Loading ...
Loading ...
Loading ...
OPERATION - GENERAL
TREE FELLING
WARNING
IF THE TRUNK OR MMBS ARE ROTTING,
THEY CAN FALL UNEXPECTEDLY AND
CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY.
AS YOU MAKE YOUR FELUNG CUT, IF
THE SAW APPEARS TO BE BINDING,
THE TREE IS STARTING TO FALL IN THE
WRONG DIRECTION. IMMEDIATELY STOP
THE SAW AND USE A FELLING WEDGE
AND MAUL (HAMMER) TO FORCE THE
FELUNG CUT OPEN. THE WEDGE WILL
HOLD THE FELLING CUT OPEN
ALLOWING YOU TO REMOVE THE SAW.
KEEP EVERYONE AWAY FROM THE
TREE IN ALL DIRECTIONS.
DETERMINE THE NATURAL FALL DIRECTION
• Wind - Atreeevenly balancedwillfallinthe samedirec-
tionthe windis blowing.
• Lean - Use a carpenter's iovel or plumb bob to deter-
mine iftreehasa naturallean. A leaningtreewilltendto
fall indirectionoflean.
• Shape- Atree willtend tofall towards sidethatismore
heavilybranched.
• Other Factors- Contactingornearbytrees, buildings,or
wires can influencethe directionthe tree willfall.
CUTI'ING PROCEDURE (Fig. 12)
After determiningthe Natural FallDirection, thetree should
be cutas follows:
IMPORTANT: BEFORE FELLING ATREE, MAKE SURE
YOU HAVEAT LEAST3 FELLING WEDGES AND AMAUL
(HAMMER) AVAILABLEFOR USE IF NEEDED.
• Use some means to visually mark the Natural Fall
Direction.
• Markyournotchcuton the Natural Fall Directionsideof
thetree approximately18-24 inchesabovethe ground.
• Cut top of the notch first at a 45 degree angle. Saw
through 1/3 of thewidth ofthe tree.
• Cut bottomofthe notchat a 45 degree angle untilyou
meet the top notchcut. Remove notchofwood.
• On the sideofthetree oppositethe notchcut, makethe
fellingcut. The fellingcut shouldbe 2 inchesabovethe
center point of the notchcut. Before the fellingcut is
complete, usewedges toopen the cutwhen necessary
to controlthe directionof the fall. Use wood or plastic
wedges, but never steel or iron, to avoid kickbackand
chaindamage.
• Crackingsounds,wideningofthe fellingcut, movement
inthe upper branchesare aUsignsthatthe tree isready
tofall.
• As tree begins to fall, turn off saw, and move quickly
away from directionof fall.
F=ellingDirection
Top
Notch
CUt
Bottom
Notch _ /3 I Buttress
Cut ree I Root
dthl
/
Figure 12
If your chain saw binds in the fellingcut, you have three
options:
• Ifthe wrong directionof fall is acceptable, carefully re-
movethefellingwedge. CUtdeeperinthe notchsideof
the tree untiltree startsto fall.
• Ifthewrengdirectionoffall isnot acceptable,attemptto
use one or more fellingwedges toforcethe tree in the
originaldirectionof fall. Do so by driving the wedges
deeper intothe fellingcut.
• Keep everyoneaway from thetree in all directionsand
then seek professionalhelpl
OPERATION USE/TIPS
• Clear the work area of debris whereyou can have se-
cure footing.
• MakesurethereisenoughroomforthstreetofalL Main-
tain a distanceof21/2 tree lengthsfromthenearest per-
son or otherobjects. Engine noisecan drown out a
warningcall.
Remove dirt,stones,loosebark, nails,staples,andwire
from thetree where cutsare to be made.
• Plan tostandon the uphill sidewhencuffingon a slope.
• Plan a clear retreatpath tothe rearand diagonalto the
lineoffall.
• Large buttressroots shouldbe removedpriorto notch
cut.
• Use a wedge ifthere isany chancethatthe treewillnot
fall inthe desired direction.
• We recommendyoucutbranchesbelowshoulderheight
beforefellingtree, (See LImbingand Pruning).
Bealert tosignsthat the tree isready tofall:
• Crackingsounds.
• Wideningofthe tellingcut.
• Movement In theupper branches.
-11-
Loading ...
Loading ...
Loading ...