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ditionsthatcancausethetreetofallinapar-
ticulardirection.
Naturalconditionsthatcancauseatreeto
fallinaparticulardirectioninclude:
• Thewinddirectionandspeed.
• Theleanofthetree.Theleanofatree
mightnotbeapparentduetounevenor
slopingterrain.Useaplumborlevelto
determinethedirectionoftreelean.
Weightandbranchesononeside.
_Surroundingtreesandobstacles.
Lookfordecayandrot If thetrunkis
rotted,it cansnapandfalltowardthe
operator.Checkfor brokenor dead
brancheswhichcanfallonyouwhile
cutting.
Makesurethereisenoughroomfortreeto
fall.Maintainadistanceof2-1/2treelengths
fromthenearestpersonorotherobject.En-
ginenoisecandrownoutawarningcall.
Removedirt,stones,loosebark,nails,sta-
ples,andwirefromthetreewherecutsare
tobemade.
Planaclearretreatpathtotherearanddiag-
onaltothelineoffall.
_,_. Plan a clear retreat path
-.%
_'.... t) ''_ - Direction of Fall
WARNING: Do not cut near buildings or
electrical wires ifyou do not know the direc-
tion of tree fall, at night since you will not be
able to see well, or during bad weather such
as rain, snow, or strong winds, etc.
FELLING LARGE TREES
(6 inches in diameter or larger)
The notch method is used to fell large trees.
A notch is cut on the side of the tree in the
desired direction of fall. After a felling cut is
made on the opposite side of tree, the tree
will tend to fall into the notch.
NOTE: If the tree has large buttress roots,
remove them before making the notch.
NOTCH CUT AND FELLING THE
TREE
• Make notch cut by cutting the top of the
notch first. Cut through t/3 of the diameter
of the tree. Next complete the notch by
cutting the bottom of the notch. See illus-
trated. Once the notch is cut remove the
notch of wood from the tree.
Final cut here. 2 inches above
center of notch.
Notch _ _ "___'_'__2"
• After ramovin the cutout of wood, make
the felling cut on the opposite side of the
notch. This is done by making acut about
two inches higher than the center of the
notch. This will leave enough uncut wood
between the felling cut and the notch to
form a hinge. This hinge will help prevent
the tree from falling in the wrong direction.
Hinge holds tree
on stump and
helps control fall
Opening of
felling cut
Closin
notch
NOTE: Before felling cut is complete, use
wedges to open the cut when necessary to
control the direction of fall. Use wood or
plastic wedges, but never steel or iron, to
avoid kickback and chain damage.
• Be alert to signs that the tree is ready to
fall: cracking sounds, widening of the fell-
ingcut, or movement in upper branches.
• As tree starts to fall, stop saw, put itdown,
and get away quickly on your planned re-
treat path.
• Be extremely cautious with partially fallen
trees that may be poorly supported.
When a tree doesn't fall completely, set
the saw aside and pull down the tree with
a cable winch, block and tackle, or tractor.
To avoid in ury, do not cut down a partially
fallen tree w th your saw.
CUTTING A FALLEN TREE
(BUCKING)
Bucking is the term used for cutting a fall-
en tree to the desired log size.
WARNING: Do not stand on the log be-
ing cut. Any portion can roll causing loss of
footing and control. Do not stand downhill
of the log being cut.
IMPORTANT POINTS
• Cut only one log at a time.
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