Felling Big Oak Trees For Lumber. 

Your meticulous explanations elevate your channel. Keep up the good work! It is hard to find truth these days. Your videos are refreshing.

I was a professional Tree-Faller here in New Zealand for nearly 30 years. Your execution on the felling was not perfect, but your principles were sound. An option to maintain the integrity and strength of the Hinge-wood when dealing with heavy lean is to plunge cut from the sides (do the heavy side first), then release the back at a higher level than the bore cut. This ‘Bore and Release’ does two things; it releases the tension slowly, and it greatly reduces the chance of splitting and extremely dangerous “Barber Chair”. Another tip is to lower the angle of your top cut on the Scarf. The scarf will close up sooner and snap the Hinge-wood before the tree hits the ground helping prevent damage when the tree rolls. Wing Cuts will also prevent side-splitting as the tree hits the ground. I love your videos, I enjoy every minute.

@3:09 as other commenters noted, a plunge cut from the sides, with a proper amount of hinge wood, is more safe to prevent splitting in general and barber chair splitting, especially for trees that lean and for trees with rot in the middle. after the plunge cut is made from the sides, the tree is released to fall by cutting the "back strap".

The drone shots add so much more context to this - what an awesome video!

What you do doesn't seem to make a difference. It's how you do it that keeps us coming back.

Hope you like the video. How to fell dead trees, which adds a lot more danger, here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-iZUqw302dRg.html. My whole chainsaw playlist: ru-vid.com/group/PLHACLo2Ax7LEx3ZdNuZC3bcnpVgFxRYY9. Have an awesome weekend everybody!

Nice fell. I've learned a lot of tree safety just watching you, not that I plan on needing it,.. at the very least I know when I see someone doing something dumb trying to cut a tree down now

The strength of wood is incredible. I'm always amazed by how much tree you can cut out with that wedge and the tree can still stand. Amazing stuff!

Tree guy here, Leaning trees are the perfect situation to utilize a plunge cut. You can thin your hinge for less tear/breakout on the log and it helps to avoid barberchairing and splitting up the trunk.

2:30 that is the coolest sound i have ever heard a tree make. very satisfying.

Always amazing to me to see just how a small amount of hinge can still hold up a huge tree like these. But then let a tornado come thru and see a tree like that ripped to shreds. Good job on cutting those.

Greetings from a small island. Interesting vid and an interesting patch of woodland with some gorgeous trees. It will be nice to see the timber sawn and used. Big/tall hardwoods over here in the UK are valuable, so the emphasis is always in maximising the value of the felled butt - ie avoiding splits. Alan Burton has it right: When felling a heavy leaner, leave a dog's tooth (back strap) at the rear as a trigger for the fell. Stops barber chairing. Also prevents tearing in the butt centre as you can cut to your ideal hinge thickness - you don't get a 'premature' fell. To prevent tearing in the sides of the butt by the hinge, place two small stopper cuts just below the level of the felling cut at 90 degrees to the hinge. Also protects the stump if you want it to coppice. To cut through the back strap to trigger the fell, cut downwards, not horizontally. This leaves an upstanding 'dog's tooth'. If your bar does not come all the way through, you will have to bore in from the far side. You can do that fairly early in the fell. Don't leave your dog's tooth in buttress wood - see below. I was taught to start a fell on a tree with buttresses by removing the buttresses to leave a cylindrical trunk. That long bar would probably have just about reached the far side of tree 1... Doing this also seems to limit the tendancy for horizontal cuts to wander away from the horizontal. A steeper top cut in your birds mouth so that it closes much later in the fell also limits splitting. If your tree leans in the direction of intended fell, you can go less deep with the birds mouth, but your hinge needs to start at around 1/3 (to half) the diameter - ie be nice and long. I was taught that a bore cut through the back of the birds mouth is only used when the diameter of the tree at stump top approaches twice bar length (after removing buttresses). A 'throat bore' affects the hinge (inevitably) but it's all a compromise. Yes, I use a 'small' bar (and a small saw) so the cuts need to be accurate. I'm ticketed to twice bar length. Hope this is useful. Things are different on this crowded, septic isle. Less woodland with hardwoods and we have been felling out the best trees for over 1000 years, which may have selected for hardwoods of poorer form. In the south of the island many of the hardwoods that are felled are trees that were left un-felled in world War 2 which also tends to mean that they are of less good form than your lovely trees.

What a fun video - great info, drone work and more shop space! Excellent production! Thanks

Hi, I used to live not far from Dillwyn in Hereford, U.K., It’s a beautiful little village. Thanks for the video.

It is very much a pleasure to listen to you explaining what you are taking into account when felling a tree. TYFS

White oak splits always unless you cut entire heart out, you have to leave very little wood at hinge. Whiskey barrels are split into staves

Really glad to hear you're going for it! Your content is educational, entertaining, and just plain fun to watch. Keep it up!

I've been a pro faller 42 years. I seen some other pros leaving comments saying much the same thing, but I will add that cutting big veneer white oak is the mainstay of my business. Won't even talk about the first one, you beat yourself up enough and know exactly what you done wrong. Little point I will add for anyone is you can't chase cut hardwood like white oak much more than a few inches of the diameter, in other words, center punched, heavy side cut up to the hinge and only chasing a side strap on a tree with hard side lean but little to no forward lean. Second tree was really good and with a couple of exceptions, liked like many of mine. Work on that stump height, your giving up a lot of good wood on most trees. If it's bad or you screw up a little, it can always be trimmed off but you can't glue it back on. Make your back cut level to the knotch. Every inch above level, you loose about 25% of your hinge strength, so if your only holding a side leaner with a corner, might not be strong enough to hold. If you have to double plunge a tree, tip your bar down on one, or both cuts so the cuts match up and don't leave a wafer. Try to learn where your tip is and only use enough bar to cut wood you know hasn't already been cut. Contrary to what some people believe possible, you can cut a six foot stump with a two foot bar!

Your videos are very interesting... l'm glad that you are not like other youtubers, who just sit in there fancy workshops and making videos about new toys and just talking nonsens.

You have quite the place, would love to hear the backstory of the farm and how you guys came about living there.

Been climbing/ cutting/ dropping trees 33 yrs.It's simple, haven't needed chaps, I just cut the trees, not my legs .

Really like that you take the time to explain what you are doing and why. Great videos!

You have no idea how helpful that is.. I am just an old widowed lady trying to maintain and clear my 50 acre farm with noting more than hand tools and an electric chainsaw ( Oregon self sharpening) a cub cadet walk behind brush cutter and an echo brush cutter. It isn't easy I tell you, but nothing worth it, never is easy... as they say. I just started a new fencing project for the year and of course I want to clear out any evergreen and red maples that I find. Right now I am leaving the big ones to keep growing, while I learn as much as I can for safety reasons. This is a whole new world for me, lol. I subscribed and you can bet I will be watching all your vids every chance I can get.

Terry Hale is exceptional on engineering the felling of trees.

I love this, just a guy showing how to do things. Nice and humble, keep up the good work

Love that you speed up the video through the cutting portions and repetitive stuff. Thanks

You could use a metal strap above your cut to prevent logs from splitting, in my opinion.

Never disappointed with your content. Always entertaining and educational!

Very impressed that little tractor was able to drag that entire log

GREAT VIDEO! I NEED TO WATCH THE OTHER ONES ON HOW TO CUT DOWN TREES. I TRULY APPRECIATE YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK.

There is another reason for doing a plunge cut. We had a professional chainsaw instructor teach boy scout leaders about chainsaws and their use. He told us that ever since he had a tree blow up on him unexpectedly from hidden rot he now ALWAYS does a center plunge cut on anything over 5"? ... just to see what is hidden behind the bark. As an experienced logger he knew what to look for but the procedure changing tree hid its danger even from him. I love to see the way you actually USE the 45 degree retreat path once the tree begins falling.

I think you do a great job. espcially with your sound, youre the only channel i watch where the tools arent way too loud. keep growing good luck

Neat! I like to search RU-vid for "chainsaw mishaps" and spend 15 minutes getting properly horrified and regaining a healthy respect for my saw before I head out to do tree work. Nice to see someone using one properly for a change!

Love it! I'm getting a sawmill soon, so certainly interested in any tree work and details/teaching when you are milling

nice farm! Really nice setup you have! wood lot, sawmill, woodworking shop! mechanic shop! very well done! Thanks for the video!

Cut down my first tree the other day, learned a lot from your videos. Thank you! Cutting that notch was a lot harder than I thought it would be.

Appreciate the fact your spending a lot of time setting up and completing your RU-vid channel it.

You are good at this. I would not change a lot. What I like is your calm no nonsens style. You are very good at explaining what you are doing and why which sounds simple but is not.

Thanks for the great content! I don't fell many trees but over the past 45 years they do add up. Whenever I see a tree with an odd base I recall a time in my 20's when I bit into a beech and within seconds the tree collapsed. Beech trees had a blight so I had been taking them for firewood and had already harvested several big ones without incident. That near-miss scared me so badly that even to this day I always whack the base trunk with a sledge hammer before I start the saw...never found another bad one...but I do check. Turns out that the bark was intact but the only place there was any solid wood was exactly where I started my cut. Thus the instant collapse.

that funky stump looks perfect for natural knees for ship building. Too bad you can't dig it out.

Good job on not dying. The plunge cut method is the way to go for sure.

You keep putting out quality videos like this your channel should really take off. Quite a diversity in what your doing and you really seem to know what your doing. Great explanation of the tasks or projects your working on.

Thanks for sharing your cutting techniques

Your content is second to none. I have a hobby farm and I frequently find real value in the projects you do. Keep it up!

Really enjoying the content John, you have an easy way about you that makes for easy viewing. LOVE the music! Keep going.

Looking forward to the shop build. Very good felling instruction, thanks.

We rarely get long, straight white oak like those logs in this part of the Left Coast. Mostly they all look like a dog's hind leg. Always enjoy your content, John.

You make it look easy. As an amateur I have cut several trees that large and had all kinds of fun problems. I had a huge black walnut tree split in half as it fell. Also had a huge cottonwood stick three bars with 6 wedges trying to hold it took 5 hours to fell it and buck it up. I realize now that I should have cut the center after cutting the wedge but before cutting the edges to the hinge. Thanks for the great video!

Glad you mentioned the trousers seen to many videos of people using a chain saw with just jeans on lost a friend doing that bled to death cheers

That was fun to watch. Glad you popped up!

2nd tree was very nice came down well and nice and straight and looks healthy

So happy for you to be free on a beautiful piece of forested land. Take great care for your safety. The Lord keep you.

Looking forward to the shop build! Thanks for the great videos 👍🏻

Great seeing someone be self sufficient. Your saw techniques are good. The Humboldt is helpful with tear out and diminishes the chance of damage to the usable part of the tree.

Always entertaining and thanks for passing on the knowledge... Keep up the good work!

I could watch you felling and milling trees for hours :D never know what you gonna see inside a log!

I liked the, “Which one is it?” Shot

Very entertaining video John that pore squirrel had to scramble because you scared the crap out of him LOL 😆 @FarmCraft101

Beautiful video. Great looking trees. Thank you for the info.

Yeah, who would not want to be out in the woods knocking down trees ! Sounds like a good life to me !

Hi John, I like the wide and varios content of your vids....thanks

Multiple cameras, drone shots, music... next level

If you want an easy safe method to cut a heavy leaner with minimal to no damage to the log watch Logger Wades demonstration of a step cut. I have 30 years experience cutting timber and have found the step cut to be the best method to get a heavy leaner on the ground without damaging the log.

just took a huge ash tree down with my smaller saw. it came down nice and safe. Just took my time and made the correct cuts I had learned years ago from good logger. Several were the same as you used....very well done on your big trees.

Great job on dropping the trees, just be aware what’s up above, Lost a coworker not paying attention to a 20 foot limb that snapped off.

Loved your chainsaw guide

Nice job on your hazard assessment! That’ll ensure many return trips to the woods and not the ER! Try your sloping cut coming up from the bottom. This is called a Humboldt face cut. Depending on species and condition, you end up with the splinters pulling out of the stump rather than the log, and it protects the quality of your log better. But you were fighting an uphill battle with that first tree being rotten in the middle. A boring back cut, which is essentially what you did on #3, helps too, especially on leaners. Those two in tandem and you don’t have to bore out your holding wood as much, keeping more of the hinge intact and greater control during the fall. Keep your gunning cut and back cut level. The elevation difference between each side in the first tree caused it to have more holding wood and pull to that one side, which also potentially contributed to your splitting. Nice drone flying in that tight canopy! And cool shots from above with the falling trees!

You always seemed a decent feller :)

Your content variety is great , couldn't ask for much better . Nice saw work too 👍

That appendage from your first cut looked like several chain sawed bear statues up here in Minnesota!

Tree #2 was a nice clear white oak indeed!

On the plus side, you had some nice oak firewood.

I’m not sure exactly how I ended up here, I figure I’ll Hand around and take in some of the Content. Appreciate you having us Along, I’ll catch you on the next one. Keep It Safe Out There Sir

Awesome video and thank you for sharing your wisdom. Blessings from northern california!

That funny looking growth would make a fine bowl!

The plunge cut is far safer to prevent barber chairs because the trigger is at the back of the tree, two wedges & down She'd go

Nice chainsaw work.

Nuts 319 I think his name is, talks about taking the heart of the tree. Your explanation makes sense from a lumber mill perspective. Great video

great stuff, i have no experience or skill in anything you do but i get so engrossed in the content. love it. keep it up!

LOL! You made me laugh when you said you forgot your hat! ( Dummy) 😂🤦🏼‍♀️ Anyway awesome job for cutting trees down 🌲🪵🪓

Well done ! but I still contend you need a bigger step between the wedge and the felling cut that step is what prevents kick back and stops a whole lot of ROLL too... Your Smart and you do it well ! thanks for the videos !

Been watching your videos for quite awhile. Just caught the end of this but I hope your plans for the future work. Always interesting!!

Tip 1 cut the buttresses off first to reduce the bar size needed. Tip 2 if you plunge the saw in to the back of the sink to sever the heart and just leave a hinge at the sides you prevent the heart ripping out.

you did good . didnt get hurt and they are on the ground and the lumber wil be put to good use. something happen to even the best. Good job fella.

Shoutout to Peter!!! He taught you now your teaching us!! Great videos

Keep up the great work man. It's good to see how things are down over there. Cheers from Australia 👌

Hey John, that dead tree was a perfect example of a Rampike. Great video thumbs up.

I love your videos! The drone is a very very cool aspect of the whole production. I’ve learned a ton of things from you. Go forth and prosper!!

no doubt you have plenty of trees to cut down. that lost wood because of the rot will all burn in the fire place regardless. thank you for sharing this video. liked, subscribed and shared God bless

ive seen a lot of people waste a lot of wood cutting chunks off to find the end of a hollow .... just like ya did the crack ,you can mill around it

For leaning trees, after setting the hinge depth with a face cut, plunge cut from the sides and leave a trigger on the back cut side. The trunk splitting can have fatal consequences. I'm not a logger but I have done a fair amount of reading and video watching about preventing "barber chair" accidents. Edit: Kinda like you did with tree #3. I commented too soon. 😂

I learn something every time I watch this Channel.. Thanks bruh

Hey John, I like how you build on what you've already taught. Great video, of course! I know that you're channel will only grow from here. It's just so good. I know YT will be your next career. And I'll watch every single video from now until then. ☺️

The best teacher is experience. I was a tree climber for 40 years and still do some at 70.. Rule of thumb - anything that can go wrong will !

im excited to see your future projects and see your youtube career grow!

Great content! I will be checking out all your videos. I have learned a lot about cutting trees down and how to sharpen chain saw properly.🪚

I love it when you are tightening something with a socket or wrench you go " Click ", mimicking a torque wrench too funny!

That unusual growth at 12:02 looks like a profile of a Rhino head with his horn missing

thanks for sharing and explaining how you do it

Just found your channel and enjoyed the video. I learned a lot. I have subscribed and look forward to more!! Thanks!!