Filter
Top Products
\
Notch -_.,_
plumb or level to determine the di-
rection of tree lean.
° Weight and branches on one side.
• Surrounding trees and obstacles.
Look for decay and rot. If the trunk is
rotted, it can snap and fall toward the
operator.
Make sure there is enough room for
the tree to fall. Maintain a distance of
2.1/2 tree lengths from the nearest
person or other objects. Engine noise
can drown out a warning call.
Remove dirt, stones, loose bark,
nails, staples, and wire from the tree
where cuts are to be made.
,_ Plana clear retreat path
_,.... ()--=,",==_- DirectionofFall
45° ..
FELLING LARGE TREES
(6 inches in diameter or larger)
The notch method isused to fell large
trees. A notch is cut on the side of the
tree in the desired direction offall. After
a felling cut is made on the opposite
side of tree, the tree will tend to fall in
the direction of the notch.
NOTE: If tree has large buttress roots,
remove them before making the notch.
NOTCH CUT AND FELLING TREE
• Make notch cut by cutting the top of
the notch first. Cut through 1/3 of the
diameter of the tree. Next complete
the notch by cuttingthe bottom. See
illustration. Once the notch is cut, re-
move the wedge ofwood from tree.
Finalcut here
Firstcut =- /
• After removingthewood,make the
felling cutontheopposite side of the
notch.This isdone by making a cut
This hinge will help prevent the tree
from falling in the wrong direction.
Hingeholdstreeon
stumpand helps
controlfat1
Opening of
felling cut
NOTE: Before felling cut is complete,
use wedges to open the cut when
necessary to control the direction of fall.
To avold kickback and chain damage,
use wood or plastic wedges, but never
steel or iron wedges.
• Be alert to signs that the tree is ready
to fall: cracking sounds, widening of
the felling cut, or movement in the up-
per branches.
° As tree starts to fall, stop saw, put it
down, and get away quickly on your
planned retreat path.
• Be extremely cautious with partially
fallen trees that may be poorly sup-
ported. When a tree doesn't fall com-
pletely, set the saw aside and pull
down the tree with a cable winch,
block and tackle, or tractor. Do not
use your saw to cut down a partially
fallen tree.
CUTTING A FALLEN TREE
(BUCKING)
Bucking is the term used for cutting a
fallen tree tothe desired log size.
WARNING: Do not stand on the log
being cut. Any portion can roll causing
toss of footing and control. Do not stand
downhill of the log being cut.
IMPORTANT POINTS
• Cut only one log at a time.
• Cut shattered wood very carefully;
sharp pieces of wood could be flung
toward operator.
° Use a sawhorse to cut small logs.
Never allow another person to hold
the log while cutting and never hold
the log with your leg or foot.
• Do not cut in an area where logs,
limbs, and roots are tangled. Drag logs
intoa clear area before cutting them.
BUCKING TECHNIQUES
WARNING: If saw becomes pinched
about two inches higher than the cen- or hung in a log, don't try to force it out.
ter of the notch. This will leave You can lose control of the saw result-
enough uncut wood between the fell- ing in injury and/or damage to the saw.
ing cut and the notch to form a hinge. Stop the saw, drive a wedge of plastic
9