S Make sure there is enough room for the tree to fall. Maintain a distance of
Hinge holds tree on stump and helps control fall
son or other objects. Motor noise can drown out a warning call.
SRemove dirt, stones, loose bark, nails, staples, and wire from the tree where cuts are to be made.
Closing of notch
Opening of felling 
cut
Plan a clear retreat path
Direction of Fall
45_
FELLING LARGE 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 tree in the desired direction of fall. After a felling cut is made on the opposite side of tree, the tree will tend to fall in the direction of the notch.
NOTE: If tree has large buttress roots, remove them before making the notch. If using saw to remove buttress roots, keep saw chain from contacting ground to prevent dulling of the chain.
NOTCH CUT AND FELLING TREE
S Make notch cut by cutting the top of the notch first. Cut through 1/3 of the diameter of the tree. Next complete the notch by cutting the bottom. See il- lustration. Once notch is cut, remove the wedge of wood from the tree.
First cut | Felling cut here |
Notch |
|
Second cut | Hinge |
S After removing the wood from the notch, make the felling 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. This will leave enough uncut wood be- tween the felling cut and the notch to form a hinge. This hinge will help pre- vent the tree from falling in the wrong direction.
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NOTE: Before 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 alert to signs that the tree is ready to fall: cracking sounds, widening of the felling cut, or movement in the up- per branches.
S As tree starts to fall, stop saw, put it down, and get away quickly on your planned retreat path.
SDO NOT 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 down tree with a cable winch, block and
tackle, or tractor.
CUTTING A FALLEN TREE (BUCKING)
Bucking is the term used for cutting a fallen tree to the desired log size.
WARNING: Do not stand on the log being cut. Any portion can roll caus- ing loss of footing and control. Do not stand downhill of the log being cut.
IMPORTANT POINTS
SCut only one log at a time.
S Cut shattered wood very carefully; sharp pieces of wood could be flung toward operator.
SUse a sawhorse to cut small logs. Nev- er allow another person to hold the log while cutting and never hold the log
with your leg or foot.
SDo not cut in an area where logs, limbs, and roots are tangled. Drag logs into a clear area before cutting them by pulling out exposed and cleared logs first.
BUCKING TECHNIQUES
WARNING: If saw becomes pinched or hung in a log, don’t try to force it out. You can lose control of the saw, re- sulting in injury and/or damage to the saw. Stop the saw; drive a wedge of plastic or wood into cut until the saw can be re- moved easily. Restart saw and carefully
