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FELLING
LARGE TREES
(6 inches in diameter
or larger)
The notch method is used to fell large
trees. A notch is cut on the side of the
tree in the desired direction
of fall. After
a felling cut is made on the opposite
side of tree, the tree will tend to fall in
the direction
of the notch.
NOTE: If tree has large buttress roots,
remove them before making the notch.
If using saw to remove buttress roots,
keep saw chain from contacting
ground to prevent dulling of the chain.
NOTCH CUT AND FELLING
TREE
• Make notch cut by cutting the top of
the notch first. Cut through 1/3 of the
diameter
of the tree. Next complete
the notch by cutting the bottom. See
illustration.
Once the notch is cut, re-
move the wedge
of wood from tree.
Felling cut here
First cut
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Notch _-i._/_
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2"
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• After removing the wood from the
notch, make the felling cut on the op-
posite side of the notch. This is done
by making a cut about two inches
higher than the center of the notch.
This will leave enough uncut wood
between
the felling cut and the notch
to form a hinge. This hinge will help
prevent the tree from falling in the
wrong direction.
Hinge holds tree on
stump and helps
control fall
Closing
of notch
Opening
of
felling cut
NOTE: Before felling cut is complete,
use wedges
to open the cut when
necessary
to control the direction
of
fall. To avoid kickback
and chain
damage,
use wood or plastic wedges,
but never steel or iron wedges.
• Be alert to signs that the tree is
ready to fall: cracking sounds,
widen-
ing of the felling cut, or movement
in
the upper branches.
• As tree starts to fall, stop saw, put it
down, and get away quickly on your
planned retreat path.
• DO NOT use your saw to cut down a
partially fallen tree. Be extremely cau-
tious with partially fallen trees that 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.
CUTTING
A FALLEN
TREE
(BUCKING)
Bucking is the term used for cutting a
fallen tree to the desired log size.
_WARNING:
Do not stand on the
log being cut. Any portion can roll
causing loss of footing and control. Do
not stand downhill
of the log being cut.
IMPORTANT
POINTS
• Cut only one log at a time.
• Cut shattered wood very carefully;
sharp pieces of wood could be flung
toward operator.
• Use 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.
• Do not cut in an area where logs,
limbs, and roots are tangled.
Drag
logs into a clear area before cutting
them by pulling out exposed
and
cleared logs first.
TYPES OF CUTTING
USED FOR
BUCKING
A
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
in injury 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. Re-
start saw and carefully reenter the cut.
Do not use a metal wedge. Do not at-
tempt to restart your saw when it is
pinched or hung in a log.
11
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