Barber Chair Pics

[Daniel]

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I agree almost 100%. I would just add that the act of cutting a deeper notch would have moved the hinge point back, therefore increasing the forward lean and potentialy increasing the violence.

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Maybe, maybe not... this could be one of those counter-intuitives.... a deeper notch would have put the back cut much further back, most likely towards the middle of the log, which would make for a lot more resistance to splitting along the grain. That extra resistance would (most likely) have been enough to prevent the bbc, assuming the notch and back cut were well cut, making a lot more difference than added front lean force would...

 

[southsoundtree]

For those not familiar, chaining and bindering above the cuts can help a lot, or a couple wraps of rigging line, tied tightly.

 

[PrimeApe]

Maybe, maybe not... this could be one of those counter-intuitives.... a deeper notch would have put the back cut much further back, most likely towards the middle of the log, which would make for a lot more resistance to splitting along the grain. That extra resistance would (most likely) have been enough to prevent the bbc, assuming the notch and back cut were well cut, making a lot more difference than added front lean force would...


Ok.......... But what does that have to do with what I said?

 

[Daniel]

a deeper notch would have most likely prevented the BBC in this case, not made it "more violent".. there is less resistance to the grain splitting, when the cut is that far forward... OK?

 

[Bixler]

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on second view, is it possible that he was using a bar shorter than the hinge and over-cut one side of the hinge, leaving a post on the other side (near side in the third pic)... the post would have prevented the hinge from moving, leaving all the front leaning force to split the trunk..

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That's what I would think too, judging by the first two photos.

A deeper notch, strapping the sides a couple inches, and an even back-cut would be a good start.

Interesting photos, classic!

 

[Treespotter]

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Maybe...nipping the corners of the facecut?

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Yup Tom, That's the way to do it. I'm amazed to hear this option so little here.

Face cut 1/5 of the trunk or at most 1/4. After that you make the both side cuts in the sapwood (not to deep) to keep the strain from the bending fibers out of the outer parts of the tree and thus keeping the tension of the trunk in tact.

Need more drastic measures? Face cut, sapwood side cuts and start the final cut one inch from the back of the face cut outward.

 

[beechluvr]

Wow thoes pics are amazing but killer all at the same time. Thanks for taking the time to scan and post. Definatly makes me stop and think about felling.

 

[fingers]

The face notch on this tree wasn't deep enough, thats why it barber-chaired. I was always taught somewhere between 1/3 to 1/2 was proper depth for a notch. Going 1/4 or less is a BAD/UNSAFE work practice.

BTW, nice action shot of the barber chair in action. Pictures are much more helpful in explaining this.