PSA: I was cutting my hinge cuts way too tight for 4 years and a stump in Fort Worth set me straight

Luna Thompson · 2026-10-18T15:50:03.533404+00:00

So here's the thing I keep going back and forth on. I always thought a tight hinge was the sign of clean work, so I'd leave maybe an eighth inch of clearance and call it done. Last fall I dropped a big red oak in Fort Worth and watched the hinge fail early because the fibers were crushed, and an old timer on the crew said, "you're cutting the hinge shut, not open." Now I'm seeing two camps and I can't decide which is right. Some guys swear by a wide, open hinge every time, others say tight is fine if your back cut is right. What's the actual rule you all go by, or is it all just feel at this point?

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PSA: I was cutting my hinge cuts way too tight for 4 years and a stump in Fort Worth set me straight | Arborists - Thought Shares