How To Fell A Tree With An Axe

Once upon a time every good border guard had a chopping ax and a set of woodworking tools. Give a 19th century rancher a summer and he can build you a decent log cabin. How many of us today can go into the woods, pick a tree, and chop it down? If you’re looking to play a lumberjack outside of felt and denim, you’re in the right place. After spending an early spring in the Rocky Mountain chopping down a few problem trees in our yards and pastures, we’ve learned how to take down trees with axes like a skilled lumberjack.

Choose your device

Contents

You will need:

An ax
Protective glasses
Gloves

The key tool is obviously your ax. We choose the Hults Bruk for everything from a small camper to heavier gear. The Atran chopper ($129) is a must-have when you’re working with a large growth rate and will quickly handle any tree trunk. Once you’ve cut the trunk to size, the Bjork split ax ($119) is an effective tool that will impress even the most discerning crafter. -yes. Smith’s Elite line is built to exacting military standards for ballistic missile protection, and our favorite target is Frontman. We also recommend getting some gloves. You can go empty-handed, but this pair from Carhartt ($19) is a reliable and affordable option for any type of job.

Choose your tree

Read more: how to attach the rim plate to the top plate The most important step is to choose the tree. Whether you’re looking for firewood on a camping trip (make sure you have a state or federal logging permit) or clear some problem trees from your land, you should find Look for two things: a safe direction for the tree to fall and a good path for you to escape to (just in case). Once you’ve found your tree, check to see if it leans slightly to one side naturally. The blowing winds could have made your job easier if it had been prepared to fall in one direction. Next, check out the surrounding trees to make sure they don’t break branches on the way down. Finally, before you start chopping, map out an escape route. When a tree trunk worth a few hundred or thousand pounds falls, you want to stay away from the action.

Cut your notches

Cutting trees is geometry and physics. You want to make sure the notches create a pivot point so the tree falls in the direction you want it to. Your first swing of the ax will make a notch in the tree in the direction you want it to fall. Aim high between the knees and waist and penetrate about a third of the way through the trunk. Ideally you’ll have a triangle cut out with a flat bottom and a 45 degree slope up and out of the center of the stem. Alternate between the straight cuts for the lower part of the triangle (these lines should be perpendicular to the ground) with a diagonal diagonal upward.

1. Your first notch should be between knee and waist height, and about a third of the way through the trunk.
2. Your second notch should be about a foot higher than your first and on the opposite side of the tree.

Read more: How to Flash/Update Betaflight on Airplane Controller? Once you’ve set up your first cut, switch sides. You want your next notch to be taller than the first and at the opposite end of the tree. This will create a balance shaft for the falling tree, ensuring that it ends up in the direction you want instead of rolling to one side or the other. Like the first way, cut a notch with alternating flat and sloped notches. When you’re about a third of the way past the tree, stop.

Bring down the tree

Now comes the dangerous part. Move back to your original groove and start deepening it. Go slower here, because each felling is making that tree a little more unstable. Keeping the same pattern as before, switch between flat swings at the bottom of the track with steeper downhill moves from the top. Listen for any cracking and notice any swaying or leaning. Some trees will give you a good warning, while others will fall lightly – and very quickly. Be ready to step out of the way quickly and stay away from the fall line. If you’ve done your job well, you should be about 15 to 20 feet away when the trunk hits the ground and ready to start pruning it to chop it up for firewood. Raney in December 2018. Notch image courtesy of Matthew Parker / Green Goat Collective.Read more: how to make delicious chicken feet Editorial recommendation