Perhaps it is a good idea to alternate something in between. Because don't forget most accidents occur when pruning trees with the help of the chainsaw and not as often thought when felling the tree!

A hacksaw is suitable for removing thick branches. As mentioned, be careful if you want to use a chainsaw anyway! The branches are also often under considerable tension. In addition, there is a great risk that the chain saw's sword will become unmanageable in the maze of branches, can shoot out and cause injury.

For thin branches, the branch saw (also called pruning saw) or the lopper is used. The pruning saw has a solid handle and a somewhat curved shape so that branches cannot slip away so easily.

If possible, it is also possible to work with a wide-cut aks. Always work (and especially with conifers) from the bottom of the trunk to the top. You must also chop in this direction.

Perhaps the following is obvious and obvious to you, but not everyone knows it and takes it to heart.
The fibers in the wood that run lengthwise must be cut diagonally if possible, because that way you save yourself a lot of unnecessary hacking with the aks. From Australian Timber Trainers Association you can have the smartest deals.

Pruning with the aks

Completely harmless is pruning with an aks; the aks can bounce off the trunk or slip. If you are not solid / stable, you can lose your balance with all the consequences that entails. Make sure you have a sharp aks with a weight between 800 and 1000 grams and that the stem length is adjusted to your own arm length.

In principle, only one person may be busy with the tree at a time, and to minimize the risk of accidents, the tree trunk must always act as a buffer between aks and leg. Only prune the branches on the other side of the trunk opposite your leg, so that uncontrolled hawking with the aks cannot cause injury. Start by pruning the trunk of the tree and then work further up to the top. In this way the branches are cut off in the direction of the fibers. If it is necessary to prune on the side where you are standing, always make sure that your leg is not at the height of the aks' cut.

Pruning with the chainsaw

Pruning with a chainsaw is strenuous and therefore tiring work. This is because people often have to work in a bent posture. The best position for the body is when pruning at knee height, because then the back is not overloaded. Stand with your knees slightly bent and lower your legs if you have to work low. In any case, do not bend your back with your legs straight. To be able to work a little higher you can use trunks that are already lying down as a sawhorse.

As mentioned earlier, the risk of kickback is great. For example, if the piece of wood to be cut lies on the ground, there is a danger of cutting into the soil. Another reason may be that if the distance between the branches is too small, there is a risk that when cutting a branch, the tip of the saw blade touches another branch. As a result, the chainsaw can suddenly become uncontrollable.

About the Company: Towie Timber Training (TTT) provides nationally recognised training, safety and a consultancy service specialising but not confined to the forestry and timber products industry. TTT is a family business based in Mandurah, Western Australia. Bill Towie is the principal of TTT and a Forester with 40 years of experience in Forestry and aligned industries in Western Australia. Bill understands the pressures, difficulties and needs of the industry in Western Australia.