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Nov 30, The easiest choice is to fell the tree in the direction it would naturally fall due to slope, overhang and wind direction. Felling in another direction requires a special technique, more effort, and is sometimes just impossible.

In the following video, you can learn proper methods for creating different notches and techniques for maintaining a correct hinge so that you will fell a tree safely and comfortably. Nov 27, When felling a tree, always start by making a directional notch (also known as a face cut) on the side of the tree where you want it to fall.

This allows you to control the direction of the fall – essential to avoiding accidents and injury to you and anyone bushhaul.barted Reading Time: 6 mins. The basic felling procedure is to cut a notch on the side of the tree toward the direction you want it to fall, using a chain saw, and then finish cutting through the trunk from the opposite side.

The apex of the triangular notch has to be a few inches below the back cut to create a hinge that prevents the trunk from splitting or moving laterally while the tree is falling. Sep 01, The back lean is the distance from this point along the intended direction of fall to the apex of the planned undercut.

The apex will be the front of the hinge and the pivot point for the falling stem. The weight of the tree must be brought over this pivot point before the tree will fall. In the foot-tall tree at right, the back lean is three feet.

The tree actually pivots on this hinge, and the width and angle of the hinge can be used to guide the direction of the tree’s fall. Because of the angled hinge, the tree will start to fall on the narrow section of the hinge while the wood at the thicker section of the hinge is still intact. The tree is therefore pulled toward the thick section. Start a bore cut at the normal level for a back cut, again using the lower quadrant of the bar. Bore straight in, leaving enough hinge wood for the size of the tree.

Walk the saw back, cutting approximately half the tree and leaving sufficient holding wood in back. Repeat the procedure on the opposite side. Use a release cut from the back side. May 08, Daniel Murphy demonstrates that a tree can be steered with the backcut. Though this may seem like"common knowledge", there has been some scientific debate o.