<html><head></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Hey ChainPoints,<div><br></div><div>Storm damage creates a lot different challenges for the chainsaw operator. One critical one is the addition of cracks, shatters and splits in the area you need to make a cut. Very quickly can turn into stuck city.... Check out a few considerations below in this week's article.</div><div><br></div><div>We are in early planning stages to put together a three-day advanced workshop in the Dawsonville, GA area this coming winter (January). Cost will be in the $375 (plus travel and expenses) range for the workshop. If you are interested in reserving a place let me know at <a href="mailto:info@forestapps.com">info@forestapps.com</a> </div><div><br></div><div>If you attend the APWA (Public Works Association) National Meeting in Denver this September look us up. We will be helping out at the Elvex booth and doing a presentation for the education area of the show on ChainSaw Safety- 1pm on Sept. 20th. See you there!</div><div><br></div><div>We are having an awesome week with VDOT employees in Staunton, VA. Hope you have an awesome week too!</div><div><br></div><div>Stay in touch...</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; "><i>Good Sawing,</i></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; "><br></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; "><i><b>Tim Ard</b></i></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; "><a href="mailto:timard@forestapps.com">timard@forestapps.com</a></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; "><br></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; ">(O) 770.222.2511</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; "><br></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; "><br></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; "><a href="http://www.ForestApps.com">www.ForestApps.com</a></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; ">Twitter - @ForestApps</div></div></span>
</div><div>YouTube - ARDTIM</div>
<br><div><br></div><div><!--StartFragment--><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial">Cracks and Splits<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial">By Tim Ard, Forest Applications Training, Inc. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">One of the most
unpredictable and dangerous situations confronting us in storm damage and
sometimes rotted trees, is the too often presence of cracks, shatters and
splits in the tree trunks, logs and limbs. There are somewhat natural windshakes,
or cracks, in most standing trees but when wind, tornados, hurricane, fire or
bugs start working on a tree - multiple cracks, splits or crevices tend to make
planning and control an even greater concern.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial">Cracked, split and twisted
fiber in storm broken limbs and downed trunks can be shattered and twisted into
many strands. Just cutting through the log when in this condition can be
challenging. Every cut releases a fiber strand that attempts to grab your saw chain
and with moving weight loads tries to pinch your saw chain and guide bar.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">A standing tree, that’s been
fire damaged or has started the drying process at near deadwood state, sometimes
creates vertical splits. Some I have seen are impossible to plan around and in these
cases you are even taking a chance to make a cut unto them. The tree may
collapse vertically, or twist and shatter heading in an unpredictable
direction. Often times, if the tree is vertically straight, even equipment
pushing or pulling is too risky. Maybe this is a good application for dynamite
or a planned knock down by another tree. <span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>These killers are found often in the Western USA but you can find
plenty of them in the all the states.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial">Winston Rall, USFS, sent me
this photo of a shell of a tree from out in his part of the country. That’s a
hardhat stuck in a crack in the trunk…. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">As
I said, some trees may need dynamite. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-no-proof:yes"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype
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</v:shape><![endif]--><img width="122" height="162" src="file://localhost/Users/ardtim/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image002.png" alt="90rdcedar1.JPG" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1"></span><span style="font-family:Arial"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial">One technique option for
more simple cracks or shatters may be a bore or plunge cut. They can be used to
remove tension or shorten fiber length to make it possible to cut some split
fiber situation. Using a bore cut slightly before or after twisted fiber may
allow you to take tension out of the log or limb.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial">I received the following message
from a Massachusetts contact:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Tim,
I was in the May class in Southbridge that you taught for basic skills and
storm cleanup. On June 2nd, we had an F3 touch down in Massachusetts. The
skills you taught us were extremely useful in the cleanup following the storm.
The hinge is truly my friend! Yesterday, I took down a 20 ft. remnant of a red
oak that had been stripped of its bark. The top had been smashed off also,
leaving the remainder of the trunk splintered in many pieces but still
vertical. To take it down, I notched each separate splinter as if it were a
separate tree, making a plunge cut for my back cut. From this plunge cut I
would make my back cut for the next piece. This allowed me to fell each piece
in a controlled manner exactly where I wanted it to go. Thank you for the
training. I have been telling anyone that will listen what a great training
program you have. Thanks again, Butch Meyer</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:
normal"><span style="font-family:Arial"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial">Offset cuts can be used to
remove shattered fiber. Cut the compression side first and then offset the cut
on the tension side. Cut a distance just far enough to intersect the fiber you
cut from the compression side, but do it a distance left or right of the
compression cut to stay to the edge of shattered/split area.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Be very careful that the
split, crack or shatter is not under bowed tension. They can mimic a spring
pole in this scenario. When you cut, the fiber may attempt to straighten and
move rapidly. Watch your position and the cutting location. Try to cut in the
middle of any formed arcs.</p><p class="MsoNormal">I plan to put some of this
into video form this fall along with several other techniques for applications
in storm debris clean up. Until then, a great way to visualize a lot of these
techniques in action is to attend one of our three-day storm debris and falling
workshops. More information at <a href="http://www.forestapps.com">www.forestapps.com</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial">Good Sawing!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial">Tim Ard is president and
lead instructor of Forest Applications Training, Inc. a nationwide training
firm for operators in all chainsaw applications. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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