Beware Expert Village Idiot Drew George Finn| Dangerous Felling Practices

Eric Frei

Beware Expert Village

Dangerous and illegal practices are being shown as "expert" ways of doing things. This is SHOCKING stuff and other fools are watching and believing!

Inspired from two sources here.

Why angled back cuts are dangerous
Angled back cut| backcut| tree felling| back cuts

We were put onto a series of videos by Drew Finn of some seriously poor practices. He thinks coz he's some desk jockey engineer and back yard wood lot tree faller he is qualified to spin his bullshit around the net. Viewers are buying the bullshit too!

Here is the whole series of videos to "safe" "proper" tree felling.

This is not a joke but a serious threat from a HACK! An idiot passing himself off as an expert, in a field he knows little about.

You'll see some real shoody stuff in the list of "expert" videos. see for yourself, here's the list. Below the list is some pics I pulled.

Notching Theory for Felling a Tree : How to Cut Down a Tree Safely | ExpertVillage Videos

Planning the Wedge and Escape Routes On-Paper : How to Cut Down a Tree Safely | ExpertVillage Videos

Tying a Rope Anchor : How to Cut Down a Tree Safely | ExpertVillage Videos

Loading Rope Tension to the Tree : How to Cut Down a Tree Safely | ExpertVillage Videos

Cutting the Notch in the Tree to Fell it in the Desired Direction | ExpertVillage Videos

The Felling Cut, Part One : Listening to the Tree: How to Cut Down a Tree Safely | ExpertVillage Videos

The Felling Cut, Part Two : Angle of Cut : How to Cut Down a Tree Safely | ExpertVillage Videos

Using a Felling Wedge : How to Cut Down a Tree Safely | ExpertVillage Videos

Felling a Tree Without a Rope : How to Cut Down a Tree Safely | ExpertVillage Videos

Removing a Widow-Maker with a Rope, Part One : How to Cut Down a Tree Safely | ExpertVillage Videos









Seems this guy might want to team up with Nosak, Aerial and any other Superhero to create a new world order of tree work!

Attached Thumbnails

       

__________________

treevet

In that wedge picture, looks like he's got a second notch for some reason below the slanted bottom notch and the slanted back cut. Must be some esoteric reason for that. Have to ask Aerial if can't get him on the line. not

Bermy

Thats SHOCKING bad!!!

He'd get put with the remedial kids in any of my classes...or better yet told to stand in the corner and watch...

__________________
Keep smiling, people will wonder what you are up to! (especially if you're gunning a chainsaw!)

Jeff Darby

WoW and he is allowed to show this incorrect technique, He had me cringing all the way through, From his cuts to the dangerous way he controled his saw, One of his videos he was nearly a victim of kickback and probably does'nt even realise it.
To be a hack and not realise it, Then go out and try and teach your hack ways America close this fool down!

__________________

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

Eric Frei

There's an email address on the site for video submissions I found.

I joined yesterday and commented but comment obviously not approved.... funny about that, and people think it's tough around here! Never any easier.

Here's that email address!

jay@expertvillage.com

__________________

newguy18

I wonder how many homeowners see that and use those techniques?Probaley the reason for so many dumb youtube videos.

__________________
Have your say join us today.


old schooler

Part Time

Just watched some of the videos of Finns. Scary comes to mind. So I fired off an email to jay@expertvillage.com & I asked him to check out his self proclaimed experts before someone uses thier advice and gets hurt.

Eric Frei

Good on you mate, my comment still not approved, never will be I reckon, no answer to email either ... village people must be on tour!

__________________

Part Time

No answer here either. We'll see what tomorrow brings. g'nite

newguy18

Maybe his next video can show him pounding in a wedge with his hard head.

__________________
Have your say join us today.


old schooler

shaggs

They dont have a "Workcover" over there???

Felling is not something to be taught via video either.

treeseer

or else they're havin fun at the Y-M-C-A...

Eric Frei

It's good to see you have a sense of humour Guy, what next, read 10 posts and you're a consultant!

Imagine a video "Become a forensic arborist in 15 minutes"

__________________

pomme

just sent them the following email

i have just watched your tree felling videos. i have to say i am appalled at the content, your so called expert cannot have any formal tree training.i have been in this industry for 20 years and your expert is teaching dangerous practices. i hope no-one is seriously hurt or killed by using information from your site,you may find yourself open to litigation. check your countries standards institute,this is what you will need to defend yourself against in court. for professional tree felling information try www.treeworld.info/

J.Myers

Eric Frei

Good on you, best they could do is just pull them down, but still no comment. Experts in evasion too!

__________________

newguy18

They wouldn't by chance be related to mb would they?

__________________
Have your say join us today.


old schooler

Eric Frei

I dunno, didn't check for a porno channel or Tomboy channel.

__________________

osb_mail

Does anyone have more videos of poor felling practices ?

Eric Frei

You Tube is chock a block full of them, have a scan through our video library and there's a few in there.

But there's a difference when it's just Joe with a video and an "Expert" from an "Expert Village".

__________________

osb_mail

yeah seen a lot joe homies (homeowners)on you tube but not to many actually explain what they are doing like this expert (homeowner) drew finn just wondering if any other ones like his . I always like seeing that I actually know more than someone who claims to be an expert .

Eric Frei

Well, thing is if you did do a video and make such clangers you'd take the advice of others and pull it or edit it.

You'll be surprised how much more you know that many, from sharpening chains to just holding a saw.

It's tough when you put out a "training" video with authority, like really dot the I's and cross the T's. In some instances one could consider the safety over kill etc.

But I'm not an expert in say concreting, so I'd be extremely careful if I was making an expert video on it. I would research and ask but better still film some other expert doing it.

I see as the net expands there'll be a lot more of this to come, from Dr's online to witch Dr's they'll all be out their spinning their wheel hoping to jag a few "advertising" prizes.

Notice the adverts that were overimaged on those video's? Bloody terrible, and some higher profile company names are there. That's the holy grail many are chasing.

__________________

newguy18

These idiots just don't quit do they?give them hell guys.

__________________
Have your say join us today.


old schooler

StrictlyPalms

wow, epitome of TOOL. And who bought him that shirt?

"a nice pair of..... Safety Goggles... and um..."


BTW in the videos George talks about Black Dog Video here's the blurb on (his brother?) Nick Finn's website.
====================================================================================
Black Dog Video is a Video Advertising company. We specialize in Television Commercials and Industrial Promotional films. At Black Dog, we believe that just because a commercial is for a local business, doesn't mean it has to be run-of-the-mill and formulaic. We are perfectly capable of producing average TV ads, but specialize in producing creative, humorous, and entertaining commercials. We will work with you to develop a marketing scheme that fits your specialized needs. We are skilled in identifying demographics and pushing the envelope in order for our commercials to get noticed and remembered. Your business can ride with us and our viewers will certainly identify with and recall your services/products/business name.

Jingles are some of the most widely used marketing tools. The use of a jingle is extremely effective in assuring that your audience will remember you. Black Dog can create that successful jingle for you!

Humor has been used in some of the most successful national marketing campaigns. Why should this tactic be utilized solely by corporations? Why can't the small business owner be funny? Black Dog is proficient in creating humorous ads that will make the audience laugh - and if you make them laugh, they're more likely to remember you!

Creativity is something that cannot be defined, merely observed. Our philosophy is that the less formulaic and stereotypical your ads are, the less boring they are! Boring ads don't make for much audience attention span or for remembrance. Make them think, question their norms - show them that your product is revolutionary and worth their business.

At Black Dog Video of New England we feel that just because a commercial is local, doesn't mean it has to be boring!

Nick Finn, President

Black Dog Video
===========================================================================

They produce average TV adds.... I like that part.
I wonder if they will get sued when someone dies because of his brother's shitty technique

__________________
Strictly Palms, Inc.
Orlando, Florida USA

gavin160

does this guy now what a sharp chain is it looks like hes trying to cut it down with a spoon.
also am iright in thinking that if you apply pressure with a winch before you make any kind of back cut you run the risk of a barbers chair? and why would you need to winch if its laeaning in the direction of fell.
what a twat.

pomie

he must be one of the village people not village expert that baseball cap must be made from carbon fibre

Hilly

After watching this bloke I'll stick to doing things the way I have been for the last 30 odd years. How the hell this idiot stayed alive doing what he does, heavens only knows.
Perhaps he has been watching too many John Clese training films and secretly he is telling us that this is the wrong way to fall a tree?
Naah, he's just a Richard Cranium. Hope no-one takes any real notice of him.

JohN Dee

IMPO I would think so, but I don't often get the chance to apply more then hand pressure when felling tree's as most times they are in small yards.

Acemaster, Ekka or alopa would have a better insight at that then myself and would be able to give you a good clear answer.

__________________
We are what we repeatedly do... Excellence then, is not an act, but HABIT...

Red : Green : Blue

Eric Frei

Why would you winch if the tree is leaning in the direction of the fall?

Well, I can only think of two reasons and that would be that the tree is still back weighted. A forward leaning trunk but back weighted canopy, rare but can happen. And the second is wind, a head wind.

If you are putting a lot of pre-tension onto a tree prior to a backcut then use the bore-strap release cut. I do put a little pre-tension on but nothing huge, enough to make sure all stretch is out of the rope and tree cannot or shouldn't sit back on the bar.

Barber chair is likely on some species more so than others, like those regnans the Ace boys fell, they barber chair easier than say pine trees. It would take a lot of force around here to barber chair a tree.

Now if the tree is forward weighted and leaning, no unfavourable wind, then stuff the winch!

__________________

OutofMytree

Ah well. Since everyone else is kicking this guy....

1. Best practise for starting a chainsaw is with the brake on. I watched far too many of those village idiot videos and have come to the conclusion that this guy doesnt know where the brake is.....

2. Early on he makes a point about how the angle of the back cut can change the angle of fall. Then he "rocks" the bar backwards and forwards in the last 2-3 inches of his cut. Is this having a bet both ways? If your chain is sharp enough gentle pressure will allow you to "creep" the last couple of inches and ensure a slower controlled fall.

3. I have never taken down a stick with rope attached that jumped off the stump the way his did. Notice how little holding wood he has left after that?

4. The "expert" fixes his rope, (which looks suspiciously like three strand nylon crap for pulling up craypots), from an unsecured folding ladder without so much as a seond man to hold the base steady..... sigh.

5. The rope is under tension BEFORE the scarf is cut. What happens when this is done and the tree has rot or white ant in the middle? Yes kiddies. Thats right. It eats your chainsaw. If you brought another saw with you, it may be possible to retrieve your 1st saw but you will now need a new bar and probably a new chain too.

I have just sent my new groundie to the other side of the country at a cost of several thousand dollars to learn from people better qualified than I am, how to do what I do safely. Even he picked some of the obvious errors in these video's before he left.

The greatest problem I see here is not the obvious mistakes but the partial success. By appearing to know what he talks about, "experts" like Drew Finn lead the untrained to believe they can do more than is safely within their scope.

If you are reading this post and wonder whether this is all just "nitpicking" or perhaps jealousy please take the time to google "tree + fatality". Make no mistake. Felling trees is dangerous. Pay a professional to do the job. For the same reason you would hire an electrician to rewire your house.

Sean Freeman

Good points in a good post