18
LIMBING
See Figure 21.
Limbing is removing branches from a fallen tree.
Work slowly, keeping both hands on the chain saw with
a firm grip. Always make sure your footing is secure and
your weight is distributed evenly on both feet.
Leave the larger support limbs under the tree to keep the
tree off the ground while cutting.
Limbs should be cut one at a time. Remove the cut limbs
from the work area often to help keep the work area clean
and safe.
Branches under tension should be cut from the bottom
up to avoid binding the chain saw.
Keep the tree between you and the chain saw while limb-
ing. Cut from the side of the tree opposite the branch you
are cutting.
PRUNING
See Figure 22.
Pruning is trimming limbs from a live tree.
Work slowly, keeping both hands on the chain saw with
a firm grip. Always make sure your footing is secure and
your weight is distributed evenly on both feet.
Do not cut from a ladder, this is extremely dangerous.
Leave this operation for professionals.
Do not cut above chest height as a saw held higher is
difficult to control against kickback.
When pruning trees it is important not to make the finishing
cut next to the main limb or trunk until you have cut off
the limb further out to reduce the weight. This prevents
stripping the bark from the main member.
Underbuck the branch 1/3 through for your first cut.
Your second cut should overbuck to drop the branch
off.
Now make your finishing cut smoothly and neatly against
the main member so the bark will grow back to seal the
wound.
fINIshING CuT
WARNING:
If the limbs to be pruned are above chest height, hire a
professional to perform the pruning.
fIRsT CuT
1/3 DIAMETER
sECOND CuT
LOAD
Fig.
SPRINGPOLES
See Figure 23.
A springpole is any log, branch, rooted stump, or sapling
which is bent under tension by other wood so that it springs
back if the wood holding it is cut or removed. On a fallen
tree, a rooted stump has a high potential of springing back
to the upright position during the bucking cut to separate
the log from the stump. Watch out for springpoles, they
are dangerous.
WARNING:
Springpoles are dangerous and could strike the operator,
causing the operator to lose control of the chain saw. This
could result in severe or fatal injury to the operator.
spRINGpOLE
Fig. 3
OPERATION
Fig. 1
CuT LIMBs ONE AT A TIME AND LEAvE suppORT LIMBs
uNDER TREE uNTIL LOG Is CuT
2
4
1
3
