GB
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8. Working with the chainsaw
Preparations
To ensure that you can work safely, check the fol-
lowing points before every use:
Condition of the chainsaw
Before you start your work, inspect the chainsaw
for damage to the housing, the chain and the cut-
ter bar. Never use a chainsaw which is obviously
damaged.
Oil container
Level of oil in the oil container: Both before and
during your work make sure that there is always
su
ffi
cient oil in the system. To avoid damaging the
chainsaw, never run the saw if there is no oil in the
system or if the oil drops below the „min“ mark.
On average, a single
fi
lling will last around 10
minutes depending on the number of pauses in
cutting and the loads involved.
Chain
Tension of the chain, condition of the cutting
elements: The sharper the chain, the easier and
more controllable it is to operate the chainsaw.
The same also applies to the chain tension. For
greater safety you must check the chain tension
before your work and at least every 10 minutes
during your work. New chains in particular tend to
expand more.
Safety clothing
Always wear appropriate tight-
fi
tting safety
clothing such as special trousers which protect
against cuts, protective gloves and safety shoes.
Hearing protection and protective goggles
Wear a protective helmet with integral face and
hearing protection. This will o
ff
er protection
against falling branches and recoiling branches.
Safe working
Never stand under the branch you want to saw.
Use special caution when working with branches
under tension and splintering wood.
Possible risk of injury caused by falling branches
and catapulting pieces of wood.
When the equipment is in operation, keep other
persons and animals away from the danger zone.
The equipment is not protected from electric
shock through contact with high-voltage cables.
Keep a minimum distance of 10 m from live
cables. Electric shock can cause fatal injury.
When working on slopes always stand to the
upper or left or right side of the branch you want
to cut.
Hold the equipment as close as possible to your
body. This will help you to keep your balance.
Cutting techniques
Start with the bottom branches on the tree. This
will make it easier for the cut branches to drop.
After completing a cut, the weight of the saw will
abruptly increase for the operator as the saw is no
longer supported by the branch. This can result in
you losing control over the saw.
Remove the saw from the cut only with the saw
chain still running. This will prevent the saw from
getting jammed.
Never cut with the tip of the saw.
Never cut into the bulging branch collar. This will
prevent the tree from healing.
Sawing o
ff
smaller branches (Fig. 22):
Place the contact surface of the saw onto the
branch. This will prevent the saw from making
jerky movements when you begin a cut. Exerting
slight pressure, guide the saw from the top to the
bottom through the branch.
Sawing o
ff
large and long branches (Fig. 23):
Carry out a relief cut when working on large bran-
ches.
Start by sawing through 1/3 of the branch diame-
ter (a) from the top to the bottom with the top side
of the cutter bar. Then saw towards the
fi
rst cut (b)
from the top to the bottom with the bottom side of
the cutter bar.
Saw o
ff
long branches in several steps to keep
control over the impact location.
Kick-back
The term „kickback“ describes what happens
when the running chainsaw suddenly kicks up-
ward and backward. Usually this is caused by
contact between the tip of the cutter bar and the
workpiece or by the saw chain becoming trap-
ped. In the event of kickback, large forces occur
suddenly and violently. As a result, the chainsaw
usually reacts uncontrollably. This can often result
in very serious injuries to the worker or persons in
the vicinity. The risk of kickback is at its greatest
when the saw is positioned for a cut in the region
of the tip of the cutter bar, as the leverage e
ff
ect is
greatest there. It is therefore safest to position the
saw as
fl
at as possible.
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