LEARN the 'KEY NOTCH' tree falling technique 

I can see a lot of use for this in urban tree felling. This ain’t for novices, but for pros, being able to protect low walls, planters, raised beds, and especially tree-surrounding expensive tile patios or wooden decks from having the trunk smash into them etc, is awesome. People say this takes too long, but in those specific, but fairly common situations with urban trees, this can actually save a lot of time not having to set up crash bags/blankets, hoping it’s enough to protect what you have to protect from a falling trunk, when the budget precludes a crane. I think clients will appreciate it too.

As a chainsaw instructor and amateur RU-vidr myself, I salute you! I had thought this cut was too complicated and time consuming to teach, but you proved me wrong! I’ve seen time and time again people rushing the felling cut and causing half an hour hard graft sorting out the mess afterwards. An extra minute getting the felling cut perfect and anticipating everything that could go wrong, is always time well spent. Good job sir!

I don't leave comments on RU-vid. But I'm making an exception today. Thank you for sharing! I used this to take down a 40ft sweet gum which was leaning over my chain link fence. I wanted to drop it without damaging the fence and this is exactly what I needed! I made these cuts above the fence line and was able to section the tree once it was down without impacting the fence. Thank you!

Finally someone explains WHY to use this cut. Thank you!

I wish my old friend/ boss was still here for me to show him this. Curious if he had ever seen or done this. He had over 40 years of being an arborist/climber and passed away from cancer last year. Wildest 8 years of my life. RIP Don!

Well executed. Great explanation of use. This is a training video. Notes to a lot of homeowners: If you have a "safety chain" or "anti-kickback chain" a plunge cut may be very difficult to nearly impossible. if you haven't got training besides watching you tube, a plunge cut might be more advanced than you think.

Fascinating to learn about the 'KEY NOTCH' technique for tree falling - such an invaluable skill for precision and safety. 🌲🔑

Thanks for the video, this technique be making the rounds on social media because I've been hearing everyone talk about it. Good to see a concise instructional video of it.

I saw this method being used here in New England and was so impressed with how the trees fell and didn’t roll and it seems a lot more safer than the other methods. Thanks

Haven't had to fell any trees lately but on my next new property project I will need to use this. Thank you!😊😊😊

Hi Dan, ive not seen this before! However it looks magic. I will definitely try this next time i can! Keep up the good work and informative videos. Stay safe 😞

Being an old carpenter, I loved seeing this. Thinking about how to make physics work in your favour. Very cool. Things like this are good for business too. Showing that you are a master of your trade. Impressive.

Thanks Dan another timely, informative, and helpful installment!

Thanks so much, this is such a Professional process, so great when in urban areas, the tree goes exactly where you want it to, i have always been close to the mark this action would make it near exact.Cheers Bob

I like it. Even if you're just cutting some firewood it you still get some benefits from it, better ergonomics for limbing, can back a small trailer under it after felling so you don't have to lift as much after. If you're working sandy or muddy ground you can avoid sinking the tree into that. And it should dry fast on the stump if you just want to leave it like that. Or if you just want to make a place to sit. Cut it down, limb it, shorten it, flatten it and throw a piece under the other side.

Dan, thanks for your sharing. It is a cool technique. I like it.

You are an artist

So cool! Thank you for sharing this technique.

Loving this method!

Beautiful! I loved this, even though I'm an axeman! I've sometimes felled tricky trees for folks using almost exclusively the axe, which I can because I have a fair deal of experience, and know to climb trees to limb the weight with lean where I want it to. But sometimes that's not enough, and so ropes and (semi-)dubious wedging has been used to make it fall straight. One time I had a bad premonition that fortunately ended well, but the "throw of the dice" was no fun when a friend can risk considerable damage (that was meant to be avoided all together in case of a storm) But still I've been called over some sawmen, because in such settings they'll admit that they're to get stuck (or much worse), so they'll need even more accessories than what it's worth (vs risk). I'll have to share this with my fellows, because just because I can be the one that can, doesn't mean I should be the one who should. Sometimes, you need a different tool, and my fellow sawmen (and people in our local villages) will thank for sharing this vaulable safety measure. Thank you for uploading! Cheers from northern Norway

Very clever technique. Thanks for that.

Beautiful! Thank you very much for sharing!

Brilliant I don't need to cut down any trees but if I need to one day this will be so much better.

Loved it!❤

That's a very clever way of felling a tree. The next time we have some clearing to do we'll be using that without doubt. Starting on the smaller trees obviously until we're 100% comfortable with the technique. Brilliant!

Short, to the point, and Very Informative = Great Video!

From an educational point of view, simply explaining "how to do" leads to distortions of understanding and a gradual modification of gestures. The one and only solution is to explain "why", like in this video. Well done!

very very nice , thank you so much for this technique. amazing

Really clever approach for controlling the lower trunk, thanks for the tip!

Cool video Dan, thanks for showing something interesting. JIm in Oregon.

Excelente explicacion, gracias x el video!

SUPERB !!!!

Absolutely Magic!! 👍

I have no idea why I was recommended this video, nor why I watched it, but it was fascinating all the same.

Nice video! Tnx. You can eliminate 1 cut though; by making the first horizontal plunge cut in a slightly downward angle. This will eliminate the need for a second horizontal plunge cut and will still give you enough room for the pivoting stump.

Its a fun trick shot, looks cool, but really serves a very very narrow purpose, a proper face cut back cut and a couple wedges and the tree will fall where you want it, but you are right this will keep the log from bouncing left or right. Good work mate

Brilliant! 😎👍🏻

So neat!! Sharing it with a friend right now! 😊

That is some fancy tree-felling work.

*Thanks!* NICE Cuts! Tree looks as if Trained. : } *Cheers!*

thanks for the info

Great video!

Very clever nice explanation

I don't have a chainsaw or any trees but was compelled to watch. Great vid !

That’s a clever technique! Not one to be used regularly, certainly useful in tight situations. Well done! 👍

Hello Dan, thank you. That is fancy!

Great video.

looks like a good way to get the saw stuck in the tree! i been doin this for 40 yrs or more! make ur back cut high enough , and there should be no problem with the tree trunk bucking back on ya

So well executed and explained Dan, I will definitely try this felling system, l am impressed, Stihl MS 261 is definitely the best 50cc saw on the planet, How Sweet the Sound, give the MS 400 a try out, l think you will fall in love ❤, keep up the powerful work, your content is treasure trove for all, greetings from Ireland !!!

Very nice!

Great video with detailed explanations.

Just like all tricks, there's a time and a place for it, and both might be few and far between depending where you work. On flat ground or uphill felling it can definitely save a lot of earth punishment and has other benefits, but trying it on even a slight downhill fell has proven to be a waste of time for me. It really doesn't take that long and I learned a lot so I would recommend for anyone to try it anywhere it seems useful...as long as you can afford to replace whatever you end up crushing haha

WOW!

I got to try this.

Safe-r technique . Practical , structured fall . .👍🎯

Very impressive.

Smart idea never seen it before

Ace video. Thank you. Wish I'd known about Rhos method when I felled a 40ft leaning poplar adjacent to our garage. We succeeded, but it was nerve wracking, & & came uncomfortably close to being disastrous!

Cool! :)

Within the first minute, you explain the reason for this technique. No one is going to do this to a forest of trees for mass lumber. This is being done so you don’t crush your shed, or your grandmas tulips. It’s impressive how well people, myself included, can so crucially criticize something with no further examination than a passing glance.

It's very advanced technique for me, looks more like a wood sculpting, but very interesting and performed perfectly. Thank you for sharing. As a newbie I'm still sticking to falling relatively small trees away from the house without trying to change the direction of fall using a basic technique of the face cut and the back cut.

Beautiful

Cool!

Interesting!!!!!

Great video 👍 I'd watch an hour long video with just multiple fellings like this

Think I'd be using this more to help control the direction n the tree falls more than it rolling off the stump. Great technique either way!

Wow, haven’t seen old farm fence technique in a long time

That’s the coolest thing ever!

Excited to mess around with this a bit! Question for you: have you attempted it perpendicular to the primary lean of a tree to see what happens? I could imagine a number of outcomes (key+hinge breaks, keys binds and stops moving, stump splits). Purely morbid curiosity on the directional capacity of the technique for fully weighted trees.

Wow I have never seen this before, I see Why that can be very useful......k

Nice

Awesome information! I like that you can do this solo, no need for a rope and extra person. Only challenge would be on larger trees my 16" dewalt saw probably wouldn't work to cut the key. I'll have to try this on the ausie willows in the spring😊

I think this could also help steer a tree in a tight situation

Excellent Video Brother. What is the saw you used in this video; number?

Genius, love it! Almost seems to be the first joint of new construction.....Im wondering if there's a way to do this with Bushcraft techniques?

Those are always fun to do. Haven't done one in a while

MAsterpiece

I will try this tomorrow. 🙂 Of course if you do not cut the notch strait, it can quickly become a lock that will prevent the tree from falling.. (If you look at it from the top and the angle is thicker in the direction it is supposed to fall..) \ / wrong - I I correct.

Tekhnik ini sangat berguna , agar batang kayu yang kita potong tidak jatuh ke samping , biasnya banyak ketika kayu roboh batang nya membanting

I like this idea in that it keeps the tree off the ground for easier bucking

Well, that should control the fall ! Hadn't seen/heard of that !

cool

genius

excellent. i was wondering about this cut and failed to see how useful it can be in urban environments especially. good one. how about this 'steering' a tree by working on the hinge as it comes down? can someone explain that to me? is it that the tree is coming down square to the hinge as you'd expect and you see you've cut the hinge wrong or something and it's not going where you want to you 'change' the hinge as it is coming down? and you 'change' it by cutting a bit away at one side or other? And that makes the hinge 'wedge shaped' ? and the back of that wedge, the side nearest you, decides the direction of the hinge, the direction at right angles to which the tree will come down? Is that it? And you do all that in the two or three seconds as the thing is coming down?

Mantap luar biasa

Can you use the "Humboldt" type of face cut? Seems like in the end you are doing that anyway with those angled cuts. And, can you do this cut when topping a tree (I don't know if I said that right)? I guess the bottom of the tenon might hit you.

I am high AF right now and I just watched this 3 times. Fascinating shit!!!

My question, could this cut be used to lock down accurate felling direction?

Great. Way to fall a tree on a windy day. !!!

This is great. Drill a hole drive pin and you have a gate

Does this technique also help with the direction the tree will fall?. Along with the pull rope and the initial cut etc.

How do you like the light bar on the 26?

His voice reminds me of Ridley Scott's. Not just the accent, but the cadence.

I would like to see that done on a big oak or maple here in Southern Ontario

I've wondered if you're using this technique to fell a tree with a lopsided canopy or weird shaped trunk if it would be really likely to jump out of the slot and flop around regardless?

That's great, how would that work on a 30 inch diameter tree?

But i like your Videos!

are we cutting trees or doing carpentry?

this may take longer but it sure is a heck lot safer someone i know was cutting some trees at a property we were flipping after reno, and one of the tree bounced when it fell and broke his leg as a result

💡