Felling Cuts

[zackman1801]

so it was a fairly large tree, not huge but bigger than your average firewood tree.  ive seen people get their bars pinched before because they let the saw sit while they reach for thier  wedges and the tree settles back in the cut, but this usually only happens on trees that you dont borecut and just come in from the back, most of the time you wont pinch your bar in a borecut because of the hinge and the holding wood.

[ScottAR]

I fall about as many as Reid.  Since I've learned the bore cut it's about all
I do anymore unless it's a really small tree.  Like 6-8" or so. 

I notch em all regardless... 

[Ianab]

I think that what happened is this diagram.   It is a cross-sectional view of
the cutting area.    Needless to say,  I don't want to compromise hinge wood
like that again.

The hinge seemed to crush a bit on one side, just enough to lock the bar, but had
a good bit of wood left on the far side of the hinge. (Image hidden from quote, click to view.)

Been there, done that. Exactly how you drew it. The tree gave a little creak and settled on the bar 

Same outcome, took the powerhead off and released the back strap with another saw. In this case the tree had a heavy foward lean, so yes the hingewood was compromised, but there was only one direction it was going. It was just a misjudgement on my part, large tree (~36") on the side of a hill, it was awkward to get at, and I didn't get the angles right. 

Even with the problem I still believe it was MUCH safer than a conventional backup would have been in that situration. (large heavy leaner prone to barberchairing)

Ian

[fencerowphil (Phil L.)]

That was my point, also, Ianab:  Safer, in spite of me. Lack of practice was
the culprit for me - just had not done a lot of boring cuts.

Even though it was not a great cut, it was still much safer.
This was a leaner, just not so big. 

Phil L.