In this article I will share some of my experience using wedges to safely and efficiently fell trees. There are a lot of really interesting techniques for using wedges to tackle even the trickiest trees. You too will be using wedges to fell trees like a pro.
These include felling wedges, bucking wedges, and splitting wedges. While a back-lean can be overcome by using a single wedge, tree sizes come into play when determining how many wedges are to be used. Bigger trees would require 3 to 4 wedges to leverage the tree direction of lean and finally tip it over.
The size of the tree determines which felling tools you need to use. For the smallest trees, you do not normally need the felling tools. The felling wedge provides greater felling force than the different types of breaking bar.
If you’re a professional arborist or a homeowner looking to obtain firewood, this article will help you utilize a chainsaw wedge in your cutting practice from the standpoint of an expert. Wedges are simple, inexpensive tools that aid in tree felling and log bucking when used with a chainsaw. “Felling wedges are quite inexpensive and hence I would recommend you to carry more than with various sizes in your backpack. I would suggest that for a given diameter log, the most appropriate wedge has a length that is about 30-40% of the log’s diameter. For small-diameter trees, you should carry 4″,4.5″ and 5″ wedges. For larger diameters, you should have 7 ½”, 10, and 12″ wedges in your kit.
how to use chainsaw wedges Related Question:
How do you cut a tree with a wedge?
Wedges are designed to do two things: (1) keep your bar and chain from getting pinched when making the back cut (or felling cut); and (2), tip the tree over in the direction you want it to fall. When felling a back-leaning tree, think of your wedge as a lever.
How much does a wedge move a tree?
Consequently a 1-inch wedge will move the top of the 6-inch tree 140 inches, while the 18-inch tree’s top will move only 46 inches using the same wedge.
What is a bucking wedge?
Bucking Wedges – Also known as a summer wedge, bucking wedges are smooth on both sides to allow them to be easily removed from a kerf after use.
What should you not do when a tree falls off?
When cutting up a felled tree, avoid touching the ground with the chain because even a brief encounter will severely dull the cutting teeth on your chain saw. If possible, cut partially through the tree and then rotate it to cut the rest of the way through.
How do you fell a tree against the lean?
A large tree may be felled against its natural lean by inserting one or more wedges in the back cut. As the back cut is sawn, the wedges are driven in with an axe. The amount of back lean that can be overcome is based on the height and diameter of the tree to be felled.
Why are felling wedges plastic?
Plastic wedges are good for felling operations. They do not split easily, and their textured surfaces provide additional holding power in the wood, helping to prevent the wedges from backing out when they are being driven. Plastic wedges are manufactured in a variety of sizes.
What size felling wedges do I need?
The larger wedge you use for falling trees the better the lift it has. If your trees are in the 18″ range, a 7 1/2″ wedge should be sufficient, provided you don’t use a tack hammer to drive them, but I’d carry at least 4. It’s better to have them and not need them, than to need them and not have them.
How do you make a chainsaw wedge?
Using your chainsaw, begin by ripping two smooth sides and then make two diagonal cuts for the center wedge. This will yield three wedges, which should be enough to get your tree to the ground, unless you’ve worked yourself into a real pickle! Finished wedge in action.
Can you stack felling wedges?
Re: Stacking wedges in felling tree Put two wedges together , sandwich a little sawdust in between for stickiness , and drive them into the back of the tree . If that don’t work use that big john deere wedge and push it over .
How do you cut a log without pinching it?
To stop your chainsaw from getting stuck, make a cut on top of the log or tree that’s preferably one-third of the log’s diameter. Use your chainsaw to cut from the underside until you meet the initial top cut. Always stand on the side when cross-cutting to prevent injury.
Why should we not cut trees?
Ans. We should not cut trees because trees give us oxygen to breathe. Trees are also useful in many other things like, they give us fruits, vegetables, herbs and wood, etc.
When should you cut a dog’s teeth?
Using a dogtooth cut where the forward lean is minor can work, albeit with a less dramatic or defined “break’ when the final cut is deployed. Using where the tree has been incorrectly assessed as forward-leaning can lead to difficulty developing the required leverage with wedges or felling levers.
What happens when a tree barber chairs?
A barber chair occurs when a tree being felled delaminates vertically before the hinge is cut thin enough to bend. The term refers to the sliding action of the old style barber chair that positioned patrons in a head down, feet up position so the barber could more easily shave with the straight razor.
What is a Dutchman in tree felling?
Dutchman. The seat that interferes with the smooth closing of the notch. Caused when one of the notch cuts is made too deep and extends beyond the endpoint of the other notch cut, known as “Bypass”.
What is felling method?
Felling is the process of cutting down trees, an element of the task of logging. The person cutting the trees is a feller. A feller buncher is a machine capable of felling a single large tree or grouping and felling several small ones simultaneously.