Murphy's Law
If something can go wrong, something will go wrong.
Accident Happen, Try To Survive Them
I’ve found that the worst can happen when you fail to read the environment, your experience level, and your level of exhaustion. Unfortunately, it is rarely the machines that fail, it is almost always operator error. Especially if the error is a lack of Preventative Maintenance. I’ve found most of my injuries in general have been linked to over-exhaustion and using a tool improperly. This is why I have the same level of respect and heightened awareness around all saws as I do for the ocean or wild animals.
Out of curiosity, I asked Chat GPT how to fell a tree. Its response was interesting:
Cutting down a tree with a chainsaw can be a dangerous task and should only be attempted by someone with proper training and experience. If you have not been trained or are not experienced in using a chainsaw to fell trees, it is recommended that you hire a professional.
If you do have the proper training and experience to safely cut down a tree with a chainsaw, here are the basic steps you should follow:…
I think that its response is very diplomatic and avoids legality, but it isn’t wrong. Personally, I think the chain saw is a very useful tool if you have the need to use one. That said if you’re trying to save some money by not using an arborist to remove a tree or two, don’t do it. Bite the bullet and pay a pro. Especially if you’re not experienced, unprepared, and unwilling to learn the right way.
*****WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGES BELOW*****
Personal Injury
Accidents like mine (the foot injury) was relatively easily recovered from. I also was very lucky that my ignorance didn’t severely maim me or kill me. It is for this reason that I take chainsaw safety very seriously.
No project, task, or amount of money is worth sustaining a major injury. If you are into looking at horrific images of chainsaw injuries there is no end of them on the web. I tried to help the reader keep their lunch when reading this section by only showing “mild” and mostly healed injuries.
Getting cut by any saw isn’t fun, but the large width of a chainsaw’s chain kerf leaves a raw jagged wound.
Don't Pancake Your House
I have always been a person that learns most intently from my failures. They teach me what not to do so that I can do better or give up on something. This ability is particularly helpful when looking at others’ failures. Through watching tree felling “Fail” videos I got a true sense of the cost of damage to a person and property that a chainsaw can have. Seeing how a tree can destroy a house made me an astute student while reading and watching materials from pros. This is at the heart of why I made this blog. If I can help one person not maim themselves and give them resources to safely fell a tree then I call that a victory.
If after you’ve watched the worst that can happen in this section and you still really need or want to fell your own trees I suggest you start from The Basics. Make sure your safety gear is solid, you learn all the skills to drop trees safely. It’s true what they say the bigger they are the harder they fall. Starting with small trees and building your skill incrementally will let you make mistakes when the stakes are low.