What this video refers to as a wedge is more commonly called a hinge because it's the line along with the tree bends as it falls. A wedge is a small inclined plane, usually made of metal or plastic, that you drive into the back cut to push the tree over in a particular direction.

I believe you meant to say hinge not wedge? Wedge, as some people call it, is that piece of wood leftover from the face cut... Personally, I think it looks like a a piece of pie? However, it can become very confusing for people new to this process, because wedges are important tools and should be within reach anytime you fell a tree! (Knock them in your cut, then cut a little more, hammer them in further and/or add additional wedges.) Basically what ends up happening, if used correctly, is you push the tree precisely where you desire it to land. Rope puller is also used to accomplish same thing!

Thanks for the precise measurements information. I just used all of it today, and actually used a slightly larger hinge to swing the tree away from my fence . Ive watched my dad when we were hauling pulp wood make trees turn almost completely around, or make them fall uphill all kinds of stuff, and always wondered how he knew so much about it. He showed me the wedge process but not the why of it. It was always well thats good enough or cut a little more, leave some on this side, etc, that was 40 plus years ago, and ive always done ok with my trees, but today i was putting them exactly where I wanted them and I knew why they were falling there and how to duplicate the results time and time again. So thanks again. Hap

I'm assuming the reason why the tree "popped suddenly" and came down (at the 5:30 minute mark) may not have been so much about the "soft spot" but more about the radical 20 degree lean that stressed the rear of the tree (to hold up the tree). With the open face cut and then, the plunge-cut and removal of most of that center wood leaving only a tiny bit (at the back end), that tiny bit of wood left wasn't enough to hold back against the severe lean, and it tore out. Popped. This is probably a good lesson. If a tree leans drastically, you probably have to leave a sizeable bit more wood at the rear of the lean to be safe --- before you make your final release-cut.

He made the face cut very wide so the tree would fall a long way before the gap closed, which prevents the bottom of the tree from kicking backwards. This effect can also be achieved by making the back cut an inch or two higher than the face cut.

The back of the tree split vertically as it fell. Had he not used a plunge cut it almost certainly would have split sooner and produced what's called a "barber chair", which is very dangerous. The split could have been avoided by making a shallow cut through the bark on the back side before extending the plunge cut outwards. It's also a good idea to wrap a leaning tree with strong ropes, straps, or chains before felling it to prevent splitting.

About to buy some land and need to clear some trees. Thanks for the know-how to safely. Hopefully I can use some of it for a log home.

I'm new to felling and trying to absorb as much as possible. Thank god for the comments, looks like you could've got me killed. How bout removing this video and save some lives.

Ha! Dutchman in the face cut sure showed experience I would advise you find a different video for learning how to fell a tree

I have a new chain, how do I get it dull enough to fell a tree properly?

Showing the proper PPE was the best part of the video. “Sawing” back and forth shows inexperienced use of a saw. Let the saw do the cutting (like you said a sharp saw would have been best option for an informational video like this. The “hinge” not the wedge is used to guide the tree down. Would not recommend telling people to use the plunge cut method for setting the hinge without actually showing how you properly do it. The video skipped that part entirely! Someone who tries is and accidentally cuts through their hinge will end up in big trouble. Never cut from the inside out with the final cut. Leave a nice trigger when you’ve set your trigger and always finish from outside at full throttle. This will not allow that ugly piece of fiber that pulled out at the end and won’t have the chance to catch your saw and take it down with the tree. Huge fan of the channel but this was poor advice to people learning

3:34 This guy should not be teaching anything.

Thank you. Very good explanation.

Clear and concise unlike many of the other similar videos.

Now I know why a birds mouth notch is preferred over 90° cut on the bottom. Thank you❤

I myself after cutting the heart all the way through would have left around 2 inches on the back and cut down at 45 degree angle and the tree wouldn't have ripped like it did. In the uk we call it a dogs tooth

Huh I was taught the notch and diagonal downward back cut....though it was proper curious as to why that is not the case?

I stopped watching when I saw the saw dust coming off that chain instead of the nice shavings that you get with a sharp chain. Also, the sawing motion made me quite nauseous. How did it turn out? 🙈

First - Kip Adams needs to learn how to fell trees before YT demonstration. I'm really just want to be nice, simple good advise. What you doing there will get someone hurt! - And second Learn to sharpen your chain. 3. Be smart, learn proper procedure, practice, think safety ... and please, again ... sharpen your chain sir!

great video appreciate the time but have to say that is one dull chain or the rakes are too high

Need to see how, where, when you began cutting into the side of the tree (plunge cut)

Exactly what I was looking for, thanks!

Thank you...

Dull saw, Dutchmen in your notch, uneven/unleveled notch, improper cut on the trigger of your plunge cut, notch cut should be 30% average. I’m not stating this to ridicule your work, I’m saying this because I’ve seen people get hurt doing what you’re doing.

Perfectly felled tree... Except for the dutchman, barber chair, incorrect angle on the cuts.

Watching you use a sawing motion with your chainsaw, shows just how inexperienced you are... you have a good idea of what you're doing, but have never fell a tree bigger than 1-2 feet at the butt.

Which saw model is that?

Never been in the lumber business, just curious. How do you gauge if you have enough clearance for the tree to fall without hitting any other trees in the area?

How about same tree same hill, but you wanna fell up the hill due to structure downhill?

The 45 degree safety zone is a great tip. It reminds me of 1980's cartoons where the character would run down a hill being followed by a rolling rock, at 7 years old id puzzle as to why they just didnt run to the side ? 🤔

Thanks for the great video. In Germany we cut the trees lower to the ground and do a different style notch but you showed al relevant security points. By the way, if the tree is hanging as much in the felling direction it makes sense to do the very last cut backside in, then the wood will not splinter as much in the end.

How many beers first though?

Perfectly leaning tree. Of course perfectly felled 😂

@whitetail properties. What state are yall based out of? Mainly where is kip based out of?

In text it all sounds good but there are many issues in wgat you do. Sharpen your chain. Do not move the saw like a hand saw. Cut horizontally show the plunge cut. Get away when the tree starts falling. Do have wedges at hand. .... Its along list.

What if the tree is not leaning to one side but straight up in the air how do you cut that kind of a tree. 🤔🤔🤔🤔

'Wedge' = 'HINGE'

It's not a wedge It's a hinge

do you mean hinge ?

Just move on to another video, if you wanna learn this.

I was running this saw for about 2 hours at about a 30-50% duty cycle kzfaq.infoUgkxfQm1wmg0ItKDLavxj1nXtQY9HP7EF504 and it did a great job. I used the lever for the built in sharpener to clear chip buildup out more than to actually sharpen the chain. It managed to cut some hardwood stumps much larger than it's size without bothering the neighbors with hours of 2 stroke noise.

Very nice video and very helpful. Thank you! Best way to fell a tree hands down.

Well, when the tree is leaning 30 degrees in the direction you want it to fall, it's not so bad.

Lets see? Dull saw! clearly does not know how to fall a tree! Am I missing anything else?

Dude, you need to delete this video immediately. Don't be posting BS like this until you know what your doing.

That face cut 🤣🤣

I would have given more detail after step 1. Your next cut after step 1 wedge is unclear.

Stop saying wedge it’s called Hinge.

A good cut don't bust the log you can tell you've never logged before I hope too many people don't watch you

If you cut your chaps or they get a hole in them you should replace the per osha standard. Not criticizing just giving the info out there to who might need it.

Step 3: Perfectly felled tree... love the confidence, buddy.

Yeah that wasn’t sketchy

Not a bad video. For those watching, looking to find out how to cut a tree of their own. Please watch more videos before going out and cutting a tree of this size down on your own. Some things about the technique in this video really need some work to be actually safe. Your terminology is off when it comes to hinge/wedge. You completely left out any mention of felling sights. That's a big one. Yes while i'll agree that the tree fell mostly properly, some more education on the part of the person making the video intended to educate other people would be nice. Barber chair. You almost had a barber chair even though you did a pluge cut due to the lean of the tree. There was no "soft spot". The tension wood almost got the better of you and if you have had your face there, you'd be going to the hospital. Definitely not a safe way to fell a tree. It's relatively safe but not safe enough to be using it as a demonstration video.

Hands down the worst example on youtube. Mate give it up you will either hurt yourself or hurt others. First step sharpen your saw.

Sorry, but i feel cringe every time these so called professional fellers teaching people while using dull chainsaw. Working with dull chain is dangerous and easy way to shorten chainsaws life. If you can't sharpen it don't use it

"Let's see what we got..." Well you have a really dull blade, that's what. My Farm Boss would have made that wedge cut in about 2 seconds. Change or sharpen your chain my man. And I would never make the felling cut from the inside back, jeeeze. Tree falling while your saw is buried in it. I'm no expert, but I just wouldn't do it that way.

You Need a new chain

I am sorry but you did not follow your own “45 degree escape route” if you are going to tell people that this is what the need to do you need to do it as well. Also move if the saw back and fourth like a hand saw that is also very dangerous and you are using that saw with your left hand. Your seem to be asking for trouble. I am 15 and I have more saw education and discipline than you do sir.

The first cut is ok the plunge cut was bullshit.

I didn't understand the 2" thing

Chain is dull and you had a pretty bad Dutchman on the face cut

The worst thing I’ve ever seen

That is a pretty dull chain

Barbar chair! You will be yelling instead of timber.

Please do not use this video to learn how to fell a tree. Almost everything in it is wrong, the fact that he starts the video by saying he's blown out a pair of chaps by cutting himself so much should scare you away.

Ce gars là se prétend un expert! Je n'aurait pas voulu qu'il soit mon professeur. La position de son corps n'est pas la bonne.

You lost credibility with the sawing back and forth , let the saw do the work that's what it's for!. Also seems dangerous doing a plunge cut never use the tip of a saw like that, kick back is mad , plus the possibility if the saw getting pinched ?????

Is this one of those prank videos?? Oh my . Don't take any advise from this dude felling a tree. Please don't!!!

Remove this video i is not safe to do it as shown.

Nice video and technique... For the YT experts... "There is no perfect way to fell a tree."👍

Everything you were teaching was wrong ,for being a bigger guy,the way you held the saw was how a little girl would ,the way you rocked the saw on your undercut and your back cut ,wow😅 beeeee careful

REMOVE VIDEO!! 1. Holding chainsaw left handed not how it is designed right hand on rear handle left hand on top handle. 2. The area behind the notch is called the HINGE not the wedge 3. Get the saw out of the tree and hit the holding strap Although I appreciate the idea of making safety videos you must follow ANSI Z133 arboriculture standards and OSHA standards there are no arguments or excuses for not following the standards set by years of mistakes and fatalities.

Pointless wearing chaps with a shirt sleeved shirt & no gloves on.