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Kinds of Notches

Open Face Notch  Conventional Notch  Humbolt Notch 
Open-faced Notch Conventional Notch Humbolt Notch
Total angle ideally 90 degrees; at least 70 degrees 45 degrees 45 degrees
Top Cut angled downward
70 degrees
angled downward 45
degrees
flat horizontal
Bottom Cut angled upward 20
degrees
flat horizontal angled upward 45
degrees
Back Cut horizontal; at the same height at the corner of the notch horizontal; at least 1 inch above the bottom cut horizontal; at least 1 inch above the top cut
Depth 1/4 - 1/3 of tree diameter 1/4 - 1/3 of tree diameter 1/4 - 1/3 of tree diameter
Point of notch closure just before tree hits
ground
middle of fall middle of fall
Degree of safety high medium medium
Advantages greater accuracy of
felling target

hinge stays intact until tree hits ground

less danger of kickback and other out-of-control movement

familiar to many loggers saves slightly more
wood

familiar to many loggers

Disadvantages hinge may have to be
cut off
hinge breaks early hinge breaks early
While all three of these notches are acceptable, the Open-faced Notch is clearly the safest and most accurate.

 

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