Craftsman 358.350260 Operator's Manual page 9

person orother objects. Engine
noise c an drown o ut a warning call.
• Remove dirt, s tones, loose b ark,
nails, staples, and wire from the tree
where c uts are tobemade.
_@'_"qx_.,, Plan aclear retreat path
.... ( _--_- Direction ofFall
-t
45 °"r_
FELLING LARGE TREES
(6 inches in diameter or larger)
The notch method is used to fell 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 fall in
the direction of the notch.
NOTE: If tree has large 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 1/3 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.
Final cut here
First cut ,. I .zI
Notch _;' __:__
Secqnd,g.u_ /_,,..,../,..._,_f /..-'-I_ '_'_ge
• 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 will help prevent the tree
from falling in the wrong direction.
Hinge holds tree on
stump and helps
control fall
fall. To avoid kickback and chain
damage, use wood or plastic wedges,
but never steel 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 fall, stop saw, put it
down, and get away quickly on your
planned retreat path.
• Be extremely cautious with partially
fallen trees that may be poorly sup-
ported. When a tree doesn't fall com-
pletely, set the saw aside and pull
down the tree with a cable winch,
block and tackle, or tractor. Do not
use your saw to cut down a partially
fallen tree.
CUTTING A FALLEN TREE
(BUCKING)
Bucking is the term used for cutting a
fallen tree to the desired log size.
WARNING: Do not stand on the log
being cut. Any portion can roll causing
loss 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 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
WARNING: If saw becomes pinched
or hung in a log, don't try to force it out.
You can lose control of the saw result-
ing 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 saw and careful-
ly reenter the cut. 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
Closing ..... v
of notch
Opening of
felling cut
NOTE: Before felling cut is complete,
use wedges to open the cut when
necessary to control the direction of
Turn saw OFF and use a plastic or
wooden wedge to force cut open,