Craftsman 35088 - 18 in. Gas Chainsaw Operator's Manual page 12

NOTE: Before felling cut is complete,
use wedges to open the cut if necessary
to contro_ the direction of fail. To avoid
kickback and chain damage, use wood
or ptastic wedges, but never steel or iron
wedges.
• Be alert to signs that the tree is
ready to falt: cracking sounds, widen-
ing of the feI_ing cut, or movement in
the upper branches.
• As tree starts to fall, stop saw, put it
down, and get away quickly on your
ptanned retreat path.
• DO NOT cut down a partially fatIen tree
with your saw. Be extremely cautious
with partialIy falten trees that may be
poorty supported. When a tree doesn't
falt completely, set the saw aside and
pult down the tree with a cable winch,
b_ock and tackle, or tractor.
CUTTING A FALLEN TREE
(BUCKING)
Bucking is the term used for cutting a
fallen tree to the desired _og size.
_IJWARNING: Do not stand on the
tog being cut. Any portion can rott
causing toss 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 smatt logs.
Never aItow another person to hold
the Iog white cutting and never hold
the Iog with your _eg or foot.
• Do not cut in an area where togs,
_imbs, and roots are tang_ed such as
in a blown down area. Drag the togs
into a clear area before cutting by
pu_ting out exposed and cleared togs
first.
TYPES OF CUTTING USED FOR
BUCKING
_ll WARNING: If saw becomes
pinched or hung in a log, don't try to
force it out. You can _ose control of the
saw resuIting 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.
Restart the saw and carefully reenter
the cut. To avoid kickback and chain
damage, do not use a metal wedge.
Do not attempt to restart your saw
when it is pinched or hung in a log.
Use a wedge to remove pinched saw
Turn saw OFF and use e plastic or
wooden wedge to force cut open.
Overcutting begins on the top side of
the log with the bottom of the saw
against the _og. When overcutting use
light downward pressure.
, ._ 2vercutting fr_ _/
..... Undercutting_;
Undercutting invotves cutting on the
underside of the log with top of saw
against the tog. When undercutting
use light upward pressure. Ho_d saw
flrmty and maintain control. The saw
wilt tend to push back toward you.
_WARNING: Never turn saw up-
side down to undercut. The saw can-
not be controlled in this position.
Always make your first cut on the com-
pression side ofthe log. The compres-
sion side of the tog is where the pres-
sure of the log's weight is
concentrated.
Fgst cut on compression side of log
Second cut
Second cut
First cut on compression side of log
BUCKING WITHOUT A SUPPORT
• Overcut through 1/3 of the diameter
of the log.
• Roll the Iog over and finish with a
second overcut.
• Watch for _ogs with a compression
side to prevent the saw from pinch-
ing. See ittustrations for cutting togs
with a compression side.
BUCKING USING A LOG OR
SUPPORT STAND
• Remember your first cut is a_ways on
the compression side of the log.
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