SNOWJOE SUNJOE SWJ807E-RM, Operator'S Manual

14

Basic Cutting Procedures

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WARNING! 

Do not cut limbs or trees that are larger 

than the maximum cutting thickness. 

•  Practice cutting a few small logs using the following 

techniques to get the feel of using the saw before you 

begin a major sawing operation. 

•  Take the proper stance in front of the wood with the saw 

turned off (Fig. 15). 

•  Squeeze the trigger and let the chain accelerate to full 

speed before entering the cut. 

•  Hold the saw with both hands firmly. Always keep your left 

hand on the front handle and your right hand on the rear 

handle so that your body is to the left of the chain line.

•  Keep the unit running the entire time you are cutting, 

maintaining a steady speed.  

•  Let the chain do the work; exert only light downward 

pressure. If you force the cut, damage to the bar, chain, 

or unit can result.  

•  Do not put the pressure on the saw at the end of the cut.  
•  Always cut with both feet on solid ground to prevent 

falling.

•  Do not cut above chest height since it is difficult to 

control kickback forces with a saw held high.

Felling a tree

•  When bucking and felling are performed by two or more 

people 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 company 

should be notified immediately.

•  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.

•  An escape path should be planned and cleared as 

necessary before cuts are started. The escape path 

should extend back and diagonally to the rear of the 

expected line of fall as illustrated (Fig. 27).

•  Before felling is started, consider the natural lean of the 

tree, the location of larger branches and the wind direction 

to help you judge which way the tree will fall.

•  Remove dirt, stones, loose bark, nails, staples and wire 

from the tree.

Notching undercut

Make the notch 1/3 the diameter of the tree, perpendicular to 

the direction of falls as illustrated (Fig. 28).

Make the lower horizontal notching cut first.

This will help to avoid pinching either the saw chain or the 

guide bar when the second notch is made.

Felling backcut

•  Make the felling back cut at least 2 in. (50 mm) higher than 

the horizontal notching cut as illustrated (Fig. 16). Keep 

the felling back cut parallel to the horizontal notching cut. 

Strategically position the felling back cut so that enough 

wood is left to act as a hinge. The hinge wood keeps the 

tree from twisting and falling in the wrong direction. Do 

not cut through the hinge.

•  As the felling gets close to the hinge, the tree should begin 

to fall. If there is any chance that the tree may not fall in 

the desired direction or it may rock back and bind the saw 

chain, stop cutting before the felling back cut is complete 

and use wedges of wood, plastic or aluminium to open the 

cut and drop the tree along the desired line of fall.

•  When the tree begins to fall, remove the chain saw 

from 

the cut, stop the motor, put the chain saw down, then 

use the retreat path planned. Be alert for overhead limbs 

falling and watch your footing.

Limbing

Limbing is the process in which branches are removed from a 

fallen tree. When limbing, leave larger lower limbs to support 

the log off the ground. Remove the small limbs in one cut as 

illustrated (Fig. 29). Branches under tension should be cut from 

the bottom up to avoid binding the chain saw.

Fig. 27

2 in. (50 mm)

2 in. (50 mm)

Fig. 28