There are valid reasons why you want to cut or fell a tree. It could be that the one on your yard is already dead and could be more useful as firewood. If a natural disaster had occurred and the tree broke, you’d want to get rid of the stump. Felling a tree takes time and skill but if you have a chainsaw, cutting trees won’t have to be too hard. Hand saws are useful for cutting down small stumps and branches, but when a full grown tree needs cutting, you’ll be requiring the full power of a chainsaw’s tooth and motor. The use of a chainsaw, however, should be well thought out because it is equipment that can cause harm if not careful. Beginners should have someone with experience use it instead. Don’t worry if you don’t have tree cutting techniques. This guide will help you how to fell a tree in the direction you want.
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Before the actual cutting or felling
Prepare the following before actually cutting the tree.
- Find out if the area you are in has specific regulations with the use of chainsaws. If there are, secure the needed permits. It is best to follow the law and its rules.
- Make sure to dress in proper work clothes. It should be something that would not restrict your movement and one that would protect your skin from debris. Denim pants couple with long-sleeved top will do nicely. For footwear, the steel-toes shoes are ideal.
- Never forget to wear work goggles to shield your eyes from bits of wood that could come flying in the air and earplugs to block out the noise coming from the chainsaw.
- A work helmet to protect your head is beneficial in case larger pieces of debris, or falling branches landed.
- Finally, inspect your chainsaw to make sure that it’s in good working order.
How to cut a tree in the right direction
- Determine the direction where you need the tree to land. Look for a good point or location around you. Create an imaginary line to settle on the part of the tree that you want to cut. Cutting down a tree in sections will make it easier.
- At the trunk of the tree, create a cut at an angle of 60 degrees with a depth of up to 25% of the diameter of the tree.
- After creating the top cut, start building one that’s horizontal under it. Make sure that you’ve marked one side of the tree facing the direction where you want it to land.
- No humans or animals should be around the area where you want the tree to land. The length is about twice the size of the tree.
- Just above the undercut on the other side of the trunk, create a few inches of horizontal cut. Make sure to stop sawing just before tracking the directional mark. The tree will fall subtly with the hinge measuring up to 10% of the diameter of the tree.
- Assist the tree and use a tool such as a falling wedge to make it fall to the direction you want.
- Move away and observe while the tree is falling. Keeping an eye on the tree will enable you to see if the notch cutting you did was correct. Make sure you are away from the falling angle as the tree trunk beginning to separate from the stump.
When cutting down dead trees
Rotting or dead trees may require more caution because of an abnormality. If you are a beginner, it’s best to get a professional to remove it from your property. Inspect the parts of the tree to see if there an are soft spots, perhaps a smell, or any discoloration. These are signs of a rotting interior. You may also try to find if any animals are living inside. It would be best to scare off the animals first it have it caught by a professional.
If a tree gets caught in another tree
Falling trees may sometimes get lodged in other trees that are in the way. Sometimes the best thing to do is nothing at all. If you try cutting it further, it might cause other weakened trees to fall, and they could land on you or any other human or animal. In this case, it’s better to call a professional for assistance but be sure to warn others to not come any closer in the area in danger of getting hurt.