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NOTE: If thetree has large buttress roots,
removethembeforemakingthenotch. Ifus-
ing saw to remove buttress roots, keep saw
chainfromcontactinggroundtopreventdull-
ing of the chain.
NOTCH CUT AND FELLING THE
TREE
S Make notch cut by cu tting the top of the
notch first.Cut through
1/3of thediameter
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 (felling) cut here, 2 in ches
(5 cm) above center of notch.
Hinge
S After removing the wood from the notch,
make the felling cut on the opposite side of
thenotch.Thisisdonebymakingacutabout
two inches (5 cm) higher than the center of
thenotch.Thiswill leaveenoughuncutwood
between the felling cut and the notch to form
a hinge. This hinge will helpprevent the tree
from falling in the wrong direction.
Opening
of felling
cut
Closing of
notch
Hinge holds tree on stump and helps
control fall
NOTE: Before felling cut is complete, use
wedges to open the cut if necessary to
controlthedirectionoffall. Toavoidkickback
and chain damage, use wood or plastic
wedges, but never steel or iron wedges.
S Be alert to signs that the tree is ready to fall:
cracking sounds, widening of the felling cut,
or movement in the upper branches.
S As treestarts to fall,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 portion can roll causing loss
of footing andcontrol. Donot stand downhill
of the log being cut.
IMPORTANT POINTS
S Cut only one log at a time.
S Cut shattered wood very carefully; sharp
pieces ofwoodcould beflung toward opera-
tor .
S Use a sawhorse to cut small logs. Never
allow another person to hold the log while
cuttingandneverholdthelogwithyourleg
or foot.
S Do not cut in an area w here 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. Stopthe
saw,driveawedgeofplastic orwoodintot he
cutuntil thesawcanberemovedeasily. R e-
startthesawandcarefullyreenterthecut. To
avoid kickback and chain damage, do not
useametalwedge. Donotattempttorestart
your saw whenit is pinchedor hungin alog.
Use a wedge to remove pinched saw
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 bottom of the saw against the log.
When overcutting use light downward pres-
sure .
Overcutting
Undercutting
Undercuttinginvolves cuttingontheunder-
sideofthelogwithtopofsawagainstthelog.
When undercutting use light upward p res-
sure. Hold saw firmly and maintain control.
The saw will tend to push back toward you.
WARNING: Neverturnsawupside
down to undercut. The saw cannot be con-
trolled in this position.
Always make your first cuton thecompres-
sionsideofthelog. Thecompressionsideof
the log is where the pressure of the log’s
weight is concentrated.