How to cut a tree in the right direction

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 cutting wood.

Before sawing a tree, you need to make sure that if it falls, it does not touch people, living beings, does not 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 the 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.

Sawing branches and a trunk with a chainsaw

The branches must 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.

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 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 for not just massive, but also hard woods. 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 below, trying to simultaneously pull out the device. This action will require the help of a partner.

Take a closer look at

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.

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 received by workers who have long been accustomed to a constantly tense and dangerous environment in this field.

What you need to know first?

There are a range of factors that affect 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.

Cutting An Easy Small Diameter Tree

It is necessary to take into account the thickness of the tree in advance, comparing it 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 is also 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 completely and at the root, but sometimes a certain part of it is required, which also affects the cutting process.

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 gravity 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 it is more than half a meter in diameter. 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 all the way, 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 cut 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 in an upright position.
  • 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.

To cut down a tree quickly, it is necessary to carry out preparatory work in advance, ensure safety precautions, and only then proceed to the event. It is enough to independently apply those positions provided by the scheme for sawing a tree so that the success of the event is guaranteed.

Safety technology is of great importance. To perform it correctly, you need to prepare in advance, as well as be attentive to the work throughout the entire time of interaction with wood.

Do not forget that absolutely every new tool, including Chinese chainsaws, needs to be run in, we also recommend reading the article about oil for lubricating chainsaws.

How to cut trees with a chainsaw: technology and safety measures

Sawing wood with a chainsaw is much faster and more convenient. In this way, a large and tall tree can be effectively felled. Beforehand, a felling scheme must be developed and the working condition and serviceability of the chainsaw must be checked. An assessment of all operating factors is also carried out:

  • the location of the trunk;
  • determine in which direction you need to fill up the tree;
  • clearing the working space;
  • removal of root beads, branches and twigs located below the level of the feller’s shoulder.

You need to cut the trunk in the right direction, so you need to approach this parameter as carefully as possible.

Felling or felling is a hazardous activity, so it is very important to minimize any risks:

  • you need to take care of special clothing, safety shoes, gloves and a helmet in advance;
  • you need to check the serviceability of all the tools used and the convenience of its use at all stages of the work being carried out;
  • especially if this is not a single operation, but a long and large-scale.
  • such an important factor as the wind must be taken into account, the direction of which can change the trajectory of the trunk fall

Before carrying out work, it is required to clean and thoroughly clean the space, removing excess growth and ensuring unhindered movement around the trunk. In the process of felling, you should not be distracted and look away from the felled plant. In a strong gusty wind, it is better not to do felling work.

Cutting a tree: choosing the right direction

Chainsaw safety precautions

Yes, there are special rules:

  • Use appropriate footwear and clothing: non-slip footwear, goggles, gloves, heavy clothing. Earplugs help reduce noise.
  • Check if the chain is well sharpened and tensioned. The tension is good if the guide teeth stay in the groove as you pull the chain off the top of the bar. When filling with oil, it is advisable to always check that the chain is well tensioned.
  • Do not work in windy conditions.

How to cut a tree with a chainsaw without harming nearby objects? Try to plan the trajectory of the fall, having previously studied the territory and the tree itself that you are going to cut down. If it is dry, large dead branches, twigs may fall off, so they can be cut down beforehand, and here you need to be careful.

You must leave the work area without hindrance. If there are other trees nearby, try to work so that the sawn branches do not get stuck in their branches, this can lead to an accident, and then it is not easy to get them out. The cut tree you will need to then process and take out or remove from the site. Choose a direction for felling so that you can easily cut and remove the tree later.

Harvesting is an important step after felling a tree. Choose a place for the fall of the tree where it will be convenient to cut it into pieces, and then remove it from the site or load it onto a machine

How to properly prune a tree: sawing branches

It is required to trim the crown in sequence, performing work from the bottom up, which will allow the trimmed branches to freely fall to the ground without entanglement in the lower branches that have not yet been cut down.

The rope with which the fall is controlled should be tied one and a half meters from the trunk. The branches must be cut so that the remaining branches have a length of 30-40 cm, which will allow, if necessary, to throw on a safety sling or use them as leg support.

What to consider when felling trees near the house

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

  • the trunk is tilted 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, the preference is most often 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.

How to cut down a tree correctly and fill it in the right direction

When trimming and felling, it is necessary to clear the exit paths in advance. Of course, the fall of each cut branch should be controlled by an assistant with the help of a tied rope, but no one is safe from the fact that the branch suddenly changes its trajectory.

Never work from a ladder. To secure yourself at a height, wrap the second sling twice around the trunk and thread your feet through the loops at its ends. Work is allowed only in closed clothing, glasses and gloves. The head should be protected by a helmet or at least a tight hat. In addition to the chainsaw, also stock up on about a hundred meters of strong guy rope and keep a light hook on hand in case the branches bind tightly.

Assessment of the work front, crown pruning

The main problem with felling trees is that it is impossible to predict exactly how the crown mass is distributed. Accordingly, you cannot accurately predict the trajectory of the fall, even if you correctly undercut the trunk. To facilitate the work, it is recommended to carry out work in the spring or late autumn, when the crown is at its lowest. The weather should be calm and dry, and the tree should not be slippery after a recent rain.
First, set up a ladder and cut off any lower branches that are within reach. The stepladder must be installed in such a way that the trunk of the tree is between it and the branch to be cut. The most advantageous position, even when working without a stepladder, is when you hold the chainsaw with both hands, while hugging the trunk, as it were.

It is necessary to trim the crown strictly in sequence from bottom to top, so that the trimmed branches fall freely and do not get entangled in the lower ones that have not yet been cut down. The rope, for which the assistant helps to control the fall, should be tied 1–1.5 m from the trunk. The branches must be cut so that branches remain 30-40 cm long, on which you can easily put on safety slings or lean on your feet.
When the ladder is not high enough, place a leg sling over the most comfortable branch, or wrap it around the trunk at the desired height, and then rest your feet on the loops. You need to position yourself so that the cutting site is at chest level or slightly lower. Hugging the tree with one hand, wrap the second sling (or better the chain) twice to secure the belt, connect the loops with a carabiner and twist the coupling on it. The second advantageous position is with your back to the trunk and standing with your feet on the branch to be cut, while you need to cut it, of course, half a meter in front of you.

Before you start cutting, adjust the length and height of the lines for more comfort and make sure you have enough room to maneuver. After that, you can lift the chainsaw from the ground by the rope tied to the handle, while the tethering point should be chosen as far as possible from the tool controls.

What comes first: felling or trimming

Some trees don’t need pruning, and some won’t be knocked down otherwise. Especially if gas pipelines or power transmission lines are located near the crown. As we have already said, the main purpose of pruning is balancing the tree, therefore, it is not necessary to prune branches from the side where the blockage is planned.
The height of the tree is of no less importance. If you are unable to clear the desired length under the tree, the trunk must be shortened. Naturally, before that you have to cut off all the lower tiers of the branches, sometimes you even have to cut off the branches from the side of the blockage. What to do. sometimes the crown is intertwined very bizarrely.
When working in the garden and green spaces, neighboring trees often interfere. If it is not dead wood, it is not advisable to touch them. It is much better to cut the branches piece by piece, starting with the branch farthest from the trunk that you can safely reach. Even if small fragments of branches get stuck in their own or neighboring crown, the assistant will easily pull them down and to the side.

It can be said unequivocally that felling should be started only if:
The tree after processing with its appearance clearly makes it clear that it will fall exactly as you need it. The height of the tree is 30-50% less than the length of the cleared area, similar to the width of the crown.
There are other trees or stationary objects nearby, to which you can attach guys to guide the trunk in case of a fall.

How to properly trim the trunk

Now you can go to the simplest part of the process and knock down the cleaned trunk. It’s really simple, the main thing is to make the right undercut.
From the side in which it is planned to cut the tree, we make an oblique cut from top to bottom with a chainsaw by a third of the trunk diameter at an angle of 60 °, as shown in the figure. Next, from the bottom, we make an incision straight or at an angle of 30 ° so that we end up with a wedge. The tree will fall in a direction perpendicular to the bend mowing line, resulting from knocking out the wedge, so it is advisable to make the joint of both cuts as even as possible.

On the reverse side, we retreat upward from the plane of the lower incision by 2/3 of the trunk diameter or slightly more. We cut obliquely and downward, directing the incision to the inner corner of the wedge-shaped notch. When you get closer to the center, you will hear a characteristic crackling, and the tree will begin to roll slowly. The saw must be immediately removed from the expanding cut and calmly move five meters away from the tree.
There is no need to tie or pull on any ropes, the trunk will fall by itself. On the contrary, there should be no people in the direction of the fall. However, do not forget that it is still worth tying the braces.

Sawing the trunk and lifting the stump

It remains only to clean up after yourself. Indeed: do not leave the sawn tree and stump as they are. First, cut off all remaining branches and branches to their very base. Cut the forks across to cut off both diverging parts with one cut. Depending on which tree you felled and how you plan to use the wood, cut the trunk into pieces, taking into account the available transportation method.
It is too tedious to remove the remaining stump by hand. Using a wood drill 16–20 mm, drill vertical holes in the cut of the trunk so that they go 15–20 cm below ground level. Drill in a checkerboard pattern at intervals of 5–7 cm. openings of ammonium nitrate to the top, cover from above with a piece of roofing material. By the next season, the stump will turn into dust, and you can easily remove its remnants.

Felling trees with an ax and an ordinary saw is a thing of the past; most owners of private houses and summer residents today acquire chainsaws. It is necessary to have a chainsaw. if there are no old trees for felling on the site, you periodically need to cut branches, and in case of force majeure, it often happens that a large tree falls or splits. here you really need to know how to properly cut a tree with a chainsaw.

A similar situation can develop both in the forest, where you will go on vacation, and in the country. If you notice that the tree is in disrepair and its fall threatens property damage, you should not pull with the felling

Many do not think about safety, but several important rules, in order to avoid dangerous situations, need to be learned.

How to properly fill 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.

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 felling;
  • 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 the undercut has been completed, 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.

Safety technology, tools and devices

Hopefully, there is no need to explain why felling trees requires a special approach to ensuring the safety of work. You must have a clear and sober idea of ​​what threats to life, property and surrounding objects are posed by an uncontrolled fall of cut branches and the tree itself. Likewise, be aware of the dangers associated with working at heights.

We will give some safety recommendations during the description of the felling technology, but most of them have a general meaning, which means that these requirements must be met even before you pick up the chainsaw.

First of all, decide on the insurance issue. If there is no special insurance available, link it yourself:

  • Fold a rope (from 1 t per break) about 2.5 m long.
  • Pass it between the legs with a loop back.
  • Tie a figure eight knot at the front of the belt.
  • Wrap the free ends around the torso, passing each into a loop from the back.
  • Tighten the ends and tie them in front over the figure eight.

Eight node diagram

Diagram of the “figure eight” knot for tying a carbine or cable

The front loop is designed to hold a carabiner that attaches to a safety lanyard twice wrapped around the tree trunk. At the ends of the sling, tie a figure-of-eight knots or a Prusik loop. You can throw it anywhere, but it is better if a massive branch or branch is located just below. Keep in mind that wrapping a loop around the waist is not a good idea; if you fall, there is a high risk of injury to the ribs and spine.

Another strapping option is presented on

When trimming and felling, it is necessary to clear the exit paths in advance. Of course, the fall of each cut branch should be controlled by an assistant with the help of a tied rope, but no one is safe from the fact that the branch suddenly changes its trajectory.

Never work from a ladder. To secure yourself at a height, wrap the second sling twice around the trunk and thread your feet through the loops at its ends. Work is allowed only in closed clothing, glasses and gloves. The head should be protected by a helmet or at least a tight hat. In addition to the chainsaw, also stock up on about a hundred meters of strong guy rope and keep a light hook on hand in case the branches bind tightly.

Work clothes. 2. Hard hat. 3. Safety glasses. 4. Hook. 5. Rope. 6. Felling wedge. 7. Chainsaw. 8. Hand saw

Cutting a tree: choosing the right direction

How to cut down a tree if near the house?

If you are a beginner, it is not recommended to perform work on felling trees (especially large ones) near the nearest houses. There are many factors related to a particular tree felling.

The inclination of the stem must not be less than 45 degrees;

The plant will have both a thin and a tall trunk;

There may be rotten areas, cracks, hollows, which can be visually noticeable.

If there are many houses, engineering networks, communications next to the tree, then we will have very little space for work (otherwise, something can be hurt). Therefore, specialists in such circumstances prefer to cut down trees in parts. That is, the element is cut down, suspended, then descended. Such work should not be performed without special equipment and professionalism! The descent of the cut down parts of the tree occurs with the help of other trees located nearby. they are needed to tie the fragments of the tree.

How to dump a tree in the right direction?

Any specialist knows that felling large and young trees are completely different jobs. But there are nuances to consider in both situations.

How to cut trees with a chainsaw: technology and safety measures

Sawing wood with a chainsaw is much faster and more convenient. In this way, a large and tall tree can be effectively felled. Beforehand, a felling scheme must be developed and the working condition and serviceability of the chainsaw must be checked. An assessment of all operating factors is also carried out:

  • the location of the trunk;
  • determine in which direction you need to fill up the tree;
  • clearing the working space;
  • removal of root beads, branches and twigs located below the level of the feller’s shoulder.

You need to cut the trunk in the right direction, so you need to approach this parameter as carefully as possible.

Felling or felling is a hazardous activity, so it is very important to minimize any risks:

  • you need to take care of special clothing, safety shoes, gloves and a helmet in advance;
  • you need to check the serviceability of all the tools used and the convenience of its use at all stages of the work being carried out;
  • especially if this is not a single operation, but a long and large-scale.
  • such an important factor as the wind must be taken into account, the direction of which can change the trajectory of the trunk fall

Before carrying out work, it is required to clean and thoroughly clean the space, removing excess growth and ensuring unhindered movement around the trunk. In the process of felling, you should not be distracted and look away from the felled plant. In a strong gusty wind, it is better not to do felling work.

Felling trees in the right direction

The technology of felling large and young trees has some differences, but there are general rules that must be taken into account in the process of work:

  • make an incision half the diameter of the chainsaw from the side of the slope or from the side into which the sawn plant should fall;
  • make an incision on the opposite side and knock down the tree;
  • when felling large trees, an inclined top cut is made at an angle of sixty degrees in relation to the base of the fall side. The stem section is cut at 20-25% of the diameter;
  • at the next stage, a horizontal lower cut of the notch is made, converging with the upper cut, which will make it possible to obtain a side frame;
  • then the next horizontal notch is performed above the first and necessarily from the opposite side;
  • a wedge is inserted into the second cut and after finishing the cut, the tree must be dumped with a spatula.
tree, right, direction

It is better to carry out work in the period from November to mid-December, when there is still not too much snow mass, but the ground is already frozen enough. The chainsaw must only be held with both hands during operation.

How to properly prune a tree: sawing branches

It is required to trim the crown in sequence, performing work from the bottom up, which will allow the trimmed branches to freely fall to the ground without entanglement in the lower branches that have not yet been cut down.

The rope with which the fall is controlled should be tied one and a half meters from the trunk. The branches must be cut so that the remaining branches have a length of 30-40 cm, which will allow, if necessary, to throw on a safety sling or use them as leg support.

What comes first: felling or trimming

Some trees don’t need pruning, and some won’t be knocked down otherwise. Especially if gas pipelines or power transmission lines are located near the crown. As we have already said, the main purpose of pruning is balancing the tree, therefore, it is not necessary to prune branches from the side where the blockage is planned.

The height of the tree is of no less importance. If you are unable to clear the desired length under the tree, the trunk must be shortened. Naturally, before that you have to cut off all the lower tiers of the branches, sometimes you even have to cut off the branches from the side of the blockage. What to do. sometimes the crown is intertwined very bizarrely.

When working in the garden and green spaces, neighboring trees often interfere. If it is not dead wood, it is not advisable to touch them. It is much better to cut the branches piece by piece, starting with the branch farthest from the trunk that you can safely reach. Even if small fragments of branches get stuck in their own or neighboring crown, the assistant will easily pull them down and to the side.

It can be said unequivocally that felling should be started only if:

  • The tree, after processing with its appearance, makes it clear that it will fall exactly as you need.
  • The height of the tree is 30-50% less than the length of the cleared area, similar to the width of the crown.
  • There are other trees or stationary objects nearby, to which you can attach guys to guide the trunk in case of a fall.

How to properly cut a tree with a chainsaw: safety rules when felling trees

Felling trees with an ax and an ordinary saw is a thing of the past; most owners of private houses and summer residents today acquire chainsaws. It is necessary to have a chainsaw. if there are no old trees for felling on the site, you periodically need to cut branches, and in case of force majeure, it often happens that a large tree falls or splits. here you really need to know how to properly cut a tree with a chainsaw.

A similar situation can develop both in the forest, where you will go on vacation, and in the country. If you notice that the tree is in disrepair and its fall threatens property damage, you should not pull with the felling

Many do not think about safety, but several important rules, in order to avoid dangerous situations, need to be learned.

Chainsaw safety precautions

Yes, there are special rules:

  • Use appropriate footwear and clothing: non-slip footwear, goggles, gloves, heavy clothing. Earplugs help reduce noise.
  • Check if the chain is well sharpened and tensioned. The tension is good if the guide teeth stay in the groove as you pull the chain off the top of the bar. When filling with oil, it is advisable to always check that the chain is well tensioned.
  • Do not work in windy conditions.
tree, right, direction

How to cut a tree with a chainsaw without harming nearby objects? Try to plan the trajectory of the fall, having previously studied the territory and the tree itself that you are going to cut down. If it is dry, large dead branches, twigs may fall off, so they can be cut down beforehand, and here you need to be careful.

You must leave the work area without hindrance. If there are other trees nearby, try to work so that the sawn branches do not get stuck in their branches, this can lead to an accident, and then it is not easy to get them out. The cut tree you will need to then process and take out or remove from the site. Choose a direction for felling so that you can easily cut and remove the tree later.

Harvesting is an important step after felling a tree. Choose a place for the fall of the tree where it will be convenient to cut it into pieces, and then remove it from the site or load it onto a machine

The order of work when carrying out tree felling

Undercutting takes place in several stages. The first (upper) undercut is made at a quarter of the trunk diameter, at an angle of 45 °, you need to approach the tree from the side of the fall. Then an undercut is made from below. It is done horizontally to the level where both undercuts are connected. After making two notches, you should have a 45 ° angle cut into the trunk. Do not cut the tree completely, otherwise it will be impossible to guess in which direction its trunk will fall.

The felling cut is now in use. Before starting work, make sure that there are no people, pets or objects that can be damaged in the fall area. The felling cut is made on the side that is opposite to the intended direction of the fall of the trunk, it should be located at a distance of five centimeters from the bottom notch, parallel to it.

When felling cut, leave a hinge. 1/10 of the total diameter of the tree trunk. This is important as it provides the correct trajectory for its fall. If you do not make this cut, or make it less than the specified size, the trajectory of the tree falling will become unpredictable.

Slowly lower the saw into the trunk. To prevent the tire from getting stuck in the trunk, insert a wedge into the felling cut before the tree starts to fall. The wedge should be made of plastic or wood, the metal wedge can damage the chain. Engine speed during saw operation. maximum.

As you work, pay close attention to where the barrel is going. So you can take timely action if you feel that the fall has gone in the wrong direction.

Arrows indicate cuts: 1. upper, 2. lower, 3. felling. The unfinished part of the tree is a hinge to prevent falling in an unwanted direction

Two options for the notch: in the first case, a double right angle was cut, it is more difficult to make it, but the tree is guaranteed to fall in the direction you planned, in the second case, the most common option of the notch, described above, is performed

When the trunk begins to fall, quickly remove the saw from the cut, turn off the engine and leave the work area. Perform all actions quickly, delay can be dangerous.

Advice. It is more convenient to cut a tree in the direction of curvature, the greatest development of branches and branches, if the trunk is flattened. in the direction of a smaller diameter.

The video below demonstrates an example of work. fast felling of a tree, where a minimum of time is spent on performing the necessary undercuts:

That’s all, we looked at how to properly fell trees with a chainsaw. if you follow the above rules, you can easily knock down the tree you want. And the main thing here is to be attentive and focused. Before the first felling, you can practice on a small dry tree, if you have one on your site, or look for one in a nearby planting.

Sawing wood up to 50 centimeters thick

The methods of cutting trees of different diameters differ from each other. Since it is easier to dump young thin trees, we will start by considering this technology.

The cut is made from the side of the inclination of the tree or the desired direction of fall with an upright trunk. The depth cut should be half the thickness of the trunk. Then the tree is sawn from the opposite side until it falls. Any trees, regardless of their diameter, are not completely cut down. initially to a height of 1 to 1.5 meters, subsequently removing the rest.

How to cut a tree so that it falls where it should be: instructions

Basically, the sawing off of old trees, which for various reasons have become unnecessary (stopped bearing fruit, interfere with construction on the site, have ceased their active development or are simply dangerous due to their age), is performed in the fall.

And since trees can vary significantly in their dimensions, the difficulties that arise when cutting down a tree are also different. It is very difficult, for example, to remove trees located in the immediate vicinity of residential and utility buildings, site fences (fence), power lines.

The very question “How to cut a tree?” usually does not cause problems. But here’s how to do it in order to accurately and accurately dump it in the right direction, so much so that when the trunk falls, does not cause any destructive damage or avoid injury yourself is not an easy task.

Preparation for work

Felling trees can be done in old-fashioned ways by hand or with an ax. But it’s better and easier to use a chainsaw. But do not forget that a chainsaw is a professional tool of increased danger and requires preparation and careful handling when working with it. Before you start working with this tool, you should make sure that it is in full technical condition, check that the tank contains the required amount of fuel (gasoline) and oil.

Then you need to conduct a thorough examination and analysis of the state of the trunk to be cut down. The next step is to clear the area adjacent to the tree of objects that may interfere with free movement around it.

Then it is necessary to clean the lower part of the trunk to a height of about 1.5-1.8 meters from branches and twigs debris. It is important to determine the direction of the fall of the tree and, if possible, its very height. This can be done quite simply. On an outstretched hand, holding the ax vertically relative to the selected tree, you should step back in the direction of its fall until the moment when their sizes become equal. This will become the approximate location of the fallen top.

Sawing a trunk over 50 cm

After choosing the direction of fall from the same side, a cut is made at an angle of 45-50 degrees relative to the vertical mowing line of the trunk to a depth of a quarter of its thickness (diameter). Then, having shifted lower, a horizontal cut is made until the connection with the oblique cut. The result is a side drank.

Passing to the other side, a counter horizontal saw is made slightly higher than the opposite one. Important: The dump saw is never driven through to avoid an unpredictable fall. They always leave 5-10 centimeters unfinished (about ten percent of the trunk diameter), after which the tree, with the help of a pole, ropes, in some cases wedges (jacks), collides in a given direction.

Wood sawing tools

First of all, you will need an assistant (s) and the following tool:

  • chainsaw;
  • ax;
  • cable (ropes);
  • jack;
  • thrust pole.

Cut of an inclined tree

An 8-10-meter tree is considered tilted, whose top slightly extends beyond a meter perimeter from the center of the future stump.

tree, right, direction

Such a tree falls down according to the same principles as an even one, if the direction and its slope coincide. In the opposite case (stalling occurs in the direction opposite to the angle of inclination), the trunk in the upper part is fixed with ropes and pulled by them in the direction of the fall.

When the angle of inclination of the tree is much more than 6-8 °, it is better to resort to other methods (sawing in parts).

Safety engineering

  • When working with rotten, rotten trees, the unfinished part of the main dumping saw should be left thicker.
  • Special attention is paid to inclined trees.
  • Safe area of ​​work and retreat for the lumberjack on the sides of the direction of the fall of the trunk.
  • Avoid dumping trees downhill (if possible).
  • Take all precautions when using your chainsaw.
tree, right, direction

Don’t be overconfident. Even professional lumberjacks have a high injury rate.