www.arborage.com Arbor Age / September 2014 13
Precision is key in cutting
While precise, clean, well-matched cuts should always be
the goal in any chain saw operation, it is of particular impor-
tance in lifting operations. The forces and mass involved — not
to mention the hazard/target the limb or piece is being lifted
from — mean that sudden movements can be hazardous to
life, limb and target. A balanced piece — one that is intended
to stay horizontal as being lifted — requires a fairly simple cut:
an undercut beneath the branch, then the fi nishing cut on the
top, as matched up with the undercut as possible. Finishing
cuts with a straight hand saw in lifting operations will help
climbers avoid dancing with a large, rapidly moving piece of
wood with a running chain saw in their hands. A branch that
is being lifted to the vertical plane should be viewed as a tree
to be "felled" upward. This requires a face notch on the upper
surface of the branch with a back cut below. The notch width
and angle of opening will dictate when the branch separates,
given the presence of good wood fi ber, so operators should
consider the face notch placement carefully. In general, one
cut of the face notch should be perpendicular to the branch,
and the other slightly less than parallel to the ground (but
branch orientation will dictate specifi c angles). The operator
should recognize that the goal is for the piece to be vertical
prior to the notch closing/hinge breaking; and attempt to cut
the face notch accordingly. Once again, a straight hand saw is
the safest way to complete the cut. In either scenario, a small
amount of pre-tensioning of the system will be useful to pre-
vent the saw binding during cutting operations. But care must
be taken not to preload the system so greatly that premature
separation or violent movements occur while the operator is
in the danger zone.
As mentioned, the lifting technique in rigging operations
can be quite simple or very complex, dependent upon the
needs of the tree, site, and job requirements. But the basic
tools, techniques, knowledge, and methods discussed here can
begin the process of helping tree crews add this useful tech-
nique to the rigging compartment of their respective mental
toolboxes.
Michael "House" Tain is a contract climber, splicer, educator
and writer associated with North American Training Solutions
www.northamericantrainingsolutions.com and Arbor Canada
Training and Education www.arborcanada.com. He is currently
located in Lancaster, Ky., and can be reached via e-mail at
house@houseoftain.com.
