6 Safety Tips for Limbing a Fallen Tree

Stand on the uphill side of the log Position the trunk between you and the chain. On flat ground, keep the saw’s bar on the opposite side of the log from your body so the log absorbs any kickback.

Work from the base toward the tip Never cut above shoulder height. Keep feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and never lean into the cut.

Cut bottom limbs first Start with the underside of bottom limbs to avoid pinching the bar. Then move to top limbs, but only cut what you can reach without overextending.

Use the saw’s sweet spot Cut with the lower part of the bar for better control and reduced kickback risk. Engage the chain brake between cuts and when repositioning.

Cut tensioned limbs from the pressure side If a limb is under tension (sprung branch), cut from the pressure side, not the tension side. Cutting the tension side can cause the limb to snap and take the saw with it.

Skip limbs thicker than your forearm If a limb is thicker than your forearm, leave it or get a bigger saw. Attempting to cut it is unsafe and likely to cause problems.