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LIMBING AND PRUNING
See Figure 36.
Work slowly, keeping both hands on the saw with a
firm grip. Maintain secure footing and balance.
Keep the tree between you and the chain while
limbing.
Do not cut from a ladder, this is extremely dangerous.
Leave this operation for professionals.
Do not cut above chest height as a saw held higher is
difficult to control against kickback.
WARNING:
Never climb into a tree to limb or prune. Do not stand
on ladders, platforms, a log, or in any position which
can cause you to lose your balance or control of the
saw.
When pruning trees it is important not to make the
flush cut next to the main limb or trunk until you have
cut off the limb further out to reduce the weight. This
prevents stripping the bark from the main member.
1. Underbuck the branch 1/3 through for your first cut.
2. Overbuck the branch to drop it.
3. Finish by cutting smoothly and neatly against the
main member so the bark will grow back to seal the
wound.
WARNING:
If the limbs to be pruned are above chest height, hire a
professional to perform the pruning.
CUTTING SPRINGPOLES
See Figure 37.
A springpole is any log, branch, rooted stump, or sapling
which is bent under tension by other wood so that it
springs back if the wood holding it is cut or removed. On a
fallen tree, a rooted stump has a high potential of spring-
ing back to the upright position during the bucking cut to
separate the log from the stump. Watch out for spring-
poles, they are dangerous.
FINISHING CUT
FIRST CUT
1/3 DIAMETER
SECOND CUT
LOAD
Fig. 36
WARNING:
Springpoles are dangerous and could strike the
operator causing the operator to lose control of the
chain saw. This could result in severe or fatal injury
to the operator.
SPRINGPOLE
Fig. 37
OPERATION