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ENGLISH
OPERATION
Step 3: Making the Felling Back Cut
Always recheck the area for bystanders, animals
and obstacles before making the felling back cut.
WARNING
90°
Fig. 10
Planned
Line of Fall
135º From Planned
Line of Fall
Path of Safe
Retreat
Fig. 11
First Cut
Second Cut
Fig. 12
Notched
Undercut
First Cut
Second Cut
1/3 Diameter
135º From Planned
Line of Fall
Direction of Fall
Buttress Root
This cut fells the tree.
1. Make a horizontal cut into the opposite side of the
tree from the notched undercut (Fig. 12). Make the
cut approximately 2 inches(5 cm) above the bottom
of the notched undercut (Fig. 12).
2. As the cut gets close to the notched undercut,
only a thin band of wood will support the tree.
This band of wood is referred to as the hinge
(Fig. 12). The hinge helps control the fall of the
tree. Leave approximately 2 inches (5 cm) of hinge
in place. Do not cut through the hinge. Cutting
through the hinge could cause the tree to fall in any
direction.
Step 2: Making the Notched Undercut Cont’d
Fig. 11
Fig. 13
Felling
Back Cut
2 inches
(5 cm)
Fig. 14
Wedge
2 inches
(5 cm)
Hinge
Fig. 16
Fig. 15
Spring Pole
Support Limb
Fig. 13
Felling
Back Cut
2 inches
(5 cm)
Fig. 14
Wedge
2 inches
(5 cm)
Hinge
Fig. 16
Fig. 15
Spring Pole
Support Limb
Fig. 13
Felling
Back Cut
2 inches
(5 cm)
Fig. 14
Wedge
2 inches
(5 cm)
Hinge
Fig. 16
Fig. 15
Spring Pole
Support Limb
Step 3: Making the Felling Back Cut Cont’d
Stay clear of spring poles when operating the unit.
Spring poles are branches, logs, roots or saplings
that are bent under tension by other wood (Fig. 14).
When the tension is released, spring poles can strike
the operator, causing serious injury and potentially
knocking the chain saw into the operator’s body. Use
extreme caution when cutting spring poles or when
releasing the cause of tension.
WARNING
If the tree starts to fall in the wrong direction and
binds the chain saw, leave the unit and evacuate the
area immediately! Do not try to save the chain saw!
DANGER
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
3. Periodically glance up during the felling back cut
to see if the tree is going to fall in the correct
direction. If there is a chance that the tree might
not fall in the desired direction, or if the tree might
rock back and bind the chain saw, remove the guide
bar from the cut, stop the unit and use wedges to
open the cut and direct the fall (Fig. 13). Only use
soft plastic or wooden wedges. Drive the wedges
into the cut slowly. Once the wedges are in place
and the cut is held open, either carefully reinsert
the guide bar and continue the cut or slowly drive
the wedges in further to push the tree over.
4. As the hinge gets smaller, the tree should begin to
fall. When the tree begins to fall, remove the chain
saw from the cut, stop the engine and set the unit
down immediately. Promptly exit the area along the
retreat path, but keep watching the tree as it falls.
