I enjoyed watching them do the challenge and some day I hope to do the challenge myself. I'm with you on the experience gained from doing this is priceless.
It's priceless for individuals, but also collectively for what we're all learning and the ripple effects. Part of my evil plot is to influence axe culture and content on the internet in a positive way toward more practical and sophisticated application of skills. I think it's working already in a small way.
Yes! Big Congratulations to everyone who has finished and who has given this a shot. I'm still working on it. We keep getting socked in by snowstorms. I started working last week when it looked like we were getting all thawed out and, darn it, two days of snow. I've got cut wood everywhere. I will be putting it together soon to see where I'm at. I think I'm over halfway there. Looks like next week we will be thawed out again, so I'll be right back at it. Thanks Steven for the challenge and the update.
I just found your channel, and man I am happy I did, I'm working on my skill's with a Axe and your vids have help TON'S, thanks for sharing and keep up the great work!!!
Im so glad you covered long/big stuff im not competeing this year BUT have amassed a few barrow loads of libs that ive been doing just with the axe and took down 2 unsafe trees with my saw the otherday planning to use them axe only but was about to just saw them due to wastage (i wouldnt be able to collect the chip)- So i may try one with the axe (ther other is too rotten) as for axeing and full felling - ive yet to find how axe cuts can mitigate the barber chair danger, has it happened to anyone here using an axe?
I've never had a barberchair with an axe or a saw, but I'm aware of it and some of the factors that probably increase likelihood. Not being able to cut fast like as with a chainsaw is a problem I think. I don't know of any axe specific strategies that could be employed. I am selective about trees to some extent, so I think that hopefully helps. I don't understand it completely, but my impression from others talking about it is that it's somewhat unpredictable.
Let me know how it goes if you try splitting then bucking for anything really large. I'm curious. It seems like a more common European strategy, even in the age of chainsaws, but I imagine it was once common here in the states as well. Now it's almost unheard of here.
I've sometimes gotten a barberchair, and I think it's only been from soft willow as far as I can remember. It's typically happened on quite straight and unknotted length of the stem, which has a lean, and top-heavy enough to cause the tension. I don't have any better solution than to do the cut(s) below a decent knot (like a 'fist' with 2+ limbs), exploiting the notoriety of how tough they are. However, I have a habit of placing the cut as high as I can, and incidentally avoid most of time the straighter stems that tend to break with kicks, so for more conventional cuts that are relatively low, this isn't much help unfortunately. The barberchairs I've experienced haven't been truly threatening, but even for ~small trees (~4"dm), the thought of actually getting hit by a spontaneously produced cavemann-ish baseball-bat is admittedly somewhat intimidating.
I love doing the challenge, and I enjoy felling with an axe, but it definitely must be admitted that a chainsaw is a superior implement for felling trees safely, especially for dangerous trees. I think its foolish to try and fell a hard leaner with an axe, especially someone who isn't an experience faller (a category I belong in). You can chain and/or strap the trunk above the cut to hold the split from opening on up the trunk, but a hard leaner is still an incredibly dangerous tree.
Thanks, Steven, for the shout and such a great learning experience afforded in this challenge! Just spent a few hours watching the others involved in the challenge. Thanks for all the links.
new viewer and subscriber here, i really like the content in these videos. watching your form and function helps me when i pick up my axe to work. what im most importantly impressed with is how interluctual and keen you are on topics. hope this channel is a success for you.
I enjoyed watching them do the challenge and some day I hope to do the challenge myself. I'm with you on the experience gained from doing this is priceless.
It's priceless for individuals, but also collectively for what we're all learning and the ripple effects. Part of my evil plot is to influence axe culture and content on the internet in a positive way toward more practical and sophisticated application of skills. I think it's working already in a small way.
Yes! Big Congratulations to everyone who has finished and who has given this a shot. I'm still working on it. We keep getting socked in by snowstorms. I started working last week when it looked like we were getting all thawed out and, darn it, two days of snow. I've got cut wood everywhere. I will be putting it together soon to see where I'm at. I think I'm over halfway there. Looks like next week we will be thawed out again, so I'll be right back at it. Thanks Steven for the challenge and the update.
I felt like I skimmed over your name. In the video I even left in an "um" to make it seem longer, lol.
Well I appreciate the "um." It just means I better get this stack together.
Those kids were rocking!
Yeah, respect those kids :)
I just found your channel, and man I am happy I did, I'm working on my skill's with a Axe and your vids have help TON'S, thanks for sharing and keep up the great work!!!
That's great. Thank you and welcome. I'm glad that stuff is helping people.
Thanks Edholm!
B man!
Im so glad you covered long/big stuff im not competeing this year BUT have amassed a few barrow loads of libs that ive been doing just with the axe and took down 2 unsafe trees with my saw the otherday planning to use them axe only but was about to just saw them due to wastage (i wouldnt be able to collect the chip)- So i may try one with the axe (ther other is too rotten)
as for axeing and full felling - ive yet to find how axe cuts can mitigate the barber chair danger, has it happened to anyone here using an axe?
I've never had a barberchair with an axe or a saw, but I'm aware of it and some of the factors that probably increase likelihood. Not being able to cut fast like as with a chainsaw is a problem I think. I don't know of any axe specific strategies that could be employed. I am selective about trees to some extent, so I think that hopefully helps. I don't understand it completely, but my impression from others talking about it is that it's somewhat unpredictable.
Let me know how it goes if you try splitting then bucking for anything really large. I'm curious. It seems like a more common European strategy, even in the age of chainsaws, but I imagine it was once common here in the states as well. Now it's almost unheard of here.
I've sometimes gotten a barberchair, and I think it's only been from soft willow as far as I can remember. It's typically happened on quite straight and unknotted length of the stem, which has a lean, and top-heavy enough to cause the tension. I don't have any better solution than to do the cut(s) below a decent knot (like a 'fist' with 2+ limbs), exploiting the notoriety of how tough they are.
However, I have a habit of placing the cut as high as I can, and incidentally avoid most of time the straighter stems that tend to break with kicks, so for more conventional cuts that are relatively low, this isn't much help unfortunately.
The barberchairs I've experienced haven't been truly threatening, but even for ~small trees (~4"dm), the thought of actually getting hit by a spontaneously produced cavemann-ish baseball-bat is admittedly somewhat intimidating.
I've had a mimosa barber chair but the tree was small and had a severe lean which didn't help.
I love doing the challenge, and I enjoy felling with an axe, but it definitely must be admitted that a chainsaw is a superior implement for felling trees safely, especially for dangerous trees. I think its foolish to try and fell a hard leaner with an axe, especially someone who isn't an experience faller (a category I belong in). You can chain and/or strap the trunk above the cut to hold the split from opening on up the trunk, but a hard leaner is still an incredibly dangerous tree.
Thanks, Steven, for the shout and such a great learning experience afforded in this challenge! Just spent a few hours watching the others involved in the challenge. Thanks for all the links.
new viewer and subscriber here, i really like the content in these videos. watching your form and function helps me when i pick up my axe to work. what im most importantly impressed with is how interluctual and keen you are on topics. hope this channel is a success for you.
Thanks Chad. Stay safe :)
I've got to kick it in high gear. ..
Keep it goin man
Loved the challenge and it was great family time.
Thanks for the update. Not participating, but vicariously enjoy the victories nonetheless.
Steve