How to Use a Chainsaw to Fell a Tree
Learn how to fell a tree using a chainsaw Tree felling is one of the most dangerous jobs tree surgeons can perform and should only be carried out if you have the right experience using a chainsaw.
It consists of cutting down a tree by using either a forestry saw or a chainsaw.
You need to carefully plan your fell and should be well thought out before making any cuts.
Tree Felling and Removal Tree felling is one of the most dangerous jobs tree surgeons can perform and should only be carried out if you have the right experience using a chainsaw.
It consists of cutting down a tree by using either a forestry saw or a chainsaw.
You need to carefully plan your fell and should be well thought out before making any cuts.
You also have to make sure you have the required permissions to take certain tress down and there not in TPO (Tree Preservation Order) areas.
Preparations before Felling a Tree Health and safety is number one priority! Before you start making cuts you need to think about safety first.
Accidents can and do happen and are often fatal when they do occur.
A good place to start is by taking a close look at the location of the tree and any obstacles surrounding it.
Houses, fences, power lines and other structures can get damaged from falling trees.
Are there any roads close to the fall zone? If so, you should put warning signs in highly visible locations.
You also need to be careful of other trees in the vicinity.
Felling a tree that falls on another can have a domino effect and bring down other trees along with it.
Even with careful fell direction planning things can still go wrong.
All ways double or triple check you are fully prepared before felling any trees.
Deciding the Best Direction to Fell After you make the necessary preparations you can move onto the next stage.
Next you want to look at the tree and get a good idea of which direction you want to fell.
It is always a good idea to fell a tree in its natural leaning direction as long as no objects lay within the fall zone.
If there is high value property within the fall zone, you should seek the advice of a professional tree surgeon first.
Another factor to consider is wind speed and wind direction.
Finally you must consider accessibility and how easy it will be to remove to the fallen tree once felled.
Clearing Tree Limbs and Buttress Roots Before making cuts you should first remove any small branches and limbs at the base of the tree as this could hamper your escape route.
You should also remove the buttresses to make the stem as straight as possible.
Always have both hands on the chainsaw and start the cut from the top insuring the dogs are pressed into the tree.
Cut from the top and use a downward stroke to cut into the tree stem.
You need to be cutting a face cut that amounts to 20% of the tree's diameter.
When cutting, make sure the tree is between you and the chainsaw.
Clear Escape Route Make sure there are no foreign objects or trip hazards in your escape route.
If there are these need to be removed.
Remove all branches, limbs and any other obstacles near and around the base of the tree.
You want to be able to quickly get away from the tree at any angle without tripping and dodging foreign objects.
How to Fell a Tree in the Right Direction Make a face cut into the tree at 60 degree angle insuring the dogs are dug into the tree, continue to cut until you have cut into 20-25% of the tree's diameter.
The bar on the chainsaw should be running parallel to the direction you wish the tree to fall.
Once you have made the first cut, make a second cut at a 90 degree angle that meets the bottom of your first cut which will complete the face cut.
Making an open directional notch in a tree using a chainsaw: 1: Workout the exact direction you want the tree to fall.
Find a landmark from your surrounding area to use as a guide and use the sights at the top of your chainsaw to line up an angle for the directional notch you plan to cut.
2: Cut the trunk at a 60 degree angle, sawing to a depth of 20 - 25% of the tree's diameter.
3: Cut into the trunk horizontally to meet the top cut.
You will now have a notch carved out of the side of the tree facing the direction you want the tree to fall.
4: Make sure there's nothing in the way at least 2 times of the tree's length in all directions.
5: On the other side of the trunk, saw a horizontal cut a few inches above the level of the undercut.
Once you get close to the direction notch (about a few inches away) stop cutting.
This will create a hinge to allow the tree to fall in a controlled way.
The hinge width should be about 10% of the tree trunk diameter.
6: Use a felling wedge as a lever to make the tree begin to fall.
This can also be useful if the chainsaw bar becomes trapped between the tree trunk.
7: Quickly retreat to a safe distance.
Always keep your eyes on the falling tree as you move away.
You should try to move away from the felling direction at a 90 degree angle.
This will help you avoid both the felling zone as well as the opposite side where the trunk separates from the stump.
Rotten, Diseased or Dead Trees You have to be extra careful when felling dead, diseased or rotten trees.
Get the help of an experienced tree surgeon if you are a beginner and do not attempt to feel a large tree.
If the trunk looks discoloured or it feels soft, the tree could be rotted inside.
Rotten trees require much larger hinges to safely fell them and are inherently unstable.
Trees That Get Lodged If a tree gets lodged between another tree on the way down you shouldn't leave it unattended.
Call in an expert tree surgeon to come and assess the situation.
If you have to leave the area make sure warning signs are put up for the safety of others so that people are aware of the dangers.
It consists of cutting down a tree by using either a forestry saw or a chainsaw.
You need to carefully plan your fell and should be well thought out before making any cuts.
Tree Felling and Removal Tree felling is one of the most dangerous jobs tree surgeons can perform and should only be carried out if you have the right experience using a chainsaw.
It consists of cutting down a tree by using either a forestry saw or a chainsaw.
You need to carefully plan your fell and should be well thought out before making any cuts.
You also have to make sure you have the required permissions to take certain tress down and there not in TPO (Tree Preservation Order) areas.
Preparations before Felling a Tree Health and safety is number one priority! Before you start making cuts you need to think about safety first.
Accidents can and do happen and are often fatal when they do occur.
A good place to start is by taking a close look at the location of the tree and any obstacles surrounding it.
Houses, fences, power lines and other structures can get damaged from falling trees.
Are there any roads close to the fall zone? If so, you should put warning signs in highly visible locations.
You also need to be careful of other trees in the vicinity.
Felling a tree that falls on another can have a domino effect and bring down other trees along with it.
Even with careful fell direction planning things can still go wrong.
All ways double or triple check you are fully prepared before felling any trees.
Deciding the Best Direction to Fell After you make the necessary preparations you can move onto the next stage.
Next you want to look at the tree and get a good idea of which direction you want to fell.
It is always a good idea to fell a tree in its natural leaning direction as long as no objects lay within the fall zone.
If there is high value property within the fall zone, you should seek the advice of a professional tree surgeon first.
Another factor to consider is wind speed and wind direction.
Finally you must consider accessibility and how easy it will be to remove to the fallen tree once felled.
Clearing Tree Limbs and Buttress Roots Before making cuts you should first remove any small branches and limbs at the base of the tree as this could hamper your escape route.
You should also remove the buttresses to make the stem as straight as possible.
Always have both hands on the chainsaw and start the cut from the top insuring the dogs are pressed into the tree.
Cut from the top and use a downward stroke to cut into the tree stem.
You need to be cutting a face cut that amounts to 20% of the tree's diameter.
When cutting, make sure the tree is between you and the chainsaw.
Clear Escape Route Make sure there are no foreign objects or trip hazards in your escape route.
If there are these need to be removed.
Remove all branches, limbs and any other obstacles near and around the base of the tree.
You want to be able to quickly get away from the tree at any angle without tripping and dodging foreign objects.
How to Fell a Tree in the Right Direction Make a face cut into the tree at 60 degree angle insuring the dogs are dug into the tree, continue to cut until you have cut into 20-25% of the tree's diameter.
The bar on the chainsaw should be running parallel to the direction you wish the tree to fall.
Once you have made the first cut, make a second cut at a 90 degree angle that meets the bottom of your first cut which will complete the face cut.
Making an open directional notch in a tree using a chainsaw: 1: Workout the exact direction you want the tree to fall.
Find a landmark from your surrounding area to use as a guide and use the sights at the top of your chainsaw to line up an angle for the directional notch you plan to cut.
2: Cut the trunk at a 60 degree angle, sawing to a depth of 20 - 25% of the tree's diameter.
3: Cut into the trunk horizontally to meet the top cut.
You will now have a notch carved out of the side of the tree facing the direction you want the tree to fall.
4: Make sure there's nothing in the way at least 2 times of the tree's length in all directions.
5: On the other side of the trunk, saw a horizontal cut a few inches above the level of the undercut.
Once you get close to the direction notch (about a few inches away) stop cutting.
This will create a hinge to allow the tree to fall in a controlled way.
The hinge width should be about 10% of the tree trunk diameter.
6: Use a felling wedge as a lever to make the tree begin to fall.
This can also be useful if the chainsaw bar becomes trapped between the tree trunk.
7: Quickly retreat to a safe distance.
Always keep your eyes on the falling tree as you move away.
You should try to move away from the felling direction at a 90 degree angle.
This will help you avoid both the felling zone as well as the opposite side where the trunk separates from the stump.
Rotten, Diseased or Dead Trees You have to be extra careful when felling dead, diseased or rotten trees.
Get the help of an experienced tree surgeon if you are a beginner and do not attempt to feel a large tree.
If the trunk looks discoloured or it feels soft, the tree could be rotted inside.
Rotten trees require much larger hinges to safely fell them and are inherently unstable.
Trees That Get Lodged If a tree gets lodged between another tree on the way down you shouldn't leave it unattended.
Call in an expert tree surgeon to come and assess the situation.
If you have to leave the area make sure warning signs are put up for the safety of others so that people are aware of the dangers.
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