I don't leave comments on KZfaq. But I'm making an exception today. Thank you for sharing! I used this to take down a 40ft sweet gum which was leaning over my chain link fence. I wanted to drop it without damaging the fence and this is exactly what I needed! I made these cuts above the fence line and was able to section the tree once it was down without impacting the fence. Thank you!

I can see a lot of use for this in urban tree felling. This ain’t for novices, but for pros, being able to protect low walls, planters, raised beds, and especially tree-surrounding expensive tile patios or wooden decks from having the trunk smash into them etc, is awesome. People say this takes too long, but in those specific, but fairly common situations with urban trees, this can actually save a lot of time not having to set up crash bags/blankets, hoping it’s enough to protect what you have to protect from a falling trunk, when the budget precludes a crane. I think clients will appreciate it too.

Finally someone explains WHY to use this cut. Thank you!

Being an old carpenter, I loved seeing this. Thinking about how to make physics work in your favour. Very cool. Things like this are good for business too. Showing that you are a master of your trade. Impressive.

Well executed. Great explanation of use. This is a training video. Notes to a lot of homeowners: If you have a "safety chain" or "anti-kickback chain" a plunge cut may be very difficult to nearly impossible. if you haven't got training besides watching you tube, a plunge cut might be more advanced than you think.

As a chainsaw instructor and amateur KZfaqr myself, I salute you! I had thought this cut was too complicated and time consuming to teach, but you proved me wrong! I’ve seen time and time again people rushing the felling cut and causing half an hour hard graft sorting out the mess afterwards. An extra minute getting the felling cut perfect and anticipating everything that could go wrong, is always time well spent. Good job sir!

Fascinating to learn about the 'KEY NOTCH' technique for tree falling - such an invaluable skill for precision and safety. 🌲🔑

Thanks for the video, this technique be making the rounds on social media because I've been hearing everyone talk about it. Good to see a concise instructional video of it.

Hi Dan, ive not seen this before! However it looks magic. I will definitely try this next time i can! Keep up the good work and informative videos. Stay safe 😞

Thanks Dan another timely, informative, and helpful installment!

So cool! Thank you for sharing this technique.

Short, to the point, and Very Informative = Great Video!

Very clever technique. Thanks for that.

Dan, thanks for your sharing. It is a cool technique. I like it.

I like it. Even if you're just cutting some firewood it you still get some benefits from it, better ergonomics for limbing, can back a small trailer under it after felling so you don't have to lift as much after. If you're working sandy or muddy ground you can avoid sinking the tree into that. And it should dry fast on the stump if you just want to leave it like that. Or if you just want to make a place to sit. Cut it down, limb it, shorten it, flatten it and throw a piece under the other side.

Really clever approach for controlling the lower trunk, thanks for the tip!

Beautiful! Thank you very much for sharing!

Cool video Dan, thanks for showing something interesting. JIm in Oregon.

*Thanks!* NICE Cuts! Tree looks as if Trained. : } *Cheers!*

That's a very clever way of felling a tree. The next time we have some clearing to do we'll be using that without doubt. Starting on the smaller trees obviously until we're 100% comfortable with the technique. Brilliant!

So neat!! Sharing it with a friend right now! 😊

Loved it!❤

From an educational point of view, simply explaining "how to do" leads to distortions of understanding and a gradual modification of gestures. The one and only solution is to explain "why", like in this video. Well done!

Excelente explicacion, gracias x el video!

Beautiful! I loved this, even though I'm an axeman! I've sometimes felled tricky trees for folks using almost exclusively the axe, which I can because I have a fair deal of experience, and know to climb trees to limb the weight with lean where I want it to. But sometimes that's not enough, and so ropes and (semi-)dubious wedging has been used to make it fall straight. One time I had a bad premonition that fortunately ended well, but the "throw of the dice" was no fun when a friend can risk considerable damage (that was meant to be avoided all together in case of a storm) But still I've been called over some sawmen, because in such settings they'll admit that they're to get stuck (or much worse), so they'll need even more accessories than what it's worth (vs risk). I'll have to share this with my fellows, because just because I can be the one that can, doesn't mean I should be the one who should. Sometimes, you need a different tool, and my fellow sawmen (and people in our local villages) will thank for sharing this vaulable safety measure. Thank you for uploading! Cheers from northern Norway

Very clever nice explanation

very very nice , thank you so much for this technique. amazing

Great video!

SUPERB !!!!

Hello Dan, thank you. That is fancy!

Absolutely Magic!! 👍

Great video with detailed explanations.

Its a fun trick shot, looks cool, but really serves a very very narrow purpose, a proper face cut back cut and a couple wedges and the tree will fall where you want it, but you are right this will keep the log from bouncing left or right. Good work mate

I don't have a chainsaw or any trees but was compelled to watch. Great vid !

Great video.

Very nice!

Smart idea never seen it before

I got to try this.

So well executed and explained Dan, I will definitely try this felling system, l am impressed, Stihl MS 261 is definitely the best 50cc saw on the planet, How Sweet the Sound, give the MS 400 a try out, l think you will fall in love ❤, keep up the powerful work, your content is treasure trove for all, greetings from Ireland !!!

Great video 👍 I'd watch an hour long video with just multiple fellings like this

Very impressive.

Beautiful

Ace video. Thank you. Wish I'd known about Rhos method when I felled a 40ft leaning poplar adjacent to our garage. We succeeded, but it was nerve wracking, & & came uncomfortably close to being disastrous!

Safe-r technique . Practical , structured fall . .👍🎯

Genius, love it! Almost seems to be the first joint of new construction.....Im wondering if there's a way to do this with Bushcraft techniques?

Think I'd be using this more to help control the direction n the tree falls more than it rolling off the stump. Great technique either way!

Excited to mess around with this a bit! Question for you: have you attempted it perpendicular to the primary lean of a tree to see what happens? I could imagine a number of outcomes (key+hinge breaks, keys binds and stops moving, stump splits). Purely morbid curiosity on the directional capacity of the technique for fully weighted trees.

Awesome information! I like that you can do this solo, no need for a rope and extra person. Only challenge would be on larger trees my 16" dewalt saw probably wouldn't work to cut the key. I'll have to try this on the ausie willows in the spring😊

Just like all tricks, there's a time and a place for it, and both might be few and far between depending where you work. On flat ground or uphill felling it can definitely save a lot of earth punishment and has other benefits, but trying it on even a slight downhill fell has proven to be a waste of time for me. It really doesn't take that long and I learned a lot so I would recommend for anyone to try it anywhere it seems useful...as long as you can afford to replace whatever you end up crushing haha

Interesting!!!!!

It's very advanced technique for me, looks more like a wood sculpting, but very interesting and performed perfectly. Thank you for sharing. As a newbie I'm still sticking to falling relatively small trees away from the house without trying to change the direction of fall using a basic technique of the face cut and the back cut.

Nice

Cool!

Cool! :)

Those are always fun to do. Haven't done one in a while

Wow I have never seen this before, I see Why that can be very useful......k

Can you use the "Humboldt" type of face cut? Seems like in the end you are doing that anyway with those angled cuts. And, can you do this cut when topping a tree (I don't know if I said that right)? I guess the bottom of the tenon might hit you.

Well, that should control the fall ! Hadn't seen/heard of that !

MAsterpiece

How do you like the light bar on the 26?

I like this idea in that it keeps the tree off the ground for easier bucking

Great. Way to fall a tree on a windy day. !!!

That's great, how would that work on a 30 inch diameter tree?

That’s the coolest thing ever!

Does this technique also help with the direction the tree will fall?. Along with the pull rope and the initial cut etc.

genius

I am high AF right now and I just watched this 3 times. Fascinating shit!!!

This is great. Drill a hole drive pin and you have a gate

Tekhnik ini sangat berguna , agar batang kayu yang kita potong tidak jatuh ke samping , biasnya banyak ketika kayu roboh batang nya membanting

I've wondered if you're using this technique to fell a tree with a lopsided canopy or weird shaped trunk if it would be really likely to jump out of the slot and flop around regardless?

cool

Mantap luar biasa

what about vertical lines to be more to "A" shape to help more to lock?

this may take longer but it sure is a heck lot safer someone i know was cutting some trees at a property we were flipping after reno, and one of the tree bounced when it fell and broke his leg as a result

I would like to see that done on a big oak or maple here in Southern Ontario

The US folks like this as a way to establish hunting habitats for deer. I can't see a reason to do it beyond that. Nice demonstration of the technique though!

Does it work on dead trees under 12"?

Aren't you doing the "steering" when you make the key notch?

are we cutting trees or doing carpentry?

But i like your Videos!

We should thank the Norwegian Vikings for inventing this technique. As we all know the vikings originated in Norway and later spread to denmark and sweden and iceland. They brought their know-how with them on their way out to distant countries. So thank you Norway!

I have the greatest respect for the chainsaw skills needed to do this well. I'm not that good yet, and I don't think I have the patience anyway, so I pretty much just use pull lines, and the trees fall where I want them. Though in a way it is cheating; I'd love to be able to control everything just by the cuts I make.

💡

The key must be wide enough for the type of wood and expected forces or it will just snap off.

I guess this has been mentioned already... but if you make the middle horizontal plunge cut at an angle, you probably don't need to take a small piece out.

shouldnt the final cut be made a bit higher ? like inch or 2 its helping that the tree is not falling backwards and there is "holder" part that keeps the tree in right direction. oh> 6:35

I got an idea!!! Let's figure out a way to make tree felling more complicated & more dangerous

Brit: "Plunge in on the vertical plane." American: "I saw Bigfoot once."

Pretty cool. You can also carve it into a bear, for example. :)

I like my logs on the ground

show how to do with axe plz

If you're experienced enough to safely and accurately make this cut, you probably don't need it. I like how you didn't mention how this technique revolves around a major chainsaw no-no; don't use the tip of the bar for cutting. This is how kickback and hospital trips happen. Do you want a chainsaw in your shoulder? Because this is how you get a chainsaw in your shoulder.

if you realize your aim was off after cutting your key notch, can you correct your notch?

(Asking, not criticizing) Why not an open face cut instead of conversational?

There is no middle ground opinions on this. It's either decisive and unrelenting mockery opinions or brilliant - inventive statements. Fortunately I don't have to pick because I never have to cut trees big enough to worry about (trunks not much over 6").

Keren bos. Tapi saya pernah mencoba tapi gahal karna kayunya pecah😂😂

Or to make sure it does hit something...

I have a feeling that this could be potentially dangerous. If the tree isn't perfectly healthy and you have two back cuts it might not do what you predict.

I'm a fat old arborist, my scarf cuts are always at that height....

Most of us work by the hour.!