How to drop a tree

To drop a tree there are many steps you must go through even before you make your first cut. There are four steps before you even start your saw: The easy way to remember then is HELP

1)H: Hazards- can be as simple as a vine cathing or a tie strap on your chain breaking.

2)E: Escape routes- where you will go when the tree drops. Usually at 45 degree angles away from the direction of the tree falling. 85 percent of deaths are within 12 feet of the stump.

3)L: Lean- the way the tree leans you look directly up it to where straight would be and however it goes off the straight line is how it leans.

4)P: Plan- what you will do and how you will do it, which includes all previous steps and thinking ahead what if.

Your first cut should be your top cut. The top cut comes down almost perpendicular with the tree because you want your notch to be 70-90 degrees. Your second cut comes up from the bottom, and meets your top cut. Then, you come in directly behind where the two cuts meet from the back of the tree up to the hinge, which will vary upon DBH 4.5ft diameter at breast height. Your hinge thickness is 10% of the DBH, and your notch length is 80% of DBH which will give you the depth your notch should be. (http://images.inmagine.com/img/glowimages/gwp112/gwp112055.jpg