The Back Cut » Felling Hinge

Drawing of Felling Hinge

The hinge is the wood between the undercut (face cut/notch) and the back cut. The purpose of the hinge is to provide sufficient wood to hold the tree to the stump during the majority of the tree's fall, and to guide the tree's fall in the intended direction. The position of the hinge will affect the direction of fall. The size of the hinge is important to prevent splitting, fiber pull, barber chairs, and other undesirable and unsafe actions.

The following describes a proper hinge: (items listed below are recommended good work practices, not OSHA standards)

  • The length of the hinge should be 80% of the diameter of the tree at breast height. Example: For a 12-inch diameter tree the hinge should be 9.6 inches long (12 inches ×0.8).

  • The width of the hinge should be 10% of the diameter of the tree at breast height. Example: For a 12-inch diameter tree the hinge should be 1.2 inches long (12 inches ×0.1).

  • The hinge on a tree with no side lean should be perpendicular to the intended direction of fall.