Craftsman 360.352001 Operator's Manual page 7

FIGURE 8
CUI"I'ING FELLING NOTCH
Start felling by making a careful fellingnotch
(undercut) first (Fig. 9). This notch determines the line
of fall. Positionit at a dght angle. Cut the fellingnotch
to a depth of about '/_of the trunk diameter. It must be
wide enough and shouldnever be higherthan its
depth.
RGURE 9
Fellin
To make the felling notch, startwitITthe upper cut
facing the line of fail This is a directionalcut
downwards at an angle (Fig. 10, 1). Next, make the
lower felling notch cut. Cut horizontallyand straight
intothe tree until it meets the upper cut forminga
wedge (Fig. 10, 2).
RGURE 10
The exception is when the tree is on a slope;then the
lower cut should be on an upward angle to cut a
larger, more open wedge and to gain greater control
durirtgthe fall of the tree (Fig. 11).
FIGURE 11
8
CAUTION: Maintain good footing, body balance and
insurea safe escape path has been established.
Never fell a tree without making a proper felling notch
(undercut).
The next cut (Fig. 11) is called the felling cut (back
cut). Make itat least 2" higherthan the lower cut of the
fellingnotch by cutting horizontallyand parallelto the
fellingnotch. Do not cut throughto the felling notch.
Leave a "hinge"of uncutwood approximately 1/10 of
the tree diameter (Fig. 11).
WARNING: To avoid personal injury, do not cut
throughthe hinge! A properhinge prevents the tree
from possibly"sittingback"or "butt kicking"the back of
the stump,twistingoff the stump, or fa_tingprematurely
end uncontrolled.
When fellinga large tree, drive wedges intothe felling
cut. Use only wooden or plasticwedges. Never use
steel or iron wedges whichcan cause kickbackand
damage to the chain. Wedges prevent the tree from
settlingback on the bar and help controlthe direction
of the fall towardthe fellingnotch (fig. 12).
RGURE 12
SMALL TREES
If the trunkdiameter is smaller than the guide bar
cuttinglength, be carefulmaking the fellingcut and
formingthe hinge. Once the felling cut has been made,
place the buckingspike at the base line dghtbehind
the hinge, and do a fan cut (Fig. 13).
RGURE 13
Directionof fa_=_
The buckingspike is the toothed metal piece attached
to the front of the saw body and found to the left of the
bar. With the buckingspike teeth against the log firm
contactbetweenthe saw body and the log are
maintained.A fan cut is accomplishedby first
contactingthe teeth of the buckingspike to the log and
then, usingthe buckingspike as the pivot point,
rotatingthe bar through the log in a counterclockwise
direction.