he dies? Print out a few pages of how to fell from somewhere and stick it in his mailbox or some other equally subtle, and maybe anonymous way. Or just say something straight up.

Protect your own conscious here I'd say.....what can you sleep with? If he at least cut the notch things would be tremendously better.....let alone protection gear, a ladder, saw at eye level, etc.

 

[Apprentice_GM]

It was an 80 foot tree about 15 foot from his house. Climbing the ladder and operating the chainsaw at head height took away maybe 10 foot of tree length (ie his cut was say 13 foot above ground whereas he could have made a 3 foot above ground cut standing on the ground). The whole thing could have been done on the ground with a front notch without changing the risk profile of damage to house from tree dropping, other than improving it dramatically by having a proper hinge rather than just snapping with some random chance of snapping / shearing and falling towards house. Of course his personal safety risk profile would have been way, way better front notching and doing it all at ground level.

If he had done it from ground, with a front notch, and had the rope / winch happening, it could have been a near textbook / exemplary way of tree felling.

He has a wife & 2 week old baby, I know it shouldn't make a difference, but it encourages me more to say / do something than do nothing. I like the idea of a letterbox drop but he'll know it was me . . . and if I approach him in person he'll get pissed off I have the hide to point out or suggest some better way, because he knows it all . . .

 

[Jags]

Well - I can be a little blunt in a situation like this. A normal retort from me would go something like... "If you care about your wife and kids financial security you might want to not kill yourself."

 

[salecker]

Set up a camera every time he go's to cut down a tree.If he asks what you are doing tell him you are hoping to catch his techniques on camera.That way if something happens you might be able to sell the video and donate the money to his widow.
Then maybe he will get the hint
Thomas

 

[Grisu]

Well - I can be a little blunt in a situation like this. A normal retort from me would go something like... "If you care about your wife and kids financial security you might want to not kill yourself."

Someone should send an insurance agent to his house to talk to his wife about life insurance for him. She may need the money rather sooner than later if he continuous that way.

 

[mstoelton]

Never try to teach a pig to sing. It frustrates you and pisses off the pig!

 

[t4driller]

Next time you see him go for his saw, grab yours and see if you can help. Maybe he's the type that if he sees someone else do it a different way he might catch on. But I wouldn't just go up and say something that could start a war. Something need done though I have 2 girls 1 and 3 and if I was doing something stupid I hope someone says would say something to me.

 

[bioman]

Next time make a video!

 

[Fred Wright]

Agreed, you can't fix stupidity. And unsolicited advice is rarely accepted, especially by the arrogant. More likely, he'd do everything but what you suggest. How do you train or teach someone who already knows it all? They simply do not listen.

I hope he doesn't drop a tree on his home or yours.

 

[Shawn Curry]

Yeah my neighbor used this "technique" recently to take down a large norway maple. Said something to his wife when I was walking my dog. Told her whoever cut down that tree had no idea what they were doing at she was lucky it didn't fall on her house. Wanted to ask her if she wanted me to clean it up, but she told me it was her husband, so I didn't bother.

 

[tsquini]

He would not listen. You can say something like: I wish I was as confident as you in doing the absurd or I have seen cautious people get into accidents.

 

[rkshed]

He's not going to listen but maybe if you have a small tree you need to drop, "ask" him to spot for you and cut it down correctly, right in front of him. He just might learn a thing or two without you saying a word.

 

[moey]

Offer to help saw in hand. I was part of a tree dropping experience where the tree fell on the house sister and niece inside I wish someone would have came along and offered to help. Fortunately no one was hurt. You may be surprised most people even a-holes can be taught something.

 

[bobdog2o02]

He's not going to listen but maybe if you have a small tree you need to drop, "ask" him to spot for you and cut it down correctly, right in front of him. He just might learn a thing or two without you saying a word.

Is that a Falco in your profile pic?

 

[rkshed]

Is that a Falco in your profile pic?

Yup. 2001. Tuono coming this fall (I hope)

 

[geoff1969]

dont stress = mother nature will teach him = only time ...

 

[SIERRADMAX]

I would have said something regardless of how much bigger or stupid he is. If something were to happen, I would feel guilty that I hadn't said anything and have remorse for his wife & infant.

 

[bobdog2o02]

Yup. 2001. Tuono coming this fall (I hope)

I ride with a guy that has one, same color too. Aprillia's US marketing should be, "The reliable Italian twin."

 

[paul bunion]

Give your neighbor some credit. At least he didn't straight gas it.

 

[jillybeansisme]

After 27 years of working in a casino, I've learned you can't fix stupid . . . that doesn't mean you can't fix stupid's wife. I would definitely give her a present for her husband (Harbor Freight has ear muffs and a face mask that you can buy for about $6 total) with some simple instructions (5 sentences or less) about felling the tree. Tell her "Oh, I'm glad to see you. Congratulations on the new baby. I have a baby present for you -- wanted to give this to your husband, but since I see you, here it is! He'll want to protect his eyes and ears so he can see and hear that beautiful baby grow up -- and he might want to get some chaps so he can give that baby a brother or sister some day!" Hand her the $6 gift with some simple tree felling instructions.

Daddy will listen to Mommy, if he wants to live...peacefully. It is said that a happy wife is a happy life!

I agree with Gisu - maybe you should check your homeowner's insurance to make sure you have all you need!

 

[Firewood Bandit]

My curiosity inquires, did he buy a Wild Thang, Poulon or Stihl MS 1xx-2xx series saw?