Horizontal limb splitting/barberchairing.

[Treeaddict]

I was cutting a large heavy horizontal limb on a tulip poplar a few weeks ago. I’d usually piece it out in small sections but decided to try to coos bay the thing. I got maybe 15% in on the first cut on the far side far side and she started to go. This surprised me. Nothing has gone this quick with so little cut. Maybe 10% would be better. I just hid behind the trunk when it started splitting and it fell to the ground just fine.

It got me thinking (again) about the dangers of a BC limb. If the climber is on the trunk behind the limb they are out of reach, correct? Now the limb could hit the ground and spring back butt first into the climber IF the distance from the ground to the limb is short enough to favor that scenario.

The splitting could grab the climbers saw and take it with it potentially.

A fast cutting saw making an undercut and then racing through to top cut to “catch” up to the spilt is acceptable. Top cut placed closer to climber than undercut.

Is my thought process correct? This feels like a review of information that I’ve put in the back of my mind because I always favored the limb walk and small piece method so I kinda ignored some of the methodology and dangers as the info wasn’t used.

 

[lxskllr]

I'm thinking the coos bay was inappropriate for that limb/species. Assuming you got your 10% on each side(pretty iffy since it broke at 15% one side), you still have to cut it free. Seems like an inevitable barberchair. Maybe a tiny face and a bore would be better.

edit:
Also, on a horizontal limb, you're in the line of fire cutting a coos. You're arms are in a vertical position, and your body is somewhat precarious with limited avenues of escape.

 

[Treeaddict]

I'm thinking the coos bay was inappropriate for that limb/species. Assuming you got your 10% on each side(pretty iffy since it broke at 15% one side), you still have to cut it free. Seems like an inevitable barberchair. Maybe a tiny face and a bore would be better.

edit:
Also, on a horizontal limb, you're in the line of fire cutting a coos. You're arms are in a vertical position, and your body is somewhat precarious with limited avenues of escape.

I’d not try another coos on the poplar ever again. My second horizontal of that tree was an undercut (kerf, not face) and a speedy top cut. It went well. I was kinda off to the side, out of danger.