MS 241 C-M
English
22
Escape Path
First clear the tree base and work area 
from interfering limbs and brush and 
clean its lower portion with an ax.
Then, establish two paths of escape (B) 
and remove all obstacles. These paths 
should be generally opposite to the 
planned direction of the fall of the tree 
(A) and about at a 45° angle. Place all 
tools and equipment a safe distance 
away from the tree, but not on the 
escape paths.
Buttress Roots
If the tree has large buttress roots, cut 
into the largest buttress vertically first 
(horizontally next) and remove the 
resulting piece.
Gunning Sight
When making the felling notch, use the 
gunning sight on the shroud and housing 
to check the desired direction of fall:
Position the saw so that the gunning 
sight points exactly in the direction you 
want the tree to fall.
Conventional Cut
Felling notch (C) – determines the 
direction of the fall
For a conventional cut:
N Properly place felling notch 
perpendicular to the line of fall, 
close to the ground.
N Cut down at approx. 45° angle to a 
depth of about 1/5 to 1/4 of the trunk 
diameter.
N Make second cut horizontal.
N Remove resulting 45° piece.