13
OPERATION
FELLING TREES
HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS
WARNING:
Do not fell trees during periods of high wind or
heavy precipitation. Wait until the hazardous
weather has ended.
When felling a tree, it is important that you
heed the following warnings to prevent
possible serious injury.
• Do not cut down trees having an extreme
lean or large trees with rotten limbs, loose
bark, or hollow trunks. Have these trees
pushed or dragged down with heavy
equipment, then cut them up.
• Do not cut trees near electrical wires or
buildings.
• Check the tree for damaged or dead
branches that could fall and hit you during
felling.
• Periodically glance at the top of the tree
during the backcut to assure the tree is going
to fall in the desired direction.
• If the tree starts to fall in the wrong direction,
or if the saw gets caught or hung up during
the fall, leave the saw and save yourself!
PROPER PROCEDURE FOR TREE
FELLING
(See Figure 13-16)
• Felling a tree — When bucking and felling
operations are being performed by two or
more persons, at the same time, the felling
operation should be separated from the
bucking operation by a distance of at least
twice the height of the tree being felled. Trees
should not be felled in a manner that would
endanger any person, strike any utility line or
cause any property damage. If the tree does
make contact with any utility line, the utility
company should
be
notified immediately.
• Operator should keep on the uphill side of
terrain as the tree is likely to roll or slide after
it is felled.
• Pick your escape route (or routes in case
the intended route is blocked). Clear the
immediate area around the tree and make
sure there are no obstructions in your planned
path of retreat. Clear the path of safe retreat
approximately 135° from the planned line of
fall.
• Consider the force and direction of the
lean and balance of the tree, wind, and the
location of large limbs. These things influence
the direction in which the tree will fall. Do not
try to fell a tree along a line different from its
natural line of fall.
• Remove dirt, stones, loose bark, nails,
staples, and wire from the tree where felling
cuts are to be made.
• Notched Undercut. Cut a notch about 1/3 the
diameter of the trunk in the side of the tree.
Make the notch cuts so they intersect at a
right angle to the line of fall. This notch
should be cleaned out to leave a straight line.
To keep the weight of the wood off the saw,
always make the lower cut of the notch before
the upper cut.
• Felling Backcut. As the felling cut gets close
to the hinge the tree should begin to fall. If
there is any chance the tree may not fall in
the desired direction or it may rock back and
bind the saw chain, stop cutting before the
felling cut is complete and use wedges of
wood, plastic or aluminum to open the cut
and drop the tree along its desired line of fall.
Make the backcut level and horizontal, and at
a minimum of 2" (5 cm) above the horizontal
cut of the notch.
NOTE
: Never cut through to the notch. Always
leave a band of wood between the notch and
back cut (approximately 2" (5 cm) or 1/10 the
diameter of the tree). This is called “hinge” or
“hingewood.” It controls the fall of the tree and
prevents slipping or twisting or shoot back of
the tree off the stump.
• On large diameter trees, stop the back cut
before it is deep enough for the tree to either
fall or settle back on the stump. Then insert
soft wooden or plastic wedges into the cut so
they do not touch the chain. Drive wedges in,
little by little, to help jack the tree over.
• As tree starts to fall, stop the chain saw and
put it down immediately. Retreat along the
cleared path, but watch the action in case
something falls your way.
PLANNED LINE
OF FALL
90°
135° FROM
PLANNED LINE
OF FALL
PATH OF
SAFE
RETREAT
PLANNED
LINE
OF FALL
PATH
OF SAFE
RETREAT
135°
45°
45°
135°
90°
Not
for
Reproduction
