As we head into 2026, the Australian tree industry is fighting on two fronts.
First, the Boxing Day Storms across the East Coast have left thousands of tonnes of complex, dangerous timber on the ground. If you are a contractor in SEQ or Victoria, your phone hasn't stopped ringing.
Second, the federal government has just confirmed that "Arborist" will remain on the Core Skills Occupation List for 2026. This is a massive win for the industry, acknowledging what we already know: this is a highly technical trade, not just "labour."
In light of the heavy cleanup work ahead this week, we are skipping the gear reviews to focus on the immediate danger: The Physics of Storm Wood.
The Hidden Kinetic Energy
A standing tree is predictable. Gravity pulls it down.
A storm-fallen tree is a loaded spring.
When a tree is twisted, snapped, or pinned under another, the wood fibers are loaded with massive potential energy. The moment you sever the wrong fibers, that energy releases—instantly.
This week’s search trends show a spike in "stuck saws" and "bar pinch." This happens when operators misread the Tension and Compression zones.
1. Reading the "Bylin Graph"
Before you make a cut this week, visualize the forces inside the log.
- Tension Face (The Stretch): The fibers are being pulled apart. If you cut here first, the cut will open up (like a mouth). This is safe.
- Compression Face (The Crush): The fibers are being engaged. If you cut here, the wood will instantly clamp shut on your bar, trapping your saw.
The Golden Rule: Always cut the Compression side first (a small relief cut), then finish on the Tension side. If you get it backward, you lose your saw.
2. The "Barber Chair" Risk
In storm-damaged Ironbark or Gum, the grain is often fractured longitudinally. When you make your back cut, the trunk can split vertically, kicking the back of the tree upward into your face. Keep your face and body clean of any sprung wood and cut slowly, watching for any tension releasing. If it looks too difficult, leave it to the pro's.
Gear Selection for Storm Work
While skill is primary, your setup dictates your options.
- Wedges are Non-Negotiable: In complex storm piles, you cannot rely on gravity. You must mechanically lift the wood off your bar. If you don't have a wedge in your back pocket, walk back to the truck.
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The "Clean" Chain: Storm wood is often embedded with mud and grit. A standard Full Chisel chain will lose its corner after two cuts in dirty bark.
- Field Note: We are seeing many crews switch to Semi-Chisel profiles for cleanup work. The rounded corner tolerates the grit better, meaning you spend less time filing and more time clearing.
The 2026 Outlook
The retention of Arboriculture on the Core Skills list is a reminder that this job requires continuous learning. Whether it's mastering the thermodynamics of a 500i or understanding the vector forces in a fallen gum tree, the best operators are the ones who study the craft.
Stay safe out there. Read the wood, respect the tension, and come home with all your fingers.
Need a refresher on chain profiles for dirty wood?