1st Cut
2nd Cut
LIMBING AND PRUNING
WARNING: Be alert for and guard against kickback. Do not allow the moving chain to contact any other branches or objects at the nose of the guide bar when limbing or pruning. Al- lowing such contact can result in seri- ous injury.
WARNING: Never climb into a tree to limb or prune. Do not stand on ladders, platforms, a log, or in any po- sition which can cause you to lose your balance or control of the saw.
IMPORTANT POINTS
SWatch out for springpoles. Springpoles are small size limbs which can whip toward you, or pull you off balance. Use extreme cau-
tion when cutting small size limbs.
SBe alert for springback. Watch out for branches that are bent or under pressure. Avoid being struck by the
branch or the saw when the tension in the wood fibers is released.
SFrequently clear branches out of the way to avoid tripping over them.
LIMBING
SLimb a tree only after it is cut down. S Leave the larger limbs underneath the felled tree to support the tree as
you work.
SStart at the base of the felled tree and work toward the top, cutting branches and limbs. Remove small
limbs with one cut.
SKeep the tree between you and the
chain.
SRemove larger, supporting branches with the cutting techniques described in BUCKING WITHOUT A SUPPORT.
SAlways use an overcut to cut small and freely hanging limbs. Undercut- ting could cause limbs to fall and pinch the saw.
PRUNING
WARNING: Limit pruning to limbs shoulder height or below. Do not cut if branches are higher than your shoul- der. Get a professional to do the job.
SMake your first cut 1/3 of the way through the bottom of the limb. This cut will make the limb sag so that it falls easily on the second cut.
SNext make a second cut an overcut
all the way through the limb.
SFinish the pruning operation by using an overcut so that the stump of the limb protrudes 1 to 2 inches from the trunk of the tree.
Second cut
First cut 1/3 of way
3rd cut 1 to 2 in. from trunk of tree
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