When you guys cut very large horizontals, do you ever put a face in the lower side to give the log more time to swing down before it breaks away? After kerfing the underside up as far as seems good without getting pinched, I do start my cut from the top and then swing the bar over to the far side to remove wood there, say a third in or so, before continuing down from the top to complete the drop. There is some awesome weight out there, and sometimes if I am safetied in to the same limb farther back, I get to thinking about some undesirable split that might occur. Do you think that having a face in the underside is a good idea to give more time to cut down from the top, maybe provide more momentum for a clean break as well? I don't feel entirely comfortable with it. Advice appreciated, and thanks.
Well WWB, you've certainly received a wide range of advice on how to deal with cutting very heavy horizontal limbs while lanyarded on to it. Some of the advice downright dangerous IMO.
Differing tree species react very differently depending on a wide range of factors, like whether they're green and wet or dead and dry, etc.
But as a general rule, the best advice IMO is not to lanyard into heavy laterals if you're going to relieve in one cut. Depending on how far out on it you are, relieving that weight with one cut almost invariably will result in you being bounced about like you are lanyarded onto a diving board. Lots of climbers have cut themselves badly because they were not expecting that diving board affect caused by the limb they're on rising suddenly once relieved of 500-1500 lb burden.
The higher the weight relieved, is proportional to the violence and speed of the limb you're on rising. Therefor the best way to deal with heavy horizontals, or any heavy limb that's not vertical, is to get out there and relieve the weight in small increments. Piece it out, a couple hundred pounds at a time. Get the brush off it in stages, in pieces that one or two groundies can get out of the DZ without cutting it up.
It's funny and somewhat counter intuitive, but I've found that most conifers are more predictable and hold their hinges better when dead, particularly horizontal wood. Green cedar and fir heavy horizontals are notorious for snapping off the second you start cutting them on the topside.
Heavy horizontals are best dealt with in small increments, particularly if you're lanyarded onto them, IMO.
Jomo