Snow Joe SWJ701E Saw Joe 18-Inch 14-Amp Electric Chain Saw - Manual (Page 8)

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Never saw completely through the trunk. Always leave a hinge
(F). The hinge guides the tree. If the trunk is completely cut
through, control over the felling direction is lost. Insert a wedge
or felling lever in the cut (D) well before the tree becomes
unstable and starts to move. This will prevent the guide bar
from binding in the felling cut if you have misjudged the fall
direction. Make sure no bystanders have entered the range of
the falling tree before you push it over.
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WARNING! Before making the final cut, always recheck
the area for bystanders, animals, and/or obstacles.
1. Use wooden or plastic wedges (A) to prevent binding
the bar or chain (B) in the cut (Fig. 5).
2. When the diameter of the wood to be cut is greater
than the bar length, make 2 cuts as shown (Fig. 6).
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WARNING! As the felling cut (D) gets close to the hinge
(F), the tree should begin to fall. Remove the saw from the cut,
stop the engine, put the chain saw down, and leave the area
by way of the retreat path (Fig. 4).
Limbing
Limbing a tree is the process of removing the branches from a
fallen tree. Do not remove supporting limbs (Fig. 7). Branches
under tension should be cut from the bottom up to avoid
binding the chain saw.
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WARNING! Never cut tree limbs while standing on the tree
trunk.
Bucking
Bucking is the term used to cut a fallen log into lengths. Make
sure that you have a good footing and stand uphill of the log
when cutting on sloping ground. If possible, the log should be
supported so that the end to be cut off is not resting on the
ground. If the log is supported at both ends and you must cut
in the middle, make a downward cut halfway through the log
and then make the undercut. This will prevent the log from
pinching the bar and chain. Make sure that the chain does not
cut into the ground when bucking as this causes rapid dulling
of the chain.
1. Log supported along entire length: cut from the bottom
(underbuck); be careful to avoid cutting into the ground
(Fig. 8).
2. Log supported on one end: proceed as if using a
sawhorse. First, cut from the bottom (underbuck)
1/3 diameter of log to avoid splintering. Second, cut
from above (overbuck) to meet the first cut and avoid
pinching.
3. Log supported on both ends: First, overbuck
1/3 diameter of log to avoid splintering. Second,
underbuck to meet the first cut and avoid pinching
(Fig. 9).
Fig. 5
A B
R
R
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
A
Fig. 8