Page 1
UNdERbUCKING
See Figure 0.
Begin on the under side of the log with the top of the saw
against the log; exert light pressure upward. During under-
bucking, the saw will tend to push back at you. Be prepared for
this reaction and hold the saw firmly to maintain control.
LIMbING ANd PRUNING
See Figures 1 - .
Work slowly, keeping both hands on the saw with a firm
grip. Maintain secure footing and balance.
Keep the tree between you and the chain while limbing.
Do not cut from a ladder. This is extremely dangerous.
Leave this operation for professionals.
Do not cut above chest height. A saw held higher than
chest height is difficult to control against kickback.
WARNING:
Never climb into a tree to limb or prune. Do not stand on
ladders, platforms, a log, or in any position which can
cause you to lose your balance or control of the saw.
When pruning trees it is important not to make the flush
cut next to the main limb or trunk until you have cut off
the limb further out to reduce the weight. This prevents
stripping the bark from the main member.
• Underbuck the branch 1/3 through for your first cut.
• Overbuck the branch to drop it.
• Finish by cutting smoothly and neatly against the
main member so the bark will grow back to seal the
wound.
WARNING:
If the limbs to be pruned are above chest height, hire a
professional to perform the pruning.
CUTTING SPRINGPOLES
See Figure .
A springpole is any log, branch, rooted stump, or sapling
which is bent under tension by other wood so that it springs
back if the wood holding it is cut or removed. On a fallen
tree, a rooted stump has a high potential of springing back
to the upright position during the bucking cut to separate
the log from the stump. Watch out for springpoles — they
are dangerous.
WARNING:
Springpoles are dangerous and could strike the operator,
causing the operator to lose control of the chain saw. This
could result in severe or fatal injury to the operator.
FiniShing Cut
FirSt Cut
1/3 diameter
SeCond Cut
load
Fig. 31
Springpole
Fig. 33
OPERATION
underBuCking
Fig. 30
Fig. 32
Cut limBS one at a time and leave Support limBS
under tree until log iS Cut
