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Direction of Fall
45_
Plan a clear retreat path
FELLING LARGE TREES
(6 inches in diameter or larger)
The notch methodis used to f elllarge trees.
Anotchiscutonthesideofthetreeinthede-
sired 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,
removethembeforemakingthenotch. Ifus-
ing saw toremove buttress roots, keep saw
chainfromcontactinggroundtopreventdull-
ing of the chain.
NOTCH CUT AND FELLING THE
TREE
S Make notch cut by cutting the top of the
notch first. Cut through
1/3 ofthediameter
ofthetree.Nextcompletethenotchbycut-
ting the bottom of the notch. See illustra-
tion. Once the notch is cut, remove the
notch of wood from the tree.
Notch
First cut
Second cut
Final cut here. 2 inchesabove
center of notch.
S After removing the wood from the notch,
make the felling cut on the opposite side of
thenotch.Thisisdoneby makingacutabout
two inches higher than the center o f the
notch. T his will leave enough uncut wood
between the felling cut a nd thenotch toform
a h inge. This hinge will helpprevent thetree
from falling in the wrong direction.
Opening
of felling
cut
Closing of
notch
Hinge holds tree on stump andhelps
control fall
NOTE: Before felling cut is complete, use
wedges to open the cut when necessary to
controlthedirectionoffall. Toavoidkickback
and chain damage, use wood or plastic
wedges, but never steel or iron wedges.
S Bealerttosignsthatthetreeisreadytofall:
cracking sounds, widening of the felling cut,
or movement in the upper branches.
S As treestarts tofall, stop saw,put itdown,
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 for cutting a fallen
tree to the desired log size.
WARNING: Donotstandonthelog
being cut. Any por tion can roll causing loss
of footingand control. Do notstand downhill
of the log being 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
cuttingandneverholdthelogwith yourleg
or foot.
S Do not cut in an area where logs, limbs,
and roots are tangled such as in a blown
downarea. Dragthe logsintoacleararea
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/ordamage tothesaw. Stop t he
saw,driveawedgeofplasticorwoodintothe
cutuntil thesawcanberemovedeasily . Re-
startthesawandcarefullyreenterthecut. To
avoid kickback and chain damage, do not
useametalwedge. Donotattempttorestart
your sawwhen itis pinchedor hungin alog.
Useawedgetoremovepinchedsaw
Turn saw
OFF and use a plastic or
wooden wedge to force cutopen.
Overcuttingbeginsonthetopsideofthelog
with the bottom of the saw against the log.
When overcutting use light downward pres-
sure.