Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Felling a tree
trees to spread their limbs, seeking more sunshine.
Logging your land does alter it, but in a few short years
your woods will stop looking like a disaster area.
Remember, though, that you'll need about 45 logs
anyway, including possibly a heavy beam under the
floor joists, plus overhead beams. Then there are
rafters for the main house and porch and probably an
addition. And then there are the floor joists them-
selves. And that's just for the basic single-pen house.
You may also want to have your lumber cut from logs
at the nearest sawmill, a practice I encourage. So
unless your trees are very tall and very straight, you'll
get maybe one or two hewn logs and some boards from
each tree. Take a quick count and see if you really want
to cut those trees and clear that much ground.
It is more convenient, but more expensive, to have
a portable band saw and operator come into the woods
to cut your logs. They eliminate your having to load,
haul to, and then haul back your sawn logs and lum-
ber from the large mill. Portable mills may cost twice
as much per board foot as circle sawmills, but the con-
venience is often worth it. Most such mills cut up to 20-
foot lengths. Some operators charge by the board foot,
others by the hour. Since band saws have narrower
blades, they waste less wood in each cut. Sawn cabin
logs should always be center-cut to avoid warping.
When a tree is too large for the chain-saw bar to reach through, make
an initial cut on the far side of the trunk. Then proceed normally with
the cutting operation.
Warning!
If you've never cut timber, you should assume that it's
about as hard to do properly as using high explosives.
It is not simple, and it is extremely dangerous.
Here are the basics: The tree should be notched on
the side it is to fall toward. Use an axe, saw, or both to
cut about four inches deep. Then begin the actual cut
on the opposite side, a couple of inches above the
notch. Keep cutting until there's only an inch or so of
wood left, or until the tree starts to fall. Then get your
saw out and run like hell. Have an escape route pre-
planned. If the tree is thicker than your saw's reach,
cut in first from the side so the bar will cut all the way
through.
The following hazards are common: The tree falls
backward on you or your saw; the butt end kicks out
as the tree falls (particularly if you've cut too much);
limbs broken off the falling trunk are whipped back at
When a tree is leaning, cut into the
sides first, to lessen splitting when
the tree falls.
To change direction, leave more
wood on one side, to pull the
falling tree that way.
