16
Step 3: Making the Felling Back Cut
This cut fells the tree.
1. Make a horizontal cut into the opposite side of the tree from the
notched undercut (Fig. 13). Make the cut approximately 2 inches
(5 cm) above the bottom of the notched undercut (Fig. 13).
2. As the cut gets close to the notched undercut, only a thin band
of wood will support the tree. This band of wood is referred to as
the hinge (Fig. 13). The hinge helps control the fall of the tree.
Leave approximately 2 inches (5 cm) of hinge in place. Do not
cut through the hinge. Cutting through the hinge could cause the
tree to fall in any direction.
3. Periodically glance up during the felling back cut to see if the
tree is going to fall in the correct direction. If there is a chance
that the tree might not fall in the desired direction, or if the tree
might rock back and bind the chain saw, remove the guide bar
from the cut, stop the unit and use wedges to open the cut and
direct the fall (Fig. 14). Only use soft plastic or wooden wedges.
Drive the wedges into the cut slowly. Once the wedges are in
place and the cut is held open, either carefully reinsert the guide
bar and continue the cut or slowly drive the wedges in further to
push the tree over.
4. As the hinge gets smaller, the tree should begin to fall. When the
tree begins to fall, remove the chain saw from the cut, stop the
engine and set the unit down immediately. Promptly exit the area
along the retreat path, but keep watching the tree as it falls.
WARNING:
Always recheck the area for bystanders,
animals and obstacles before making the felling back cut.
DANGER:
If the tree starts to fall in the wrong direction
and binds the chain saw, leave the unit and evacuate the
area immediately! Do not try to save the chain saw!
LIMBING
Limbing is the process of removing branches from a fallen tree.
1. Leave the larger support limbs under the tree for last (Fig. 16).
These will keep the tree off the ground during the limbing process.
2. Cut one limb at a time. Stand on the opposite side of the tree
from the limb (Fig. 16). Keep the trunk between the operator and
the chain saw. To avoid binding the chain saw, branches under
tension should be cut from the bottom up.
3. Remove the cut limbs from the work area.
WARNING:
Stay clear of spring poles when operating the
unit. Spring poles are branches, logs, roots or saplings that
are bent under tension by other wood (Fig. 15). When the
tension is released, spring poles can strike the operator,
causing serious injury and potentially knocking the chain
saw into the operator’s body. Use extreme caution when
cutting spring poles or when releasing the cause of tension.
Fig. 13
Felling
Back Cut
2 inches
(5 cm)
Fig. 14
Wedge
2 inches
(5 cm)
Hinge
Fig. 16
Fig. 15
Spring Pole
Support Limb
