Page 2 - Demo

Option 1 – Single Side with questions on left and observables on right
20
Undercuts
¨ PHOTO 10 completed trees felled with measurements of stumps
¨ VIDEO Candidate falling a tree from start to finish (if available)
¨ STOP Undercuts are not aligned to intended direction of fall and brushing/hang ups are the
result
Knowledge
Observation
Explain the circumstances that are used for each of the four types of undercuts.
o Humboldt – coniferous trees, maximizing timber value
o Conventional – low stumps, split trees, no room to make alternate cut
o Pie – Deciduous trees, frozen wood o Swanson – Upslope falling, butt of
the tree to hit the ground before the top
Body positioning when constructing undercuts:
o Body positioned square to tree able to gauge the cut depth
o Maintains ability to watch/monitor the canopy
Awareness of tree condition:
o Monitors tree condition when applying falling cuts
o Faller trims bark (if required) Undercuts:
o Demonstrate Swanson, Conventional, Pie, and Humboldt on stumps or trees
o Vertical opening is no less than 1/3 of depth of undercut
o Undercut is completed and cleaned out o Sight lined to the intended direction of fall o Intended direction of fall and undercut
construction avoids brushing as an
outcome
o Overlapping cuts cleaned out to ensure
directional control is maintained
o Straight plane from holding wood corner to
holding wood corner
o Depth between 25% and 40% of tree
diameter
o Up to 50% for short stubby
o Below 25% for heavy leaners
o Below 25% allowed for small diameter trees wedged against the lean
Think about making an undercut. What are 4 things that an Assessor would look for to determine if the undercut was done correctly?
o Construction so that the vertical opening is no less than 1/3 of the depth of the undercut
o Completed and cleaned out. (Cleaned out means straight plane from holding wood corner to holding wood corner, with no obstructions in the opening – unclean undercut)
o First cut must be 90 degrees to the intended direction of fall
o Depth of undercut must be within acceptable range for the tree being felled (25% to 40% unless exceptions)
When making undercuts, what are the under 25% and over 40% exceptions?
Exceptions may include: (Up to 50%)
o Short stubby (Under 25%)
o Heavy leaners
o Small diameter trees wedged against
the lean