12
S Astree starts to fall,stop saw,put it down,
and get away quickly on your planned re-
treat path.
S DO NOT cut down a partially fallen tree
withyour saw. Beextremely cautiouswith
partially fallen trees that may be poorly
supported. When a tree doesn’t fall com-
pletely,setthesawasideandpulldownthe
tree with a cable winch, block and tackle,
or tractor .
CUTTING A FALLEN TREE
(BUCKING)
Bucking is the term used f or cutting a fallen
tree to the desired log size.
WARNING: Donot standon thelog
being cut. Any portion can roll causing loss
of footing andcontrol. Do not stand downhill
of the logbeing cut.
IMPORTANT POINTS
S Cut only one log at a time.
S Cut shattered wood very carefully; sharp
piecesofwoodcouldbeflungtowardoper-
ator.
S Use a sawhorse to cut small logs. Never
allow another person to hold the logwhile
cuttingandnever holdthelogwithyourleg
or foot.
S Do not cut in an area where logs, limbs,
and roots a re tangled such as in a blown
downarea. Dragthelogs intoacleararea
before cutting by pulling out exposed and
cleared logs first.
TYPES OF CUTTING USED FOR
BUCKING
WARNING: If saw becomes
pinched or hung in a log, don’t try to force it
out. Youcanlosecontrolofthesawresulting
ininjury and/or damageto thesaw. Stopthe
saw,driveawedgeofplasticorwoodintothe
cutuntil thesawcanbe removedeasily. Re-
startthesawandcarefullyreenterthecut. To
avoid kickback and chain damage, do not
useametalwedge. Donotattempttorestart
your saw when itis pinched or hungin alog.
Use a wedge to remove pinched saw
Turn saw OFF and use a plastic or
wooden wedge to force cut open.
Overcuttingbeginsonthetopsideofthelog
with the bottom of the saw against the log.
When overcutting use light downward pres-
sure.
Overcutting
Undercutting
Undercuttinginvolvescuttingon theunder-
sideofthelogwithtopofsawagainstthelog.
When undercutting use light upward pres-
sure. Hold saw firmly and maintain control.
The saw will tend to push back toward you.
WARNING: Never turn saw upside
down to undercut. The saw cannot be con-
trolled in this position.
Always make your first cut on the compres-
sionsideofthelog. Thecompressionsideof
the log is where the pressure of the log’s
weight is concentrated.
Second cut
First cut on compression side of log
First cut on compression side of log
Second cut
BUCKING WITHOUT A SUPPORT
S Overcut through 1/3 of the diameter of the
log.
S Roll the log over and finish with a second
overcut.
S Watch for logs with a compression side to
prevent the saw from pinching. See il-
lustrations forcuttinglogswithacompres-
sion side.
BUCKING USING A LOG OR
SUPPORT STAND
S Remember your first cut is always on the
compression side of the log.
(Refer to the illustrations below for your
first and second cut)
S Your first cut should extend
1/3 of the
diameter of the log.
S Finish with your second cut.
1
st
Cut
2
nd
Cut
Usingalogforsupport
2
nd
Cut
1
st
Cut