murphy4trees
TreeHouser
Someone on Treebuzz started a thread called "Why 1/3 notch depth?" ... Why 1/3 notch depth? - https://www.treebuzz.com/forum/threads/why-1-3-notch-depth.46614/
I have said for years that is one of the rules that has largely gone unquestioned and unexamined in the industry (along with the 10% hinge width).
Another example of mass formation psychosis, with the overwhelming majority of the poppulation (in this case arborists) believeing and practicing according to what they have been taught, without understanding the "why". They just do as they are told and pass that on to the next generation, without any idea of the many factors involved in chosing an optimal face cut depth, and many not even having the faintest grasp of the broader principles involved. So almost no one has a complete understanding of the "why" of it. That includes the "instructors".
I've never seen anything in detail written about it, nor do I recall seeing any videos about the subject. One thing that I have heard and would consider common knowledge in the industry, certainly among experienced fallers (which there aren't may of at TB) is that a shallow face cut will increase the trendency for a barber chair. I've seen it myself and that's the kind of thing you only have to see once to realize the truth of and the increased hazards involved. But that still doesn't answer the "why" of it. And that of course is only part of the answer of why 1/3 notch depth.
When someone mentioned the increased tendency for barber chair at TB, there was some that discounted the idea and when Sean (southsound) asked HOW DOES A SHALLOW FACE INCREASE BARBER CHAIR POTENTIAL? no one had much of an answer. The two that tried were about incomprehensible. I was actually surprised that Sean had to ask. I thought there was more "common knowledge" on the subject on the west coast. Apparently not.
I published 3 videos on barber chair and as part of those productions I tried to purposely barber chair a number of trees, many of which never made it to publication. I actually learned the most from those trees that I tried to BC, but couldn't. IMO I undersatand the many complex factors that go into chosing a notch depth as well as anyone, and I can definitely answer the above question about shallow notches causing barberchair with a complete uderstading. I told the guys at TB that they don't have a clue, and they are just spouting nonsense, which didn't win me any points in popularity, but I'm just telling the truth!
Here at the house there are many with a much higher level of skill and experience in tree falling, than most of those guys at TB.
SO I would expect that you all can answer that question a lot better than they did. Does anybone want to take a crack at it?
I have said for years that is one of the rules that has largely gone unquestioned and unexamined in the industry (along with the 10% hinge width).
Another example of mass formation psychosis, with the overwhelming majority of the poppulation (in this case arborists) believeing and practicing according to what they have been taught, without understanding the "why". They just do as they are told and pass that on to the next generation, without any idea of the many factors involved in chosing an optimal face cut depth, and many not even having the faintest grasp of the broader principles involved. So almost no one has a complete understanding of the "why" of it. That includes the "instructors".
I've never seen anything in detail written about it, nor do I recall seeing any videos about the subject. One thing that I have heard and would consider common knowledge in the industry, certainly among experienced fallers (which there aren't may of at TB) is that a shallow face cut will increase the trendency for a barber chair. I've seen it myself and that's the kind of thing you only have to see once to realize the truth of and the increased hazards involved. But that still doesn't answer the "why" of it. And that of course is only part of the answer of why 1/3 notch depth.
When someone mentioned the increased tendency for barber chair at TB, there was some that discounted the idea and when Sean (southsound) asked HOW DOES A SHALLOW FACE INCREASE BARBER CHAIR POTENTIAL? no one had much of an answer. The two that tried were about incomprehensible. I was actually surprised that Sean had to ask. I thought there was more "common knowledge" on the subject on the west coast. Apparently not.
I published 3 videos on barber chair and as part of those productions I tried to purposely barber chair a number of trees, many of which never made it to publication. I actually learned the most from those trees that I tried to BC, but couldn't. IMO I undersatand the many complex factors that go into chosing a notch depth as well as anyone, and I can definitely answer the above question about shallow notches causing barberchair with a complete uderstading. I told the guys at TB that they don't have a clue, and they are just spouting nonsense, which didn't win me any points in popularity, but I'm just telling the truth!
Here at the house there are many with a much higher level of skill and experience in tree falling, than most of those guys at TB.
SO I would expect that you all can answer that question a lot better than they did. Does anybone want to take a crack at it?