We had a triple stem river birch on the pond bank, and only one stem was leaning into the yard. The other two were heavy to the pond. The water is low from the dry weather, so we took that opportunity to take down this problem tree. The second video is just the exciting part.
13. Clear your work area and your escape path of brush, vines, and other hazards that can trip you or catch your saw.
14. Escape from the bullseye when the tree tips. 90% of accidents happen within 12 feet of the stump. Go more than 15 feet, and stay out of the bullseye until things stop falling.
15. Keep spectators away more than twice the height of the tree in the direction it will fall.
16. Don't cut alone.
17. Keep your body and the swamper's out of the line of the bar in case of a kickback.
18. Set the brake when taking over two steps or when moving through tripping hazards. Keep your trigger finger off of the throttle when you are moving.
19. DO NOT operate a chainsaw from a ladder! Operating with your feet off the ground requires special training.
20. Do not cut above your shoulders.
21. Springpoles must be shaved on the inside of the apex between the ascending and descending sides. If the apex is higher than you shoulders, stand under the springpole and cut it low on the descending side. It will release upward, away from you.Leaning and heavily loaded poles that are too small to bore cut for a hinge should be shaved on the compressed side until they fold.
22. Do not cut a tree that is holding up a lodged tree. Do not work under a lodged tree. Think about a mouse trying to steal the cheese out of a trap.
23. Instruct your swampers and helpers to NEVER approach you from behind or the sides to within the reach of your saw when you are cutting. If you pull out of a cut with the chain running, or have a severe kickback, the swamper can be killed if he is coming up behind you!
24!! Quit When You Are Tired!
9 comments:
Love the saw vids. David. Which saw are you using? 24"bar? Not sure why you were taking down those trees at all(looked healthy enough). Will that burn?
Birch burns OK, but it is not a wood for long, cold nights. The largest of these stems was leaning and heavily weighted to the pond, and I took it down as a preventative measure. I am getting too old to pull big trees out of the pond! I have another big black oak that has died on the pond bank, and of course, it is balanced about 20 feet the wrong way. We will be looking at it on another video and size it up. It does have a bit of lean parallel to the pond bank, so I might be able to drop it so it is accessible...
The 572 has a 28 inch bar, that's what was on it when we bought it. The 385 has a 24 inch bar and the old 272 has 20. 20 will handle almost everything on our place. 24 makes it easier. 28 is extra weight on my arms, and wearing me out sooner than I like.
That's a nice stable of saws. All on the big end. Is that an accumulation over the years. I don't run anything near that big but probably should. Thx.
The 550 XP is one you can run all day without wearing out your arms, and it is a little hot rod. I keep it gassed up and ready to go all the time. We also have a little Stihl 170, not much power, but it runs and cuts OK. Little saws are handy!
We bought the 272 XP in 1995 after I got to run one while taking chainsaw training by Tim Ard. We got the 385 XP 14 years ago. The 550 XP came along around 9 or 10 years ago, and we got the 572 XP in 2022. There was also a 346 XP, and it was a disappointment. It was a fast saw, but did not have the torque we like for hard cutting. The 550 XP is one that I would recommend for most home/landowners. A 70 cc saw is really bigger than most would enjoy running.
Thanks for all the info. I run a 353 which I think is the 346. I've had it 20yrs. I love it and if it has any deficiencies, I just don't know any better. I run a Stihl 362 as my bigger saw and I like that as well. Been eyeing that 550 if the 353 goes down. Agree about a 70cc saw but you seem to do well and I think you're a little older than me (70).
I'm 74 now. I bucked up most of that mess today using the old 272 XP. It still is a powerhouse! Two tanks and I was ready to take a break. Lots of wood to split and stack now, and lots of limbs to deposit in the woods. I really love running a saw.
One more comment David and I'll leave you alone (until the next saw video). I too love running a saw. I call it the Zen of Chainsawing. I can't think of anything else in my life where I am in the moment and solely focused as when running a saw. Of course, wanting to keep all my digits and appendages helps.
Post a Comment