Craftsman CMECS600 Instruction Manual page 11

ON/OFF Switch (Fig. J)
Always be sure of your footing and grip the chain saw firmly
with both hands with the thumb and fingers encircling
both handles.
To turn the tool ON, depress the lock off button
squeeze the trigger switch 1
tool is running you can release the lock off button.
To turn the unit off, release the trigger.
Fig. J
Common Cutting Techniques (Fig. A, K–R)
Felling
The process of cutting down a tree. Do not fell trees in high
wind conditions.

WARNING: Felling can result in injury. It should only
be performed by a trained person.
• A retreat path should be planned and cleared as
necessary before cuts are started. The retreat path
should extend back and diagonally to the rear of the
expected line of fall (refer to Figure K).
Fig. K
RETREAT
45°
TREE
45°
RETREAT
• Before felling is started, consider the natural lean of
the tree, the location of larger branches and the wind
direction to judge which way the tree will fall. Have
wedges (wood, plastic or aluminum) and a heavy mallet
handy. Remove dirt, stones, loose bark, nails, staples,
and wire from the tree where the felling cuts are to
be made.
notching Undercut - Make the notch 1/3 of the
•
diameter of the tree, perpendicular to the direction of
the fall. Make the lower horizontal notching cut first.
This will help to avoid pinching of either the saw chain
or the guide bar when the second notch cut is being
made (refer to Figure L).
2 and
as shown in Figure J. Once the
2
1
DIRECTION
OF
FALL
• Felling Back Cut - Make the felling back cut at least 2"
(51 mm) higher than the horizontal notching cut. Keep
the felling back cut parallel to the horizontal notching
cut. Make the felling back cut so enough wood is left
to act as a hinge. The hinge wood keeps the tree from
twisting and falling in the wrong direction. Do not cut
through the hinge (refer to Figure L).
• As the felling cut gets close to the hinge the tree should
begin to fall. If there is any chance that the tree may
not fall in the desired direction or it may rock back and
bind the saw chain, stop cutting before the felling cut
is complete and use wedges to open the cut and drop
the tree along the desired line of fall. When the tree
begins to fall remove the chain saw from the cut, stop
the motor, put the chain saw down, then use the retreat
path planned. Be alert for overhead limbs falling and
watch your footing.
Fig. L
DIRECTION OF FALL
2" (51 mm)
NOTCH
Limbing
Removing the branches from a fallen tree. When limbing,
leave larger lower limbs to support the log off the ground.
Remove the small limbs in one cut. Branches under tension
should be cut from the bottom of the branch towards the
top to avoid binding the chain saw as shown in Figure M.
Trim limbs from opposite side keeping tree stem between
you and saw. Never make cuts with saw between your legs
or straddle the limb to be cut.
Fig. M
Bucking

WARNING: Recommend that first time users should
practice cutting on a saw horse.
Bucking is cutting a felled tree or log into lengths. How you
should cut depends on how the log is supported.
nOTE: Use a saw horse (Figure N) whenever possible. When
using a saw horse, this is strongly recommended whenever
English
FELLING BACK CUT
2" (51 mm)
HINGE
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