Cut Down a Tree Safely

[JanThorCrow]

Excellent tutorial. I enjoyed the instruction on assessing the directional leans (back & side lean) of canopy to help determine how to put it on target. Thank you for sharing this with us. :)

[petegkSalonika]

good presentation people , congratulations

[noobgotowned]

HOW DID I GET HERE?!?!

[swatl06]

Nicely done

[benzuddhist]

Thanks for this - great info...

[affinity1]

whats the importance of noting back lean or front lean?

[rob066101]

One prime important step. When cutting to insert the wedge cut straight back but not through backstap area. DO NOT work the saw tip towards your hinge or you can cut through it when doing bore cuts. Easily done by inexpierinced cutters. This can be a very dangerous situation.

[rob066101]

One prime important step. When cutting to insert the wedge cut straight back. DO NOT work the saw tip towards your hinge or you can cut through it when doing bore cuts. Easily done by inexpierinced cutters. This can be a very dangerous situation.

[landervandenhemel]

great i needed a video like this for my schoolwork ty for uploading this !!

[QofLife69]

Extremely informative

[WhoFrigginFarted]

You can say this video gave me wood ;)

[treeminer1]

to obsessiopc i would say this. 5, 15, 95. That is 95% of injuries, deaths happen within 15 feet of the base of the tree within the first 5 seconds. So you want to be out of the circle as fast as possible. The safest route is at a 45 degree angle off the opposite direction of fall. wether you are looking at the tree or looking away, is not going to change whether or not something falls out of the tree. The only difference at that point is if you are still there.

[BaileighIndustrial]

This was very helpful, I recently had 20 or so trees fall down at my cabin due to a rough winter and cutting down and cutting up the trees was a real task, these tips really helped out a lot.

[elkhunter97]

you cut the hinge wrong you cut straight and then cut under the straight cut up then do you back cut you should wautch pros do it ax men

[BigRedChester]

1. its a small tree

2. the ground is flat

3. there is nothing you have to worry about hitting

[oBseSsIoNPC]

Pretty good video indeed, the only thing I didn't like about "not taking any chances" is when he walked away from the falling tree. Turning your back to it and not watching what may even be falling down from the top is not THAT professional is it? Don't you ppl dare to think you can fell a tree just by watching a video! Have a experience friend show you how to do this!

[mrdreadeye808]

14 people hugged that tree

[mli2009]

Good video. Well described. Would have liked to have seen the beginning of the plunge cut though....

[apricotsoap]

Great video! I had to take down a dead tree in the back yard, and needed to know the best way. The tree dropped exactly on target! Thank you for posting this!

[FutureMrsDarcy]

Excellent



[bokuwahimodesu]

Nice video! I have a big old dying pine tree to bring down this weekend and this was just the information I was looking for. Thanks!

[toddmene]

This tree has back lean............ok, what does that mean we should do? You explain what you must do for the 4ft of side lean, now what action must you take for back lean?

[branjumba]

would it be smart if you tie a rope to the top of the tree and pull it to were you want it to land?

[KolokotronisPower]

Elpreasdor way owns this one

[MrBWoodNC]

I was pretty familiar with a chainsaw, but mostly with maintenance and cutting a tree already laying down. The information in this video was useful towards felling my first tree. I appreciate the time taken to make it.

[gracetemplechurch]

Good advice! hire a pro tree removal service in your local area who is Lic and insured Your really a rookey! A real pro never turns his back on a falling tree.

[rosepotpourri]

Thanks a lot. Now to eliminate that cruddy light hogging maple!

[bodoelectric]

You're an idiot if your name is welshtreefellas.

[jubbahut1211]

YOU SHOULD NEVER TURN YOUR BACK ON THE TREE WHEN FALLING!... IT DOESN'T ALL WAYS GO WERE YOU INTENDED IT TO!!

[WelshTreeFellas]

your an idiot if you dont know most of this or an American

[3soccerstars]

I have a 40 ft or so polar (I think) that gets complaints from the neighbors due to the roots.

Will be tackling this shortly with a buddy or two...

[kerrysocksandsandles]

Thank you very much for these videos. I have never owned or used a chainsaw before and never felled a tree. Thanks to the information you provided, you gave me the knowledge to plan the job with confidence and fell a 14 metre tree safely... in exactly the place I planned.... between two fence posts of a temporarilly dismantled suburban house fence . What was initially quite a daunting task, with your help ended as a very satisifying day!

[kerrysocksandsandles]

Thank you very much for these videos. I have never owned or used a chainsaw before and never felled a tree. Thanks to the information you provided, you gave me the knowledge to plan the job with confidence and fell a 13 metre tree safely... in exactly the place I planned.... between two fence posts of a temporarilly dismantled suburban house fence . Before your videos it was quite a dauntling task, but in the end a very satisfying day!

[Superchickenman159]

sikk, i cout down a tree down today, it was damn fun

[CMBJASON]

never had to use a wedge before... we just take our back cut at more of an angle to drop the tree... score it first to make sure your back cut doesn't drop below where you want your hinge...dropping it in between trees is alot less stressful than dropping it in between cars...

[CMBJASON]

I put more of a downward angle on my back cut and elimate the wedge all together... score it first to make sure you are lined up correctly... south beach style... we don't drop it in between trees, its usually in between cars...

[TheMoparPogue]

I used this video as a safety primer. I've cut down many trees before, but I never really cared where they fell. Today I cut five 30 foot pines within 10 to 15 feet of my house. One of those trees was holding up a leaner. I face cut the brace tree, then only back cut halfway. Then I face cut another tree and fell it on the brace tree and the leaner. I NEVER fell a tree in a direction and this video helped me fell one directly where I wanted it. Thank you!

[penumbra155]

Jeez... I had no idea falling a tree was so complicated. I was going to help my neighbor drop a 30 footer (about an 8 inch diameter), but I think I need to get a graduate degree from MIT first...

[WilltheSkier]

Good job explaining the open face notch and bore cut. My only criticism is that you crossed back behind the tree after the tree started to go over. As far as the other comments regarding the height of the backcut, with open face method you make the back cut even with the apex of the notch, stumpshot does not add to the hinge's strength. If you want more strength in your hinge make it longer not taller or thicker.

[isaacward2]

thanks for the vid very useful. it will defiantly help me plan my next cut better (prob tomorrow:p)

[HondaGuy47150]

Just Cut The Son Of A Bitch Already !!!

[PorscheORviper]

@HondaGuy47150 I agree very scientific and confusing

[riecard]

Can I use the same principles to cut down a metal pole ? It's holding up an old TV antenna next to my house. It's about 3 1/2 " thick and about 3 stories high. I just want get it down and hack it up.

[EdVidz]

Very helpful vid. Thank you!

[JaMaph]

Great thanks for the very informative video. I will use this knowledge as I cut down some trees blocking light for my garden.

[Mitch95100]

His notch was piss poor

[gunhimdown]

hahahahhahahahaha...

[hockeynick16]

I was taught to put it in four wheel drive, get a good start, and ram the thing at 70 mph.

[rebelnewfy69]

holy shit it would him about a year to cut a regular pick up truck load of wood

[geoffreylnelson]

Excellent training video on the basic principles underlying the safe and successful felling of a tree! This is an excellent training video. My sincere thanks!

[martinjeff2]

Thanks !! Excellent training video !!!

[hyperfocus2011]

your cut is not straight Bottom of your notch should be parallel to the ground worked in the bush for 15 years??? You sure your able to cut trees for cash all day with that method? And you dont cut from the middle back....WTF???

[hyperfocus2011]

your cut is not straight Bottom of your notch should be parallel to the ground worked in the bush for 15 years??? You sure your able to cut trees for cash all day with that method?

[hyperfocus2011]

your cut is not straight

[SuperRickyjenkins]

thankyou buddy very proffesional video me and my partner thought this video was very good the way you conducted yourself and kickback methods ect we just bought a chainsaw lancashire uk and you made me much more confident thankyou.

[dcpinner]

is it really critical where you put the the point of the wedge? It doesn't look like it's completely on the opposite side of the face cut? Does the hammering of the wedge at a certain angle of the tree influence where the tree falls?

[dddwilliams]

never turn ya back on a falling tree, he kinda did i feel lol

[mlm74799]

what type of tree did you use?

Good video by the way, thx for the help.. =)

[dr3w79]

is this the same principle for felling a palm tree?

[Woodland18]

Any tree hugging hippie freak that does not agree with this should Just shut the hell up, you people drive me nuts, If you don’t like to see him cut down a tree why are you watching the video, you guys are a bunch of morons. There is nothing else desirable about this tree to keep it alive, you cant cut boards out of it, the top has died if you need firewood this is the best tree for it, he is simply preserving the wilderness by allowing better healthier trees to grow up in the new space.

[400sean]

peeps who carelessly cut down a tree can get a fuking life

[beautyrose19]

Deforestation!!

[mrcountryboy1234567]

do u have a back problem,y cut the stump so high

[XmojotronX]

He forgot step 0 HUG YOUR TREE

[MrIngram1953]

@XmojotronX

in the time it takes him to talk about what hes going to do, i could have already cut it down and into logs. haha

[meepotwothousend]

Very informative from a laymen's point of view, thanks for uploading :-)

[1992floridacracker]

your a retard a wedge dosnt work like a hindge ,your a preppy dressed up retard.

[TheJoshy1992]

@1992floridacracker He didn't say a wedge worked like a hinge, he said he could use a wedge in his backcut to make sure that it doesnt fall on him while hes cutting it..

[archerofloaf]

good work - you do things safely and right!

[markleshark7]

cut down a tree today thanks for this vid, landded right where we wanted it

[tt8chfan]

Thanks Tim

[tt8chfan]

Thanks Tim 

[Donegaldan]

At last, an intelligent and articulate explanation on Chainsaw use. Very useful and helpful. Thank you

[bubbabouyi]

jlm993me too. my video isnt very helpfull explaing but icrush my budweisser can target

[rdomescik1969]

Great video!

[wesleymattison00]

I thought the face cut was small but the tree did fall and without any problems.

[mrpdcm]

Big thanks to Tim and ProgressiveFarmer - Great instructional video. After you've seen this, watch the one by kittatinnytree, a complete moron who's living on borrowed time.

[merrilltim]

Hmmm hire a pro if you do not have the expierence.

[merrilltim]

@rasko67

Ha, call me what you want sparky lots of do it yourself retards and many pro's have been injured or killed falling trees not too mention the more than occasional drop a tree on a nearby house or car etc,

I would not be suprised if you end up in this category.

[sgtscherer]

@rasko67 I believe you forgot an 'a' as well as your spelling of "you're". You might want to check your spelling before you call someone a 'retard'.

[cowboytgl]

you contradict yourself when talking about the depth of the face cut. you say 80% of the tree diameter then you say it doesn't matter....or did I misunderstand?

[ngillam01]

Thank you for a very well presented, informative video.

[labrat7357]

Thanks, It was a top clip with very good information.But like jlm993 I have always been told to do the back cut at least a couple of inched above the apex of the notch. Thanks.

[alsemailaccount]

Thank you for reminding of the basics before a big cut!

[TheCoyote1221]

ah i see ur problem.you need to get yourself a stilh

[granitestatedave]

Probably the best instructional vid I've seen for felling - thanks! How do you handle the case where you've got a lot with many trees - and cutting one nearly always hits another? That's my challenge - getting trees down without getting hung up.

[SAMLAD2k6]

I've got a tree about this size in my back garden... I'm gona take it down myself, I'm 22, and 13stone, 5'10.. DO you think if it lands on me it would kill me or could i lift it off me if it fell on me? I'm quite strong also.

[1Mitosis]

Was going to take down an oak that has died, but after researching what is required to safely achieve this...I think I spend the money to have a professional take it down for me. Thanks for the safety video, very informative but I do not trust myself due to my inexperience.

[burton6054]

4:07 thats what she said

[KPZero18]

Dude... Just cut down the tree.

[BeingInTheMessiah]

I know nothing about trees, but couldnt he have eliminated the need for hammering a wedge by making a slightly larger notch? and also perhaps cutting just a little bit higher from the back?

[ramblinbec]

cool - thanks for being so thorough!

[woksonh20]

Well done This allowed me to take down a few smaller trees for practice. Then on to the bigger ones about 2 ft thick and more difficult placement in and around my barn and finally the house. This 7 step example saved me TIME and MONEYThanks...

[gregger66100]

Holy Moley...i'd have that tree and about 20 others down by now...all safely!

[PeterThrun]

Wow, great job

[JoelinApex]

I work for the U.S. Forest Service and this is exactly how we are trained in tree felling. It's right on target. However, never attempt this without actually going through REAL training with a professional sawyer.

[Jacob011]

if he saw us, how we cut down the trees, he would go nuts... :0

[550JB]

what model Husqvarna is that and what size bar? sounds mean. and I see you ordered the entire line of Husqvarna safety gear, nice!

[boatstaylor]

Great Instruction video..

[GodsS0N1]

Now I know how to cut a tree.

[RealCaptainAmerica]

Good video, thank you.

[HomoGnosticus]

First: How do I know if the tree is going to fall back or not?

Second: Why don´t you show how to start the stabbing? At 5:56 the saw is already stabbed in the tree.

Third: Can I avoid stabbing if I do the back cut higher up like jlm993 suggested?

Otherwise informative vid, no question the guy is skilled with the chainsaw.

[swivelgate]

nice job learn a few things Thanks

[hraybon]

I'd like to know how many of these "experts" actually have training. I do and I think this guy knows his stuff. BUT, you can't learn to fell a tree by watching a you tube video. It's too dangerous, especially using the plunge cut method. The Kick-back can hurt you bad. I know...I've been cut with a chainsaw.

[ieatbabies842]

how bad did that hurt

[hraybon]

Not bad at the time. I guess it cuts the nerves. More like a dull pain until that night. Then it hurts bad enough I never want it to happen again.

[webly17]

I hate all these "experts" commenting on these videos. There was absolutely nothing wrong with what this guy did.

[diablocafe]

Man, there is nothing we cant do, thanks to youtube. That was good

[Mattinsouthnjebay]

If you feel that need to use a bore cut to fell a tree, then please, please, PLEASE do not attempt to fell a tree, hire a tree removal service, this shit can KILL you (No Joke). And don't follow this video, his face notch was far too small, and I personally would never recommend a bore cut, ever.

[punk664]

dddddddddduuuuuuuuuuuuuuummmmm­mmmmmm

[440x]

plunge cutt this guy is a tard more guys cutt because of kickbacks after hittin the roller nose. never cutt with the roller nose

[choisl]

@440x Well you cannot say that cause if you want to stab the tree you have to do that but it's right that it can be dangerous for people who aren't aware of the dangers...

[xledzeppelinx]

Your a tard. Saftey is for hippies.

[sickbuffalo]

wow, you are ten men

[jlm993]

I was taught to put theback cut higher up from the flat of the face cut. That leaves more hinge to control the fall. (wildland firefighter)

[DZRB631]

these youtube Sawyers kill me, Your exactly right you need a stumpshot, and a good hinge

[tobeaSEAL]

@jlm993 The back cut is always higher than the face cut or you cant know for sure where it is going to fall

[tobeaSEAL]

@tobeaSEAL but that is with a axe I don't know about chainsaws

[labrat7357]

@jlm993 I agree apart from controlling the direction, a higher back on the hinge helps protect you when things don,t go to plan. And that can happen to the most experienced

[NatRes11]

@jlm993 It doesn't matter if you cut higher up or not, the hinge is still going to be the same size and strength. 10% of the DBH is still 10% no matter how you cut it. To give yourself more control of the fall, you use an open-face notch instead of a humboldt or conventional, which allows the tree fibers to hold on longer as the tree is falling. Maybe you should take S-212 Wildland Fire Chain Saws.

[jlm993]

@NatRes11 you mean like the class I took in 1989 where the 25 year veteran sawyer taught me to cut the back cut higher the the flat of the face cut? I went to your channel, it says you are 20. I was cutting down trees on the fire ground before you were born, literally. Signed a former BLM Fire Fighter, Little Snake River Field Office.

[isaacward2]

@jlm993 no disrespect i know you know more than i but sometimes things change like cpr and maybe the way they say to cut trees. maybe its not right but the method taught might be different now.

[WilltheSkier]

@jlm993 You probably learned the conventional notch that is taught in S-212. He is using the open face method which uses physics a little more efficiently to provide more control over the tree as it falls.

[powerstrokediesel100]

@jlm993 thats the same way i learned, doesnt it look like the first trees face cut was way to small?

[powerstrokediesel100]

@jlm993 thats the same way i learned, doesnt it look like the first trees face cut was way to small? his second one was also way to small?

[prujoe]

OMG, all these rocket scientists and suggestions. It freakin worked perfectly didn't it?

[labrat7357]

@prujoe Yes, it did work but with a higher back it helps protect you when things don't go to plan. Have you ever felled a tree?

[100mgd]

goo cutting and chainsaw

[kalob35]

hinge is 2 small atleast 1/3 of the way through

[TNTwestcoast]

I Don't see anything wrong with he's cut.

[banditoxviii]

lol some people need to watch this so it wont happened.

[savagenomore]

yep. these "how too" vids going to get someone hurt or killed.

[zwinkey]

nice high stump....

[Huttah123]

But if the aspect is flat, ur right it should be horizontal.

[Huttah123]

"the bottom cut of the face should be flat and not angled downward."

If the aspect of the ground is sloping downwards in the direction of the fall, using a wide-angle face like this (with the bottom cut angled downward) maintains the integrity of the hinge all the way till the tree is on the ground. Otherwise, in this particular type of scenario, the face would close up before the tree is on the ground - the hinge may snap, or the butt of the tree may kick-up.

[at8tc]

some of the information in this clip is incorrect. the depth of the face cut is very much important. and should be roughly 25% of the DBH not 15 as stated in the video. further more the bottom cut of the face should be flat and not angled downward. carless techniques such as this may or maynot be acceptable cutting live trees, but can very well get you killed cutting snags!!

[alderaforall]

he might just retire on this tree

[AllShaaaallPerish]

why would you cut a tree down when you can push it?? if you use my techinques u can learn how to push down a tree... just watch my video " how to push down a tree"

[Jonseredman71]

What he is saying will work, but as a Logger myself I would say he is going too far in depth. Just face it out evenly, put your back cut in above the center, and hold your saw in the tree until the last second. Take a step or two one way or the other...that's it, no plum bob required..

[666cowboy666]

you should really watch some west coast falling videos to see how it is done out here before you go on telling people how to cut those little pecker poles

[palehorsepalerider]

finally a tree felling vid without a dipshit

[ironarbor]

good demonstration...

[lilbudro]

OK.. unless you are falling a tree between power lines, you never have to be that damn accurate on where you fall it. I'm surprised he didn't climb up in the tree with a tape measure and plumb bob.

[laredneck99]

ok if u need to watch this vid to learn how u have no busniess even holding a chainsaw

shiansaws are a danngouris oiece of equitmen and will kil you if you do not operate it peroperly

[mccormickchainsaw]

take that expert village and drew finn lol lol lol lol

[guitarskilltrees]

screw u!

guitars kill trees!

[bullbuckerbill]

Well done, this is quality demonstration of how to safely fall a tree.

[joey8588]

this guy knows his tree cutting

[savagenomore]

not really

[coultrane]

I usually drink whiskey with beer chasers while working.  It helps me enjoy the outdoor experience.

[leakimdeh]

Nice video... but...if you need to cut down a tree, let a professinal do it. Even a small tree will hurt if it's falling over you and the sawchain can make some nasty wounds full with oil!

[BadfingerFan]

Fantastic video!

[realburiedtreasure]

I watched this video and then was able to drop two trees right where I needed this afternoon. Thanks for posting this.

[Huttah123]

By far the best video on this subject that I've seen. There are some really scary, and downright dangerous people on youtube putting up vids on "How to cut down a tree" displaying some extremely dodgy techniques. This vid has renewed my faith in American arborists (I only say american because of the bad vids i've seen, most were made by american arbs, I'm sure they don't reflect the majority, or at least I hope so.)

[towman2277]

Theres one thing he could have added.... and that is to show people how to use the sights on a saw, to aim the direction of the tree to be feel. Most people don't know saws have sights!!!

[towman2277]

Great Video!! I've been a Lumberjack for 12 years, and you explained very well the basics!! ;-)

[johnconnor810]

idk. I think echo chainsaws are better than husqvarna's. But that's just me. I haven't worked in the logging business but been in the landscaping busienss for many years and had to take down quite a few trees in my time. I use an echo and they work great.

[savagenomore]

that notch should be deeper and the back cut should be higher.......I love these 'How too" videos

[truthspeaker2000]

that´s a good vid, but the technic is to

complicated (and dangerous) for beginners.

[mesasola]

I don't think it's fun to cut trees!It's a crime!!!!!!!!

[rebaths]

You must not live in a house with wood framing. You must have never eaten a pizza cooked in a wood oven. You must be able to trace your ancestry to those who never rode a steam locomotive, a society who never used firearms-bows-arrows-or axes, and cavemen who cooked on propane grills. If you can answer 'yes' to all of these, congratulations; you are a true tree hugger. If you answered 'no' to one or more of these, condolences, you are a human being.

[nolanmontess87]

its a crime whats your house made of plastic

[thorneswift]

Excellent video, made even better because you were using a Husky!

[kas7227]

Great video

[kalob35]

5 stars

[blaschkey]

save the rain forest bitch