- 1). Study the trees you plan to cut down. You want trees that are straight and 6 to 8 inches in diameter. The first ones to cut are those that are not crowded by the other trees. Felling a tree in a tight cluster of trees will leave the cut tree hung up and not falling to the ground.
- 2). Plan your escape route. Clear the area of brush and sticks where you plan to cut a tree. Decide which route you are going to take away from the tree when the tree starts to fall. Have this route clear so you can move quickly without tripping.
- 3). Observe the "lean" of the tree. You want to cut the tree so the weight of the tree will take it in the direction it is leaning. On the side of the tree that the tree is to fall towards, begin by cutting a horizontal level cut halfway through the tree and 1 to 2 feet above the ground.
- 4). Start a second cut at a 45-degree angle 4 to 6 inches above the first cut. Cut down, aiming at the middle of the tree and the end of the first cut. The second and first cuts must meet inside the tree. The cut out wedge should come free and can be pulled out and tossed aside.
- 5). Go around the tree to the opposite side of the cut out wedge. Begin a third horizontal cut 2 inches above the apex of the first two cuts. Cut straight into the tree. Observe the tree and listen for the "crack" as the tree begins to fall into the cut out wedge. When the tree begins to fall, move quickly along your escape route and away from the falling tree.
- 6). Limb the tree by sawing off the bigger branches flush against the tree. The smaller twigs and branches are better trimmed off with the ax.
- 7). Measure the tree, marking every 8 feet with the ax. When the diameter of the tree becomes less than 6 inches, stop marking, as anything smaller is too small for a post. Cut through the tree at the 8-foot marks.
- 8). Strip the bark off the 8-foot posts using the two-handled draw knife. This knife is designed to cut the bark off trees by stripping it clean from tree's core. Leaving the bark on will cause the post to shift in the ground when the bark deteriorates and falls off.
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