OPERATION
Limbs should be cut one at a time. Remove the cut limbs from the work area often to help keep the work area clean and safe.
Branches under tension should be cut from the bottom up to avoid binding the chain saw.
Keep the tree between you and the chain saw while limbing. Cut from the side of the tree opposite the branch you are cutting.
Pruning
See Figure 22.
Pruning is trimming limbs from a live tree.
Work slowly, keeping both hands on the chain saw with a firm grip. Always make sure your footing is secure and your weight is distributed evenly on both feet.
Do not cut from a ladder, this is extremely dan- gerous. Leave this operation for professionals.
Do not cut above chest height as a saw held higher is difficult to control against kickback.
When pruning trees it is important not to make the finishing cut next to the main limb or trunk until you have cut off the limb further out to reduce the weight. This prevents stripping the bark from the main member.
Underbuck the branch 1/3 through for your first cut.
Your second cut should overbuck to drop the branch off.
Now make your finishing cut smoothly and neatly against the main member so the bark will grow back to seal the wound.
WARNING:
If the limbs to be pruned are above chest height, hire a professional to perform the pruning.
Springpoles
See Figure 23.
A springpole is any log, branch, rooted stump, or sapling which is bent under tension by other wood so that it springs back if the wood holding it is cut or removed. On a fallen tree, a rooted stump has a high potential of springing back to the upright position during the bucking cut to separate the log from the stump. Watch out for springpoles, they are dangerous.
WARNING:
Springpoles are dangerous and could strike the operator, causing the operator to lose control of the chain saw. This could result in severe or fatal injury to the operator.
15 - English