I use to practice fancy cutting, and its good to know those things when you need it, but Id have to say that I typically just blast a throw line through the canopy and base tie it. I yank on it with the skiddy before notching to brake whatever is weak. Then notch and pull it over. Its quick and easy and they always lay where I want. If its real important or high risk Ill isolate the line. That being said, just this past Friday I used a rope and wedges. Dead tree next to the house and the skiddy was in the shop. 3 guys on the rope and no spot to anchor a system. Everyone works within their own limitations I suppose.
Yeah, man, one of the best things I've ever done in this trade is to get into the habit of setting a pull-line, but then not using it. I learned to use wedges in a resi-setting this way. I tried Buckin's back-cut first stuff this way. The lazy man (the one who DOESN'T hang a rope) can pay a terrible price, but the man who has the rope to pull him outa the bight, can afford to mess around a bit. Fun stuff sometimes. But, yeah... I could tell stories.
So what is the benefit, outside of cutting a jack-seat?
WAAAAYYY less banging/mushrooming, or incurring an impossible set-back situation from being silly enough to make the face-cut first.
It's good for smaller trees, when there's not room to pound wedges in behind the backcut. cut back cut, set wedges, cut face and then pound it over.
Dude, I've seriously done it with no rope in huge cottonwoods that were back-leaning into the house. Back cut first... blunt-wedges as soon as there is possibly a hair or room... tap, tap, cut, cut, repeat... stressfull stuff... tap, tap, nibble, nibble... staying hard-up on yer chain with the wedges. A guy could say that it's no fun, but the upside is that you incurred ZERO extra set-back, and you didn't have to shinny up there like a retarded monkey. Climbing sucks! Tap, tap, nibble, tickle. Leave yer spurs in the stinkin truck. A guy wants a ton of wedges in the back to prevent splitting, and to make the double-up easier.
only when bore cutting small stems aloft.... heavy front leaners... set the back cut first, tiny little notch second, because that's all there is room for, then release the strap....
DUDE! You gotta get on this! An experimental man like yerself! Come on, now!!! I'da thought that youd'a had this figured by now. Fun stuff, I tell ye!
Yyyyeeeeaaaahhh... Coupla caveats: 1) DON'T get overzealous on yer bangin'. (barberchair no face-cut
) Orrrr... (bar-pinch on face-cut
) 2) Never/seldom do on gusty days... tree can go with no face-cut.
3) One should make one's face-cut like an EXTREMELY trepidatious fellow. It is EXTREMELY EASY (Page: I too am just a tree-service guy.) to cut off yer far corner when making the face-cut.
Yes, my good man... I could tell you stories. But let not an educational thread in the House degenerate into mere storytelling!
Dang, how'd you do that Butch???... I could never figure out the multi-quote thing.