11
Look for decay and rot. If the trunkis rotted,
it can snap and fall toward the operator.
Check for broken or dead branches which
can fall on you while cutting.
Make sure there is enough room for the tree
to fall. Maintain a distance of 2-1/2 tree
lengths from the nearest person or other ob-
jects. Engine noisecan drown out a warning
call.
Remove dirt, stones, loose bark, nails, sta-
ples, and wire from the tree wherec uts areto
be made.
Plan a clear retreat path to the rear and diag-
onal to the line of fall.
Direction of Fall
45_
Plan a clear retreat path
FELLING LARGE TREES
(6 inches in diameter or larger)
The notch method is used to fell large trees.
Anotch is cut on the side of the tree in the de-
sired direction of fall. After a felling cut is
made on the opposite side of tree, the tree
will tend to fall intothe notch.
NOTE: If the tree has large buttress roots,
remove them before making the notch.
NOTCH CUT AND FELLING THE
TREE
SMake notch cut by cutting the top of the
notch first. Cut through 1/3 of the diameter
ofthe tree. Next comple te the notch by cut-
ting the bottom of the notch. See illustra-
tion. Once the notch is cut remove the
notch of wood from the tree.
SAfter removing the cutout of wood, make
the felling cut on the opposite side of the
notch. This is done by making a cut about
two inches higher than the center of the
notch. Thiswill leav e enough uncut wood
between the felling cut and the notch to
form a hinge. This hinge will help prevent
thetree from falling inthe wrong direction.
Notch
First cut
Second cut
Final (felling) cut here. 2 inches
above center of notch.
Hinge
Opening
of felling
cut
Closing of
notch
Hinge holds tree on stump and helps
control fall
NOTE: Before felling cut is complete, use
wedges to open the cut when necessary to
control the direction of fall. Toavoidk ickback
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 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 tack le, or tractor. Donot
cut down a partially fallen tree with your
saw.
CUTTING A FALLEN TREE
(BUCKING)
Bucking is theterm used for cutting a fallen
tree to the desired log size.
WARNING: Donot stand on the log
being cut. Any portion can roll causing loss
of footing and control. Donot stand downhill
of the log being cut.
IMPORTANTPOINTS
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 such as in a blown
down area. Dragthe logs into a clear area
before cutting by pulling out exposed and
cleared logs first.
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
ini njury and/or damage to the saw. Stopthe
saw,drive a wedge of plastic or wood into the
cutuntil thesaw can be removed easily. Re-
startthe saw and carefully reent er the cut. To
avoid kickback and chain damage, do not