Silly Angled Back Cuts Why They are Dangerous and Ineffective

When cutting down trees many people insist on making angled back cuts. I compare angled back cuts to standard horizontal back cuts. I attempt to explain why this can be a dangerous way to cut down trees. I have never seen professional loggers, timber fallers or arborists use angled back cuts. I mostly see this with non professionals and people poaching firewood.

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[ryankramer]

I am a certified arborist who’s been felling trees for over 20 years and I couldn’t have described this any better myself. Great video.

[vinfricano]

I've been running a chainsaw for 25 years, and far from an expert. That's why I enjoy watching experts like you. I've never used an angle back cut, but you do an excellent job of explaining the intricacies of felling. The dry humor is icing on the cake. Keep up the great work!

[johnfahey]

I liked how you stashed the “evidence!”👍😀

[jeffjenkins]

A great explanation of why an angled back cut should never be used in tree felling. Your theory makes good sense as it is not really obvious to the novice. I also appreciated your dry humour as well.

[DaveODrowsky]

Excellent explanation of why to not make the angled backcut, I have been an instructor of the subject for 29 years and agree wholeheartedly with you. There are 2 more reasons not to and if you finish too low on the backcut it becomes a doorstop and too high can trigger a barber chair. I was interested in seeing you make the flat cut of the conventional notch first, perhaps its a western thing but I've always felt the angle cut first will make lining up and sizing the notch easier, especially when correction is needed.

[Bushman]

That was the most informative explanation on the topic of tensile strength (relative to tree felling) I have ever seen.
Thank you Mr. Wilson.

[glenbobnick]

This is an interesting subject, but not for the obvious reasons. Things like how to properly cut down a tree were once upon a time left to faulty intuition and the school of hard knocks, in the absence of a good teacher or a handy book. Now we have constant access to instructions in the palm of our hand while being entertained at the same time. Still need some judgment to discern who knows what they are videoing though. Your reasonable explanations and humor make this channel a joy to watch, and I know it will save someone a hard lesson. Great job!

[josephscriven]

Growing up I had to gather firewood every summer. My dad taught me this wrong way. You're explanation makes perfect sense.

[Oldswamppuma]

Disclosure....I'm not an expert but have felled many trees using the angle cut due to watching a professional arborist use the cut. After watching your video I certainly understand your logical reasoning behind your method. I will start using you method and try to find my man card. Thanks for the video

[billietyree]

I’m old, retired and probably never going to the woods again except to camp. But I sure do enjoy your videos. Thank you for them.

[grahamgeiger]

I was taught to never do the angled backcut but never gave it much thought to why its a bad idea. This was a great video and it really makes sense to why its a infurior cut to say the Humboldt or other proper cuts.

And as always you got some laughs out of me. Keep it up.

[briananonymous]

Thanks a bunch. Your explanation of forces explained the "why" of doing backcuts the right way. Well . . . "the whys." You're right that being laughed at or scorned, apart from merely staying alive, are also good reasons to make the backcuts horizontal! 🙂

[RushWorkingMan]

I’m not arborist by any means but idk if it’s my background but I could honestly recognize the potential problems with the angled back cut immediately. His explanation was exactly what I had visualized, although I could not explain it as simple as he did. I don’t cut down trees for a living and yet I enjoy learning from experts in other fields even if it’s something I might never actually do. I just love learning. Quite the opposite as when I was a child. lol.

[MoabYoda]

My dad cut trees with the angled back cut. As a result so have I. Always seemed to work for him and has worked for me as well. In light of your explanation I will change my ways in the future. Never to late to learn something new.

[ryanb]

Glad someone has made a video about this, up here in northern mi I’ve seen a lot of people do that senseless cut, I was always taught that was wrong luckily

[bombocropper]

Ove neen a timber faller for over 40 years and it's hreat to finally see a video of an experienced faller who knows exactly what he is talking about, there is a vast storehouse of misinformation regurgitating on the web surrounding this subject and this guy sets it all straight, excellent video beautifully articulated and laced with a bit of great humor!

[msack]

My father taught me to do the angle back cut, he learned from someone in the 50's/60's on tree falling. He told me the same reasons you mentioned, i.e. prevent tree falling back on itself. I've learned in the last few years on proper cuts and falling along with my son took college classes for it on his conservation courses.

[kjadfhgioaudbfvilaeu]

I never knew the angle cut was a thing. I watched my Grampa and other guys make their cuts as you recommend. Glad I found your channel to get expert advice though since I'm getting back into gathering firewood. Cheers to you!

[nbuha]

I was taught to cut trees the right way, and never had the notion of doing an angled back cut until I saw someone doing one. I immediately realized how unsafe it was. The way you showed uneasiness on how to start that cut is exactly how I felt watching this other fella. Luckily the fella didn't hurt himself. Great video on this subject, I too would be embarrassed to leave evidence of this.

[georgebrandt]

I am humbled . Great video.. I deal with old growth upstream of edmonton. Trying to stay safe txs