12
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 fell-
ing 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 orwoodintothe
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.
Second cut
First cut on compression side of log
First cut on compression side of log
Second cut
BUCKING WITHOUT A SUPPORT
S Overcut t hrough 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 compressionside to
prevent the saw from pinching. See il-
lustrationsforcuttinglogswithacompres-
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 y our
first and second cut)
S Your first cut should extend
1/3 of the
diameter of the log.
S Finish with your second cut.