Glossary of Terms

Bar Tip Guard

An attachment that may be provided on the end of the guide bar to prevent the chain at the end of the guide bar from contacting the wood.

Bucking

The process of cross cutting a felled tree or log into lengths.

Chain Brake

A device used to stop the saw chain.

Chain Saw Powerhead

A chain saw without the saw chain and guide bar.

Clutch

A mechanism for connecting and disconnecting a driven member to and from a rotating source of power.

Drive Sprocket or Sprocket

The toothed part that drives the saw chain.

Felling

The process of cutting down a tree.

Felling Back Cut

The final cut in a tree felling operation made on the opposite side of the tree from the notching undercut.

Front Handle

The support handle located at or toward the front of the chain saw. This handle is for the left hand.

Front Handle Guard

A structural barrier between the front handle of a chain saw and the guide bar, typically located close to the hand position on the front handle, and sometimes employed as an activating lever for a chain brake.

Guide Bar

A solid railed structure that supports and guides the saw chain.

Kickback

The backward or upward motion, or both, of the guide bar occurring when the saw chain near the nose of the top area of the guide bar contacts any object such as a log or branch, or when the wood closes in and pinches the saw chain in the cut.

Kickback (Pinch)

The rapid pushback of the saw which can occur when the wood closes in and pinches the moving saw chain in the cut along the top of the guide bar.

Kickback (Rotational)

The rapid upward and backward motion of the saw which can occur when the moving saw chain near the upper por- tion of the tip of the guide bar contacts an object, such as a log or branch.

Low-Kickback Chain

A chain that complies with the kickback performance requirements of ANSI B175.1 when tested on a representa- tive sample of chain saws.

Normal Cutting Position

Those positions assumed in performing the bucking and felling cuts.

Notching Undercut

A notch cut in a tree that directs the tree’s fall.

Rear Handle

The support handle located at or toward the rear of the saw. It normally contains the throttle. This handle is for the right hand.

Reduced Kickback Guide Bar

A guide bar which has been demonstrated to reduce kickback significantly.

Replacement Saw Chain

A chain that complies with the kickback performance require- ments of ANSI B175.1 when tested with specific chain saws. It may not meet the ANSI performance requirements when used with other saws.

Saw Chain

A loop of chain having cutting teeth that cut the wood, and that is driven by the motor and is supported by the guide bar.

Springpole

A small tree (sapling) or limb that is bent or trapped under tension. It may “spring back” rapidly when cut, causing a dangerous situation.