Poulan 3400 - Manual (Page 13)

3. FELLING LARGE TREES
OR MORE
6' DIAMETER
The notch method is used to cut large trees. A
notch is cut on the side of the tree in ^e desired
direction of fall. After a felling cut is made on the
opposite side of the tree, the tree will tend to fall
into the notch.
NOTE: if the tree has large buttress roots, remove
before making the notch. Cut into the buttresses
vertically, then horizontally. Figure 19
a. Make the notch cut. Figure 21 .
1 . ) Cut the bottom of thè notch first, through 1 /3
of the diameter of the tree.
2 . ) Complete the notch by making frie slant cut.
3. ) Remove the notch of wood.
b. Make the felling cut on the opposite side of the
notch about 2 " higher than the bottom of the
notch.
c. Leave enough uncut wood between the felling
cut and the notch to form a hinge. Rgure 22 .
NOTE: The hinge helps to keep the tree from
twisting and falling in the wrong direction.
d. Use a wedge if there is any chance that the tree
will not fall In the desired direction.
NOTE: Before the felling cut is complete, drive
wedges to open upthe cut when necessary to con­
trol the direction of fall. Use wood or plastic wedges
but never metal, to avoid kickback and chain
damage.
e. Be alert for signs that the tree is ready to fall:
1 . ) cracking sounds
2 . ) widening of the felling cut
3. ) movement in the upper branches.
Figure 21 Figure 22
/U WARNING
Stay on the uphill side of the terrain to avoid the
tree rolling or sliding downhill after it is felled.
f. As the tree starts to fall, stop the saw,' put it
down, and get away quickly on your planned re-
treatpath.
g. Be extremely cautious with partially fallen trees
that may be poorly supported. When a tree
doesn’t fall completely, set the saw aside and
pull down the tree with a cable winch, block and
tackle or tractor. Do not cut it down with your
sawto avoid injury.
C. BUCKING
Bucking is the term used for cutting a fallen tree
to the desired log size.
1. IMPORTANT POINTS
a. Cut only one log at a time.
b. Cut shattered wood very carefully. Sharp
pieces of wood could be flung toward the
operator.
c. Use a sawhorse to cut small logs. Never
allow another person to hold the log while cut­
ting and never hold the log with your leg or foot.
d. Give special attention to logs under strain to
prevent the saw from pinching.
Make the first
cut on the pressu re side to retieye the stress
on the log. Figure 23 -
e. Do not cut in an area ^ere logs, limbs and
roots are tangled such as in a blown down
area: Drag the logs intp a clear area before cut­
ting bypulling put expose!^ and cleared logs
first.
Make the first bucking cut 1/3 of the way
through the log and finish with a 2/3 cut on
the opposite side.
As the log is being cut, it will
tend to bend. The saw can become pinched or
hung in the log if you make the first cut deeper
than 1 /3 of ttie diameter of the log.
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