Notching undercut
Make the notch
?/3
the diameter of the
tree,
perpendicular to the direction
of
fall
as
shown in Fig.
17.
Make the lower horizontal notching cut first. This will help to avoid
pinching of either the saw chain or the guide bar when the second notch
is
being made.
Felling back cut
Make the felling back cut
at
least
2
inches
(50.8
mm) higher than the horizontal
notching cut
as
shown in Fig.
17.
Keep the
felling back cut parallel to the horizontal
notching cut. Make the felling back cut
so
enough wood
is
left to act
as
a
hinge. The
hinge wood keeps the tree from twisting
and falling in the wrong direction.
Do
not
cut through the hinge.
I
Fig.
1
As
the felling cut gets close to the hinge the tree should begin to fall. If there
is
any
chance that the tree may not fall in the desired direction or
it
may rock back and bind
the saw chain, stop cutting before the felling back cut
is
complete and use wedges of
wood, plastic or aluminum to open the cut and drop the tree along the desired line of fall.
When the tree begins to fall remove the chain saw from the cut, stop the motor, put the
chain saw down, then use the retreat path planned. Be alert for overhead limbs falling and
watch your footing.
Limbing
a
tree
Limbing
is
removing the branches from
a
fallen tree. When limbing,
leave
larger
lower limbs to support the log off the
ground. Remove the small limbs in one
cut
as
shown in Fig.
18.
Branches under
tension should be cut from the bottom up
to avoid binding the chain saw.
LIMB
CUT
Keep work
off
ground
Leave support
limbs
until log
is
cut
Fig.
18
13