what do you yell before cutting a tree.

[zackman1801]

hey guys, just a fun little question. im wondering what you guys yell before making the final cut to release the tree? ive heard the Classic "TIMBER" ive also heard a number of other things like "Back cut" or "Falling" . im just wondering what you guys happen to say.

[zopi]

If it is cold and the saw doesn't want to  play....uhhhh....yeah...this IS a family forum....

[Maineloggerkid]

You're talking about the competition, aren't you? That kid yelling backcut like a mad man.

[Jeff]

I'd be surprised that anyone is yelling anything on the professional level. But I could be wrong.

[zackman1801]

ive seen a few videos online of german guys Screaming something in german but idk what. although i was talking about that kid, weird to yell that, it makes little sense either because it has nothing to do with the tree falling. it would be more practical to yell timber or something because everyone knows what it means, if joe schmo was hiking through the woods and heard "backcut" im not sure he would know to move, but if he heard "Timber" he might think again. But im surprised that no one yells anything especially when others are working nearby. i could see that people would be silent if working alone, but i would probably let someone know if they were working around me.

[WH_Conley]

Only thing I ever said was " OH S***", when it went the wrong way.

Had an old dog that I ran off so many times that it got to the point that I cut a tree, could not find the dog, go to the tracor, he would be laying under it.  Guess he knew I wouldn't a tree on the machine.

[cantcutter]

I have a choose word for when they barber chair on me..... it starts with an F.... But otherwise I yell nothing except chaching $$$$

[J_T]

This part of the world you here a saw running it the woods and you not one of the crew you better wait till that saw stops .Then you do the yelling or 

[Gary_C]

Two things you don't want to hear are "whoops" and "look out."

Many years ago I was working on state land in a wildlife management area that was close to Rochester, MN. I was clearcutting a bunch of pines and had made my notch and back cut on one and made the final look to the area the tree was to fall and there stood two old ladies right where the tree was supposed to fall. One of the ladies, they were bird watching, waved and said "hi, just wanted to see what you were doing." For just a brief moment I thought about making the final cut and seeing how fast they could run, but instead I politely escorted them away from the path of the tree and explained what I was doing. 

[cantcutter]

How about FOUR!!!

[Engineer]

I've just mumbled "Uh oh" or some variation of that several times, but I don't yell anything.

[jokers]

If you steadfastly adhere to the two tree length rule you don`t have to yell anything. I always take a quick look around after making the notch and again before the release cut so I don`t yell anything. I kind of figure if someone sees me humping through the bush with a saw or hears it running, they ought to be able to figure out what I`m doing and Darwinism will either keep them away or draw them in. My father says I can be a real arse. 

[Ron Scott]

The fallers here do it the same way. They don't yell anything, but observe the two tree length safety zone. A sawyer shouldn't be approached when they are falling a tree. 

[Texas Ranger]

Usually, I yell something like "Hey!  Somebody got a chain saw I can borrow?"

[Paul_H]

Before chainsaws were used in the bush,a pair of handfallers working on the backcut with a crosscut saw would be difficult to hear unless you were very close.In our area,they would yell "timber,back in the woods" when the tree was ready to let go.It was before my time but I always enjoyed listening to the oldtimers stories when I started working in the woods.
Now the fallers have "danger active falling" signs posted as well as other signs advising visitors to not proceed without radio contact at the beginning of the spur road.At the setting itself,the road is blocked with a vehicle,and there are more warning signs.

[OneWithWood]

Heads!

[timberfaller390]

I always yelled "Hey here she comes" that was my grandpaws warning and I just picked it up from him.

[Bro. Noble]

eenie-meanie-minie-moe,  which way's the DanG thing gonna go?

[CLL]

Evidently my help doesn't say anything either, as he cut a tree(cedar) that the very top end hit the skid steer I was in. Needless to say I had something to say, but it wasn't timber, look out, or anything like that.

[Frickman]

I've been told that yelling "timber" or something similar goes back to the early days of logging in this country when they were hand falling enormous virgin timber. There would be a number of felling crews working in the same patch. Due to the size of the timber it might take several hours to fell a tree, so when they had one about ready to fall they would yell "timber" to alert the other felling crews. With todays rules on keeping two tree lengths distance this is no longer necessary.

[cuttingman423]

Evidently my help doesn't say anything either, as he cut a tree(cedar) that the very top end hit the skid steer I was in. Needless to say I had something to say, but it wasn't timber, look out, or anything like that.

rule of 2 tree length distance is that the saw operators  that make sure no ones in that range or  the other guys on a crew that are operating equipment ? i'd think it is everyones responsibility

[Ron Scott]

Yes, everyone's responsibility. I'm approaching and walking around fallers on a regular basis and sometimes the two tree length rule needs to be extended depending upon the area and other potential hazard trees.

Don't enter a faller's safety zone until you visually see the tree being worked laid safely on the ground. 

[Corley5]

I always look the direction the tree is going to fall before I start the back cut and as it starts to fall.  There's not supposed to be anyone else in the woods where we're working and there usually isn't.  Yesterday a neighbor lady walked up on us to ask if we'd cut a tree by her house so she could get a new gas pig set.  Luckily I was just finishing bucking a tree not falling one.  We cut her tree today 

[Lurcherman]

The tree crew I worked with years ago would yell "headache air" anytime anything was cut out of the tree to warn the ground crew. I asked the guys why they called it that, and our forman said that the kind of air that causes headaches is the air around your head that also happens to have a moving piece of wood in it. So they want to let you know when it's coming.

It does sound logical, doesn't it?

[Phorester]

..."Due to the size of the timber it might take several hours to fell a tree......."

That rule holds for me right now.  Might also take an extra chain...., maybe another saw to get the first one unstuck....ax and wedges to drive in next to the first few wedges that didn't move the tree either......then there's bandaids to put on......., takes a long time to cut a tree.  By then I'm too tired to yell anything when it falls, even if it goes the wrong way.

[Tom]

Brother Dave's story

In the great N.West the loggers, armed with axes, chainsaws, trucks, cant hooks, chains, wedges, ropes and all manner of equipment were cutting trees.  One of the trees began to fall and the loggers hollered "timber!".

A little bird sitting in the tree next to it hollered, "Hom-me,  hom-m-me!!   'cause he didnt' know how to say timber.

[jokers]

How about "RUN!"? 

"Headache" seems to be common enough that I`ve heard it many places.

[maple flats]

I was not there to hear what he yelled, but a farmer neighbor dropped a large maple on his new tractor, splitting it in 2, I'll bet he yelled somethin like #%&$, or maybe just $$$$! Personally I yell nothing.

[Woodhog]

"More money lost!!!"

[rebocardo]

> But im surprised that no one yells anything especially when others are working nearby.

[rebocardo]

> But im surprised that no one yells anything especially when others are working nearby.

Usually someone 30-50 feet away can see you and hear your saw, anyone 100 feet away will probably not hear you yell anyways over two running chainsaws, or three since I usually have two running ones myself. Plus, many times after I have finished a notch, the back cut is done about 2-3 seconds later. It would take longer to put my saw down and cup my hands to yell, then the back cut.

I think timber goes back to when it use to take a few minutes to drop a tree with an axe and saw. I know it use to take me a good 1/2 hour for some trees. I dropped a 36" oak using a two man 72"? saw by myself in the backcut, I don't know how long it took, but I think the word forever applies 

If I was working in the woods with others, during that time it would be possible to have a lot of activity in the drop zone where people/animals might be skidding logs or other cutters were setting up a domino for the bigger tree to hit.

I doubt the old timers would have stopped all work in the area 2x the distance from the trees and would have only stopped once the backcut was almost done.

Be interesting to find out if/how old timers did it with axes.

Though in the back of my mind I hear "Danger Will Robsinson, Danger!"

[THPtech]

Heads!

x2

[Ed_K]

 I only yell when I have to go back and pound on the wedge, and its not nice. I'm with wood hog on this one.

[ID4ster]

The only time I ever say anything is if someone has gotten inside my two tree length zone. Then I say something that's not suitable for this forum especially if they've been warned to stay out of that area. If it's someone that is a total rookie in the woods like the bird watching ladies than they'll just get a no nonsense discussion of why they shouldn't be there. If no one is inside the zone though or when I'm working alone I don't say anything at all.