Game of Logging Method Demo

[Ohio_Bill]

Don,t  know If this has been posted before but it looks very good to me

[RandyMac]

GOL is considered somewhat silly, on the West Coast. I guess the safety issues would be properly addressed.

[beenthere]

Not silly if dealing with people picking up chainsaws and not knowing how they are dangerous, and how dangerous falling trees can be.
For those who already know, then GOL can be silly. But someone taught them.

This demo looked pretty good and basic. Doesn't cover all the situations, and a little more demonstration of starting the plunge cut, and getting the hinge right would have been beneficial, as I see it.

[chucker]

  THE SEGMENT WAS INSTRUCTIONAL AT BEST. BUT, in the real world of logging where time and money rules whats done and not this would be a joke!! takeing a single tree or two this system would work out fine for a weekend cutter.... safty first is always number one, production is a close second only to be out done by the inexperienced in both.... 

[Dave Shepard]

My connections is slow, so I didn't see it. I'm guessing he used a log wasting high angle face cut, and started the angle cut first? No thanks. I use a humboldt wherever the terrain will allow it without loosing log length. I can't have the end of the log slashed off like that, especially not for timbers, or logs only 8' long, as I can't trim out that mess.

[DonT]

Is it just me or is his face cut a little shallow.I usually still use 1/3 method.

[Ohio_Bill]

I’m 59 years old and have grown up on a farm with about 60 Ackers of woods which has supplied firewood and timber to make lumber for our projects and some income. About 10 years ago I took the Game of logging training  and after learning what all I was doing wrong  , I was amazed that I had not been killed in the woods .My cutting is not production  , but stand improvement so I just want to be safe and not damage other trees . This method works well for my type of application.

Don you had commented about the face cut, they teach 80% of diameter and a 70deg   angle.

Thanks

Bill

[chucker]

    1/3rd works for me ...

[DonT]

I am always looking for ways to improve myself and be more productive and safe.I reccently finished reading Jeff jepsons new book "To fell aTree" I highly recommend it from the beginner to the experienced feller it has something for everyone.Is the GOL training available in Canada.  DonT

[John Mc]

  THE SEGMENT WAS INSTRUCTIONAL AT BEST. BUT, in the real world of logging where time and money rules whats done and not this would be a joke!! takeing a single tree or two this system would work out fine for a weekend cutter.... safty first is always number one, production is a close second only to be out done by the inexperienced in both.... 

Actually, I've seen the GOL methods used by some highly respected professional loggers in my area (Vermont). When thinning, they say the greater accuracy from an open face notch (maintains steering on the tree all the way to the ground) and the ability to drop the tree in something other than the direction it "wants" to go, ends up saving them time... less hung trees, less residual stand damage, faster/easier skidding (since they've aimed the tree with easy removal in mind). Also, the ability to set the hinge just how they want it avoids damaging the butt (especially on front leaners). Do they use it 100% of the time? No. But it is an important tool in their array of methods. GOL is not the only way to accomplish what they want, but it's one they use regularly.

John Mc

[Ohio_Bill]

Don:  Game of Logging has a Web Site and I don’t see any training organization in Canada.  There founder is form Sweden so they are an international organization .


John:  I could not agree with you more. It is one of I’m sure several methods of cutting and has its advantages and disadvantages but your quote is appropriate for me.
If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.   - Abraham Maslow 

I have not been taught and other way, but I’m sure there are many other ways.

Thanks

Bill

[oldsaw]

Is it just me or is his face cut a little shallow.I usually still use 1/3 method.

Yes, until you consider the backlean and diameter, and that he wanted to use a wedge.  Once you consider the amount of "real estate" needed to fit the wedge, you are left with a pretty narrow space for the wedge unless you use a shallow face cut.  Made no sense to me at first either until he mentioned the bore cut.

I think the principles used can be used very quickly in practice, especially when you consider that you won't plunge cut every tree.  Sizing up a tree for lean becomes a very quick process, especially with softwoods or "woods" hardwoods like we see here with very narrow canopies.  However, his process GROSSLY overestimates the amount of weight in the lean.  With that tree it didn't matter much, but on a bigger tree the end result might not have been so pretty.  However, it's something that you get used to, and a mistake you should learn to avoid quickly, if you don't wreck something first.

I wanted to take the GOL classes at one point, but they are only offered 200 or so miles from me.  Time and logistics.  Unfortunately, I don't fall too many trees anymore, so it isn't natural.  Good video all in all though.  It's only slow when you are trying to show the examples, or if you insist on bore cutting every tree. 

[John Mc]

Is it just me or is his face cut a little shallow.I usually still use 1/3 method.

I only go deep enough to get enough hinge length to steer the tree. The GOL goal of a hinge length of at least 80% of DBH does work for me. Some times it takes 1/3 of the diameter. Often times it doesn't. If the tree has a flat side in the direction you want it to fall, or if it flares out near the butt where you're cutting, it can take a lot less.

I just did the math (or I guess the trigonometry?). I wonder if it's any coincidence that on a trunk that is a perfect circle, notching in 1/3 of the diameter gives you very close to 80% hinge length (81.6%).

John Mc

[BARPINCHER]

Hi Guys,  I have to give my .02 on this.  I have taken 4 levels of GOL this year.  PRior to this I have felled and climbed trees about 10 years.  I was taught by my dad to fell by using the Humbolt.  I like Bill was amazed that I hadn't got wacked yet.  The basic principle that I feel GOL is centered on is that the tree does not move anywhere until you release it.  I personally know like many of you exactly what it means to chase a hinge and I'm sure the rest of you know that the list of dumb stuff we can do with a saw is endless.  With the GOL you don't need to try and watch the saw and the top of the tree at the same time and then chase the hinge and run like the devil.  My instructor for all 4 of my levels is a full time Logger for 30+ yrs from NE PA.  I watched him go at working speed thru the woods and lets just say you won't be waiting on him at the end of the day.  The comments about the bore cut being slow are just not true.  Keep your chain sharp and know your business and it's faster and safer IMO than any other method out there. That piece of wood needs to be cut anyway; you're just starting from the inside out. It is no different than any other skill.  It is awkward and cumbersome at first but stick with it and it gets faster and becomes second nature.There was a comment about the face cut losing too much wood.  I haven't heard of a mill yet that finds the amount lost on that style of face cut as unacceptable.  No it doesn't work everywhere in all situations.  But it does work in most!  Cut safe folks

[chep]

The Game of Logging (GOL) felling method is how I learned to fell trees when I was in high school. Getting on 7 years ago. Since that time I watched other felling methods, did a stint in the pacific northwest and become a self employed arborist and part time logger. The open faced notch, bore cut and releasable holding wood have allowed me to do my job safely and efficiently. I realize that there is certainly more then one way to skin a cat, but are you gonna skin it without getting scratched? I still chase my the hinge on smaller trees, and when I am 85 feet in the air, but I have the mindset to realize that if my safety is concerned then there is another way to make my cut. recently I have been performing some plunge cuts up in trees and have had great success...I have also been working on a wicked rocky and steep hillside in new hampshire, being able to clip that holding wood at the back of my cut has really allowed me to use escape paths and to get away from falling trees...
The moral of the story is that in order to be safe and to go home at the end of every day we need to learn new methods, be OPEN MINDED to new methods and realize that there is always another way to get a job done. The GOL felling method is simply another tool in the bag of tricks, and I choose to learn it and then adapt it to my personal uses. I feel that it has helped me succeed in my field.
thanls

[John Mc]

I'm still a bit slower at felling using GOL methods than just cutting in from the back. However, I more than make up for it in how much faster it goes in getting the wood out once I'm done with the felling cuts. The greater precision means it's more likely to go where I want it, rather than getting hung up or down behind something I would then have to skid around.

Of course, I was pretty miserable at this before I took those classes.

THe other advantage I see is in teaching efficiency of movement and saw handling. During GOL 3, when our instructor was showing us the interesting little "dance" and handling pointers and body mechanics GOL teaches for limbing, he commented that there may be plenty of people who can limb a tree faster than he can. The difference is can they keep it up all day. In a full day, if he hasn't out-paced them, it's close, and he's a lot less exhausted than someone not using these techniques.

John Mc

[RandyMac]

 I forget that the old style formal training is almost gone. I was trained by older, expirienced fallers, Masters of the trade. I guess in this times, GOLish training is all there is, I don't agree with a lot of what is shown, too many extra moves, too long at the stump.  Anyway, good luck with that.