SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
Once you have decided which way you want the tree to fall Felling
you must judge which way the tree would fall naturally.
Felling is done using three cuts. First you make the directional
Several factors affect this:cuts, which consist of the top cut and the bottom cut, then you
Å¢nish with the felling cut. By placing these cuts correctly you
Lean of the treecan control the felling direction very accurately.
BendDirectional cuts
Wind direction
To make the directional cuts you begin with the top cut. Stand
Arrangement of branchesto the right of the tree and cut on the pull stroke.
Weight of snow
Next make the bottom cut so that it Ţnishes exactly at the end
of the top cut.
You may Ţnd you are forced to let the tree fall in its natural
direction because it is impossible or dangerous to try to make
it fall in the direction you Ţrst intended.
Another very important factor, which does not affect the felling The directional cuts should run 1/4 of the diameter through
direction but does affect your safety, is to make sure the tree the trunk and the angle between the top cut and bottom cut
has no damaged or dead branches that might break off and should be 45°.
hit you during felling.
WARNING! During critical felling operations,
hearing protectors should be lifted
!
immediately when sawing is completed so
that sounds and warning signals can be
heard.The line where the two cuts meet is called the directional cut
line. This line should be perfectly horizontal and at right
angles (90°) to the chosen felling direction.
Clearing the trunk and preparing your retreat
Remove any branches that are in the way. To do this it is best
to work from the top down and keep the trunk between you
and the chain saw. Never limb above shoulder height.
Remove any undergrowth from the base of the tree and check
the area for obstacles (stones, branches, holes, etc.) so that
you have a clear path of retreat when the tree starts to fall.
Your path of retreat should be roughly 135 degrees away from
the intended felling direction.
English � 21 |
ACEC
