12
Felling Trees
Felling Small Trees
(Under 6” (15cm) diameter)
Escape
Path
Direction of Fall
Cutting with the Saw
Clear a safe work area
before cutting.
Wear hearing protection
and eye protection such
as a face shield or goggles
when operating the unit to
shield against saw dust.
Always wear gloves when
operating this saw.
Use full-throttle while
cutting and apply only enough
bar pressure to maintain engine
speeds of 9,000-10,000 min
-1
.
Wear close-fitting clothing
to protect your legs and arms.
Do not wear clothing or jewelry
that could get caught in the
machinery or brush.
Keep a proper footing
(do not overreach)!
Wear appropriate
non-skid footwear.
Always use full throttle while cutting!
Keep the chain sharp and let the saw
do the work! Forcing the saw into the
wood reduces cutting performance,
and can damage the saw through
overheating!
IMPORTANT!
Always wear leg protection
(Chaps) made of a cut-resistant
material such as ballistic nylon
covering the full length of the
thigh to the top of the boot.
Before Felling a Tree
1. Determine the direction of fall by
inspecting:
n
Tree shape and angle of lean.
n
Size and shape/placement of limbs.
n
Location of nearby trees or other
obstacles.
n
Condition of tree (damage, disease,
etc.).
n
Prevailing wind direction.
2. Clear a safe work area around the
tree. Be alert for loose or dead limbs
overhead. Clear an appropriate
escape path approximately 45° from
the direction of fall.
3. Notify nearby workers of your
intentions!
Stop the saw before moving it to or
from the work area.
THINK SAFETY!
WARNING!
Diseased, damaged, or
otherwise unbalanced
trees can fall unpredictably dur-
ing felling, and should be left to an
experienced timber faller!
1. Determine the direction of fall. If un-
certain as to the direction of fall, use
the procedure “Felling Large Trees”
as outlined in the next section.
Bumper
Spike
2. Engage the bumper spike against the
trunk of the tree and start to cut on
the side of the tree away from the fall.
Make a single cut all the way through
the tree.
3. When the tree begins to fall, stop the
saw, and put it down on the ground.
4. Use your retreat path to exit the area
quickly.
Escape
Path
Direction
Of Fall
45°
45°
WARNING!
NEVER operate with
a loose saw chain!
NEVER operate the saw if any com-
ponent parts are damaged, loose,
or missing!
WARNING!
When felling, keep at least
2 tree lengths away from
your fellow workers.
