Stihl Ms230c Manual

							MS 210, MS 210 C, MS 230, MS 230 C, MS 250, MS 250 C
English
9
WARNING
WARNING
To reduce the risk of cut injuries, keep 
hands and feet away from the cutting 
tool. Never touch a moving cutting tool 
with your hand or any other part of your 
body.
WARNING
Keep proper footing and balance at all 
times. Special care must be taken in 
slippery conditions (wet ground, snow) 
and in difficult, overgrown terrain. Watch 
for hidden obstacles such as tree 
stumps, roots, rocks, holes and ditches to avoid stumbling. There is increased 
danger of slipping on freshly debarked 
logs. For better footing, clear away fallen 
branches, scrub and cuttings. Be 
extremely cautious when working on 
slopes or uneven ground.
WARNING
Take extreme care in wet and freezing 
weather (rain, snow, ice). Put off the 
work when the weather is windy, stormy 
or rainfall is heavy.
WARNING
To reduce the risk of injury from loss of 
control, never work on a ladder or any 
other insecure support. Never hold the 
machine above shoulder height. Do not 
overreach.
WARNING
Never work in a tree unless you have 
received specific, professional training 
for such work, are properly secured 
(such as tackle and harness system or a 
lift bucket), have both hands free for 
operating the chain saw in a cramped 
environment and have taken proper 
precautions to avoid injury from falling 
limbs or branches.
Position the chain saw in such a way 
that your body is clear of the cutting 
attachment whenever the engine is 
running. Stand to the left of cut while 
bucking.
Never put pressure on the saw when 
reaching the end of a cut. The pressure 
may cause the bar and rotating chain to 
pop out of the cut or kerf, go out of 
control and strike the operator or some 
other object. If the rotating chain strikes 
some other object, a reactive force may 
cause the moving chain to strike the 
operator.
Working Conditions
Operate and start your power tool only 
outdoors in a well ventilated area. 
Operate it under good visibility and 
daylight conditions only. Work carefully. To reduce the risk 
of serious or fatal 
injury to the opera-
tor or bystanders 
from loss of con-
trol, never use the 
saw with one 
hand. It is more 
difficult for you to 
control reactive 
forces and to pre-
vent the bar and 
chain from skating 
or bouncing along 
the limb or log. 
Even for those 
compact saws 
designed for use 
in confined 
spaces, one-
handed operation 
is dangerous 
because the oper-
ator may lose 
control.
001BA031 KN
001BA082 KN 
						

							MS 210, MS 210 C, MS 230, MS 230 C, MS 250, MS 250 C
English
10
WARNING
Your chain saw is a one-person 
machine. Do not allow other persons in 
the general work area, even when 
starting. Stop the engine immediately if 
you are approached.
WARNING
Even though bystanders should be kept 
away from the running saw, never work 
alone. Keep within calling distance of 
others in case help is needed.
WARNING
WARNING
Inhalation of certain dusts, especially 
organic dusts such as mold or pollen, 
can cause susceptible persons to have 
an allergic or asthmatic reaction.
Substantial or repeated inhalation of 
dust and other airborne contaminants, in 
particular those with a smaller particle size, may cause respiratory or other 
illnesses. This includes wood dust, 
especially from hardwoods, but also 
from some softwoods such as Western 
Red Cedar. Control dust at the source 
where possible. Use good work 
practices, such as always cutting with a 
properly sharpened chain (which 
produces wood chips rather than fine 
dust) and operating the unit so that the 
wind or operating process directs any 
dust raised by the power tool away from 
the operator. Follow the 
recommendations of EPA / OSHA / 
NIOSH and occupational and trade 
associations with respect to dust 
("particulate matter"). When the 
inhalation of dust cannot be 
substantially controlled, i.e., kept at or 
near the ambient (background) level, the 
operator and any bystanders should 
wear a respirator approved by NIOSH / 
MSHA for the type of dust encountered.
WARNING
Breathing asbestos dust is dangerous 
and can cause severe or fatal injury, 
respiratory illness or cancer. The use 
and disposal of asbestos-containing 
products have been strictly regulated by 
OSHA and the Environmental Protection 
Agency. If you have any reason to 
believe that you might be cutting 
asbestos, immediately contact your 
employer or a local OSHA 
representative.
Operating Instructions
WARNING
Do not operate your power tool using the 
starting throttle lock, as you do not have 
control of the engine speed. As soon as the engine is 
running, this product gen-
erates toxic exhaust 
fumes containing chemi-
cals, such as unburned 
hydrocarbons (including 
benzene) and carbon 
monoxide, that are 
known to cause respira-
tory problems, cancer, 
birth defects, or other 
reproductive harm. Some 
of the gases (e.g. carbon 
monoxide) may be color-
less and odorless. To 
reduce the risk of serious 
or fatal injury / illness 
from inhaling toxic fumes, 
never run the machine 
indoors or in poorly venti-
lated locations. If exhaust 
fumes become concen-
trated due to insufficient 
ventilation, clear obstruc-
tions from work area to 
permit proper ventilation 
before proceeding and / 
or take frequent breaks to 
allow fumes to dissipate 
before they become 
concentrated. 
						

							MS 210, MS 210 C, MS 230, MS 230 C, MS 250, MS 250 C
English
11 In the event of an emergency, switch off 
the engine immediately – move the slide 
control / stop switch to 0 or STOP.
WARNING
Always stop the engine before putting a 
chain saw down.
WARNING
The saw chain continues to move for a 
short period after the throttle trigger is 
released (flywheel effect).
Accelerating the engine while the saw 
chain is blocked increases the load and 
will cause the clutch to slip continuously. 
This may occur if the throttle is 
depressed for more than a few seconds 
when the chain is pinched in the cut or 
the chain brake is engaged. It can result 
in overheating and damage to important 
components (e.g. clutch, polymer 
housing components) – which can then 
increase the risk of injury, e.g., from the 
saw chain moving while the engine is 
idling.
WARNING
Your chain saw is equipped with a chain 
catcher. It is designed to reduce the risk 
of personal injury in the event of a 
thrown or broken chain. From time to 
time, the catcher may be damaged or 
removed. To reduce the risk of personal 
injury, do not operate a chain saw with a 
damaged or missing chain catcher.
WARNING
Inspect antivibration elements 
periodically. Replace damaged, broken 
or excessively worn antivibration elements immediately, since they may 
result in loss of control of the saw. A 
"sponginess" in the feel of the saw, 
increased vibration or increased 
"bottoming" during normal operation 
may indicate damage, breakage or 
excessive wear. Antivibration elements 
should always be replaced in sets. If you 
have any questions as to whether the 
antivibration elements should be 
replaced, consult your STIHL servicing 
dealer.
WARNING
Your saw is not designed for prying or 
shoveling away limbs, roots or other 
objects. Such use could damage the 
cutting attachment or AV system.
WARNING
When sawing, make sure that the saw 
chain does not touch any foreign 
materials such as rocks, fences, nails 
and the like. Such objects may be flung 
off, damage the saw chain or cause the 
saw to kickback.
WARNING
Never modify your muffler. Any 
modification could cause an increase in 
heat radiation, sparks or sound level, 
thereby increasing the risk of fire, burn 
injury or hearing loss. You may also 
permanently damage the engine. Have 
your muffler serviced and repaired by 
your STIHL servicing dealer only.
WARNING
The muffler and other parts of the engine 
(e.g. fins of the cylinder, spark plug) 
become hot during operation and remain hot for a while after stopping the engine. 
To reduce risk of burns, do not touch the 
muffler and other parts while they are 
hot. Keep the area around the muffler 
clean. Remove excess lubricant and all 
debris such as pine needles, branches 
or leaves. Let the engine cool down 
sitting on concrete, metal, bare ground 
or solid wood (e.g. the trunk of a felled 
tree) away from any combustible 
substances.
WARNING
An improperly mounted or damaged 
cylinder housing or a 
damaged/deformed muffler shell may 
interfere with the cooling process of the 
muffler. To reduce the risk of fire or burn 
injury, do not continue work with a 
damaged or improperly mounted 
cylinder housing or a 
damaged/deformed muffler shell.
Your muffler is furnished with a spark 
arresting screen designed to reduce the 
risk of fire from the emission of hot 
particles. Never operate your unit with a 
missing or damaged spark arresting 
screen. If your gas/oil mix ratio is correct 
(i.e., not too rich), this screen will 
normally stay clean as a result of the 
heat from the muffler and need no 
service or maintenance. If you 
experience loss of performance and you 
suspect a clogged screen, have your 
muffler maintained by a STIHL servicing 
dealer. Some state or federal laws or 
regulations may require a properly 
maintained spark arrestor for certain 
uses. See the "Maintenance, Repair and 
Storing" section of these Safety 
Precautions. Remember that the risk of 
a brush or forest fire is greater in hot or 
dry conditions. 
						

							MS 210, MS 210 C, MS 230, MS 230 C, MS 250, MS 250 C
English
12
WARNING
Reactive Forces including Kickback
WARNING
Reactive forces may occur any time the 
chain is rotating. Reactive forces can 
cause serious personal injury.The powerful force used to cut wood can 
be reversed and work against the 
operator. If the rotating chain is suddenly 
stopped by contact with any solid object 
such as a log or branch or is pinched, the 
reactive forces may occur instantly. 
These reactive forces may result in loss 
of control, which, in turn, may cause 
serious or fatal injury. An understanding 
of the causes of these reactive forces 
may help you avoid the element of 
surprise and loss of control. Sudden 
surprise contributes to accidents.
The most common reactive forces are:
–kickback,
–pushback,
–pull-in.
Kickback:The reaction of the cutting force of the 
chain causes a rotational force on the 
chain saw in the direction opposite to the 
chain movement. This may fling the bar 
up and back in a lightning fast reaction in 
an uncontrolled arc mainly in the plane 
of the bar. Under some cutting 
circumstances the bar moves towards 
the operator, who may suffer severe or 
fatal injury.
Kickback may occur, for example, when 
the chain near the upper quadrant of the 
bar nose contacts the wood or is 
pinched during limbing or when it is 
incorrectly used to begin a plunge or 
boring cut.
The greater the force of the kickback 
reaction, the more difficult it becomes for 
the operator to control the saw. Many 
factors influence the occurrence and 
force of the kickback reaction. These 
include chain speed, the speed at which  Some STIHL power tools 
are equipped with a cata-
lytic converter, which is 
designed to reduce the 
exhaust emissions of the 
engine by a chemical 
process in the muffler. 
Due to this process, the 
muffler does not cool 
down as rapidly as con-
ventional mufflers when 
the engine returns to idle 
or is shut off. To reduce 
the risk of fire and burn 
injuries when using a cat-
alytic converter, always 
set your power tool down 
in the upright position and 
never locate it where the 
muffler is near dry brush, 
grass, wood chips or 
other combustible materi-
als while it is still hot.
      
        
          
            
Kickback may occur 
when the moving saw 
chain near the upper 
quadrant of the bar nose 
contacts a solid object or 
is pinched.
001BA093 LÄ
001BA035 KN 
						

							MS 210, MS 210 C, MS 230, MS 230 C, MS 250, MS 250 C
English
13 the bar and chain contact the object, the 
angle of contact, the condition of the 
chain and other factors.
The type of bar and saw chain you use 
is an important factor in the occurrence 
and force of the kickback reaction. Some 
STIHL bar and chain types are designed 
to reduce kickback forces. STIHL 
recommends the use of reduced 
kickback bars and low kickback chains.
ANSI B 175.1-2000 chain saw kickback 
standard
§ 5.11 of ANSI standard B 175.1-2000, 
sets certain performance and design 
criteria related to chain saw kickback.
To comply with § 5.11 of ANSI 
B175.1-2000:
a)Saws with a displacement of less 
than 3.8 cubic inches (62 cm³)
–must, in their original condition, 
meet a 45° computer derived 
kickback angle when equipped with 
certain cutting attachments,
–and must be equipped with at least 
two devices to reduce the risk of 
kickback injury, such as a chain 
brake, low kickback chain, reduced 
kickback bar, etc.
b)Saws with a displacement of 
3.8 cubic inches (62 cm³) and 
above
–must be equipped with at least one 
device designed to reduce the risk 
of kickback injury, such as a chain 
brake, low kickback chain, reduced 
kickback bar, etc.The computer derived angles for saws 
below 3.8 cubic inches (62 cm³) 
displacement are measured by applying 
a computer program to test results from 
a kickback test machine.
WARNING
The computer derived angles of § 5.11 
of ANSI B 175.1-2000 may bear no 
relationship to actual kickback bar 
rotation angles that may occur in real life 
cutting situations.
In addition, features designed to reduce 
kickback injuries may lose some of their 
effectiveness when they are no longer in 
their original condition, especially if they 
have been improperly maintained. 
Compliance with § 5.11 of ANSI 
B 175.1-2000 does not automatically 
mean that in a real life kickback the bar 
and chain will rotate at most 45°.
WARNING
In order for powerheads below 3.8 cubic 
inches (62 cm³) displacement to comply 
with the computed kickback angle 
requirements of § 5.11 of ANSI 
B 175.1-2000 use only the following 
cutting attachments:
–bar and chain combinations listed 
as complying in the "Specifications" 
section of the instruction manual or
–other replacement bar and chain 
combinations marked in 
accordance with the standard for 
use on the powerhead or
–replacement chain designated "low 
kickback saw chain."
See the section on "Low kickback saw 
chain and reduced kickback bars."Devices for Reducing the Risk of 
Kickback Injury
STIHL recommends the use of the 
STIHL Quickstop chain brake on your 
powerhead with green labeled reduced 
kickback bars and low kickback chains.
WARNING
To reduce the risk of injury, never use a 
saw if the chain brake does not function 
properly. Take the saw to your local 
STIHL servicing dealer. Do not use the 
saw until the problem has been rectified.
STIHL Quickstop Chain Brake
STIHL has developed a chain stopping 
system designed to reduce the risk of 
injury in certain kickback situations. It is 
called a Quickstop chain brake.
All STIHL chain saws are equipped with 
a Quickstop chain brake which can be 
activated by inertia. If the forces of an 
occurring kickback are sufficiently high, 
001BA174 KN 
						

							MS 210, MS 210 C, MS 230, MS 230 C, MS 250, MS 250 C
English
14 the hand guard is accelerated towards 
the bar nose even without hand contact. 
See the chapter entitled "Chain Brake" 
of your instruction manual.
WARNING
Never operate your chain saw without a 
front hand guard. In a kickback situation 
this guard helps protect your left hand 
and other parts of your body. In addition, 
removal of the hand guard on a saw 
equipped with a Quickstop chain brake 
will deactivate the chain brake.
WARNING
No Quickstop or other chain brake 
device prevents kickback. These 
devices are designed to reduce the risk 
of kickback injury, if activated, in certain 
kickback situations. In order for the 
Quickstop to reduce the risk of kickback 
injury, it must be properly maintained 
and in good working order. See the 
chapter of your instruction manual 
entitled "Chain Brake" and the section 
"Maintenance, Repair and Storing" at 
the end of these Safety Precautions. In 
addition, there must be enough distance 
between the bar and the operator to 
ensure that the Quickstop has sufficient 
time to activate and stop the chain 
before potential contact with the 
operator.
WARNING
An improperly maintained chain brake 
may increase the time needed to stop 
the chain after activation, or may not 
activate at all.
WARNING
Never run the chain saw above idle 
speed for more than 3 seconds when the 
chain brake is engaged or when the 
chain is pinched or otherwise caught in 
the cut. Clutch slippage can cause 
excessive heat, leading to severe 
damage of the motor housing, clutch 
and oiler component and may interfere 
with the operation of the chain brake. If 
clutch slippage in excess of 3 seconds 
has occurred, allow the motor housing to 
cool before proceeding and check the 
operation of your chain brake as 
described in the chapter entitled "Chain 
Brake" of your instruction manual. Also 
make sure that the chain is not turning at 
idle speed (see above at "Important 
Adjustments").
Low Kickback Saw Chain and Reduced 
Kickback Bars
STIHL offers a variety of bars and 
chains. STIHL reduced kickback bars 
and low kickback chains are designed to 
reduce the risk of kickback injury. Other 
chains are designed to obtain higher 
cutting efficiency or sharpening ease but 
may result in higher kickback tendency. 
STIHL has developed a color code 
system to help you identify the STIHL 
reduced kickback bars and low kickback 
chains. Cutting attachments with green 
warning decals or green labels on the 
packaging are designed to reduce the 
risk of kickback injury. The matching of 
green decaled powerheads under 
3.8 cubic inches (62 cm³) displacement 
with green labeled bars and green 
labeled chains gives compliance with 
the computed kickback angle 
requirements of ANSI B 175.1-2000 when the products are in their original 
condition. Products with yellow decals or 
labels are for users with extraordinary 
cutting needs and experience and 
specialized training for dealing with 
kickback.
STIHL recommends the use of its green 
labeled reduced kickback bars, green 
labeled low kickback chains and a 
STIHL Quickstop chain brake for both 
experienced and inexperienced chain 
saw users.
Please ask your STIHL dealer to 
properly match your powerhead with the 
appropriate bar / chain combination to 
reduce the risk of kickback injury. Green 
labeled bars and chains are 
recommended for all powerheads.
WARNING
Use of other, non-listed bar / chain 
combinations may increase kickback 
forces and the risk of kickback injury. 
New bar / chain combinations may be 
developed after publication of this 
literature, which will, in combination with 
certain powerheads, comply with § 5.11 
of ANSI B 175.1-2000. Check with your 
STIHL dealer for such combinations.
WARNING
Reduced kickback bars and low 
kickback chains do not prevent 
kickback, but they are designed to 
reduce the risk of kickback injury. They 
are available from your STIHL dealer.
WARNING
Even if your saw is equipped with a 
Quickstop, a reduced kickback bar and / 
or low kickback chain, this does not  
						

							MS 210, MS 210 C, MS 230, MS 230 C, MS 250, MS 250 C
English
15 eliminate the risk of injury by kickback. 
Therefore, always observe all safety 
precautions to avoid kickback situations.
Low Kickback Chain
Some types of saw chain have specially 
designed components to reduce the 
force of nose contact kickback. STIHL 
has developed low kickback chain for 
your powerhead.
"Low kickback saw chain" is a chain 
which has met the kickback 
performance requirements of § 5.11.2.4 
of ANSI B 175.1-2000 (Gasoline-
Powered Chain Saws–Safety 
Requirements) when tested in its 
original condition on a selected 
representative sample of chain saws 
below 3.8 cubic inches (62 cm³) 
displacement specified in ANSI 
B175.1-2000.
WARNING
There are potential powerhead and bar 
combinations with which low kickback 
saw chains can be used which have not 
been specifically certified to comply with 
the 45° computer derived kickback 
angle of § 5.11 of ANSI B 175.1-2000. 
Some low kickback chains have not 
been tested with all powerhead and bar 
combinations.
WARNING
A dull or improperly sharpened chain 
may reduce or negate the effects of the 
design features intended to reduce 
kickback energy. Improper lowering or 
sharpening of the depth gauges or 
shaping of the cutters may increase the chance and the potential energy of a 
kickback. Always cut with a properly 
sharpened chain.
Reduced Kickback Bars
STIHL green labeled reduced kickback 
bars are designed to reduce the risk of 
kickback injury when used with STIHL 
green labeled low kickback chains.
WARNING
When used with other, more aggressive 
chains, these bars may be less effective 
in reducing kickback.
WARNING
For a properly balanced saw and in 
order to comply with §  5.12.1 of ANSI 
B 175.1-2000, use only bar lengths 
listed in the specifications chapter of the 
instruction manual for your chain saw 
powerhead.
Bow Guides
WARNING
Do not mount a bow guide on any STIHL 
chain saw. Any chain saw equipped with 
a bow guide is potentially very 
dangerous. The risk of kickback is 
increased with a bow guide because of 
the increased kickback contact area. 
Low kickback chain will not significantly 
reduce the risk of kickback injury when 
used on a bow guide.To avoid Kickback
The best protection from personal injury 
that may result from kickback is to avoid 
kickback situations:
1.Hold the chain saw firmly with both 
hands and maintain a secure grip. 
Don’t let go.
2.Be aware of the location of the guide 
bar nose at all times.
3.Never let the nose of the guide bar 
contact any object. Do not cut limbs 
with the nose of the guide bar. Be 
especially careful near wire fences 
and when cutting small, tough 
limbs, small size brush and saplings 
which may easily catch the chain.
4.Don't overreach.
5.Don't cut above shoulder height.
6.Begin cutting and continue at full 
throttle.
7.Cut only one log at a time.
8.Use extreme caution when 
reentering a previous cut.
9.Do not attempt to plunge cut if you 
are not experienced with these 
cutting techniques.
10.Be alert for shifting of the log or 
other forces that may cause the cut 
to close and pinch the chain.
11.Maintain saw chain properly. Cut 
with a correctly sharpened, properly 
tensioned chain at all times.
12.Stand to the side of the cutting path 
of the chain saw. 
						

							MS 210, MS 210 C, MS 230, MS 230 C, MS 250, MS 250 C
English
16 A = Pull-in
Pull-in occurs when the chain on the 
bottom of the bar is suddenly stopped 
when it is pinched, caught or encounters 
a foreign object in the wood. The 
reaction of the chain pulls the saw 
forward and may cause the operator to 
lose control.
Pull-in frequently occurs when the 
bumper spike of the saw is not held 
securely against the tree or limb and 
when the chain is not rotating at full 
speed before it contacts the wood.
WARNING
Use extreme caution when cutting small 
size brush and saplings which may 
easily catch the chain, be whipped 
towards you or pull you off balance.
To avoid Pull-in
1.Always start a cut with the chain 
rotating at full speed and the 
bumper spike in contact with the 
wood.
2.The risk of pull-in may also be 
reduced by using wedges to open 
the kerf or cut.B = Pushback
Pushback occurs when the chain on the 
top of the bar is suddenly stopped when 
it is pinched, caught or encounters a 
foreign object in the wood. The reaction 
of the chain may drive the saw rapidly 
straight back toward the operator and 
may cause loss of saw control. 
Pushback frequently occurs when the 
top of the bar is used for cutting.
To avoid Pushback
1.Be alert to forces or situations that 
may cause material to pinch the top 
of the chain.
2.Do not cut more than one log at a 
time.
3.Do not twist the saw when 
withdrawing the bar from a plunge 
cut or underbuck cut because the 
chain can pinch.
Cutting Techniques
Felling
Felling is cutting down a tree.
Before felling a tree, consider carefully 
all conditions which may affect the 
direction of fall.
WARNING
There are a number of factors that may 
affect and change the intended direction 
of fall, e.g. wind direction and speed, 
lean of tree, surrounding trees and 
obstacles, sloping ground, one-sided 
limb structure, wood structure, decay, 
snow load, etc. To reduce the risk of 
severe or fatal injury to yourself or 
others, look for these conditions prior to 
beginning the cut, and be alert for a 
change in direction while the tree is 
falling.
WARNING
Always observe the general condition of 
the tree. Inexperienced users should 
never attempt to cut trees that are 
decayed or rotted inside or that are 
leaning or otherwise under tension. 
There is an increased risk that such 
trees could snap or split while being cut 
and cause serious or fatal injury to the 
operator or bystanders. Also look for 
broken or dead branches which could 
vibrate loose and fall on the operator. 
When felling on a slope, the operator 
should stand on the uphill side if 
possible.
001BA037 KNA001BA038 KNB 
						

							MS 210, MS 210 C, MS 230, MS 230 C, MS 250, MS 250 C
English
17 Felling Instructions
When felling, maintain a distance of at 
least 2 1/2 tree lengths from the nearest 
person.
When felling in the vicinity of roads, 
railways and power lines, etc., take extra 
precautions. Inform the police, utility 
company or railway authority before 
beginning to cut.
WARNING
The noise of your engine may drown any 
warning call.Escape Path
First clear the tree base and work area 
from interfering limbs and brush and 
clean its lower portion with an ax.
Then, establish two paths of escape (B) 
and remove all obstacles. These paths 
should be generally opposite to the 
planned direction of the fall of the tree 
(A) and about at a 45° angle. Place all 
tools and equipment a safe distance 
away from the tree, but not on the 
escape paths.Buttress Roots
If the tree has large buttress roots, cut 
into the largest buttress vertically first 
(horizontally next) and remove the 
resulting piece.
Gunning Sight
When making the felling notch, use the 
gunning sight on the shroud and housing 
to check the desired direction of fall:
Position the saw so that the gunning 
sight points exactly in the direction you 
want the tree to fall.
001BA088 LÄ2/1
211/1
2
B
001BA040 KN
A
45°
45°
B
001BA146 KN
001BA153 KN 
						

							MS 210, MS 210 C, MS 230, MS 230 C, MS 250, MS 250 C
English
18 Conventional Cut
Felling notch (C) – determines the 
direction of the fall
For a conventional cut:
NProperly place felling notch 
perpendicular to the line of fall, 
close to the ground.
NCut down at approx. 45° angle to a 
depth of about 1/5 to 1/4 of the trunk 
diameter.
NMake second cut horizontal.
NRemove resulting 45° piece.Open-face Technique
Felling notch (C) – determines the 
direction of the fall
For an open-face cut:
NProperly place felling notch 
perpendicular to the line of fall, 
close to the ground.
NCut down at approx. 50° angle to a 
depth of approx.1/5 to 1/4 of the 
trunk diameter.
NMake second cut from below at 
approx. 40 degree angle.
NRemove resulting 90° piece.Making Sapwood Cuts
NFor medium sized or larger trees 
make cuts at both sides of the trunk, 
at same height as subsequent 
felling cut.
NCut to no more than width of guide 
bar.
This is especially important in softwood 
in summer – it helps prevent sapwood 
splintering when the tree falls.
001BA143 KN
C
C
001BA150 KN