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108539
www.desatech.com
WARNING: Do not cut all the way
through tree. Leave about two inches
of tree diameter uncut directly behind
felling notch (see Figure 11). This uncut
portion acts as a hinge. The hinge helps
keep tree from twisting and falling in
wrong direction.
Felling is the process of cutting down a tree. Make
sure your footing is firm. Keep feet apart. Divide
your weight evenly on both feet. Follow directions
below to fell a tree.
Before Felling a Tree
1. Before felling, inspect tree. Make sure there are
no dead limbs or branches that may fall on you.
Study natural lean of tree, location of larger
branches, and wind direction. This will help you
judge which way tree will fall.
2. Clear work area around tree.
3. Plan and clear a retreat path before felling. Make
retreat path opposite to planned direction of fall
of tree and at 45° angle (see Figure 10).
4. Remove dirt, stones, loose bark, nails, staples, and
wire from tree where you will make felling cuts.
WARNING:
• Avoid kickback. Kickback can result in
severe injury or death. See
Kickback,
page 3, to avoid risk of kickback.
• Do not fell a tree without ample skill or
expert help.
• Keep children, animals, and bystanders
away from area when felling a tree.
• If two or more persons perform buck-
ing and felling operations at the same
time, provide ample distance between
operations. Provide distance of at least
twice the height of tree being felled.
WARNING: When felling a tree, be aware
of your surroundings. Do not endanger any
person, strike utility lines, or cause property
damage. If tree strikes utility lines, contact
utility company at once.
FELLING A TREE
(Cutting Down a Tree)
OPERATING CHAIN SAW
Continued
5. Stay on uphill side when felling tree. Tree could
roll or slide downhill after falling.
Felling Procedure
A) Felling Notch
A properly placed felling notch will determine direc-
tion tree will fall. Place felling notch on side of tree in
direction you want tree to fall (see Figure 11). Follow
directions below to create a felling notch.
1. Make lower notch cut as close to ground as pos-
sible. Hold saw so guide bar is horizontal. Cut
1/3 the diameter of tree trunk (see Figure 11).
Note:
Always make this horizontal lower notch
cut first. If you make this cut second, tree can
pinch chain or guide bar.
2. Start upper notch cut the same distance above
first cut as first cut is deep.
Example:
If lower notch cut is eight inches deep,
start upper notch cut eight inches above it. Cut
downward at 45° angle. The upper notch cut should
meet end of lower notch cut (see Figure 11).
3. Remove tree trunk wedge created by notching cuts.
B) Felling Cut
1. Make felling cut two inches higher than lower
notch cut and on opposite side of tree (see Figure
11). Keep felling cut parallel to lower notch cut.
2. Cut towards notch.
6. When starting a cut, place moving chain against
wood. Hold saw firmly in place to avoid possible
bouncing or skating (sideways movement) of saw.
7. Guide saw using light pressure. Do not force
saw. The motor will overload and can burn out.
It will do the job better and safer at the rate for
which it was intended.
8. Remove saw from a cut with saw running at full
speed. Stop saw by releasing trigger. Make sure
chain has stopped before setting saw down.
9. Practice until you can maintain a steady, even
cutting rate.
WARNING: Be alert for falling over-
head limbs. Watch your footing while
exiting area.
3. As felling cut nears hinge, tree should begin to fall.
Note:
If needed, drive wedges into felling cut to
control direction of fall. If tree settles back and
pinches chain, drive wedges into felling cut to re-
move saw. Only use wedges made of wood, plastic,
or aluminum. Never use wedge made of steel. This
could cause kickback and damage to chain.
4. When tree begins to fall, quickly
• remove saw from felling cut
• release trigger to turn saw off
• put saw down
• exit area using retreat path
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