12
Types of Cutting Used
Overbucking (crosscutting)
Overbucking
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 (crosscutting)
Underbucking
Begin on the under side of the log with the top of the
saw against the log; exert light pressure upward. Dur
-
ing underbucking, the saw will tend to push back at
you. Be prepared for this reaction and hold the saw
firmly to maintain control.
Limbing
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.
Cut limbs one at a time and leave support limbs
under tree until log is cut
4
1
3
2
Limbing is removing branches from a fallen tree.
• Work slowly, keeping both hands on the chainsaw
with a firm grip. Always make sure your footing is
secure and your weight is distributed evenly on
both feet.
• Leave the larger support limbs under the tree to keep
the tree off the ground while cutting.
•
Limbs should be cut one at a time. Remove the cut
limbs from the work area often to help keep the work
area clean and safe.
• Branches under tension should be cut from the bot-
tom up to avoid binding the chainsaw.
• Keep the tree between you and the chainsaw while
limbing. Cut from the side of the tree opposite the
branch you are cutting.
Pruning
WARNING
If the limbs to be pruned are above
chest height, hire a professional to
perform the pruning. Failure to do so could result
in serious personal injury.
Load Second
Cut
First Cut
1/3 Diameter
Finishing Cut
Pruning is trimming limbs from a live tree.
• Work slowly, keeping both hands on the chainsaw
with a firm grip. Always make sure your footing is
secure and your weight is distributed evenly on
both feet.
• Do not cut from a ladder, this is extremely danger-
ous. Leave this operation for professionals.
• Do not cut above chest height as a saw held higher
is difficult to control against kickback.
• When pruning trees it is important not to make the
finishing 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.
• Your second cut should overbuck to drop the
branch off.
•
Now make your finishing cut smoothly and neatly
against the main member so the bark will grow back
to seal the wound.
Springpoles
WARNING
Springpoles 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 op-
erator.
Springpole
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.
