Felling Large Trees - Craftsman 358.34021 Operator's Manual

14
a. Ify0iJ know the direction of fall:
1.) Make a single felling cut on the side away
from the direction of fall.
2.) Cut alt the way through.
3.) Stop the saw, put it down, and get away
quickly on your planned retreat path.
b. If you are not sure which way the tree will fall,
use the notch method described for felling
large trees.
L_,WARNING
Do not cut a tree in any manner that would en-
danger people, cause property damage, or strike
a utility line. Notify the utility company im-
mediately if a tree makes any contact with a utility
line. _
.
FELLING LARGE TREES-- 6" DIAMETER
OR MORE
The _notch method is used to cut large trees. A
notcl_!:_s cut on the sideofthe tree in the desired
direction of fall. After a felling cut is made on the
opp0_ite side of the tree, the tree will tend to fag
intotildenotch.
NOTE: If the tree has large buttress roots, re*
move before making the notch. Cut into the but-
tresses vertically, then horizontally. Figure 25.
a. Make the notch cut. Figure 26.
1.) Cut the bottom of the notch first, through
1!3 of the diameter of the tree.
2.) Complete the notch by making the slant
cut.
3.) Remove the notchofwood.
b. Make the felling cut on the opposite side of the
notch about 2" higher than the bottom of the
notch.
c. Leave enough uncutwood between the felling
cut and the notch to form a hinge. Figure 27.
NOTE.."The hLnge heJps.tokeep t,he tree from
twisting and falling in the wrong direction.
• d. Usea wedge if there is ar,y chance that the
tree will not fall in the desired direction.
• j
OFFALL "_-j:J
,_, 45
F{gure 24 Figure 25
\
CLOSING
HINGE HOLDS THE TREE ON STUMI_
_o CO.TROLST_E _J..
Figure26 . Figure27
.!_WARNING
Stay on the uphill s{de of the terrain to avoid the
tree rolling or sliding downhill,after it is felled.
NOTE: Before the felling cut is complete, drive
wedges to open up the cut when necessary to
controlthe-direction of fa!l, Use wood, plasticor
light alloy wedges but never steel or iron, to
avoid kickback and Chain damage.
e.
Be atert for signs that the tree is ready to falt :
1.) cracking sounds
2.) widening of the felting cut
3.) movement inthe upper branches.
f. As the tree starts to fa_l, stop the saw; put it
down, and get away.quickly on your planned
retreat path.
g. Be extremely cautious with partially fallen
trees that may b e poorly supported. When a
b_eedoesn't fat{ compieteiy, set the saw aside
and pull down the tree with a cable winch,
block and tackle or tractor. Do not cut it down
with your saw to avoid injuq/.
DON'T PUT YOURSELF IN THESE POSITIONS
Check the wind.
Don'tcutdownwind.
f Check the tean.
O0n't cut on lean side,
\1
Check the balance.
Don'tcuton weighted side,