Cutting Hardwood With a Chain Saw

Observe the tree from a distance to identify any possible dangers and the direction the tree will fall. Trees fall in the direction of a leaning trunk or toward the heavier side of a lopsided crown. Also look for obstructions, such as power lines, that could come down with the tree. Never cut a tree if something else might come down with it accidentally. Identify a path of retreat from the tree as you approach.

Choose where to make the undercut, which determines where the tree will fall. If the tree has an uneven crown, make the cut under the heaviest part of the crown. If the tree leans, make the undercut on the side of the tree that faces the direction of the lean. When the trunk is straight and the crown is even, make the undercut on the side of the tree that faces the direction you want the tree to fall.

Make the undercut. The cut is a 90-degree notch that you take out of the side of the tree. The deepest part of the notch should be about one-fourth to one-third of the way through the trunk. Start with the bottom cut. Hold the chainsaw parallel to the ground and with the blade aimed to cut up into the trunk at a 45-degree angle. Cut into the tree until you are slightly more than one-quarter of the way through the diameter of the trunk. Make your second cut above the first. Cut in to the tree at a 45-degree angle, but going down toward the deepest point of the first cut. The idea is to have a 90-degree notch cut from the side of the tree.

Make your backcut on the side of the tree that is opposite the undercut. Start about 2 inches above the center of the undercut notch and cut horizontally toward the undercut. Stop your cut about 2 inches before you reach the undercut. The remaining wood, called the holding wood or hinge, helps slow the fall of the tree and keep the trunk from kicking back.

Retreat from the tree as soon as you have finished the backcut. Move in a line that is diagonal and away from the direction of the fall. Never retreat straight back from the fall line, because the trunk could slip toward you as the tree falls.

Buck the tree. Cut the branches from the side of the trunk that faces the sky, then cut the trunk into manageable sections. The bottom branches keep the trunk off the ground and prevent you from cutting into the dirt. For firewood, cut the trunk into lengths that are appropriate for your fireplace. Once you have bucked the trunk, roll the sections over and cut off the remaining branches.