Hinge
holds tree on stump and helps
control fall
Opening
of
felling cut
Closing
of
notch
NOTE:
Before felling
cut is complete,
use
wedges
to open the cut when necessary
to
control the direction
of fall. To avoid kickback
and
chain
damage,
use wood
or plastic
wedges,
but never steel or iron wedges.
• Be alert to signs that the tree is ready to fall:
cracking sounds, widening of the felling cut,
or movement
in the upper branches.
• As tree starts to fall, stop saw, put it down,
and get away quickly
on your planned
re-
treat path.
• DO NOT cut down a partially
fallen tree
with your saw. Be extremely
cautious
with
partially
fallen trees
that may
be poorly
supported.
When a tree doesn't fall com-
pletely, set the saw aside and pull down the
tree with a cable winch, block and tackle,
or tractor.
CUTTING
A FALLEN
TREE
(BUCKING)
BucMng is the term used for cutting
a fallen
tree to the desired
log size.
_
WARNING:
Do not stand
on the log
being cut.
Any portion can roll causing
loss
of footing and control.
Do not stand downhill
of the log being cut.
IMPORTANT
POINTS
• Cut only one tog at a time.
• Out shattered
wood very carefully;
sharp
pieces of wood could be flung toward oper-
ator.
• Use a sawhorse
to cut small logs.
Never
allow another
person to hold the log while
cutting and never hold the log with your leg
or foot.
• Do not cut in an area where
logs, limbs,
and roots are tangled
such as in a blown
down area.
Drag the logs into a clear area
before cutting by pulling out exposed
and
cleared
logs first.
TYPES
OF CUTTING
USED
FOR
BUCKING
_WARNING:
If
saw
becomes
pinched
or hung in a log, don't try to force it
out, You can lose control ofthe saw resulting
in injury and/or damagetothe
saw. Stopthe
saw, drive a wedge of plastic or wood h3to the
cut until the saw can be removed
easily. Re-
start the saw and carefully
reenter the cut. To
avoid
kickback
and chain damage,
do not
use a metal wedge,
Do not attempt to restart
your saw when it is pinched or hung in a log.
Use a wedg.e to remove
pinched
saw
Turn saw OFF and use a plastic or
wooden
wedge
to force cut open.
Overcutting
begins on the top side of the log
with the bottom of the saw against
the log.
When overcutting
use light downward
pres-
sure.
Overcutting
Undercutting
Undercutting
involves cutting on the under-
side of the log with top of saw against the log.
When
undercutting
use light upward
pres-
sure.
Hold saw firmly and maintain
control.
The saw wilt tend to push back toward you,
WARNING:
Never turn saw upside
down to undercut,
The saw cannot be con-
trolled in this position,
Always
make your first cut on the compres-
sion side of the log, The compression
side of
the log is where
the pressure
of the log's
weight is concentrated,
First cut on compression
side of log
Second
cut
Second
cut
First cut on compression
side of log
BUCKING
WITHOUT
A SUPPORT
• Overcut through
t/3 of the diameter
of the
log.
• Roll the log over and finish with a second
overcut.
• Watch for logs with a compression
side to
prevent
the saw
from pinching.
See
il-
lustration
for cutting
logs with a compres-
sion side.
BUCKING
USING
A LOG OR
SUPPORT
STAND
• Remember
your first cut is always on the
compression
side of the log. (Refer to the
illustration
below for your first and second
cut)
• Your first
cut should
extend
1/3 of the
diameter
of the log.
• Finish with your second cut.
12