The Nuts & Bolts of Tree Felling

Transcription

1 The Nuts & Bolts of Tree Felling { Basic felling, safety, and chainsaw maintenance for woodland owners Joe Herring, Iowa DNR Forestry Bureau

2 For weekend warriors who want to work safely in their woods Firewood Production Forest Stand Improvement & Thinning X Removing Unwanted Trees

3 Quick Program Outline Felling methodology Basic saw maintenance Time permitting: Common pickle situations Safety

4 Just kidding! Safety First. Footnote: Never do a Google image search for Chainsaw injuries

5 Minimum gear needed Helmet Ear & eye protection Chaps Boots Gloves

6 Basic safety stuff Keep your thumbs wrapped around top handle Use your chain break: Whenever pull-starting Whenever walking Stand with feet firmly planted when throttling Bend at the knees, not back Work with saw close to your body (not outreached)

7 Part II. Tree Felling Every Tree Deserves a Plan

8 Develop a Plan: 1. Which way does the tree want to fall? Factors to consider: Lean Weight Wind

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10 Develop a Plan: 1. Which way does the tree want to fall? 2. Where do you want the tree to go?

11 Wherever there s space Avoid damaging other trees

12 Develop a Plan: 1. Which way does the tree want to fall? Check. 2. Where do you want the tree to go? Check. Can it be done??? If no, STOP!!

13 A tree MUST have a place where it can go down.

14 The Plan: 1. Which way does the tree want to go? 2. Where do you want the tree to go? Can it be done? Yes. 3. Identify potential hazards

15 3. Identify hazards Hangers Dead limbs that are still attached Intertwined branches from neighboring trees Vines Cracks Rot & decay

16 3. Identify hazards Hangers Dead limbs that are still attached Intertwined branches from neighboring trees Vines Cracks Rot & decay

17 Big Butts are for good for Sir Mix-a-Lot, but not for logging

18 The Plan: 1. Which way does the tree want to go? 2. Where do you want the tree to go? Can it be done? Yes. 3. Identify potential hazards 4. Identify escape route

19 4. Identify escape route NOT aside the tree NOT directly behind Retreat at a 45-degree angle away from the direction of fall, on either side Clear away any obstacles before hand

20 Felling Direction

21 The Plan: 1. Which way does the tree want to go? 2. Where do you want the tree to go? Can it be done? Yes. 3. Identify potential hazards 4. Identify escape route 5. Identify good side and bad side of tree

22 5. Identify good side vs. bad side Side lean Imbalanced weight to one side Wind Final cuts and retreat will be made from the good side of the tree Good Side Leaning away; Direction of Fall Bad Side

23 Review: Every Tree Deserves a Plan 1. Which way does the tree want to go? 2. Where do you want the tree to go? 3. Identify potential hazards 4. Clear escape route 5. Identify good side and bad side of tree

24 Principles of the felling cuts timbergreenforestry.com

25 Cut out a wedge and the tree falls that way, right?

26 Open-face notch/ Hinge method Taught by FISTA and Game of Logging programs Maintains total control of tree when used properly Some loss in butt log volume Increased safety, production output, and wood recovery

27 Why it works Wood has high longitudinal strength (tension) The hinge controls tree s direction of fall timbergreenforestry.com

28 Not to be confused with Hinge cutting for deer habitat improvement

29 Three cuts: 3. Final Backcut 1. Open-face notch 2. Bore cut 3. Final backcut 1. Notch Hinge 2. Bore cut

30 It s all about the hinge

31 It s all about the hinge

32 It s all about the hinge

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39 Notch Direction of Fall

40 Notch Direction of Fall

41 Notch Direction of Fall

42 Notch Direction of Fall

43 Notch Direction of Fall

44 Notch Direction of Fall

45 Notch Direction of Fall

46 Notch Direction of Fall

47 Notch Direction of Fall

48 Notch Direction of Fall

49 Notch Direction of Fall

50 Notch Direction of Fall Hinge

51 Notch Direction of Fall Hinge

52 Notch Direction of Fall Hinge

53 Notch Direction of Fall Hinge

54 Notch Direction of Fall Hinge

55 Notch Direction of Fall Hinge

56 Notch Direction of Fall Hinge

57 Notch Direction of Fall Hinge

58 Notch Direction of Fall Holding Wood Hinge

59 Notch Direction of Fall Hinge

60 Notch Direction of Fall Hinge

61 Notch Direction of Fall Hinge

62 TIM-BER!!!!! Retreat at 45-degree angle on tree s good side Try to get behind other large trees Watch for falling limbs

63 Cut specifications How deep should my notch be? 80% of D.B.H.

64 Cut specifications Open face notch angle o

65 Match your cuts; No bypasses allowed

66 Helpful tips for cutting the notch 1. Carefully aim the direction 2. Make first cut from top, downward at ~60 o angle

67 First cut timbergreenforestry.com

68 More specifications Dimensions of the HINGE Thickness: 10% of D.B.H. Length: 80% of D.B.H.

69 Helpful tips for bore cutting Position yourself on the good side Don t accidentally cut off your hinge! Initiate cut with attack corner Hinge; don t cut!

70 Chainsaw reactive forces Kickback Corner Push Attack Corner Pull

71 Notch Direction of Fall

72 Notch Direction of Fall

73 Notch Direction of Fall

74 Notch Direction of Fall

75 Notch Direction of Fall

76 Notch Direction of Fall

77 Notch Direction of Fall

78 Notch Direction of Fall

79 Notch Direction of Fall

80 Notch Direction of Fall Hinge

81 Must perform bore cut at full RPMs

82 Make all cuts on level plane

83 Remember, practice makes perfect

84 Why bother with the bore cut? Eliminates risk of barber chairs on large trees or leaning trees Safety issue Wood recovery issue Uniform hinge thickness ensures directional accuracy Faster production; less collateral damage to residual stand What about wedging?

85 Part III. Routine saw maintenance Let the saw do the work!

86 The Chain s the Thing 1 1. Always sharpen your own chain, with a handheld file 2. Do frequently in small doses Prevents overheating Saves money & time Keeps your chain tip-top and you happy 1 Please see article by Dave Johnson in June 2009 Nebraska Timber Talk newsletter

87 Understanding the chain Depth gauge aka raker Cutter

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90 Sharpening is a simple task of filing the cutters

91 Keep it simple

92 Note alternating teeth on your chain

93 Locate starting link Begin with back half

94 1. Align guide with bar s axis 2. Push file forward, keeping flat with slight upward pressure, 1-2 strokes 3. Advance chain forward and repeat for next cutter 4. Flip file and repeat for opposite-facing cutters

95 You should have nice, big shavings not sawdust

96 Note markings on cutters

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98 Filing gradually reduces depth gauge setting as top plate gets shorter

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100 Filing the rakers down

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103 Basic chain types Standard chisel chain (yellow label) Low kickback (green or blue label) Makes bore cutting more difficult Filing rakers more difficult

104 Other routine stuff to pay attention to Clutch Bar Oiler Air cleaner

105 Keep area around the clutch clean Bar oiler

106 Monitor condition of the bar

107 Clean out rails/oil port

108 Rotate bar every other use and check oiling action often

109 Lastly: Keep the air cleaner CLEAN!

110 Which saw is best?

111 You are hereby deemed Dangerously Knowledgeable Beavers: Thousands of years of evolutional Training You: One hour

112 Recommended Training Programs Forest Industry Safety & Training Alliance (FISTA) Game of Logging

113 Thanks for listening Extra slides

114 Common pickles encountered in the woods Hard leaners Hung trees Springpoles Wedging

115 Dealing with hard leaners High risk for barber chairs Very fast release Trunk can swing unpredictably when it lands

116 Dealing with hard leaners Leave more holding wood than usual Make the release cut below the plane of the bore cut (4-8 inches lower, depending on mass & lean of the tree) Get away from the stump Back

117 Felling against their natural lean

118 Laws of physics still apply Depends on amt. of lean & other variables Tall & skinny trees = Easier Fat, short trees = More difficult Mathematical formulas are available, but somewhat involved

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120 How it s done 1. Set up notch, hinge, & holding wood as normal 2. Insert wedges into both sides of bore cut & pound tight 3. Cut holding wood 4. Pound wedges in until tree falls

121 Back to program Back to pickles

122 Hang-ups

123 Hang-ups 1. Identify the fulcrums/tension vs. compression sides 2. Cut about 1/3 of way through on compression side, then finish on opposite 3. Helps to cut at an angle (not perpendicular to the trunk) to avoid pinching Back

124 Springpoles Very dangerous Catch-22: cut the backside, and the tree springs violently Cut the inside, and your saw gets pinched

125 Springpoles 1. Identify the sweet spot

126 Springpoles 2. Slowly shave off thin layers of wood from under the tree at this spot, moving the saw back and forth

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128 Tree will gently release tension, and you get to keep your nose intact Back