It is important that you plan tree felling very carefully. Trees must be felled safely and in the direction that you want them to fall. Well-planned felling also makes it easier to continue your work.
Begin planning the felling before you arrive at the tree. Take note of various factors that may affect the felling, for example: Is the tree damaged? Is the tree leaning? Wind, snow, etc.?Always clear around the tree so that you can fell it without obstacles. Clear also in the intended felling direction.
Start by pruning the trunk. The safest way to prune is to work with a pulling chain (underside of the bar) from the top down. Always use the trunk as a barrier between you and the saw.Never prune higher than shoulder height. Make sure that there are no people within a distance of at least double the length of the tree that you intend to fell. Use highly visible protective jackets or vests to ensure that you are visible.
The escape path is your lifeline. When the tree starts to fall, you need to quickly move to safety. You must always stand at approximately a 45° angle behind the tree at a safe distance when it falls. Very large trees require a longer safety distance. Uneven ground and trees with large and thick branches can cause the trunk to fall sideways, jump up or slide. The tree can move backward and hit the ground with full impact.
Directional felling requires considerable precision. Felling a tree safely in a direction other than the natural felling direction requires previous tree felling experience. You usually need more advanced techniques special tools and more time.
There are some different ways to make a directional notch. The conditions of the tree, the terrain and local tradition can affect the type of directional notch. Open directional notch with a large opening (Open face) and inverse directional notch (Humboldt)The inverse directional notch is generally used when felling large tree types that split easily. The directional notch is done in two steps: top cut and under cut. The width of the directional notch must be 80% of the tree’s diameter. The opening of the directional notch depends on which method is used. Note that the cuts should be made as close to the ground as possible for better control and stability when the tree falls. It is sometimes necessary to saw away obstructing root protrusions before making the directional notch.
When the directional notch has been made, it is time to saw the felling cut toward the directional notch. Remember to leave sufficient hinge! With an open directional notch (45-70°), the felling cut should be somewhat above the level of the directional notch. The technique used for making the felling cut depends on the thickness of the trunk and the length of the guide bar. Use a breaking bar, felling bar or felling wedge in order to ensure safe felling. These also hinder the tree from leaning back in the opposite direction and pinching the bar in the tree while making the felling cut. Also make sure that there is enough fuel in the tank. Running out of fuel while sawing the felling cut can be dangerous.
The hinge is the wood left between the directional notch and the felling cut. The hinge is an extremely important safety feature for controlled felling. It is necessary for steering the tree when it falls to the ground. The length of the hinge should be 80% of the tree ’s diameter. The hinge should have a uniform thickness of at least 10% of the tree ’s diameter. For smaller dimensions, a hinge of at least 2 cm is recommended.
Rot mainly attacks older trees. Be careful if the tree trunk is damaged or if the tree looks diseased. The wood fibers are weakened when a tree has been attacked by rot, which may affect the direction of the fall, putting you at risk.
If you do not have much experience with felling trees, this is the easiest method to use. It is extremely important that you make the felling cut parallel to the directional notch. Saw either with pushing chain (top of the bar) or with pulling chain (bottom edge of the bar). Saw until you have room to place a wedge or breaking bar in the kerf. When you start to reach the final thickness of the hinge, be careful to make the hinge an even thickness.
Trees with a diameter greater than bar lengthBoring is a method for making the felling cut on larger trees or when the tree diameter is greater than the length of the bar. The method basically entails the nose of the bar boring into the tree in order to facilitate felling.
The size of the tree determines which felling tools you need to use.
When thinning, the felling bar is most suitable for small trees. The felling bar is usually telescopic and can be carried in a holster on your belt.
The breaking bar is used on relatively small trees. There are various breaking bars with different lever lengths.
The impact bar bar is used in the same applications as the breaking bar. It can also be used as a striking tool when using felling wedges.
Felling wedges are best for medium to large trees. Several wedges are sometimes needed. Use wedges made of plastic or aluminium.