Greenlee / A Textron Company
4455 Boeing Dr. • Rockford, IL 61109-2988 USA • 815-397-7070
10
HPS513 • HCS816 • HCS820 Chain Saws
Chain Saw Basics
(cont’d)
Site Preparation Tips
• Prepare the cutting area by clearing away brush,
branches, vines, etc.
• Remove any unnecessary tools and coil up excess
hydraulic hose.
• Survey the limb, branch or tree to predict the direction
or path of fall. Be sure that no personnel are in that
area.
Some factors that will influence the direction or path
of fall of the tree include, but are not limited to:
– weight distribution of the limbs and branches.
The weight distribution can be changed by pruning.
– the lean of the tree. A tree that leans will tend to fall
in the direction it leans.
– wind direction. Do not fell a tree in strong winds.
• If working in a municipal area, plan the direction of fall
so that a limb or tree doesn’t fall into a roadway, strike
a nearby building, contact nearby power lines, etc.
• If the tree is on an incline, work uphill from the fall
path. A tree or branch might tend to bounce or roll
downhill.
• Plan and clear two emergency exit routes, in case the
tree falls in an unexpected direction.
COMPRESSION AND TENSION
Any branch or log will have two forces acting on it
— compression and tension. As the branch or log is cut,
compression tends to push the two halves toward each
other. Tension tends to pull the two halves apart.
Refer to the illustrations. A log or limb supported at both
ends has the compression on the top. A log or limb
supported at one end has the compression on the
bottom.
Make the first cut on the compression side. Cut through
approximately 1/3 of the log’s diameter. Make the
second cut on the tension side. This will decrease the
likelihood that the saw will become pinched in the cut.
Figure 8 – Compression on Top
Side View
1
2
Compression
Tension
Figure 9 – Compression on Bottom
Side View
1
2
Compression
Tension
