salami cut aka "lawn dart technique"

[TreeDoctor]

salami cut aka \"lawn dart technique\"

Just finished a pruning job removing large deadwood from a row of big old declining Lombardy poplar located along the entry to a historic ranch house. Narrow drop zone and the vertical growth called for frequent use of salami cut IE: steep angle through cut to make limbs fall straight down. It worked well although a bit scary watching big tops wizz past rather than tipping over and away with a normal face cut.Anyone have thoughts or suggestions?

 

[mark_sauls]

Re: salami cut aka \"lawn dart technique\"

Lombary Poplar like that are usually best pruned off at ground level as the rest will be dead soon. As for an unorthodox cutting technique: Ya gotta do what cha gotta do, there are times when using a hinge is not the safest most efficient method. Usually they are planted in a row so you could pick the healthy tallest one to use as spares to rig the pieces out, the darts dont stick as well, but more control.

 

[Paul Biester]

Re: salami cut aka \"lawn dart technique\"

i have used it many times....im certain it not "the best technique but man its effective

 

[Viking]

Re: salami cut aka \"lawn dart technique\"

Saw must be sharp! I have had this backfire on me when the chain wasn't sharp enough. Instead of a dart i got a peel, into a swing, into something I wanted to preserve.

 

[chris_girard]

Re: salami cut aka \"lawn dart technique\"

I have known people who have been hit and severely hurt using the salami cut, so be very careful with this technique.

I'm not saying, don't use it, but try to limit it to smaller size pieces if possible.

 

[rfwoodvt]

Re: salami cut aka \"lawn dart technique\"

Dittos to all that has been said above. We use it frequently and it almost always goes off just fine...unless...

This cut is truly one of those where "You can't 'think' it will go there, you must 'know' it will."

There is that fine line between too much and not enough undercut and the top cut has to be made like a karate chop through a 2x4...you must think cutting beyond the stem.

My boy did one yesterday that he hesitated on. Top started to tilt then when the but came off instead of going straight down it swung away and the top came back at him. Whipped him mercilessly.

Guarantee though he won't make that mistake again.

Generally if there is no chance the butt can swing away from the cut (the tops of what I am cutting have nothing to bounce off or hang up on) then the salami is a goto cut for me especially if we need to dart the piece through lower canopies.

But like a flat jump cut, this is one of those cuts that you have to know inside and out otherwise it will bite you in ways that are expensive and painful. Have nearly broken my collar bones on occasion and have destroyed helmet parts too.

 

[Blinky]

Re: salami cut aka \"lawn dart technique\"

Use it often but never with heavy wood, sharp saw and commit to burning it through once you start.
Protection for the back of the neck would be a good thing.

 

[ward]

Re: salami cut aka \"lawn dart technique\"

We just did a multi-stemmed Lombardy yesterday and used the technique for many of the stems. Tip tied the others and cranked them up using the grcs. Because of the vertical branching habit of those branches, climber had to descend to make the cuts and re-ascend to tie the tips. It would have been one of those rare occasions for a two climber removal.

The thing with salami cuts on big vertical branches is that they come whipping by the climber and can strike him or her. Knowing the difference is a matter of experience and feel. A very efficient technique with some qualifications.

 

[Maui Palm & Tree Care]

Re: salami cut aka \"lawn dart technique\"

can someone illustrate the "salami cut"? muchas gracias.

 

[brendonv]

Re: salami cut aka \"lawn dart technique\"

I generally start the salami cut by making a cut into the side of the branch, with the bar vertical, then rotate through the top and down. This helps as you already took out a good bit of wood by cutting in vertically, in turn you cut through faster.

 

[rangerdanger]

Re: salami cut aka \"lawn dart technique\"

I use this cut a lot, but like others have said, the two biggest things are have a sharp chain and restrict its use to smaller pieces. And be sure to commit to it when u start it, otherwise, like others have stated, if you back off, bad juju can happen.

 

[unatool]

Re: salami cut aka \"lawn dart technique\"

My old boss called it the 'fast cut'. All above posts summed it up for me too - usually a poplar tree and a little sketchy. GO FAST

 

[Viking]

Re: salami cut aka \"lawn dart technique\"

Its kinda ninja. Visualizing follow-through is key. Here is my haiku...

sharp saw does not lie
plow down with bar don't cut thigh
watch yer big fat head!

 

[treehumper]

Re: salami cut aka \"lawn dart technique\"

It was taught to me as a "spear cut". Given the way it lands an appropriate name. Yep sharp and have yourself well positioned to be out of the potential path of descent.

works well where you need to avoid canopy. Here's where a skilled groundie on the rope is essential.

 

[mdvaden]

Re: salami cut aka \"lawn dart technique\"

[ QUOTE ]
can someone illustrate the "salami cut"? muchas gracias.

[/ QUOTE ]

Believe this is what he means. At least this is what I've used. And yes ... the thing come down pretty fast.

Ignore the bark tearing this image illustrates, and just pretend it's a straight stem section of Lombardy Poplar.

 

[mdvaden]

Re: salami cut aka \"lawn dart technique\"

Now ... I can can just see Beranek coming in here in a moment and letting us know that there's really something called HUMBOLDT SALAMI

lol

 

[chewbacca]

Re: salami cut aka \"lawn dart technique\"

I've always called it an "arrow cut". I used it this week on a fir tree removal. It had a skinny codominant top. The limbs of the two tops were tangled with each other a bit. I couldn't fall the skinny top away from the other top because there was a cherry tree below on that side. I could've rigged it down but instead, I arrow cut it so it dropped straight down parallel with the trunk. Got a few whips to the brain bucket but nothing serious.

 

[TreeDoctor]

Re: salami cut aka \"lawn dart technique\"

I did recommend removal, I am sure all the trees will be dead soon.Would have been far easier and safer to remove, although I understand customers desire to keep them as long as possible. In this setting lining an entry to old ranch house the crappy Lombardy poplar of suburban backyards were magnificent.Removing all the trees would have opened space to hinge and fall normally. The "salami" cut worked well here because the angles open to face and hinge tops within the tree didn't hit the drop zone very often (narrow driveway between parallel rows) sending to the ground vertically hit the mark.Basically undercut at very steep angle facing drop zone just until saw pinches then meet that angle with fast back cut, duck and cover.I did tip tie and lower a few tops I could have dropped just to be safe. The fact that the falling limbs pass very close to the climber rather than arcing away creates a distinct hazard luckily I only got one band aid from a week of salami cuttin. The dynamics of working in different species of trees is always interesting.

 

[Daniel]

Re: salami cut aka \"lawn dart technique\"

Its not that big of a deal... depending of course on size, and your position.. that's why you play with such things in non critical situations.. its a great cut.. used all the time with a lot of variations..

I got one I use from time to time on big stuff, but its a secret .... and doesn't always work.. and I have yet to figure out why it does sometimes and not others..

 

[ward]

Re: salami cut aka \"lawn dart technique\"

I didn't quite get what you meant at first. If what you are talking about is described in the photo that Mario posted, then it is called a "spear cut" or a "dart cut". A little underside nip, I have found is helpful, too. Very dangerous but helpful in dismantling pecker pole pines that you can't lay out: just a series of 4 foot chunks, preferably stuck vertical into the soil for easy pickup and removal. But you've got to watch where your feet and thighs are. Did it once and it came down onto my thigh and I was out for a day or two with a brutal charlie horse. I don't think I would recommend that cut for someone climbing in the tree, except on very rare occasions.