Desa 11174-01 - Manual (Page 13)

11 107705 www.desatech.com
ENGLISH
Felling is the process of cutting down a tree. Make
sure your footing is firm. Keep feet apart. Divide
your weight evenly on both feet. Follow directions
below to fell a tree.
Before Felling a Tree
1. Before felling, inspect tree. Make sure there are
no dead limbs or branches that may fall on you.
Study natural lean of tree, location of larger
branches, and wind direction. This will help you
judge which way tree will fall.
2. Clear work area around tree.
3. Plan and clear a retreat path before felling. Make
retreat path opposite to planned direction of fall
of tree and at 45° angle (see Figure 11).
WARNING:
• Avoid kickback. Kickback can result in se-
vere injury or death. See Kickback, pages
4 and 5, to avoid risk of kickback.
• Do not fell a tree without ample skill or
expert help.
• Keep children, animals, and bystanders
away from area when felling a tree.
• If two or more persons perform buck-
ing and felling operations at the same
time, provide ample distance between
operations. Provide distance of at least
twice the height of tree being felled.
WARNING: When felling a tree, be
aware of your surroundings. Do not
endanger any person, strike utility lines,
or cause property damage. If tree strikes
utility lines, contact utility company at
once.
FELLING A TREE (Cutting Down a
Tree)
OPERATING CHAIN SAW
Continued
Figure 11 - Retreat Path From Tree
Direction of Fall
Retreat Path
Retreat Path
45°
Tree
Figure 12 - Felling A Tree
Direction of Fall
Hinge
2"
(5 cm)
2"(5 cm)
2nd Cut - Upper Notch Cut
1st Cut - Lower Notch Cut
3rd Cut -
Felling Cut
Continued
4. Remove dirt, stones, loose bark, nails, staples, and
wire from tree where you will make felling cuts.
5. Stay on uphill side when felling tree. Tree could
roll or slide downhill after falling.
Felling Procedure
A) Felling Notch
A properly placed felling notch will determine direc-
tion tree will fall. Place felling notch on side of tree in
direction you want tree to fall (see Figure 12). Follow
directions below to create a felling notch.
1. Make lower notch cut as close to ground as pos-
sible. Hold saw so guide bar is horizontal. Cut
1/3 the diameter of tree trunk (see Figure 12).
Note: Always make this horizontal lower notch
cut first. If you make this cut second, tree can
pinch chain or guide bar.
2. Start upper notch cut the same distance above
first cut as first cut is deep.
Example: If lower notch cut is eight inches deep,
start upper notch cut eight inches above it. Cut
downward at 45° angle. The upper notch cut should
meet end of lower notch cut (see Figure 12).
3. Remove tree trunk wedge created by notching
cuts.
B) Felling Cut
1. Make felling cut two inches higher than lower
notch cut and on opposite side of tree (see Figure
12). Keep felling cut parallel to lower notch cut.
2. Cut towards notch.
WARNING: Do not cut all the way
through tree. Leave about two inches
of tree diameter uncut directly behind
felling notch (see Figure 12). This uncut
portion acts as a hinge. The hinge helps
keep tree from twisting and falling in
wrong direction.