This White Ash trunk was about 43'. It was leaning back diagonally from where I wanted it to go. I was worried about it breaking the hinge and going rogue, so I left a tall hinge on it. I notched it, then started the back cut, driving wedges to get the weight going toward the notch. I buried my wedges and the trunk looked like it was leaning toward where I wanted it to go, but it wouldn't fall. The trunk was also developing a barber chair-type crack above the end of the back cut. I finally had to climb a 30' ladder, tie a nylon rope (not very thick) to the trunk about 35' up, and pull it down with the quad. I was concerned that the rope might snap. The situation was freaking me out, to say the least!
So, why wouldn't this thing fall? Was my hinge too tall (4") ? How does tallness or fatness (horizontal distance between the back cut and the notch) affect how the hinge will operate?
Hard to tell, but the top of the trunk ends at the top of the pic.
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h407/2bnator/Hearth/001-8-1.jpg
Tall 4" hinge.
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h407/2bnator/Hearth/006-3.jpg
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h407/2bnator/Hearth/005-2.jpg
So, why wouldn't this thing fall? Was my hinge too tall (4") ? How does tallness or fatness (horizontal distance between the back cut and the notch) affect how the hinge will operate?
Hard to tell, but the top of the trunk ends at the top of the pic.
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h407/2bnator/Hearth/001-8-1.jpg
Tall 4" hinge.
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h407/2bnator/Hearth/006-3.jpg
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h407/2bnator/Hearth/005-2.jpg