Safety Manual

37
ENGLISH
OPERATION
NOTCHING FOR DIRECTIONAL
CONTROL
Make two cuts on the side the tree is
to fall. Make the bottom cut rst, at 90
degrees to the intended line of fall and
to a depth of 1/3 the trunk diameter.
Then angle the top cut downward at a
45-degree angle to intersect the rst cut
at the 1/3 trunk diameter depth. Remove
the cut piece.
BACK CUTTING AND HINGING
It is important to leave approximately
a 2 inch (50 mm) wide strip of wood
uncut between the notch and the back
cut. This uncut strip acts as a “hinge” to
determine the line of fall.
Make the back cut at least 2 inches (51
mm) higher than the intersection of the
notch.
Make the back cut parallel to the base
of the notch, but don’t cut all the way
through to the notch. Leave a “hinge”
strip of approximately 2 inches (51mm)
so the notch and back cut are of equal
thickness.
WARNING! DO NOT CUT
THROUGH THE HINGE!
THE TREE CAN FALL THE
WRONG WAY AND CAUSE
PROPERTY DAMAGE,
SERIOUS OR FATAL INJURY.
If the back cut is too low, or the
“hinge” is cut through, the tree will
not be under control of the “hinge”
and may fall in any direction. Be
ready to leave the chain saw and
GET AWAY FAST, away from the
tree’s falling direction!
When the tree does not lean in the
desired felling direction, insert a
plastic or wooden wedge into the
back cut when there is room behind
the saw blade. This will hold the cut
open. Then complete cutting to the hinge (careful not to cut the wedge), and
either continue cutting to fell the tree or hammer in the wedges to push the tree
in the desired direction.
NOTCH
CUTS
FIRST
USE
WEDGES
IF ROOM
BACK
CUT
LAST
90°
LEAVE 2”
HINGE
FALL
SIDE VIEW
UNCUT
HINGE
2”
2”
1ST CUT
BACK
CUT
NOTCH
DEPTH 1/3
OF TRUNK
DIAMETER
2ND CUT
FALL
90°
45°
45°
RETREAT
PATH
RETREAT
PATH
NOT THIS
WAY