18
CS-500P
FELLING THE TREEA falling tree can seriously damage anything it may
hit - a car, a house, a fence, a power-line, or
another tree.
There are ways to make a tree fall where you want
it, so first decide where that is!
Before cutting, clear the area around the tree.
You will need good footing while working and you
should be able to work the saw without hitting any
obstacles.
Next, select a path of retreat.
When the tree begins to fall you should retreat
away from the direction of fall at a 45-degree angle
and at least 3 m (10 feet) from the trunk to avoid
the trunk kicking back over the stump.
Begin the cut on the side to which the tree is to fall.
Cut a notch about 1/3 of the way into the tree. The
position of this notch is important since the tree will
try to fall “into” the notch.
The felling cut is made on the side opposite the
notch and at a level about 5 cm (2 in.) above the
bottom of the notch.
Do not try to cut through to the notch with the
felling cut.
The remaining wood between the notch cut and
felling cut about 5 cm (2 in.) will act as a hinge
when the tree falls, guiding it in the desired
direction.
When the tree starts to fall, kill the engine, place
the saw on the ground and make your retreat
quickly.
To fell big trees with a diameter exceeding twice
the bar length, start the notching cuts from one
side and draw the saw through to the other side of
the notch.
Start the back cut on one side of the tree, pivoting
the saw through to form the desired hinge on that
side.
Then remove the saw for the second cut. Insert
the saw in the first cut, very carefully so as not to
cause kickback.
The final cut is made by drawing the saw forward
in the cut to reach the hinge.
1
2
3
Felling cut
Hinge
Direction of fall
First cut
Notch
Second cut
One-third tree diameter
Direction of fall
5 cm (2 in.)
5 cm (2 in.)
45°
45°
Not this way
Retreat
Retreat
3 m (10 feet)