Homelite UT10548 Operator's Manual page 24

LIMBING AND PRUNING
See Figures 31 - 32.
 Work slowly, keeping both hands on the saw
with a firm grip. Maintain secure footing and
balance.
 Keep the tree between you and the chain while
limbing.
 Do not cut from a ladder. This is extremely dan-
gerous. Leave this operation for professionals.
 Do not cut above chest height. A saw held
higher than chest height is difficult to control
against kickback.
WARNING:
Never climb into a tree to limb or prune. Do not
stand on ladders, platforms, rooftops, a log, or
in any position which can cause you to lose your
balance or control of the saw.
 When pruning trees it is important not to make
the flush cut next to the main limb or trunk until
you have cut off the limb further out to reduce
the weight. This prevents stripping the bark from
the main member.
• Underbuck the branch 1/3 through for your
first cut.
• Overbuck the branch to drop it.
• Finish by cutting smoothly and neatly against
the main member so the bark will grow back
to seal the wound.
WARNING:
If the limbs to be pruned are above chest height,
hire a professional to perform the pruning.
CUTTING SPRINGPOLES
See Figure 33.
A springpole is any log, branch, rooted stump, or
sapling which is bent under tension by other wood
so that it springs back if the wood holding it is cut
or removed. On a fallen tree, a rooted stump has
a high potential of springing back to the upright
position during the bucking cut to separate the log
from the stump. Watch out for springpoles — they
are dangerous.
OPERATION
FIRST CUT
1/3 DIAMETER
FINISHING CUT
CUT LIMBS ONE AT A TIME AND LEAVE SUPPORT
WARNING:
Springpoles are dangerous and could strike the
operator, causing the operator to lose control
of the chain saw. This could result in severe or
fatal injury to the operator.
Page 24 — English
SECOND CUT
LOAD
LIMBS UNDER TREE UNTIL LOG IS CUT
SPRINGPOLE
Fig. 31
Fig. 32
Fig. 33