Felling a tree is a complex process that involves making multiple angled cuts that create a notch in the trunk of the tree. This notch acts like a hinge and allows the sawyer to reliably control the direction the tree will fall. It’s a highly technical and dangerous job that should only be performed by trained professionals. A mistake in the felling process can result in property damage or even serious injury or death to the sawyer and bystanders.
The first step in a proper felling process is to sound the tree to determine if it’s live or dead wood. By tapping the wood with a felling axe, you’ll be able to hear if there is any cracks or solid sounds in the wood that indicates that it’s live. If not, the wood will likely be hollow and brittle. A professional will take the time to sound the tree at a variety of heights and points around the tree.
Once you’ve figured out which way the tree will fall, the next step is to make an undercut in the trunk of the tree. This undercut is a V-shaped cut that will position the static load of the tree in line with the angled back cut to encourage the tree to fall in the desired direction. The undercut also ensures that the hinge of the notch will work for the entire arc of the fall.
During a demonstration of the tree felling process, I witnessed two skilled sawyers working with double-bit axes to create a large notch in the side of the tree facing the direction they wanted it to fall. They both balanced on wood springboards placed into slots chopped into the sides of the stump and alternated their strikes to form the notch. While chopping the notch, the sawyers had to keep their eyes on the target and be careful not to accidentally knock the tree over.
If the tree is leaning in one direction or heavily loaded on the one side, it will naturally fall in that direction despite your best efforts to reverse its direction of falling. It’s important to make sure there are no buildings, fences, power lines or anything else that could be damaged if the tree falls into it.
A good rule of thumb is to make sure you can walk clear of the tree in its final fall path — it will take a lot of force to bring down a tree that’s too big for your equipment and a strong wind could send it hurtling in another direction. Likewise, make sure you’ve cleared an escape route on the non-falling side of the tree so you can get away quickly should it start to fall.
Lastly, make sure you’re not cutting into the stump of the tree and that it hasn’t grown roots. This can cause the stump to become unstable and possibly damage your home. This is why it’s usually best to leave the felling of oversized trees to the pros.
source https://ontimetreelopping.wordpress.com/2024/04/23/tree-felling-the-proper-way-to-fell-a-tree/
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