Face & Hinging Theory

[TheTreeSpyder]

This started as discussion betwixt Mr. Burnham and mys-elf about closing or ripping Lean side of Face before/across to the other.

It takes force to steer a tree or branch. All forces are either pushes or pulls. Mostly we seem to capitalize on just pulls, as push comes at close; often too late in the motion for a lot of help. This asks how to capitalize on push too, then how to use push and pull in tandem to target, not seperately. Then like a rowboat, can i push on 1 side, while pulling on the other, for more of a powerfull tourque than just linear input of forces from my efforts. Linear is more direct, shortest distance; tourque always takes a longer route, engaging distance multiplier to your input.

Employing more power like this, also calls for more cautions. Though i express in mostly felling, as hinging is generally shared; i use more in climbing. this gives more severe angles of sidelean (horizontals; making strategy work better), are lighter/safer loads, and more chance that load is going to move away from you(horizontals), not be over you. Barber chair is usually from a push back across full face, this strategy i present just pushes back on one side, offering other side as releif (which tree will sense and move towards, as it seeks path of least resis-stance).

Barber Chair warning and more on this type of strategies

More Theories

 

[Oxman]

Amazing animation art and conceptual work, Ken. Thanks for calling out the danger of 'sloppy faces'.

One topic that could benefit from illustration is the rip past the undercut onto the climbers flipline. As a safety issue, I feel this is an important subject.

With a partial or inadequate undercut, lots of sideways hanging limbs that want to go left or right can do so at the wrong time. This spells trouble for the climber whose safety lanyard is positioned close to splitting wood.

'Cutting the corners' at each side of the undercut is an excellent aid to releasing large amounts of weight without running the risk of the work peeling down across the flipline.

All these basics are displayed in the drawings as if the wood consistency is uniform and the headlean has been accurately assessed. When a gnarly tree hides defects and spirals outward, it can become a ruthless enemy.

"Not for the faint of heart!"

It's difficult to express that variables abound, and simple formulas must be tempered and modified by a seasoned hand to 'usher' the wood into the desired direction of fall.