Glossary term
What is Hinge wood?
Short answer
Hinge wood is the strip of uncut wood left between the notch and the back cut that steers a falling tree.
Hinge wood, explained for tree service owners
Hinge wood is the narrow band of wood left uncut between the notch and the back cut. It works like a door hinge: as the tree tips, the hinge bends and steers the tree toward the notch. The hinge needs the right width and thickness, even all the way across, or the tree can twist or fall the wrong way. If the cutter slices through the hinge by mistake, control is lost. Crews also check the hinge for rot, because weak hinge wood can snap early. When a customer asks how a crew drops a tree next to a house, the answer is often a careful notch, a hinge that is even, and wedges or ropes to help.
Related terms
- Back cut
A back cut is the final cut made on the opposite side of the notch that frees the tree to fall, leaving the hinge intact.
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- Climbing spikes
Climbing spikes are sharp metal points strapped to a climber's boots that bite into the trunk, used mainly on trees being removed.
- Conventional notch
A conventional notch is a wedge cut with a flat bottom and a sloped top that guides a tree to fall in a set direction.
- Drop zone
A drop zone is the marked area on the ground where cut branches and wood are expected to fall, kept clear of people.
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