Table of Contents
Advertisement
TREE FELLING
See Figures 12-16..
Unusual
Hazardous
Tree Felling
Conditions
Do not fell trees
during
periods
of high wind
or
heavy
precipitation..
Wait to do your cutting
until
the hazard
has ended.
A_k WARNING:
Do not cut down
trees having
an extreme
lean or large trees that have rotten
limbs,
loose bark, or hollow
trunks°
Have these
trees
pushed
or dragged
down
with
heavy
equipment,
then cut them
up.
WARNING:
Electrocution
hazard.
Do
not cut trees or branches
near power
lines
or
electrical
wires_ Contact
with power
lines or live
electrical
wires
will result
in serious
personal
injury or possible
death°
WARNING:
Do not cut trees
or branches
near
buildings,
which
may
result
in serious
injuries or property
damage.
,_
WARNING:
Check
the tree
for damaged
or dead
branches
that
could
fall and hit you
during
felling.
WARNING:
Periodically
glance
at the top
of the tree during
the backcut
to assure the tree
is going to fall in the desired
direction_
_1_ WARNING:
tf the tree
starts
to fall in the
wrong
direction,
or if the saw gets
caught
or
hung up during the fall, leave the saw and save
yourself!
[] Felling a tree - When
bucking
and felling
operations
are being performed
by two or more
persons,
at the same time, the felling operation
should
be separated
from the bucking
operation
by a distance
of at least twice
the
height
of the tree being felled. Trees should
not be felled in a manner that would
endanger
any person,
strike any utility line or cause any
property
damage.
If the tree does make contact
with any utility line, the utility company
should
be notified
immediately_
[] Before
any cuts are started,
pick your escape
route (or routes
in case the intended
route
is
blocked);
clear the immediate
area around
the
tree and make sure there
are no obstructions
in your
planned
path of retreat.. Clear
path
of safe retreat
approximately
135 ° from
planned
line of fall,. The retreat
path should
extend
back and diagonally
to the rear of the
expected
line of fall
See
Figure
12.
[] Before
felling
is started,
consider
the force
and direction
of the wind,
the lean and
balance
of the tree, and the location
of large
limbs° These things
influence
the direction
in
which
the tree will fall. Do not try to fell a tree
along
a line different
from
its natural
line of
fall.
[] The chain saw operator
should
keep on the
uphill side of the terrain
as the tree is likely to
roll or slide downhill
after it is felled°
[] Remove
dirt, stones,
loose
bark, nails,
staples,
and wire from the tree where
felling
cuts
are to be made,.
[] Notched
Undercut.
Cut a notch
about
1/3
the diameter
of the tree, perpendicular
to the
direction
of fall. Make the cuts of the notch
so
they intersect
at a right angle to the line of fall.
This notch
should
be cleaned
out to leave a
straight
line. To keep the weight
of the wood
off the saw, always
make the lower
cut of the
notch
before
the upper
cut,, See Figure 14..
[] Felling
Backcut.
The backcut
is always
made
level and horizontal,
and at a minimum
of 2
ino above
the horizontal
cut of the notch°
See
Figures 14- 15.
[] Never
cut
through
to
the
notch.
Always
leave
a band
of wood
between
the
notch
and backcut
(approximately
2 ino or 1/t0
the
diameter
of the tree)° This
is called
"hinge"
or
"hingewoodo"
It controls
the
fall of the tree
and prevents
slipping
or twisting
or shoot-back
of the tree
off the
stump.
See Figures I4 - t_.
[] On large diameter
trees,
stop the back cut
before
it is deep
enough
for the tree to either
fall or settle
back on the stump°
Then insert
soft wooden
or plastic
wedges
into the cut so
they do not touch
the chain,, The wedges
can
be driven
in, little by little, to help jack the tree
over.
See Figure 16.
13 - English
Hide quick links:
Advertisement
Table of Contents
