11
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 st eel or iron, to
avoid kickback and chain damage.
SBe alert to signs that the tree is ready to
fall: cracking sounds, widening of the fell-
ing cut, or movement in the upper
branches.
SAst reestarts to fall, stop saw, put it down,
and get away quickly on your planned re-
treat path.
SBe extremely cautious with partially fallen
treest hat 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 tractor. To
avoid injury, do not cut down a partially fall-
en tree with your saw.
CUTTING A FALLEN TREE
(BUCKING)
Bucking is the termused for cutting a fallen
tree to the desired log length.
WARNING: Do not stand on the log
being cut. Any portion can roll causing loss
of footing and control. Donot stand downhill
of the log being cut.
Important points
SCut only one log at a time.
SCut shattered wood very carefully; sharp
piecesof wood could be flung toward oper-
ator.
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. Drag the logs into a
cleararea before cutting by pulling out ex-
posed and cleared logs first.
TYPES OF CUTTING USEDFOR 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 ininjury
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
thesaw and carefully reenter the cut. Donot
attempt tores tart yoursa wwhen it is pinched
or hung in a log.
Turn saw OFF and use a plastic or
wooden wedge to force cut open.
Overcutting begins on the top side of the log
with the saw against the log. When overcut-
ting use light downward pressure.
Overcutting Undercutting
Undercutting involves cutting on the under-
sideof the l og with top of saw against the log.
When undercutting use light upward pres-
sure. Hold saw firmly and maintain cont rol.
The saw will tend to push back toward you.
WARNING: Never turn saw upside
down to undercut. The saw cannot be con-
trolled in this position.
Second cut
First cut on pressure side of log
First cut on pressure side of log
Second cut
BUCKING WITHOUT ASUPPORT
SOvercut through 1/3 of the diameter of t he
log.
SRoll the log over and finish with a second
overcut.
SGive special attention to logs under strain
to prevent the saw from pinching. Make
the first cuton the pressure side to relieve
the stress on the log.
BUCKING USING A LOG ORSUPPORT STAND
SRemember your first cut is alway s on the
pressure side of the log.
SYour first cut should extend 1/3 of the
diameter of the log.
SFinish with your second cut.
1st Cut
2ndCut
Using a support stand