9
SMake sure there is enough room for
thetreetofall.Maintainadistanceof
2-1/2tree lengths from the nearest per-
son or other objects.Motor noise can
drownout a warning call.
SRemovedirt, stones, loose bark, nails,
staples, and wire fromthe tree where
cuts areto be made.
Direction of Fall
45_
Plan a clear retreat path
FELLINGLARGE TREES
(6 inches in diameter or larger)
The notch method is used to fell large
trees. A notch is cut on the side of the
treein the desireddirection of fall. Aftera
felling cut is made on the opp osite side
of tree, the tree will tend to fa ll in the
directionof the notch.
NOTE: If tree has large buttressroots,
removethem before making theno tch.If
using saw to remove buttress roots,
keep saw chainfrom contacting ground
to preventdulling of the chain.
NOTCH CUT AND FELLING TREE
SMake notch cut by cutting the topof
the notch first. Cut through1/ 3 ofthe
diameter of the tree. Next complete
thenotch by cutting the bottom. See il-
lustration.Once notch is cut, remove
the wedge ofwood from the tree.
Notch
Firstcut
Second cut
Felling cut here
Hinge
SAfter removing the wood from the
notch, make thefelling cut on the op-
posite side of the notch. This is done
by making a cut about two inches
higher than the center of the notch.
Thiswill leave enough uncut wood be-
tween the felling cut and the no tch to
forma hinge.This hinge will help pre-
vent the tree from fallingin the wrong
direction.
Opening
of felling
cut
Closing of
notch
Hinge holds tree on stump and helps
control fall
NOTE:Be fore felling cut is complete, use
wedges to open the cut if necessary to
control the direction of fall.To avoid kick-
back and chain damage, use wood or
plastic wedges, but never steel or iron
wedges.
SBe alertto signs that the tree is ready
to fall: cracking sounds, widening of
the felling cut, or movement in the up-
per branches.
SAs tree starts to fall,stop saw, put it
down, and get away quickly on your
planned retreatpath.
SDONOT use your saw to cut down a par-
tially fallen tree.Be extremely cautious
with partially fallen trees that may be
poorly supported. When a tree doesn’t
fall completely, set saw aside and pull
downtree with a cable winch, blockand
tackle, or tractor.
CUTTING A FALLENTREE
(BUCKING)
Bucking is the term used for cutting a
fallen tree to the desired log size.
WARNING : Do not stand on the
logbeing cut. Any portion can roll caus-
ing loss of footing and control. Do not
stand downhillof the log being cut.
IMPORTANTPOINTS
SCut only one log at a time.
SCut shattered wood very carefully;
sharp pieces of wood could be flung
towardoperator.
SUsea sawhorse to cutsmall logs.Nev-
erallow another person to hold the log
while cutting and never hold the log
withyour leg or foot.
SDo notcut in an area where logs, limbs,
and roots are tangled.Drag logs into a
cleararea before cutting them by pulling
out exposed and clearedlogs first.
BUCKING TECHNIQUES
WARNING : If saw becomes
pinchedor hung in a log, don’t tryto force it
out. Youcan lose control of the saw, re-
sultingin injury and/or damage to the saw.
Stop thesaw; drive a wedge of plastic or
wood into cut until the saw can be re-
moved easily. Restart saw and carefully