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FIGURE 8
CUTTING
FELLING
NOTCH
Start felling by making a careful felling notch
(undercut) first (Fig. 9). This notch determines the line
of fall. Position it at a dght angle. Cut the felling notch
to a depth of about t/, of the trunk diameter. It must be
wide enough and should never be higher than its
depth.
FIGURE 9
Felling
To make the felling notch, start with the upper cut
facing the line of fall. This is a directional cut
downwards at an angle (Fig. 10, 1). Next, make the
lower felling notch cut. Cut hodzontally and straight
into the tree until it meets the upper cut forming a
wedge (Fig. 10, 2).
RGURE 10
The ex_
when the tree is on a slope; then the
lower cut should be on an upward angle to cut a
larger, more open wedge and to gain greater control
dudng the fall of the tree (Fig. 11).
FIGURE 11
8
CAUTION: Maintain good footing, body balance and
insure a safe escape path has been established.
Never fell a tree without making a proper felling notch
(undercut).
The next cut (Fig. 11) is called the felling cut (back
cut). Make it at least 2" higher than the lower cut of the
felling notch by cutting horizontally and parallel to the
felling notch. Do not cut through to the felling notch.
Leave a "hinge" of uncut wood approximately 1/10 of
the tree diameter (Fig. 11).
WARNING: To avoid personal injury, do not cut
through the hinge! A proper hinge prevents the tree
from possibly =sitting back" or "butt kicking" the back of
the stump, twisting off the stump, or falling prematurely
and uncontrolled.
When felling a large tree, drive wedges into the felling
cut. Use only wooden or plastic wedges. Never use
steel or iron wedges which can cause kickback and
damage to the chain. Wedges prevent the tree from
settling back on the bar and help control the direction
of the fall toward the felling notch (fig. 12)o
FIGURE 12
SMALL TREES
If the trunk diameter is smaller than the guide bar
cutting length, be careful making the felling cut and
forming the hinge. Once the felling cut has been made,
,place the bucking spike at the base line dght behind
the hinge, and do a fan cut (Fig. 13).
FIGURE 13
Direction of fan cut
Hinge_
The bucking spike is the toothed metal piece attached
to the front of the saw body and found to the left of the
bar. With the bucking spike teeth against the log firm
contact between the saw body and the log are
maintained. A fan cut is accomplished by first
contacting the teeth of the bucking spike to the log and
then, using the bucking spike as the pivot point,
rotating the bar through the log in a counterclockwise
direction.
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