Old school notch and back cut vs. modern plunge cutting for removals

I learned tree work from an old timer back in the early 2000s. He swore by the traditional open face notch and back cut for felling every tree no matter what. We did it that way for years and it worked fine on straight, simple trees. But about five years ago I started watching some Scandinavian guys online who use a plunge cut or boring cut on tricky leaners and hazard trees. At first I thought it was just fancy showboating. Then I had a big silver maple near a house last spring that I had to take down with a heavy lean toward a sunroom. I tried the plunge method with a deep trigger cut and it gave me way more control over the hinge wood. The tree landed right where I wanted it with no surprises. Now I use the old method for easy straight trees and the plunge for anything with risk or lean. What do you all use for your go to felling cut on a difficult tree?

2 comments

2 Comments

umac7113d ago

I had a maple near a porch last fall and the plunge cut saved my day too.

the_julia13d ago

That doorstop wedge trick works wonders on maples.