I Hate Posting Here...

Cutting dead pines today. Got cocky with what "I" could do with dead pines, and the one I was working on broke straight backwards. Cut too much hinge, was rushing to finish, didn't take the lean seriously. Thankfully straight back was the second best place for the tree, but uncontrolled fells are a no no. Anyway, felt like I should tell on myself somewhere and not keep it quiet for ego's sake.
can we get a few more details.. I've lost a few tops opposite the intended lay but never lost a tree opposite the lay.. Trees have always been lost to the side...

Did the bar pinch first or start to pinch? was the back cut much higher than the floor of the notch? did you use a pull line or wedges?
 
That's a really interesting point. I still don't know how to politely get rid of the hovering homeowner.
Best attitude is to think like "this guy is trying to kill me or on of my crew" and then take control of the work zone..

last year we were getting ready to blow a big ash top with the skid loader as a pull line.. ton of side lean, climber's first attempt at sizwheel.. saws screaming and I look up to see the neighbor walk around the corner of the house into the backyard.. far to close to the potential drop zone.... IN that moment .. that was my yard... I screamed.. get the F out of my yard... so maybe that's another way to think about it.. while you are responsible for the safety of people and property in that yard. it temporarily becomes your yard... YOU OWN IT!!!
 
ISA can. Are you ISA certified?
No, as he says they’re not qualified to certify him. However, his website advertises right at the top “Prompt Personalized Tree Service
from a knowledgeable Certified Arborist who cares about your needs and the well-being of your trees since 1982.”

Unfortunately, our service areas overlap, so we have encountered him before, and done business with some of his past customers.
 
I'm still wondering how that tree went over straight back against the lean...
It didn’t go against the lean. It went with the subtle lean that it had. The plan was to cut till it sat back a little, then go pull it over. When it sat back, the trunk wood was so decayed that it crumbled, offering no resistance; so it basically acted as if there was a notch on the backside. If I’d left a thicker hinge that didn’t let it sit back at all, it would’ve waited for me to coax it over.
 
It didn’t go against the lean. It went with the subtle lean that it had. The plan was to cut till it sat back a little, then go pull it over. When it sat back, the trunk wood was so decayed that it crumbled, offering no resistance; so it basically acted as if there was a notch on the backside. If I’d left a thicker hinge that didn’t let it sit back at all, it would’ve waited for me to coax it over.
Would it have been better to pretension the pull line? That's SOP with anything questionable
 
Yes. It was laziness. The fall path was thick and overgrown, and the day was taking longer than I wanted already. I figured I would pull if necessary, but was hoping I could just give it a little push since it was super light from decay. Figured wrong.
 

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