Hinge holds tree on stump and helps control fall
Opening of felling cut
Closing of notch
NOTE: Before felling cut is complete, use wedges to open the cut when necessary to control the direction of fall. Use wood or plastic wedges, but never steel or iron, to avoid kickback and chain damage.
SBe alert to signs that the tree is ready to fall: Cracking sounds, widening of the
felling cut or movement in the upper branches.
SAs tree starts to fall, stop saw, put it down, and get away quickly on your planned re-
treat path.
SBe extremely cautious with partially fallen trees that may be poorly supported. When a tree doesn’t fall completely, set the saw aside and pull down the tree with a cable winch, block and tackle, or trac- tor. To avoid injury, do not cut down a par- tially fallen tree with your saw.
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 causing loss of footing and control. Do not stand downhill of the log being cut.
IMPORTANT POINTS
SCut only one log at a time.
SCut shattered wood very carefully; sharp
pieces of wood could be flung toward op- erator.
SUse a sawhorse to cut small logs. Never 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 such as in a blown down area. Drag the logs into a clear area before cutting by pulling out ex-
posed and cleared logs first.
SMake the first bucking cut 1/3 of the way through the log and finish with a 2/3 cut on the opposite side. As the log is being cut, it will tend to bend. The saw can become pinched or hung in the log if you make the
first cut deeper than 1/3 of the diameter of the log.
SGive special attention to logs under strain to prevent the saw from pinching. Make the first cut on the pressure side to relieve the stress on the log.
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 lose 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. Overcutting begins on the top side of the log with the bottom of the saw against the log. When overcutting use light downward pres- sure.
Undercutting involves cutting on the under- side of the log with top of saw against the log. When undercutting use light upward pres- sure. Hold saw firmly and maintain control. The saw will tend to push back toward you.
Overcutting Undercutting
WARNING: Never turn saw upside down to undercut. The saw cannot be con- trolled in this position.
BUCKING WITHOUT A SUPPORT
SOvercut through 1/3 of the diameter of the log.
SRoll the log over and finish with a second
overcut.
SWatch for logs with a pressure side. Re- fer to the illustration on previous page for cutting logs with a pressure side.
First cut on pressure side of log
Second cu
t
Second cut
First cut
on pressure side of log
BUCKING USING A LOG OR SUP- PORT STAND
SRemember your first cut is always on the pressure side of the log.
(Refer to the illustration below for your
first and second cut)
SYour first cut should extend 1/3 of the
diameter of the log.
S Finish with your second cut.
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