Homelite UT10588, UT10548, UT10568 Limbing and Pruning, Cutting Springpoles, See Figures 31

OPERATION

LIMBING AND PRUNING

See Figures 31 - 32.

nWork slowly, keeping both hands on the saw with a firm grip. Maintain secure footing and balance.

■n Keep the tree between you and the chain while limbing.

nDo not cut from a ladder. This is extremely dan- gerous. Leave this operation for professionals.

■n Do not cut above chest height. A saw held higher than chest height is ­difficult to control against kickback.

LOAD SECOND CUT

FIRST CUT 1/3 DIAMETER

FINISHING CUT Fig. 31

WARNING:

Never climb into a tree to limb or prune. Do not stand on ladders, platforms, rooftops, a log, or in any position which can cause you to lose your balance or control of the saw.

■n When pruning trees it is important not to make the flush 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.

•Overbuck the branch to drop it.

•Finish by cutting smoothly and neatly against the main member so the bark will grow back to seal the wound.

CUT LIMBS ONE AT A TIME AND LEAVE SUPPORT

LIMBS UNDER TREE UNTIL LOG IS CUT

Fig. 32

SPRINGPOLE Fig. 33

WARNING:

If the limbs to be pruned are above chest height, hire a professional to perform the pruning.

CUTTING SPRINGPOLES

See Figure 33.

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.

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