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OPERATION
Fig. 27
45°
45°
90°
135°
135°
90°
135° FROM
PLANNED LINE
OF FALL
PATH OF SAFE
RETREAT
PLANNED LINE OF
FALL
PLANNED
LINE OF FALL
PATH OF
SAFE
RETREAT
PROPER PROCEDURE FOR TREE FELLING
See Figures 27 through 30.
1. Pick your escape route (or routes in case the in-
tended route is blocked). Clear the immediate area
around the tree and make sure there are no obstruc-
tions in your planned path of retreat. Clear the path
of safe retreat approximately 135° from the planned
line of fall.
2. Consider the force and direction of the wind, the lean
and balance of the tree, and the location of large
limbs. These things influence the direction in which
the tree will fall. Do not try to fell a tree along a line
different from its natural line of fall.
3. Cut a notch about 1/3 the diameter of the trunk in the
side of the tree. Make the notch cuts so they intersect
at a right angle to the line of fall. This notch should be
cleaned out to leave a straight line. To keep the weight
of the wood off the saw, always make the lower cut of
the notch before the upper cut.
4. Make the backcut level and horizontal, and at a mini-
mum of 2 inches (5 cm) above the horizontal cut of the
notch.
HINGE
2" (5 CM) OR 1/10 DIA
NOTCH -
APPROX. 1/3
DIAMETER OF
TRUNK
BACK CUT
2" (5 CM)
Fig. 28