Craftsman 358.35181 Cutting a Fallen Tree Bucking, Important Points, Bucking Without a Support

kickback and chain damage, use wood or p}astic wedges, but never steel or iron wedges.

•Be alert to signs that the tree is ready to fail: cracking sounds, widen- ing of the feI}ing cut, or movement in the upper branches.

•As tree starts to fall stop saw, put it down, and get away quickly on your ptanned retreat path.

•DO NOT cut down a partially fatten tree with your saw. Be extremely cautious with partially fallen trees that may be poody supported. When a tree doesn't

falI comptetely, set the saw aside and pul} down the tree with a cable winch, bIock and tackle, or tractor.

CUTTING A FALLEN TREE (BUCKING)

Bucking is the term used for cutting a fallen tree to the desired tog size.

dab WARNING: Do not stand on the

tog being cut. Any portion can rott causing toss of footing and control, Do

not stand downhill of the log being cut.

IMPORTANT POINTS

•Cut on}y one tog at a time.

•Cut shattered wood very carefully; sharp pieces of wood could be f_ung toward operator.

•Use a sawhorse to cut small logs. Never allow another person to hold the Iog white cutting and never hold the Iog with your teg or foot.

•Do not cut in an area where _ogs, timbs, and roots are tangled such as in a blown down area. Drag the togs into a ctear area before cutting by

putHng out exposed and cIeared togs first.

TYPES OF CUTTING USED FOR BUCKING

_WARNING: If saw becomes

pinched or hung in a log, don't try to force it out. You can tose control of the

saw resulting in injury and/or damage to the saw. Stop the saw, drive a wedge of plastic or wood into the cut until the saw can be removed easily.

Restart the saw and carefully reenter the cut. To avoid kickback and chain

damage, do not use a metal wedge. Do not attempt to restart your saw when it is pinched or hung in a log.

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 _og. When overcutting use light downward pressure,

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Undercutting:

Undercutting involves cutting on the underside of the log with top of saw against the _og. When undercutting use light upward pressure. Hotd saw firmty and maintain control. The saw wiI_tend to push back toward you.

A_ILWARNING: Never turn saw up-

side down to undercut. The saw can- not be controlled in this position. Always make your first cut on the com- pression side ofthe Iog. The compres- sion side of the tog is where the pres- sure of the log's weight is concentrated.

_rst cut On compression side of log

Second cut

Second cut

First cut on compression side of log

BUCKING WITHOUT A SUPPORT

•Overcut through 1/3 of the diameter of the log.

•Roll the Iog over and finish with a second overcut.

•Watch for togs with a compression side to prevent the saw from pinch- ing. See ittustrations for cutting togs

with a compression side.

BUCKING USING A LOG OR SUPPORT STAND

•Remember your first cut is a_ways on the compression side of the log. (Refer to the illustrations below for your first and second cut)

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