Horrible death of a chainsaw instructor

Hightrax · 11th May 2010, 04:28 PM

A few years ago, as a new forester, I took a course on chainsaws run by the last surviving licensed chainsaw instructor in SE NSW.
There were two, he told us.
The other one, a young guy in his 20's living around Goulburn area, was asked over to a mate's place for a BBQ and to to knock over a tree that had been bothering him for years, just beside his shearing shed.

He kitted up and was cutting away when the tree exploded and a large piece of wood flew out of the middle section and impaled him to the wall of the shed, like a huge skewer. It took him eight minutes to die. The wood spear was about a foot thick.

An instructor? Yes. What he had forgotten was that some (rarish) tree trunks are multi roots, joined together. When they are cut, it releases huge pressures which build up inside the tree on enclosed roots, exploding like a bomb, quite possibly. Beware of cutting these trees.

sueann · 11th May 2010, 04:35 PM

omg! I've never heard of such a thing! That's horrible!

Eric Frei · 11th May 2010, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sueann

omg! I've never heard of such a thing!

Yeah, it's far from washing clothes and ironing eh.

...... sad story, the bore strap release is starting to become the prefered felling method, even with no lean.

JohN Dee · 11th May 2010, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ekka

Yeah, it's far from washing clothes and ironing eh.

...... sad story, the bore strap release is starting to become the prefered felling method, even with no lean.

Ultimate control over the tree.

sueann · 11th May 2010, 11:10 PM

Yeah, it's far from washing clothes and ironing eh.

Just a tad more dangerous I think.

TrevMcRev · 12th May 2010, 11:46 AM

I dunno....

When the spin cycle gets going i freak out

...that is gnarly stuff!

Jeff Darby · 12th May 2010, 07:36 PM

I have to say I nearly was beat to death by a spin dryer when a stick fell in and beat me around the body...man what a blast...black and blue from a spin dryer..you no the old twin tub type.

I had my homer pills that day..

Hightrax · 12th May 2010, 08:23 PM

Ekka, pardon my ignorance here but what is the bore strap release method?
Sounds interesting.

Eric Frei · 12th May 2010, 08:32 PM

Video|bore cut strap release for forward leaners

YouTube - bore cut strap release

sueann · 12th May 2010, 11:47 PM

That tree landed exactly where that guy said it would!!

Eric Frei · 13th May 2010, 08:36 AM

That guy is me.

sueann · 13th May 2010, 09:47 AM

Oh. Oh well, I thought it was pretty clever.

ArbTrain · 30th January 2011, 12:56 PM

Any idea what species the tree was? I've been climbing for over 10 years and have never heard of such a thing. Have seen timber twisted, move, warp etc but never explode. Was the tree under pressure from another source?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightrax

A few years ago, as a new forester, I took a course on chainsaws run by the last surviving licensed chainsaw instructor in SE NSW.

Just curious why there would be no surviving chainsaw instructors SE NSW - I am one.

stu · 14th April 2011, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightrax

A few years ago, as a new forester, I took a course on chainsaws run by the last surviving licensed chainsaw instructor in SE NSW.
There were two, he told us.
The other one, a young guy in his 20's living around Goulburn area, was asked over to a mate's place for a BBQ and to to knock over a tree that had been bothering him for years, just beside his shearing shed.

He kitted up and was cutting away when the tree exploded and a large piece of wood flew out of the middle section and impaled him to the wall of the shed, like a huge skewer. It took him eight minutes to die. The wood spear was about a foot thick.

An instructor? Yes. What he had forgotten was that some (rarish) tree trunks are multi roots, joined together. When they are cut, it releases huge pressures which build up inside the tree on enclosed roots, exploding like a bomb, quite possibly. Beware of cutting these trees.

That is F-----G awful..What species of tree was it so we can watch out for them??

Hard-as-Stihl · 19th April 2011, 06:21 AM

can i have a news link to this story?

11th May 2010, 04:28 PM	#1
Hightrax Sappling Join Date: May 2010 Location: Canberra Australia Posts: 13	Horrible death of a chainsaw instructor A few years ago, as a new forester, I took a course on chainsaws run by the last surviving licensed chainsaw instructor in SE NSW. There were two, he told us. The other one, a young guy in his 20's living around Goulburn area, was asked over to a mate's place for a BBQ and to to knock over a tree that had been bothering him for years, just beside his shearing shed. He kitted up and was cutting away when the tree exploded and a large piece of wood flew out of the middle section and impaled him to the wall of the shed, like a huge skewer. It took him eight minutes to die. The wood spear was about a foot thick. An instructor? Yes. What he had forgotten was that some (rarish) tree trunks are multi roots, joined together. When they are cut, it releases huge pressures which build up inside the tree on enclosed roots, exploding like a bomb, quite possibly. Beware of cutting these trees.

11th May 2010, 04:35 PM	#2
sueann Former Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Hunter Valley Australia Posts: 599	Re: Horrible death of a chainsaw instructor omg! I've never heard of such a thing! That's horrible!

11th May 2010, 11:10 PM	#5
sueann Former Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Hunter Valley Australia Posts: 599	Re: Horrible death of a chainsaw instructor Yeah, it's far from washing clothes and ironing eh. Just a tad more dangerous I think.

12th May 2010, 11:46 AM	#6
TrevMcRev Mature Tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Posts: 1,605	Re: Horrible death of a chainsaw instructor I dunno.... When the spin cycle gets going i freak out...that is gnarly stuff!

12th May 2010, 07:36 PM	#7
Jeff Darby Moderator - Previously known as JayD Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: TreeWorld, Sydney Australia Posts: 2,031	Re: Horrible death of a chainsaw instructor I have to say I nearly was beat to death by a spin dryer when a stick fell in and beat me around the body...man what a blast...black and blue from a spin dryer..you no the old twin tub type. I had my homer pills that day.. __________________ Member: Australian Tree Association Join the Australian Tree Association...Have your voice heard ! Arboriculture, A life long study for some, a passing phase for others © Jeffrey J Darby 2011

12th May 2010, 08:23 PM	#8
Hightrax Sappling Join Date: May 2010 Location: Canberra Australia Posts: 13	Re: Horrible death of a chainsaw instructor Ekka, pardon my ignorance here but what is the bore strap release method? Sounds interesting.

12th May 2010, 11:47 PM	#10
sueann Former Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Hunter Valley Australia Posts: 599	Re: Horrible death of a chainsaw instructor That tree landed exactly where that guy said it would!!

13th May 2010, 08:36 AM	#11
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,820	Re: Horrible death of a chainsaw instructor That guy is me. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

13th May 2010, 09:47 AM	#12
sueann Former Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Hunter Valley Australia Posts: 599	Re: Horrible death of a chainsaw instructor Oh. Oh well, I thought it was pretty clever.

19th April 2011, 06:21 AM	#15
Hard-as-Stihl Mature tree Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: maui, hawaii Posts: 267	Re: Horrible death of a chainsaw instructor can i have a news link to this story? __________________ Stihl MS192T 14" MS200T 16" MS261 16" MS440 25" Husqvarna 359 20" 394XP 32" Poulan P3314 14" ( new hire/groundy saw)

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