Yeah, he’d have been easy to find had the tree fell on him. Good Lord Almighty, some people should have to take mandatory training before allowed to touch a saw.
20 years for me as a sawyer for Wildfire and 5years as a Climbing Arborists . I would absolutely agree with you and question how either of those two have actually stayed alive as long as they clearly have. Must have more lives and huge percentage less capacity of logical thinking than I have being that I would say if my new hire groundie tired to climb a tree high enough to move a rope down proves that he has not enough brains for anything regarding chainsaw work and I don't even want to get started on the special person that was behind the saw as to he was the one in charge of that three ring circus that very easily could have killed them both.
Ive made mistakes falling trees butttttt…… lol. Ive certainly done things and said, “lets not do that again”…. Buttttt…. Lol. Certainly takes the cake but desperate times call for desperate measures so lets hope there is a back story that led to this circus haha…
Hey man, you could've kept this fail to yourself and taught others nothing, but you shared your mistake with the world so others could learn from it. That takes guts and character--I hope your future felling adventures go a bit more smoothly than this one. Everybody walked away and some lessons were learned--life wasn't as harsh a teacher as she could've been on this one.
It did come down. Sometimes hangers happen to the best of us. What you had there was a lightweight dead tree that was tangled up in a healthy tree, and when that happens it becomes a struggle to avoid the widow maker. I've been cutting trees every spring and fall for almost 40 years. You all walked away and got her done. So Kudos.
Seriously. Was it pro grade? No. A fail? Hardly. They got it done and no one got hurt, except maybe the guide bar on that first saw. And probably learned some lessons for next time.
@@Whatsittoy Oh, ok. Next time begin your comment by saying "Agreed." That would help avoid confusion. I'll delete my comment....ok buddy ole pal? We still good?
@@johnspartan98My mistake. I thought "Seriously" in this context was the same as "Agreed." You ended with "You all walked away and got her done. So Kudos." I said "Seriously." because it was ridiculous seeing all the negative comments and I liked your statement regarding what was important to take away from this. Like you said, instead of bashing the guy we should note that he walked away safely from a dangerous dead tree and didn't leave it hanging. But I guess it didn't mean the same to you. Sorry for the confusion.
When your saw gets pinched in the cut while falling…. Just remove your bar nuts and take the powerhead off the bar…. That way the worst thing that can happen is you bend a bar and it cost 70 bucks instead of 600 or more.
Yup. I pinched my bar in a tree a week ago, and there was no room for a wedge. So I pulled the powerhead off first. Then used a tie and a come along to straighten the tree. Got my bar and chain free undamaged.
Dry dead trees can be unpredictable. The fibers don't bend like in a green tree. You saw that right away, and then it came back and pinched your saw. The mistake here was not getting wedges in early as soon as you get a chance put that wedge in when you have an inch of space. It has saved me a lot of grief. And believe me I have done just what you have done enough times in different scenarios to respect this video. Thank you brother
The angles he cut were all wrong and noone whose spent enough time cutting trees seems to realise. And putting the saw in one side not evenly thru the back is EXACTLY why the saw got pinched. I only had that happen once in my learning curve and I was trying to cut a 30 inch thick tree with a 12 inch bar.
after the first back cut he did if he would have just wedged it over it probly would have went but he got greedy and tried to cut more and he cut through the hinge on one side and it pinched his saw. which will happen basically anytime you cut through the side of your hinge wood like that. this is a classic exsample of someone watching abunch of youtube videos on how to fell trees but has very little real life experience actually doing it. everyone thinks its way easier then it is until they try it. when i first started i was like this should be easy. boy was i wrong.
don't think it "set back" on the saw, I think he cut completely though to the notch. That's a very unstable tree at that point, very dangerous to go get another saw and start cutting on the tree and then climb the tree.
the top part of the tree was tangled up well in the other trees, that seemed to be the crux of the problem. It only pinched his saw after he cut entirely through the tree which he wouldn't have had to have done had the tree not been blocked from falling over by the other trees above.
I love the way he is clearing out tripping hazards before he starts cutting on a dead tree-don't forget to look up for the dead limbs that are heading your way...
True . I always make sure I have many escape routes and I also take two saws full of fuel and oil before I drop a tree. I have cut many 1000s of trees most go exactly where I plan on dropping them but some not so good. Other trees or dang grape vines I couldn't see can ruin a good tree fall. Always have a hard hat and someone watching for problems.
@@davidgardner3640 well he knew the direction it was going to go but I don't think there was any way he could have known it was going to snag bad enough to hold it in place. Every once in a while you get a bastard tree like that
I started from scratch when I was about 35, bought my first chainsaw and some books on how to fell trees etc. Then I did a proper chainsaw course, luckily along the way I took my time, then I started working with the local council and worked with some professionals, I was learning all the time and now I feel reasonably confident. At 78 I need to take my time and think things through, this video was brilliant, couldn't see why the bloke did aim the through through the gap to the right of the tree he got hung up in!! maybe he didn't know how to aim the tree, he certainly took out a huge sink!! Maybe a short introduction on the use of wedges would have helped!! Fine entertainment all the same, thanks.
Seems like he forgot to study the intended fall before he commenced. Those branches were almost interlocked. He had many trees around to anchor a winch on and steer for a more open area. However, since he wasn't ashamed to post his fail, he probably intends to learn. 👍🍻
Seriously, many folks wouldn't have attempted what you did, let alone shared it on the internet. Thank you for showing this, so hopefully others can avoid risky fells/trees, and/or look for guidance/assistance with problem trees. Good job
Not wrong, I was out cutting in the forest the other day. Had a look up and around for danger in widowmakers, limbs half broke hanging, falls that are hung up, the usual. I'm cutting away under a massive red gum that had lost a limb (half the canopy) and taken an iron bark down with it. Anyway it was while loading I had a better perspective from away from the spot where I saw what was essentially a person sized tree dart hanging by its leaf branches pointing straight down at my cut pile 😮 clean shaft bushy top. The thing even had had a nice sharp point from the break and was lined up beautifully. I lassoed the bottom and was able to pull it down quite easily, when it hit the ground between bucks at the edge of the pile it drove about 4/5 of a foot into dry land. I had missed it somehow looking straight up at it 🤷♂️ it was a lightly windy day with gusts, i was cutting alone. Be carefull out there guys and girls👍
In my test we had to hang up a tree,my 1 had storm damage and had no crown, the 2 leaders went either side of the trunk,even after taking it of the stump & no luck trying to roll it,I had to do a drag back as the only solution, examiner stood watching, and when it was down,he said that was a bugger ah,!! Good job he said, that was 15 years ago
"Houston.. we've got a problem.." You know things aren't going smoothly when the guy in charge keeps circling his prey and hopelessly looking up with the odd head scratch here and there😂😂. But I commend the guy for being lucky enough to post what not to do, and hopefully educate a few others by way of some commentators who have fell many times without this level of drama and luck. 🙏
To all the haters, if you do something long enough you experience all aspects of it. This was not a fail at all. The job got done and no one got hurt. That’s all that matters.
Every once in a while, a little screw up can get you back on track to doing things better. Seemed when I first started I needed 2 saws to fell one tree quite frequently. As we all should know, every stump tells a story of what went right and or wrong. We learn and move on. As long as nothing gets destroyed or anyone hurt, it's just another tree down.
We’ve all had a bad day where we thought we had things figured out. None of us are perfect. As long as no one was hurt and lessons were learned, then everyone goes home safe and humble.
Good to see comments of support for this guy. Absolutely no point being too negative. Landowner to fellow landowner: 1. Whichever direction it ended up falling no danger to structures etc. So no harm in having a go for experience etc better for him in the long run. 2. Hangers are bastards and you learn to be over defensive expecting them. I cut in bush that you can hardly wheel a barrow thru its so timbered. Get a throw line (and throwbag launcher even) and get a rope up there before you even start if required. If I cant pull with a vehicle I use a Masdam type rope come along to pull. 3. If pinched disconnect powerhead from jammed bar and chain. 4. Wear helmet in case of falling crown limbs. They come out of nowhere. 5. Face and back cuts, hinges, wedges is a science. We just have to learn and stay safe.
That tree looked like it was bound to get hung up. At 2:40 you can see the tree had a very small area to fall through. He missed it but he got the tree down, nobody got hurt and there was no property damage. Good job!
Yup. The only real issue here was the entangled tree at the top that prevented a clean fall. It was "just" a dead tree but with its location, it was never going to be an easy drop. I think it would have been best to tie off and pull like they did from the beginning, to help ensure a cleaner drop and no pressure on his saw, either. Like you said, the tree is down, no damage to anyone and no one got hurt: that's a win every day of the week.
BEEN there!!!!!!! High Cut and Snatch it.....Sometimes you HAVE to do this, they Won't fall if they're Snagged!.....and you cannot climb dead trees.... Common problem on the East Coast. Sloppy job, but sometimes you gotta improvise and get it done. You can "talk" all you want, but get out in the Real world, it's a different game, period. There's no houses around, and at least he was Smart enough to bring Multiple Saws. I learned that real fast too.
Something like this happened to me one time. The tree was only about half the size of this one so I was able to lift it off the stump but the trees branches were so tangled up in the branches of the tree beside it, the stupid thing wound up hovering about 2 feet off the ground beside it's own stump! I took pictures of it because I didn't think anybody would have believed me otherwise.
Thanks for sharing you experience, which most of us have had in our own woodcutting experience at one time or another. But that’s how we learn. Clearing your space as you did is always wise. I once failed to move a one inch stick that tripped me as I ran for cover. The tree fell properly but a 3” limb landed next to me where I had fallen. Indeed, making a pathway is always good. Kind Thanks and Many Blessings! DaveyJO in Pennsylvania
@@Philobiblion unkind comments aren’t nice at all, considering that we all hopefully learn from our mistakes and experiences. I’d be willing to bet that most everyone who were negative made mistakes as well. So keep on keepin on Brother! And Thanks again for sharing your experience. We may never know but it may well have helped someone avoid a worse mistake, like me for example. A Fine Sumner to You and your Family! DaveyJO in Pennsylvania
@@Philobiblion Yes I'm sure many have made all of these mistakes at one time or another... but to document them all on the same tree is a feat in and of itself!
This was definitely a challenging tree to fall, with its position between, tied up in trees that were not wanted to remove. I admire that despite all the challenges the tree was felled with minimal damage to the trees wanted to be kept. The only thing I saw during the sawing was the angled cut should have been made first to keep that pinching from happening, and the teeth on those chainsaws were definitely in need of a sharpening before this job.
There's so many comments about all the things he did wrong but very few explaining what, nor what he should have done. Plus, 20/20 hindsight doesn't count. From it's weight alone, the tree should've fallen. The entangled branches from it, and the other trees, were stronger than one would've thought, keeping it upright. Good video. I'm just glad no one got hurt. 🙂 Or blew a motor. 🚘😄 👍
As a tree professional I'm just in awe about Captain Rainbow's tree felling technique. He's the reason why some people shouldn't be allowed near a chainsaw .He's lucky to be alive. Smh 😬
What shocks me is the PILES of people saying he done everything right and it was just a hanger. He had no comprehension of basic physics of how weight shifts in a tree. Or the proper angle to cut like the chainsaw manual will tell you
I was thinking this should be used as evidence to take away his drivers license long before the truck got involved in this video. Some people lack basic awareness of simple reality and are a great danger to others.
Thank you for sharing your misadventure. The thing that caught my attention was besides the obvious face cut was the tossing of a hot saw into the super dry leaves. I have caught myself setting my saw down in dry grass but after the East Troublesome fire a few years back we on the crew have all gotten much more aware of where we set our saws. Above all cutting dead and dry trees suck. They are incredibly unpredictable.
To be fair, many areas do not have a fire danger for most of the year. In my area, even if I did light the leaves on fire, I would have more than enough time to get the hose out, hook it up, and put it out before it did any damage. I realize in some areas it goes from a spark to an out of control wild fire in minutes, but that doesn't happen everywhere.
I love how he spent so much time clearing all the debris from around the tree then proceeds to cut the tree with no chaps,no hard hat and no common sense.
A few years ago a friend from work was helping his son-in-law cut a tree when the saw got stuck.The son-in-law went to get another saw and my friend turned his back on the tree. The tree fell on him. He spent many months in the hopital and rehab. Was never able to walk right again. Always be aware of what's happening around you.
Hey…they got it down. He had it aimed toward the house-so I thought it was going to end very very badly. Part that made me laugh the most was him overdoing it on clearing the area of teeny tiny sticks before cutting. A safe flight path is right thing to do…but that was hilarious 😂
Nah he wanted it to fall down in the wrong direction, i mean he cut the wedge od the side where the other tree is when there is plenty of space slightly to the right.
I was doing handyman jobs as a side gig. A renter reported a tree that was leaning over in the back yard, I was asked to take a look at it. The tree was starting to uproot, and was essentially held up by the power line running from the utility pole to the house. I let the agent know I didn't have the equipment to handle the tree while protecting the power line. A week later she calls me back, the power company came and disconnected the wire, moved it to the other side of the tree, and re-connected the power, so can I go back and cut down the tree. What ensued was very similar to this scenario, with the tree finally coming down and a branch smacking and bending the top rail on a chain link fence. Too bad I didn't have a Go-Pro!
Good on you for posting the vid. Someone else said this earlier in the comments and I agree with their advice which was take the top first, which stops a lot of the tangles. Cutting the top, however, would mean bucket cutting or climbing and I understand not everyone can do that or afford to pay for it. In the end you and your mate got it done and you probably learned a few things along the way. cheers for the vid
The tree was fine to drop as it stood. Had he followed through with the back cut it would’ve been fine. He got scared when the tree started to drop, backed away and then didn’t know what to do.
I made a rope saw from a survival firewood diamond infused wire. Broke it and then discovered that rope saws are a thing. If you live on forested land, please buy a rope saw and 200 feet of static rope.
Im a couple of years in to learn tree felling and chainsaw work. Im using youtube and people around me that are more skilled than I am. I really like and appreciate the comment section in videos like this. People give advice, share concern about taking safety serious, show humbleness and support to each other. Best regards from Norway
I had a guy come over, and he had almost the same problem. The only thing that saved us I was clearing out the lot to build our house. We had to take down the other trees that got the first one hung up anyway. 😅 You need a whole different set of skills when falling trees on a hill side.😊
the most dangerous home owner power tool on earth doing one of the most dangerous home owner task on earth, so much can go wrong but Im glad yall got it with no injuries. Im no arborist but ive cut several dangerous trees and never enjoyed any of it whew!! Kudos to tree service guys they are worth their salt for sure.
anyone who has actually went through the proccess of learning how to fell trees has deffinatly been in a similar situation as this guy. everyone thinks its so easy cause they watch abunch of youtube videos but its not. didnt help that the dudes saw was about as dull as it could get lol. sharp chain is a safe chain dull chain is asking for problems or to get hurt
@swere1240, exactly! As one that has taken a saw to the knee, (my fault, walked up behind someone), The doc said that it was a great thing the saw was sharp, or I would’ve lost my leg. I now have cool battle scars! 👍🤣
Good on you for sharing this failure mate - none of us are perfect. Glad everyone was unharmed. It was a tough job from the beginning for an amateur. Easy to say climb & buck from the top but takes skill or money. Good to see the recovery technique by your neighbour.
Wonder what the odds are of two 'commenters' commenting 3 months apart but both starting their comment with the exact words, "Good on you"? Just thinking . . .
I noticed he finally put on some eye protection, but no Hard Hat, I guess he new there was'nt anything in there to protect.The Good Lord was with you on this one, Hopefully you thank him for that.
Dude! you were lucky! I suggest buying G.F.Beraneks book - The Fundamentals of General Treework. It may save your life :) The main issue here is the dutchman you left in the face cut. That is what stopped the movement (and of course the tips)...what you did could've worked out much worse for you. Also look into the proper method for removing hung up trees....climbing up the trunk to move the rope you put in the wrong place is probably NOT a good idea. Your friend may not last too long taking risks like that. Anyway glad you got it down without injury.
A real friend woulda shimmied up that tree 12 feet and made another cut..🤣🤣 Some of us are taught or learned from our mistakes the hard way.. You coulda sheared the stump off with c4 and that tree would still be stuck in the top.. Glad they got it done with all their digits intact.. 🍺🍺
The fact that you never heard of it only tells me that most likely the pride prevented them telling. Everybody makes mistakes. Just a real man admits to them.
Hire an Arborist. But if you refuse to go that route… 1. Don’t cut through your hinge.. ever. If you don’t know where the tip of your bar is, then stop cutting. 2. You can’t fell a tree that’s tangled up in another tree without felling both, or putting a rope in it, that’s physics, you won’t win.
Any old-time logger can tell you stories of having to knock one 'stuck' tree down with another, sometimes taking a whole bunch of other trees to eventually get the mess on the ground. It's always a harrowing experience for them.
I would agree that everyone of us has had a bad day. The guy did just fine. I have fell alot of trees. And I have also got them hung up in branches from other trees. It's a pain in the ass for sure. Given no trees were in his path it would of been a perfect felling job. Hats off to you good job.
Exactly. If you are just cutting firewood you can't afford to hire a pro or a boom truck. We are just farmers so on the sketchy ones we just substitute horsepower for climbing/rigging. Lean it into the others then hook a long cable and a big tractor around the base and pull. It works better if the tree is still on the stump.
In a dense forest it is common. In our timber if we had this scenario (which we have) we cut it off, then hook a hefty 50' cable around the trunk and pull it off the stump with a 150 hp tractor. Sometimes with hollow or rotting trunks we cut them partway through and throw the cable around it then snap them off. There is not much danger. The only time I ever got hurt was when a tree fell and shot a broken branch 25 feet, hitting me in the knee. That was sore for a long time. I am 71 now and too old to cut trees but I always enjoyed it.
I mean, yeah, that was a rough one to watch. Not sure what those side cuts were meant to accomplish. Glad he got it safely on the ground. Would definitely benefit from reading Jepson's "How to fell a tree". That said, for all of the keyboard warriors out there pretending like they've never looked up at a snagged tree and thought, "well shoot", then I question your honesty. We've all been there. Maybe not quite to this extent or with this many errors, but this is how you learn what you don't know. Hopefully the guy gets some inspiration to get some formal training.
I have no idea what you are talking about. I have never had a tree hang up. Never had a tree rock back. (eyes looking away and rolling) I am an expert (cough. Cough)
One thing I learned in my 15 years of professional tree work is that: anyone who's distant cousin ever owned a chainsaw automatically knows all there is to know about cutting trees down. It's the strangest phenomena I've ever encountered; people won't hesitate to call a plumber to change out a bathroom faucet, but they'll argue how to cut down a tree with someone who does tree work every day.
You don't have to be a professional, just don't be an idiot. I've used chainsaws for a very long time, never been "professionally trained", never fucked up anything. But I've also told more than a few people that no, I won't cut down that tree that's leaning over your house. Call someone with the proper equipment AND insurance.
Lol, I hear that expletive as that stupid tree bounced. Don't worry, I heard that tree mocking you too. Way to show it who's really in charge and well done at staying safe!
I Had my saw stuck in the exact same situation, though when the tree started to lean the saw swung 180 degrees to the side the tree was falling then dropped to the ground, the tree then jumped off of the stump and landed right on top of my 6-month-old MS 290 and drove it about a foot into the ground.😯😳😞 What stopped it from going deeper was a big rock under the saw.... A very expensive lesson to learn.😭
@Dale Fry my dad and I turned his bar into an S one morning with a 14" dead hickory. If the power head had still been on, the but of the tree would have landed directly on it. It's one reason that all of my bars will run on all of my saws.
As a guy that did Cut & Skid (logging) for over 20 years with 2 Johnsereds & a Timberjack 230 turbo and cut 25 cords a day by myself , this guy is ridiculous .
@@shadowbanned5164 Or maybe climb to the top the way the 'cowards' cut trees and simply start lopping off five to ten foot sections and working your way down...
@@edithbannerman4 the bannermans mansion had its munitions exploded. The remains are still there and available for tour on bannerman island. War Profiteers who’s sold arms to the north and south. We Rodgers have a long memory and the name bannerman still leaves a bitter taste.
God must have been watching over them. Watching this reminds me of some of my misadventures, and a quote from Dirty Harry, Magnum Force, "A good man knows his limitations". I don't do electrical work, plumbing on gas lines and the only trees I have cut up were already down. There is a science and art to felling trees safely.
@Richard Sullivan probably made in the same sweat shop in China , my thought is if your backup plan is an extremely homeowner grade chainsaw then you probably don't have enough experience to get in a situation where you might need a backup plan...But that being said successful people tell the most boring stories... I did a thing, it worked out. How lame is that ?!
The dead tree wasn't near any structures or roads, it wasn't threatening anything if it fell naturally, and in the meantime it provided excellent habitat and food supplies for wildlife. Why in the world did anyone think it had to be taken down in the first place?
It makes me think of the movie, “Deliverance” where that mountain man said to Burt Reynolds: “Where you going, City boy”! We’ve all had our bouts with trees (haha).
I was out cutting in the forest the other day. Had a look up and around for danger in widowmakers, limbs half broke hanging, falls that are hung up, the usual. I'm cutting away under a massive red gum that had lost a limb (half the canopy) and taken an iron bark down with it. Anyway it was while loading I had a better perspective from away from the spot where I saw what was essentially a person sized tree dart hanging by its leaf branches pointing straight down at my cut pile 😮 clean shaft bushy top. The thing even had had a nice sharp point from the break and was lined up beautifully. I lassoed the bottom and was able to pull it down quite easily, when it hit the ground between bucks at the edge of the pile it drove about 4/5 of a foot into dry land. I had missed it somehow looking straight up at it 🤷♂️ it was a lightly windy day with gusts, i was cutting alone. Be carefull out there guys and girls👍sh .it happens.
Oh man, never and i mean *NEVER* cut trees when it's windy, even a little wind is a problem and don't go alone, if you get hurt who will take you to the hospital? My dad knows his stuff and even he cut his leg once pretty bad, if i wasn't there he would have bled out.
@@TheDennys21 sometimes wind and rain won't wait until you have your rent or food money. The luxury of time is not always available. Not picking just saying. Dads lucky mate, back belt and leather chaps is all I have atm so no cuts but yeah he's lucky.
It happens. I was a log cutter for years. If the tree you are trying to fall is surrounded by other trees, chances are it will get hung up. It happened to me a couple of times. Maybe not the same way. But I saw it plenty of times in nearly 30years.
I wonder at what point did one say to the other, "Just leave it."? Has felled many trees? Judging by this little gem, I find that hard to believe. There must be a large number of trees around the country magically standing proud whilst detached from their bases after Paul Bunyan here has gone to work.
A chainsaw is one of those tools that you really need instruction and or mentorship from someone who really knows operation and safety. ” my daddy did it this way, his daddy did it this way…..” does not cut it with chainsaws. There’s physics, science and all the properties of reactive forces that are best schooled unknowns. Even with experience, training and safety equipment which should be standard, things can still happen. Please be safe and get training from someone who is experienced and don’t ever compromise any of the safety equipment. Thank God I have been trained by one of the worlds most foremost chainsaw experts, Tim Ard of Forest applications. Thank God you’re OK, please get some training
