The Five Step Felling Plan: A Safe and Effective Way to Take Down a Tree with a Chainsaw

The Five Step Felling Plan is a safe and effective way to take down a tree with a chainsaw. An experienced saw user always has a plan and safety is a critical part of it. Nothing wastes time like a trip to the hospital. The five steps of the felling plan are:

Step 1. Identify height, hazards, and lean.
Step 2. Make sure you have the equipment needed.
Step 3. Plan and clear your escape route.
Step 4. Make the notch.
Step 5. Make a bore or back cut and use your escape route.

[MartyInTheWoods]

Very informative content and very well put together in a video!

[mackdaddynutjob]

Thanks ! This video explains many of the theoretical concepts necessary for a successful outcome.

[privateuploads-geo]

nice video. just one thing that wasn't clear to me: I've always been instructed to make the backcut or bore cut slightly above the notch.

[jankodera]

Some important bookmarks:
90-15-5 rule 8:10
hinge width 9:17
wedges good practice 7:12

[falconward]

Excellent instructions, especially with as much emphasis on safety as on getting the job done right. But IMO the end seemed to be a bit more rushed than the rest of the video, leaving me with the same burning question that has always puzzled me about felling a tree - the position of the backcut relative to each of the 3 types of notches you mentioned. I've seen some experienced tree pros cut the backcut slightly above the horizonal or flat part of the notch and others cut it right in line with it. What is the best position for the backcut in your experience? And does that apply to all 3 types of notches? thanks much!

[CharlieLemmink]

Thanks for these informative videos. Unfortunately the primary message these and others I've watched are conveying is to get some professional instruction before I attempt anything. But better to figure that out than to end up dead. Thanks again.

[murphytrees]

Where did you come up with the suggestion of a hinge 5% of the diameter, for trees over 25"... never heard that one before and strongly disagree with the thin hinge hypothesis...

[stilltlrforlife]

I love the dull concept of all theese safety videos..about as dull as the osha 10 and 30, they would work so much better with enthusiasm...

[ababner]

Well done wish more emphasis was placed on how to cut the tree with the saw.

[GiovD]

Does the 5% hinge width for large diameter trees also apply to back leaners?

[mixalis]

Overall, this is a good instructional video but as a beginner I would not trust all the procedures shown. Some instructions are vague and not well explained/justified.

[evertjan]

Why does this instructor does not wear protecting gloves during all film????

[gregtaylor]

With all this carry on you may even get 4 or 5 trees on the ground in a day.

[ThePiquedPigeon]

0:45 - It baffles me that, in these American safety videos, it seems that the pain and suffering caused by accidents often take second place in respect to loosing work time and money because of them...

[riskilljoey]

Very good vidéo but can you translate in french?