Poulan ES400 User Manual - Page 10

S After removing the wood from the notch, make the felling cut on the opposite side of the notch. This is done by making a cut about two inches higher than the center of the notch. This will leave enough uncut wood between the felling cut and the notch to form a hinge. This hinge will help prevent the tree from falling in the wrong direction. Hinge holds tree on stump and helps control fall. Opening of felling cut BUCKING TECHNIQUES WARNING: If saw becomes pinched or hung in a log, don't try to force it out. You can lose control of the saw resulting in injury and/or damage to the saw. Stop the saw, drive a wedge of plastic or wood into the cut until the saw can be removed easily. Restart the saw and carefully reenter the cut. Do not use a metal wedge. Do not attempt to restart your saw when it is pinched or hung in a log. Use a wedge to remove pinched saw Closing of notch NOTE: Before felling cut is complete, use wedges to open the cut when necessary to control the direction of fall. To avoid kickback and chain damage, use wood or plastic wedges, but never steel or iron wedges. S Be alert to signs that the tree is ready to fall: cracking sounds, widening of the felling cut, or movement in the upper branches. S As tree starts to fall, stop saw, put it down, and get away quickly on your planned retreat path. S DO NOT use your saw to cut down a partially fallen tree. Be extremely cautious with partially fallen trees that may be poorly supported. When a tree doesn't fall completely, set saw aside and pull down tree with a cable winch, block and tackle, or tractor. CUTTING A FALLEN TREE (BUCKING) Bucking is the term used for cutting a fallen tree to the desired log size. WARNING: Do not stand on the log being cut. Any portion can roll causing loss of footing and control. Do not stand downhill of the log being cut. IMPORTANT POINTS S Cut only one log at a time. S Cut shattered wood very carefully; sharp pieces of wood could be flung toward operator. S Use a sawhorse to cut small logs. Never allow another person to hold the log while cutting and never hold the log with your leg or foot. S Do not cut in an area where logs, limbs, and roots are tangled. Drag logs into a clear area before cutting them by pulling out exposed and cleared logs first. Turn saw OFF and use a plastic or wooden wedge to force cut open. Overcutting begins on the top side of the log with the bottom of the saw against the log. When overcutting use light downward pressure. Overcutting Undercutting Undercutting involves cutting on the underside of the log with top of saw against the log. When undercutting use light upward pressure. Hold saw firmly and maintain control. The saw will tend to push back toward you. WARNING: Never turn saw upside down to undercut. The saw cannot be controlled in this position. Always make your first cut on the compressions side of the log. The compression side of the log is where the pressure of the log's weight is concentrated. First cut on compression side of log Second cut Second cut First cut on compression side of log BUCKING WITHOUT A SUPPORT S Overcut through 1/3 of the diameter of the log. S Roll the log over and finish with a sec- ond overcut. 10