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TREE FELLING TECHNIQUES
_II, WARNING: Check for broken or
dead branches which can fall while cut-
ting causing serious injury. Do not cut
near buildings or electrical wires if you
do not know the direction of tree falt, nor
cut at night since you will not be aIe to
see well, nor during bad weather such
as rain, snow, or strong winds, etc.
Ifthe tree makes contact with any utility
Iine, the utility company should be noti-
fied immediately.
•Carefuily plan your sawing operation
in advance.
• Ctear the work area. You need a ciear
area nil around the tree so you can
have secure footing.
• The chain saw operator shoutd keep
on the uphill side of the terrain as the
tree is likely to roll or slide downhill
after it is felled.
• Study the natural conditions that can
cause the tree to fall in a particular di-
rection.
Natural conditions that can cause a tree
to fail in a particular direction include:
• The wind direction and speed.
• The lean of the tree. The tean of a
tree might not be apparent due to un-
even or sloping terrain, Use a piumb
or level to determine the direction of
tree lean.
• Weight and branches on one side.
• Surrounding trees and obstactes.
Look for decay and rot. If the trunk is
rotted, it can snap and fall toward the
operator. Make sure there is enough
room for the tree to fall. Maintain a dis-
tance of 2 1/2tree lengths from the near-
est person or other objects. Engine
noise can drown out a warning call.
Remove dirt, stones, loose bark, naiis,
staples, and wire from the tree where
cuts are to be made.
Plan a ctear retreat path to the rear
and diagonal to the line of fail
_t__ Plan a clear retreat path
;t'- - -O" "_ _Direction of Fa]_
FELLING LARGE TREES
(6 inches (15 cm) in diameter or larger)
The notch method is used to fell large
trees. A notch is cut on the side of the
tree in the desired direction of fall. After
a felling cut is made on the opposite
side of tree, the tree wiII tend to fail into
the notch.
NOTE: If the tree has large buttress
roots, remove them before making the
notch, tf using saw to remove buttress
roots, keep saw chain from contacting
ground to prevent dutiing of the chain.
NOTCH CUT AND FELLING THE
TREE
• Make notch cut by cutting the top of
the notch first. Cut through _,/3of the
diameter of the tree. Next compiete
the notch by cutting the bottom of the
notch. See iflustration. Once the
notch is cut remove the notch of
wood from the tree.
FinaI (felling) cut here, 2 inches
(5 cm) above center of notch.
Firstc°t
i' _...L
Notch --.... __._2
7 Hinge
• After removing the wood from the
notch, make the felling cut on the op-
posite side of the notch. This is done
by making a cut about two inches (5
cm) higher than the center of the
notch. This wilt leave enough uncut
wood between tile felting cut and the
notch to form a hinge. This hinge wilt
help prevent the tree from falting in the
wrong direction.
Hinge holds tree on stump and helps
control tall
Opening
of feIling
Closing of
notch
11
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