Bucking; Felling Large Trees - Craftsman 358.354870 Owner's Manual

3. FE/.LING LARGE TREES--6" DIAMETER
OR MORE
The notch method is used to cut 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 the tree, the tree
wilt tend to fall into the notch.
a Make the notch cut Figure 28,
1) Cut the bottom of the notch first,
through 113 of the diameter of the tree,.
2) Complete the notch by making the
slant cut,
3) Remove the notch of wood,,
b., Make the felling cut on the opposite side of
the notch about 2" higher than the bottom
of the notch.
c Leave enough uncut wood between the fell-
ing cut and the notch to form a hinge
Figure 29
d,
e
NOTE: The hinge helps to keep the tree
from twisting and falling in the wrong direc-
tion
Use a wedge if there is any chance that the
tree will not fail in the desired direction
NOTE: Stop cutting before the felling cut is
complete; use a wedge to open up the cut.
Be alert for signs that the tree is ready to
fail:
1,) cracking sounds
2) widening of the felling cut
3) movement in the upper branches
As the tree starts to fall, Stop the saw; put
it down, and get away quickly on your plan-
ned retreat path.
j
OF F AL " .... f
DIRECTION
<=========
OF FALL
NOTCH
FELLING CUT
2"
\ \
DIRECTION
OPENING OF
OF FALL FELLING CUT
==-,,=,e_
CLOSING
OF NOTCH
HINGE HOLDS TREE ON STUMP AND
CONTROLS THE FALL.
Figure 27 Figure 28 Figure 29
C. BUCKIN@
14
e Bucking is the term used for cutting a fallen
tree to the desired log size,
e Two types of cutting are used (Figure 30):
--Overcutting -- begin on the top side of the
log with the bottom of the saw against the
log; exert light pressure downward.
-- Undercutting -- begin on the under side of
the log with the top of the saw against the
log; exert light pressure upward. During
undercutting, the saw will tend to push
back at you,_ Be prepared for this reaction
and hotd the saw firmly to maintain control
e Make the first bucking cut 1/3 of the way
through the log and finish with a 2/3 cut on
the opposite side. As the tog is being cut, it
will tend to bend, The saw can become pinch.
ed or hung in the log if you make the first cut
deeper than 1/3 of the diameter of the log
1. BUCKING -- WITHOUT A SUPPORT
a Overcut with a 1t3 diameter cut
b Roll log over and finish with an overcut
WARNING!
Never turn the saw upside down to undercut.
The saw cannot be controlled in this position.
OVERCUT
Figure 30