Barber Chair and how to avoid one.

[@rerolley]

I have only had a couple of days of formal training in chainsaw safety. Our instructor was a big advocate for bore cutting whenever the tree was big enough to allow it, whether it was leaning or not. Thanks for a good demonstration of the technique.

[@GameofTrees]

You might have been instructed by Norm Hall, I know him to be of that persuasion. It is not bad advice. I always use it if we have a mechanical pull in the tree or a heavy lean. Honestly, I rushed this one. A product of my personality I need to be wary against.

[@rerolley]

@@GameofTrees Our instructor was Nathan Stanford. Seemed like a good basic course.

[@chevyhighrider]

I’ve seen a few videos now on smaller diameter trees where they will do a vertical plunge cut to establish the hinge.

[@BinoH]

That was an excellent explanation of the Barber chair and an equally excellent explanation of how not to Barber chair with the Boring technique. Very nice hinge by the way!

[@GameofTrees]

Thanks Bino

[@BinoH]

@@GameofTrees you're welcome

[@ScottWConvid19]

@@BinoH that crack at the hinge made me less confident with estimating bore distance for hinge width. Wouldn't a thinner hinge be better for preventing it?

[@chevyhighrider]

You’ve got that saw tuned up good and nice and sharp too. Nice job bud

[@havespurswillclimb]

Enjoyed the video. Nice job on the bore cut drop. A little more chancy with a short bar that doesn't go all the way through.. But you got it done nicely. A-1.

[@GameofTrees]

Thanks

[@Hausmann300]

Good video sir stay safe....oh and I got a good chuckle out of the piece of wood you stacked on the pile you were about to drop a tree on

[@GameofTrees]

Yeah, I did too😂

[@sydrider6023]

Nicely explained. Tks👍

[@GameofTrees]

I’m kind of glad I got that surprise barberchair with the camera rolling. I wouldn’t attempt it on purpose so it worked out well 😃

[@sydrider6023]

@@GameofTrees my father started logging at age 12 in 1943. He decided to quit working with his chain saw at age 85 cause it was getting a little too hard on him. I wish I could have showed him your video cause I don’t think he had any idea on what are the situations for a tree to barber chair.

[@allisontreecompany1578]

Beautiful!

[@thisisyourcaptainspeaking2259]

Bravo! Nice example and well executed. ;)

[@GameofTrees]

Well, my escape was successful where my execution waned :)

[@thisisyourcaptainspeaking2259]

@@GameofTrees Not just that but you've raised awareness of the hazard with potentially 10's of thousands or more. That's saying something, IMO.

[@LooonTooons]

Very helpful especially your explanations of why you do an aspect of the felling a certain way based on experience. Afleetcommand gave you a shout out on your excellent felling technique so I hopped onto your channel right away and was richly rewarded. Thank you so much for sharing your profession and teaching skills with others like me. Cheers... 8^)

[@GameofTrees]

Thank you! Glad you found something of value to you.

[@wizardsuth]

It was risky to fell the tree over the wood pile. It acted as a fulcrum and made the tree's movement less predictable. It also made it so the tree didn't fall as far before the hinge broke. The trunk pulled up on the hinge, which might be why the wood cracked slightly.

[@GameofTrees]

I could’ve cut the notch, just a little higher to take the wood pile out of play. . Good points.

[@rickstafford5316]

Very nice. Stay safe

[@dorkbrandon4422]

Super smashing great demonstration

[@GameofTrees]

Thanks, I was actually grateful for the barber chair to make this video what it is:)

[@dorkbrandon4422]

@@GameofTrees From the first few seconds in and showing angle direct from back and side this would make a great tutorial for arbor students both side of the Atlantic , my college in South east England we were given free reign to fell many ash saplings in a woodland at a big cemetery and our tutor explained the barber chair but we didn't get a great chance to see one in action but over years of course I've caused a couple myself from being lazy on leaners with standard fell cuts but religiously use a bore technique on leaners since but this here is great as the camera shows the severity from where our head and body could be when a barber chair happens

[@darrellcole934]

Perfect 👍

[@GameofTrees]

What are the odds of catching a barber chair on film with another tree on site scheduled to come down for a follow up demonstration😃

[@simd510]

what would your approach be on a tree just like that but not thick enough to bore cut?

[@ScottWConvid19]

That little crack has me rethinking how much a bore cut really does mitigate barber chairs in heavy leaners. I wrapped a 22" heavy leaning cherry with a log chain and anchored it to a larger trunk along with bore cutting. Barely got into the transition wood in a very shallow face cut. Some would say that was overkill, but when the chances of barber chairs are high, I don't think any safety measures are overkill. Any particular reason you chose to not leave some holding wood for an outside trigger point? I prefer a trigger so that I have one extra step away, right from the gate, so I can run like a sissy 🤣

[@GameofTrees]

A casual retreat with a clean route is my preference:)

[@GameofTrees]

Even on the barber chair, body position and preparedness to retreat and I was completely out of the way.

[@mburnell11]

Was that a green ash?

[@GameofTrees]

No, black oak. Which is in the red oak group.

[@LeuCustomKnives]

That’ll scare the life out of someone!

[@HunterCranfield-qn2rt]

Wow, try boring out your heart, bore out your heavy side first, you said you were worried about your 20” bar making it all the way through, bore out each side until you meet where you bore the heart out do other side same and cur the back strap

[@GameofTrees]

This was filmed the very same day. I am not as uninformed as you might presume 😀kzbin.info/www/bejne/bWTamqqnrdt7qacsi=CWTWmA6WFg-PCVKF

[@radovanflexvidacic9410]

colleague, please go to the verse... God sent it to earth and it doesn't knock on a tree like that while you're cutting it :D I'm kidding, I'm from Serbia and it's a lot different from your smile cut in America (assumption) it's important that deep enough to push the tree out of the way, and when it bends, it's easy to cut it. this can be expensive, but we do the same work, arborism....

[@GameofTrees]

It’s also important not to remove too much of the compression wood on a leaning tree. I also needed space to bore cut. On the first tree, I should have made a bore cut and then all would be well. Thanks for you good spirit, colleague from afar 😄

[@radovanflexvidacic9410]

@@GameofTrees sometimes even the best screw up :D greetings to you too :)

[@dorkbrandon4422]

@@GameofTrees In UK it's standard that we're taught the dogs tooth cut for leaners but the past year I have been using the American approach more of what you do here as it simplifies more For the dogs tooth the beginning is the same with face cut then bore cut to finalise the hinge then cut towards back , but stop leaving a small strap at back then finish with an approx 45 degree angle downwards to connect the back cut like a trigger point .