Safety Manual

34
ENGLISH
OPERATION
CUT DOWN OR
UNDERBUCK
UNSUPPORTED END
WEDGE
1ST 1/3 CUT
2ND FINISHING CUT
HINGE
MOVING OPENED
HINGE
PINCHING
CLOSED
HINGE
WARNING! Be extremely careful when attempting to fell trees during
periods of high wind or with unbalanced forces from heavy precipitation. If a
fallen or broken tree creates an emergency, leave removal to the professional
tree removal services.
WARNING! Anytime you use a chain saw, beware of electrical lines in
the area, electried branches in contact with power lines, or electrical lines that
may have been knocked down by natural occurrences such as an ice storm,
heavy winds, or fallen limbs or trees. Also beware of electrical fences while
using a chain saw. DO NOT CUT NEAR ELECTRICAL LINES!
PINCHING, BINDING & SPLITTING
Wind bends trees. Gravity bends logs that are
not at on the ground. A log weakened by a
cut over 1/3 the log diameter is like two logs
hinged together. The cut may either close
or open wider, depending on how the log is
positioned.
In bucking logs, always make the weakening
cut from the direction (opposite the “hinge”
side) which causes the cut to widen. If made
from the wrong side, the cut will close, binding
the saw and pinching the chain.
If the log is under heavy stress, prevent
splitting by making a shallow cut (up to 1/
3 dia.) on the “hinge” side rst. But, always
nish with the nal cut in a direction towards
the “hinge” side.
When the log is supported on both ends and
is best to be cut in between, underbuck (cut
upward from the bottom side) for the nishing
cut.
CUT UP OR UNDERBUCK
When you wish to cut off an unsupported
section from the end of a log, the weakening
or nishing cut should be an overbuck (from
top down). However, you may begin with a
shallow underbuck to avoid splitting.
When the lie is such that the cutoff section will
settle, guard against binding and pinching of
the saw between the log sections. This can
be done by inserting a soft wedge into the cut
(after the chain is out of the way) to hold the
cut open. In certain cases, the cut may be
made on an angle so that it will widen as the
log settles.