How to cut a tree in the right direction

What you need to know first?

There are a range of factors that influence the correct felling. The most important conditions are divided into two categories: the technical component of the process and ensuring the safety of all persons involved.

The technical side of the issue usually requires an immediate solution even when choosing a chainsaw, since each model is designed only for a certain thickness, density and structure of the wood mass. Sawing is usually quite slow. Acceleration is possible only when working with a well-leaning tree or thin trunks (you can even use a mini chainsaw for this). Usually, such plants are not of great value, therefore they are very rarely cut down.

It is necessary to take into account the thickness of the tree in advance, comparing with the selected model of chainsaw (see the rating of the best chainsaws). The device should be optimally suited to a specific power goal. If the length of the tire of the device does not exceed 35 cm, then the maximum diameter of the tree trunk with which the work is carried out is 30 cm.When the length of the tire reaches 65 cm, then it is possible to cut down options up to 60 cm in diameter.

For the most massive wood species, complex and very powerful chainsaws are used (see the most reliable chainsaws), which exceed the standard weight. The length of the bus in them is above 65 cm.

The sawing technology also changes with the thickness of the target. With one cut, trees up to 20 cm in diameter can be reliably cut down. If this figure exceeds this threshold, you need to make several cuts so that, without damage to the device and strong efforts on the part of the workers, to cut the tree.

Chainsaws of Russian production in many respects are not worse than foreign ones.

Chainsaw Lesnik meets all international quality and safety standards.

The Ural chainsaw is very easy to use and therefore popular among consumers.

The higher the height of the tree, the more problematic it becomes to comply with safety precautions. Sawing also becomes more difficult, since more weight requires some effort and high power of the device. Sometimes you have to make cuts in a group, keeping a distance in level, that is, making them at different heights.

In advance, you need to measure the center of gravity to determine the fall of the tree. This indicator is influenced by the shape of the crown, as well as the features of the trunk itself. These criteria have an impact not only on the position of the workers, but also on the anticipated cuts, which are optimal. Usually the trunk needs to be cut down completely and at the root, but sometimes a certain part of it is required, which also affects the cutting process.

Cutting safety

When performing the procedure for felling trees, it is necessary to ensure full safety measures for both individuals and employees of organizations. Do not fell trees yourself. A partner is required. You should not make an open fire while working, and if there is one, you need to extinguish it before turning on the chainsaw. You also can’t smoke. Care should be taken in advance to protect the face from sawdust, as they always fly off when sawing wood.

Before sawing a tree, you need to make sure that if it falls, it will not touch people, living beings, or damage the cables or wires through which the current flows. Do not work in strong winds. It is advisable to calculate in advance the direction of the fall of the trunk up to the exact contour on which all rods and other elements are cleared so as not to damage the tree, and also not to cause its inertial overturn.

When working with full, thick posts, the chainsaw is held with both hands, while the tension is constantly felt.

You should not carry out work when using only the extreme part of the saw, as this will lead to strong kickback and automatic shutdown of the device, which can ruin the whole work by making inaccurate movements.

When sawing thick posts or massive branches, it is advisable to raise the chainsaw to a level above the shoulders.

Tree Falling: Directional Steering with the Back Cut

Felling a forest: how to cut down a tree so that it falls in the right direction, how to properly saw with a chainsaw in parts with your own hands

A chainsaw, with the proper power, is capable of cutting down any tree trunk for which the length of the cutting part is sufficient. It is necessary to carry out the work very carefully, adhering to all the rules. Particular attention should be paid when there is a risk of unpleasant situations due to too thick, icy or dirty wood mass. It is necessary to take into account all the factors that can complicate the work, and use the chainsaw carefully, constantly monitoring your actions and the work of your partners. In the article we’ll talk about how to properly cut a tree with a chainsaw. a diagram and instructions.

How to cut a tree correctly. basic rules and technology

The main aspects necessary to comply with when cutting trees:

To get rid of the continuous sound of the chainsaw, you must use soundproof headphones, otherwise headaches are possible with prolonged and regular work.

How to Safely Notch a Tree for Direct Felling

First, all the technological features are determined, only then it is necessary to clearly plan the stages of work, which will help to guarantee to protect yourself from the impact of the weight of the falling tree. Even with extensive work experience, it is necessary to constantly take care of your own safety, since the highest number of injuries are suffered by workers who have long been accustomed to a constantly tense and dangerous environment in this field.

How to cut a trunk, which side. a diagram

To cut the trunk, take the following steps:

• From above, the trunk is cut in about half.
• The saw turns off (see why the chainsaw stalls), but is left in the tree. At this time, a wedge is hammered into the hole obtained at the first stage, which must be tamped with a high-quality hatchet. This is necessary so that the saw is not distorted by the weight of the two trunks, but is between them in a free position.
• The barrel is being finished to the end point.

Sometimes the tire of the chainsaw remains in the trunk, especially not just massive, but also hard wood. In this case, pulling it out is pointless. It is necessary to quickly turn off the motor, and then influence on both sides of the barrel from the cut from the bottom, trying to simultaneously pull out the device. This action will require the help of a partner.

Take a closer look at

Step-by-step instructions on how to cut trees

The technology for cutting down trees of large and small diameter has several differences. First you need to learn how to cut down small plants:

We are looking for the slope of the tree. Even slightly gravitation is suitable, however, the stronger this feature is expressed, the brighter you can notice the exact side of the fall of the plant.

It is advisable to cut straight trees in convenient places for dumping, and not at random. One cut is approximately half the full size of the trunk.

A tree is considered large if its diameter exceeds half a meter. At first, the trunk is used as a support, however, the sawing of the structure can be carried out only after choosing at what angle the plant will fall. Algorithm of actions:

• A cut is made from top to bottom with a slope of 60 degrees. It must be done exactly from the side of the intended slope. It is necessary to constantly observe the exact angle and keep the chainsaw absolutely level.
• At the bottom, a fishing line is drawn horizontally, which should adjoin the innermost point of the first cut. When it is carried out to the stop, you can remove the corner consisting of wood, which allows you to make a side cut.
• On the opposite side of the first two cuts, a horizontal filing is made, which starts slightly above the lower level of the cuts on the opposite side. It is necessary to cut quite deeply, however, it is forbidden to perform the operation completely, that is, the tree must remain upright.
• In the second cut, you need to mount a pre-prepared wedge or a special blade for felling wood. The remaining volume can be removed using a spatula or by finishing from the inside.

There is an alternative way to safely fell trees. First, the solid wood is completely sawn through.

Sawing branches and a trunk with a chainsaw

The branches need to be detached from the bottom of the tree, which is already on a flat surface. You should alternately finish the rows of branches, getting to the central ones, in order to gradually completely clear the trunk. All elements must be removed separately, it is advisable to transfer the sawn-off parts into a certain container during the work process.

How to knock down a tree in the right direction

Quite often, it becomes necessary to cut down a tree not only on your site without buildings, but also near a private house. In this case, only the right technique will minimize the risk of damage to nearby buildings or vegetation.

With a wedge

The wedge should only be used to remove healthy, level trees that do not tilt more than 1 degree to either side. In addition, it cannot be used to cut trees with a large crown, because it is difficult for them to calculate the difference in masses from the sides of the fall and the cut.

The exception is trees 1.5–3 m high, the thickness of the trunk of which does not exceed 20 cm. But even in this case, it is advisable to insure the saw with a rope tied to the trunk, which is pulled by an assistant.

Plastic and metal wedges without thread are used only in cases where it is necessary to cut a not too large tree alone.

After creating a notch, a wedge is inserted into it and slightly hammered with an ax. Then they make a cut or undercut from the side of the fall and, with the help of a rope, create a force sufficient to tilt the trunk at an angle leading to a fall.

It is more efficient to use a plastic / metal wedge and a felling blade together. The wedge is used as a safety element, and the blade is inserted after creating a notch from the side of the fall and using it as a lever, tilt the barrel in the desired direction.

If it is possible to cut a tree in any other way, it is better to use it, because to work with any type of wedges or a felling blade, you need a lot of experience and many conditions.

Piece by piece with dropping

This method is used to remove trees with a height of 3-6 m.

If they are higher, then it is better to entrust their cutting to professionals.

If the tree has a dense crown, then first you need to cut thin and medium branches from the ground, then, by attaching a ladder to the tree, cut down the higher branches.

When the trunk is cleared of all small and medium branches, you can start cutting the thickest ones. This procedure will allow you to work in comfortable conditions, because thin branches will not interfere with cutting the rest.

WORLD’S BEST TREE FELLING TUTORIAL! Way more information than you ever wanted on how to fell a tree!

You need to cut off thick branches so that there are convenient platforms with which you can move around the tree. Only after removing all the branches, you can start sawing the trunk, from which pieces of 100-150 cm are cut.

Cutting off the trunk with longer pieces is undesirable, because the longer they are, the harder it is to direct them in the right direction, standing on a ladder or on a branch of the trunk.

Physical capabilities

To remove a tree, you need good ones:

• coordination of movements;
• endurance;
• force;
• flexibility.

If you have a problem with any of these parameters, then it is better to invite a specialist.

Poor coordination of movements caused by health conditions, taking some medications or other factors can lead not only to falls, but also serious injuries, especially when holding an ax or a chainsaw.

Stamina problems will lead to the fact that after each performed action you will have to rest, while the tree will be in an unstable state and can fall in any direction.

Lack of power will prevent you from using the ax and chainsaw effectively, and flexibility problems will force you to use all tools in an awkward position, which dramatically increases the likelihood of error and injury.

How to cut down or chop down a tree with a hand tool

Felling of trees is called felling in another way. Such an event belongs to the category of rather time-consuming work, and it is not as easy to knock down even a single tree yourself quickly and in the right direction as it might seem at first glance.

Felling trees in a forest or on a personal plot can be done either manually or with a chainsaw. Standard manual felling technology involves the use of wedges, axes, felling blades and levers, as well as cable and rope.

The main working tool in this case is a hand saw. As practice shows, even with the correct choice of the felling direction, some deviations are inevitable, which depend on the individual characteristics of the plant and the surrounding natural factors.

Handmade technology:

• it is always necessary to start work with the undercut, the purpose of which is to ensure the required direction of the felling and maximum safety for all those working on the roll;
• undercutting the stem part involves notching with an ax from the side where the tree is supposed to be dumped;
• the standard level of undercut depth can be from a third to a quarter of the total diameter of the stem;
• if the plant is supposed to be cut in the direction of a natural slope or in the direction of the wind, then the undercut should be less;
• if the plant is supposed to be cut against the natural slope or against the direction of the wind, then the undercut should be larger;
• after completing the undercut, sawing is carried out, and the sawing is performed using an archery or two-handed saw wiped with kerosene;
• if the diameter of the stem is greater than the width of the saw blade, after deepening into the cut, a wedge must be inserted into the cut, which will help to avoid clamps;
• cutting must be stopped before the cut by 2-3 cm reaches the undercut.

Equipment

The main tool required for any method of cutting wood is a chainsaw.

If not, you can use

• ax;
• two-handed saw;
• hand saw (coarse-toothed hacksaw for wood).

In no case should you use an angle grinder (angle grinder) and any discs, because the tree will clamp the disc, after which the tool will tear out of your hands, and given the huge rotation speed of the disc and the high power of the motor, serious injuries are possible. Also, do not use a hacksaw for metal, because its shape and canvas are not intended for such work.

Without a chainsaw, the felling process will require much more effort, and the likelihood of errors will also increase.

In addition, shoes with hard non-slip soles and clothing made of durable fabric are required. A rope will also be very useful, because it can be used to prevent the trunk from falling in the most undesirable direction.

For cutting a tree with a guy, a winch and door springs are useful, which can be replaced with a rubber band or a tube.

You will also need a mounting belt or climbing harness, and the latter is preferable, because it will more gently stop the body when falling.

We recommend not to get involved with self-removal of trees for those who do not know how to confidently use an ax and a chainsaw, because you will not only have to cut wood, but cut pieces of a certain shape.

In addition, it is necessary, at least in theory, to understand how parts of wood behave after sawing.

Otherwise, there is a high probability that the branch or trunk will begin to fall in the wrong direction due to the wrong location or cutting angle.

There is also a high probability of jamming and damage to the saw, because the trunk at the cut point is a lever that creates tremendous pressure on the working tool.

For cutting with dropping or hanging, it is necessary to be able to knot and use climbing or assembly belay.

In addition, experience in climbing trees is very necessary, because you will not only have to climb on them or move along the thickest branches, but also carry a bulky heavy tool with you.

What to consider when felling trees near the house

Felling vegetation, including large-sized ones, growing around houses is quite difficult. Such an event presupposes a special technology. The following factors may indicate the need for felling:

• the trunk is at an inclination of more than 45 degrees;
• the plant has a high and thin trunk;
• cracks and hollows or rotten areas are present.

Buildings and structures located at a close distance, electrical communications and engineering networks often greatly limit the area of ​​work. In this case, most often the preference is given to the felling not entirely, but in parts, by hanging and lowering the already cut elements. This option implies the obligatory involvement of special equipment or the binding and descent of cut fragments with the help of nearby trees.

After cutting, a stump remains, which is most often removed by uprooting, which allows for a high-quality leveling of the soil surface on the site. To reduce labor costs for such activities, it is recommended to fill up trees by chopping down the roots. Such undercutting is performed not directly, but at an angle to the direction of root growth. You need to dig up the roots with a shovel, after removing the bark from the upper part of the roots and tapping the soil, which will reduce the risk of the ax becoming blunt during the felling process.

Felling trees with an ax and a regular saw has been used less and less recently, due to the fact that owners of suburban real estate have electric and chainsaws. Nevertheless, in especially difficult cases, it is advisable to seek help from specialists who, using special equipment, perform such work very quickly and as efficiently as possible.

Usually the question is not only how to cut the tree down, but also how exactly to put it in the right direction so that it does not cause any damage when it falls. We will also tell you about when it is possible to do it, and when it is worth looking for other solutions.