Felling Large Trees; Notch Cuts And Felling Tree; Cutting A Fallen Tree; Bucking Techniques - Craftsman 358.350280 Operator's Manual

• Remove dirt, s tones, loose b ark,
nails, staples, and wire from the tree
where c uts a re tobemade.
_'9_bPlanaclear retreat path
t _
-_- Direction of Fall
45 ._
FELLING LARGE TREES
(6 inches in diameter or larger)
The notch method is used to felI 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 felt in
the direction of the notch.
NOTE: if tree has targe buttress roots,
remove them before making the notch.
NOTCH CUT AND FELLING TREE
• Make notch cut by cutting the top of
the notch first. Cut through t/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.
FinaI cut here
First cut _"_1
Notch
\ Hinge
• After removing the wood, make the
felling cut on the opposite 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 fell-
ing cut and the notch to form a hinge.
This hinge wi_I hetp prevent the tree
from falling in the wrong direction.
Hinge holds tree on
stump and helps
control fail
damage, use wood or plastic wedges,
but never steeI 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 fa}l, stop saw, put ft
down, and get away quickly on your
planned retreat path.
• Be extremely cautious with partially
fallen t_ees that may be poorly sup-
ported. When e tree doesn't fall com-
pletely, set the saw aside and putt
down the tree with a cable winch,
bIock and tackle, or tractor Do not
use your saw to cut down a partially
fatten tree.
CUTTING A FALLEN TREE
(BUCKING)
Bucking is the term used for cutting a
fallen tree to the desired tog size.
,_t, WARNING: Do not stand on the
log being cut. Any portion can roll
causing toss of footing and control. Do
not stand downhill of the log being cut.
IMPORTANT POINTS
• Cut onty 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.
BUCKING TECHNIQUES
_t, WARNING: If saw becomes
pinched or hung in a log, don't try to
force it out. You can lose control of the
saw _est_lting in in}ury a_d/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 cs.refutly 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.
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