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Thursday, 2 May 2024

The Basics of Tree Felling

Tree Felling

Tree Felling is the process of cutting a large tree so that it falls in a controlled way. This is often necessary for safety reasons as a falling tree that is too close to a house, for example, poses a risk of damage and injury.

A number of different methods can be used for removing a tree but felling is the most common. It involves specialized workers making calculated cuts until the tree is safely fallen. It is important that the tree is correctly felled, as incorrectly executed cuts can cause serious injury or death to anyone working on it.

Before any cut is made, the tree should be inspected. If any limbs are loose they should be removed, as they can fall on the saw operator and cause injury or even fatality. It is also important to check that there are no power lines in the vicinity of the tree before trying to fell it, as a fallen tree causing power outages can be very dangerous for local residents.

If the tree is a species that has a TPO (Tree Preservation Order) it will require special considerations or permits to fell. It is essential that all operators are familiar with the requirements for the specific species of tree they are felling. This will prevent them from infringing on the TPO or damaging the remaining trees.

It is a good idea to practice chopping smaller trees using an axe before attempting to fell larger ones. This will help them to develop the technique and make the operation more successful. It will also allow them to gain a greater understanding of how the felling process works and what to expect when they are undertaking a felling job.

The two sawyers who performed the demo started by chopping a large notch, known as an undercut, in the side of the tree facing the direction in which they wanted it to fall. They then wielded double-bit axes and balanced on wood springboards stuck into the undercut. After a few more cuts were made the sawyers began to push the tree over by plumbing it with wedges. The amount of back lean that can be overcome with a single wedge is determined by dividing the height of the tree by its diameter and multiplying by 2.

When the wedges are driven in, it is time to start pushing the tree over by running the chainsaw through the final felling cut. This will allow the tree to collapse onto its base and fall over in a controlled manner. Once the tree has successfully fallen, it is a good idea to wait for a few minutes to ensure that any dead branches or other debris are not falling from above and potentially injuring the saw operators. It is also a good idea to look around the site for any other fallen timber that may be lying about and remove it as soon as possible. This will ensure that the area is safe and clear for any future work to be carried out.



source https://treetechvictoria.wordpress.com/2024/05/03/the-basics-of-tree-felling/

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