Working Techniques - Gardol GMSH50 Manual De Instrucciones

Practicing your cuts
Practice cutting a few small logs using the following
techniques to get the "feel" of using your saw before
you begin a major sawing operation.
• Squeeze the throttle trigger and allow the engine to
reach full speed before cutting.
• Begin cutting with the saw frame against the log.
• Keep the engine at full speed the entire time you are
cutting.
• Allow the chain to cut for you. Exert only light
downward pressure. If you force the cut, damage to
the guide bar, chain, or engine can result.
• Release the throttle trigger as soon as the cut
is completed, allowing the engine to idle. If you
run the saw at full throttle without a cutting load,
unnecessary wear can occur to the chain, guide
bar, and engine. It is recommended that the engine
not be operated for longer than 30 seconds at full
throttle.
• To avoid losing control when cut is complete, do not
put pressure on saw at end of cut.
• Stop the engine before setting the saw down after
cutting.
Felling a tree
Planning
a WARNING! Check for broken or dead
branches which can fall while cutting
causing serious injury. Do not cut near
buildings or electrical wires if you do not
know the direction of tree fall, nor cut at
night since you will not be able to see well,
nor during bad weather such as rain, snow,
or strong winds, etc. If the tree makes
contact with any utility line, the utility
company should be notified immediately.
Carefully plan your sawing operation in advance.
Clear the work area. You need a clear area all around
the tree so you can have secure footing.
The chainsaw operator should keep on the uphill side
of the terrain as the tree is likely to roll or slide downhill
after it is felled.
Study the natural conditions that can cause the tree to
fall in a particular direction.
Natural conditions that can cause a tree to fall in a
particular direction include:
• The wind direction and speed.
• The lean of the tree. The lean of a tree might not be
apparent due to uneven or sloping terrain. Use a
plumb or level to determine the direction of tree lean.
• Weight and branches on one side.
• Surrounding trees and obstacles.
Look for decay and rot. If the trunk is rotted, it can
snap and fall toward the operator. Check for broken or
dead branches which can fall on you while cutting.
Make sure there is enough room for the tree to fall.
Maintain a distance of 2-1/2 tree lengths from the
nearest person or other objects. Engine noise can
drown out a warning call.
10

Working techniques

Remove dirt, stones, loose bark, nails, staples, and
wire from the tree where cuts are to be made.
Plan a clear retreat path to the rear and diagonal to
the line of fall. Note the danger zone (1), retreat path
(2), and felling direction (3) in the following diagram.
Using the notch method
The notch method is used to fell large trees. A notch
is cut on the side of the tree in the desired direction of
fall. After a felling cut is made on the opposite side of
tree, the tree will tend to fall into the notch.
Note: If the tree has large buttress roots, remove
them before making the notch. If using saw to
remove buttress roots, keep saw chain from
contacting ground to prevent dulling of the chain.
Make the notch cut by cutting the top of the notch
first. Cut through 1/3 of the diameter of the tree. Next
complete the notch by cutting the bottom of the notch.
Once the notch is cut remove the notch of wood from
the tree.
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 5 centimeters (2 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.
Note: Before felling cut is complete, use wedges to
open the cut if necessary to control the direction of
fall. To avoid kickback and chain damage, use wood
or plastic wedges, but never steel or iron wedges.