Summer residents and owners of private houses sometimes have to face a difficult task: you need to cut down a tree located on the site — but how to do it correctly and safely? Let’s find out what methods and techniques will help you solve this problem, what you should pay attention to and how to choose the right tool for such work.
Preparing for work
First, check the condition of the chainsaw. Check whether all the components and mechanisms are in good condition, determine the tension of the installed chain (it should move freely on the tire), and also check for gasoline and oil in the tank. Then clear the space around the tree so that foreign objects do not interfere with you when felling.
Pay attention to which way the tree is tilted, whether it will harm someone when falling, whether it will catch neighboring houses. Make calculations to avoid unpleasant situations. To do this, you need to take into account how the tree stands (flat or obliquely), the approximate direction of the fall, where and at what speed the wind blows, as well as the thickness of the trunk.
If the position of the tree needs to be adjusted, use a rope by tying it to another tree or post that is in the right place. Pull it well so that when cutting the tree falls in the right direction.
How to work properly and safely
Always hold the chainsaw with both hands, tightly gripping the handle with all your fingers. It is better to place the tool closer to the body, this will provide a more comfortable position of the body. Keep your back straight and your legs slightly bent at the knees. When you change the position to stop the operation of the saw.
Use a chainsaw to make a file that will determine the direction of the tree’s fall. First, make an inclined cut (at an angle of about 60 degrees), cut the tree by 20-25 % of its diameter. Next, make two horizontal cuts, one of which should converge with the inclined one, forming a triangle, the other-slightly above the triangle. The file must be located on the side where the barrel is planned to fall.
If the saw tire is longer than the diameter of the tree, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and lean against the trunk. Do not forget to check during sawing whether the correct angle and direction of the saw is maintained. After you make the cut, insert the felling blade and work it until the tree begins to fall. This method is suitable for trunks with a diameter of no more than 50 cm.
In large trees, you will most likely need to remove branches at the bottom of the trunk. It is better to do this with the lower part of the tire moving from top to bottom.
Important!
Never cut branches above shoulder level. If the tree has root swellings, we recommend removing them as well.
Tool selection
The key factor in choosing a chainsaw is the size of the tire. The selection of the tire length and power of the chainsaw depends on the diameter of the barrel.
A thin barrel (with a diameter of up to 35 cm) and a medium barrel (with a diameter of 35 to 65 cm) can be easily cut down with a chainsaw with a tire length of 40 cm. For barrels with a diameter of more than 65 cm, we recommend using a more powerful chainsaw with a tire length of at least 45 cm.
If the tree is too thick
If the diameter of the tree is larger than the length of the tire, you will have to use a complicated felling technique. When the guide file is ready, we start the engine at full power and on the other side of the file we insert the lower part of the tire tip into the trunk. When the tire sinks a little into the tree, push it down so that it enters the tree. After that, cut inside the trunk around the entire perimeter, a little before reaching the guide file. Once half the wood has been sawn through, insert the felling wedge and continue sawing until the tree falls.
How to cut a tree
After felling the tree, it is usually sawn for firewood or on boards for further use. You can cut a tree in two ways – along and across. It is necessary to take into account the specifics of the chosen method.
Cross-cutting logs – the most simple, most often it is used to produce firewood and create wooden discs for construction. For convenience, install the log on the trestles, if necessary, clean the trunk from the bark. Make marks and start sawing across.
Before sawing in a longitudinal way, put the log on bars or a stand, fix the ends with stops made of boards for more accurate cuts. When longitudinal sawing logs, a special nozzle is needed, which will help to make boards with an equally even thickness. But if you don’t have it, you can build a ruler yourself. Take two boards and connect them perpendicularly, like the letter “T”. Attach the structure with self-tapping screws to the log, it will become a reference point for smooth cutting. The body of the saw is better pressed against the ruler. Change the position of the ruler with each cut.
Another method of smooth cutting is to pull the string, fix it at the beginning and end of the log. With such a ruler, the cut turns out to be less even, but still allows you not to go away from the intended goal. You need to saw 5 cm from the string, so as not to catch it. Hand movements when cutting should always be flywheel, then the cut will always be smooth and beautiful. If the saw is very resistant to the hands, then let it cut as it wants. The log itself directs the saw, and often the cut is much better than if you resisted and believed only your eye.
Remember that when working with a chainsaw, you should be especially careful not to harm yourself and others.
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