Hinge holds tree on stump and helps
control fall
Closing 0
notch
control the direction of fall. Use wood or
plastic wedges, but never steel or iron, to
avoid kickback and chain damage.
l Be alert to signs that the tree is ready to
fall: cracking sounds, widening ofthefell-
ing cut, or movement in the upper
branches.
l Astreestartstofail,stopsaw, putitdown,
and get away quickly on your planned re-
treat path.
l
Be extremely cautious with partially fallen
trees that may be
P
oorly supported.
When a tree doesn’t all completely, set
the saw aside and pull down the tree with
a cable winch, block and tackle, ortractor.
To avoid injury, do not cut down a partially
fallen tree with your saw.
CUTTING A FALLEN TREE
(BUCKING)
Bucking is the term used for cutting a fall-
en tree to the desired log length.
A WARNING: Do not stand on the log
being cut. An potion can roll causin loss
of footing an J
control. Do not stand
8 own-
hill 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 op
erator.
Use a sawhorse to cut small logs. Never
allow another person to hold the lo
while
#ii
cutting and never hold the log ’
your
leg or foot.
Do not cut in an area where logs, limbs,
and roots aretangled. Drag the logsinto a
clear area before cutting by pulling out ex-
posed and cleared logs first
TYPES OF CUTTING USED
FOR BUCKING
, A WARNING: If saw becomes pinched
or hung in a log, don’t try to force it out You
can lose control of the saw resulting in injury
and/or damage to the saw. Stop the saw,
drive a wedge of
lastic or wood into the cut
until the saw can
lz e removed easily. Restart
the saw and carefully reenterthecut. Do not
attempt to restart your saw when it is
pinched or hung in a log.
Turn saw OFF and use a plastic or
wooden wedge to force cut open.
Overcutting begins on the top side of the
log with the saw a
ainstthe log. When over-
cutting use light ownward pressure.
8
Ovmcuttlng
Undercutting
Undercutting involves cutting on the un-
derside of the log with top of saw againstthe
log. When undercuttin use light upward
pressure. Hold saw rmly and maintain
f?
control. The saw will tend to push back tr>-
ward you.
A WARNING: Never turn saw upside
down to undercut The saw cannot be con-
trolled in this position.
First cut on procure side of log
Second cut
-P
. .
First cut on pressure side of log
BUCKING WlTHOUT A
SUPPORT
l Cvercutthrough1/3ofthediameterofthe
log.
l Roll the log over and finish with a second
overcut
l Give special attention to logs under strain
to prevent the saw from pinching. Make
the first cut on the pressure side to relieve
the stress on the log.
BUCKING USING A LOG OR
SUPPORT STAND
l Remember
pressure si
J
our first cut is always on the
e of the log.
l Your first cut should extend i/3 of the
diameter of the log.
l Finish wifh your second cut.
9