10
OPERATION
BUCKING WITH A WEDGE
See Figure 27.
If the wood diameter is large enough for you to insert a soft
bucking wedge (B) without touching the chain, you should
use the wedge to hold the cut open to prevent pinching.
BUCKING LOGS UNDER STRESS
See Figure 28.
(C) LOG SUPPORTED AT ONE END.
(D) LOG SUPPORTED AT BOTH ENDS.
Make the fi rst bucking cut (E) 1/3 of the way through the log
and fi nish with a 2/3 cut (F) on the opposite side.
As you cut the log, it will tend to bend. The saw can become
pinched or hung in the log if you make the fi rst cut deeper
than 1/3 of the diameter of the log.
Give special attention to logs under stress (G) to prevent the
bar and chain from pinching.
OVERBUCKING
See Figure 29.
Begin on the top side of the log with the bottom of the saw
against the log; exert light pressure downward. Note that
the saw will tend to pull away from you.
UNDERBUCKING
See Figure 30.
Begin on the under side of the log with the top of the saw
against the log; exert light pressure upward.
During underbucking, the saw will tend to push back
at you. Be prepared for this reaction and hold the saw fi rmly
to maintain control.
LIMBING AND PRUNING
See Figure 31 - 32.
■
Work slowly, keeping both hands on the saw with a fi rm
grip. Maintain secure footing and balance.
■
Keep the tree between you and the chain while limbing.
Cut from the side of the tree opposite the branch you are
cutting.
■
Do not cut from a ladder: this is extremely dangerous.
Leave this operation for professionals.
■
Do not cut above chest height as a saw held higher is
diffi cult to control against kick-back.
WARNING
Never climb into a tree to limb or prune. Do not stand
on ladders, platforms, a log, or in any position which
may cause you to lose your balance or control of the
saw.
■
When pruning trees it is important not to make the fl ush
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.
1. Underbuck the branch 1/3 through for your fi rst cut
(A).
2. Overbuck the branch to drop it (B).
3. Finish by cutting smoothly and neatly against the
main member (C) 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 SPRING POLES
See Figure 33.
A spring pole (A) 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 spring-poles; they are dangerous.
WARNING
Spring poles are dangerous and could strike the
operator causing the operator to lose control of the
chainsaw. This could result in severe or fatal injury to
the operator.
