You have now gone through the basics of how to maintain and operate your chainsaw in a safe manner. But there is still one thing left to cover. That's how to store your chainsaw when your work is done.

Once you have finished your work, you should always loosen your chain. A chain can tighten as it cools down, possibly causing serious damage to the crankshaft and bearings when stored. It's also a good idea to coat your bar and chain with a corrosion inhibiting oil if it will be sitting unused for any length of time.

If you'll be storing your saw for a period of three months or longer before you intend to use it again, you should drain the fuel tank and run the engine until the carburetor is dry and the saw quits running. This will help prevent the parts in your carburetor from sticking or becoming inoperable and always store your chainsaw in a dry, high or locked location, outside the reach of children or any unauthorized person.

There are two popular felling techniques most commonly used today: the standard or common notch and the open face technique.

Your owner's manual will describe various techniques for making felling cuts. In this video, we will show you the basic techniques using the bar that is suitable for the size of the tree we are falling. If the tree you will be falling is larger in diameter than the usable bar length of your chainsaw, you will need to utilize special techniques to safely fell the tree. In this case, if you are not a trained professional, it is highly advised that you leave these larger trees to a professional with the right equipment and training.

Let's begin at how the standard or common notch technique works. The notch you cut in the tree will consist of one cut that is horizontal level with the ground and a second cut that is at a 45-degree angle. These two cuts will intersect with each other, creating the felling notch. The side of the tree that you create the notch in will be the same side that you want the tree to fall. Here you can use your felling sites to help you properly position the notch and the hinge that will help control the felling of the tree. Point your felling site to the location you want the tree to fall will give you the 90 degree angle that you will want for a properly placed notch.

As you cut, always watch for weakness or rot in the tree. If the tree is weak or rotted, it is advisable that you have a trained professional remove the tree.

Make you 45 degree cut first with a depth into the tree approximately 1/5 to ¼ of the tree trunk's diameter. Next, make your horizontal cut intersecting with the 45-degree cut; creating a wedge that can be removed from the tree. It is extremely important that these two cuts meet exactly so take your time, making certain that you get it right.

You'll now move to the rear of the tree and begin the felling cut. If there's any loose bark on the backside of the tree, use your ax to dislodge the bark around the area that you would be making your felling cut. This cut will be horizontal and should be 1 to 2 inches high than the horizontal cut of the felling notch made earlier.

Always stay to the side of the tree when making your felling cut. Never work from directly behind the tree as the tree could split and come backwards with deadly force, an event called barber chirring.

As you begin to make the felling cut, add your plastic wedges to the back of the cut. These will keep the tree from settling back into the cut and pinching your guide bar and it will also be instrumental in felling the tree, particularly if there is insignificant lean towards the desired felling direction.

The hinge you create when done properly will leave approximately 1/10 of the diameter of the tree uncut. Never cut into the hinge. Doing so could cause you to lose control of the direction of the fall.

Once you have correctly made your hinge with the felling cut and if the tree has sufficient lean, it will begin its fall the ground. When you see the tree begin to fall, immediately remove the saw from the cut. Turn it off with the chain brake engaged and withdraw from the cutting area, using one of the your preplanned escape routes. Never remain near the tree during its fall.

If you have finished making your back cut but the tree is not falling, you use your wedges to complete the task. One hit at a time, drive the wedges further into the felling cut, waiting a few moments for the tree to absorb the dynamics of the wedging process. Continue the process until you see the tree begin to make its fall. Again, retreat to a safe distance while the tree falls. If for any reason, the tree still won't fall after properly wedging it, do not attempt to make additional cuts with your chainsaw. This could result in serious or fatal injury. Bring the tree down with a cable wench, block and tackle or heavy equipment such as a tractor or bulldozer.

The second type of felling cut is the open face cut, used by many of today's professionals. Unlike the standard or common technique, the open face uses an angle bottom cut ha allows the tree to utilize the hinge throughout the fall all the way to the ground, give you more control of the felling process. Again, you'll use the felling sites to direct the tree's fall in the desired location.

Make your first cut down approximately a 50-degree angle to a depth of approximately 1/5 to 1/4 of the trunk diameter. Make the second cut from below at approximately a 40-degree angle. These cuts must match exactly and will result in a 90-degree wedge removed from the tree.

When you make your back cut or felling cut, it should be horizontal and 1 to 2 inches above the apex of the open face cut or above where the two cuts on the open face meet, creating the proper hinge. Again, using your wedges just as you did with the standard common technique to fall the tree.

Having completed all the basic inspections and maintenance on your chainsaw. It’s almost time to cut wood but before we do, let’s take a look at protective apparel that’s available today.

The proper safety gear is critical to reducing the risk of serious or fatal injury while operating a chainsaw Remember a chainsaw is a very powerful tool and if not handled properly, can be a dangerous or deadly tool.

Protective apparel has been designed to reduce injuries when using your chainsaw. Just like helmets and pads can help to reduce injuries to your children when playing today’s sports, you invest in their protection. It’s just as important and you owe it to yourself, your family and friends to take the necessary precautions to reduce your risks as well.

Invest in the proper protective apparel to reduce the chances of exposing yourself to serious injury or even death when working with your chainsaw. Some of the major components of protective apparel today are:

• Specially designed chainsaw boots which are usually steel toed and made of cut retardant material.
• Antex chaps or leggings designed to quickly stop a chain should the chain have accidental contact with you…. the most common cause of injuries when using a chainsaw.
• Protective shirts are also available with the same antex material as well as gloves.
• A helmet system with antsy rated heavy protection and face shield and antsy rated protective eyewear.

It is also recommended that you always wear heavy denim work trousers that fit snugly and do not drag on the ground. Nothing should be loose hanging. Plus if you have a long or braided hair, it’s recommended that you pin your hair up or securely tuck it in your shirt or helmet system.

When felling a tree, you will need to evaluate the dynamics of the tree but there are also several other important details that must be considered before you choose your trees to fell.

First, look in a 360-degree radius for hazards or property that could be struck by tree that you're falling. If any of these are in reach of the tree, regardless of the direction in which you think the tree will fall, it is highly advised to call in a professional with the proper training and equipment to fell the tree.

Check the weather conditions. If it is a windy day, the top of the tree acts just like a sail and can adversely affect the way the tree will fall in relation to the way you want it to fall. If this is the case, it is advisable that you fell the tree when conditions are more favorable or call in a professional to finish the job.

Look for other trees and shrubbery in the immediate area and how they will be affected when your tree falls.

Also look for snags or loose hanging branches in the tree and surrounding trees. The vibrations and harmonics in the tree created by the cutting action of the chainsaw or the forces caused by windy conditions can be just enough to dislodge the branches where they can fall straight down onto the saw operator. A dangerous hazard that can result in serious injury or even death.

Now that you've chosen the tree you will fell and the surrounding area is suitable for the job, let's look at the fundamentals of felling the tree.

You must first determine the direction the tree will fall. To do so, take into account these basics.

The lean of the tree, which may indicate the direction, the tree will most easily fall.
Also look at the branches of tree and determine if there are a great proportion of limbs or heavier limbs on one side of the tree than the other. This displacement of weight by the limbs can also have a factor on the direction the tree would most naturally fall even if a slight lean of the tree is in the opposite direction. This is a critical choice you have to make and if you are uncertain at all, it is highly advised that you either move to another tree to fell or that you call in a professional to complete the work.

You will also want to take into account other trees or shrubbery in the area. They could affect the tree fall or that it could be damaged by the tree's fall.

Once you have determined the direction which you fall the tree, clean the area around the base of tree so you have an unobstructed zone to work in.

You'll also need to determine paths of retreat for yourself as the tree begins to fall or in case of an emergency. The paths of retreat should be at a 45-degree angle at both sides of the tree opposite of the felling direction. Make certain the entire paths of retreat are clear and unobstructed.

Again, anyone working with you in the area should remain at a distance no close than 2 and half times the length of the tree to be felling and remember never let bystanders or pets in or around the area you are working in. Your partner can be a great help in this regard to make sure no one enters the work zone.

To fell a tree properly, you should also have a set of plastic felling wedges and an ax similar to these. The wedges should be made of a plastic component as not to harm the cutters of the moving chainsaw when used to wedge the tree. Steel or metal wedges will quickly dull a chain and cause a very dangerous condition in the felling process.

Your axe will be used to dislodge any loose bark in the area of your cut as well as the tool you will use to force the wedges into the felling cut.