Yeah, the tapered hinge wouldn't really move a tree much ... we've been down that track but leaving more wood on the side opposite the lean (tapered hinge) helps hold that tree up.
I dont get enough leaners to fell, did we ever figure out if that forestry calculator was accurate ... where's the link for that thing?
see what the effect of leaving a tapered hinge was (pie cut) and adjusted gun etc.
Conclusion is that leaving a taper doesn't turn the tree but it does help combat the lean.
9.03mins and 42.7mb wmv
www.palmtreeservices.com.au/video/piecuts.wmv
In this next video I use 2 alex palms to demonstrate that pie cuts have little influence on fall direction. In one I "chase the tree down" to try to get some turn, but get very little.
4.51min 23.6mb
www.palmtreeservices.com.au/video/piecuts2.wmv
In this close up video we watch the pie shaped hinge break the fibres on the LH side first then the lot. The tree only turned as branches struck the ground and then it settled. Close to the end of the video where you have a view of the butt end of the log you can see how radical the pie shaped hinge was.
0.55min and 4.26mb WMV
http://www.palmtreeservices.com.au/v...peredhinge.wmv