Bind

Basic Chain Saw Course 102

    Before cutting anything, you must understand a couple of things: gravity vs. pressure and wood fiber.

Gravity will cause any unsupported portion of a tree to fall. If the bar and chain is in the wrong place at the wrong time, their will get pinched between the falling material and the stationary material.

Pressure, in this context, is the opposite of gravity. When pressure is released, by cutting it, a severe reaction can occur. This reaction must be anticipated or severe injury or death can occur.

Genetics (the way the wood fiber grows) can also cause a bind or pinching effect especially when the chain is dull or you are using a slow chain speed.

There are five types of "Bind" that you
will have to deal with when bucking.

Top Bind: The top of the limb or log being cut will try to pinch your bar/chain.

Side Binds: One side or the other, of the limb or log being cut, will try to pinch your bar/chain.

Bottom Bind: The bottom of the limb or log being cut will try to pinch your bar/chain.

End Bind: If the tree is laying on an incline, the force of gravity will try to push the upper log down and into the lower log, thus pinching your bar and chain.

Internal Bind: This is rare but sometimes a tree’s fibers will be twisted on the inside and will pinch your bar/chain. This type can not be judged visually.

Wood Fiber

Neutral (No Bind):All wood fibers are in their natural state with no abnormalities.

Compressed: The cells of the wood fibers are being pressed closer together than when under a Neutral (No Bind) situation.

Stretched:The cells of the wood fibers are being stretched apart but have not broken.

Twisted: This can be due to genetics or from outside physical obstructions. This can also occur in different sections of the tree such as in the heart of the tree but not on the rind or vice versa.

Rotten:The wood fibers are still there but have deteriorated to the point of having no strength or continuity to them.

Separated:The wood fibers have came apart from each other, called "Shake". Usually caused by the wind.

Missing:Usually caused by fire or physical damage from outside sources. Called a“Cat-Face”.

Broken/Shattered:The wood fibers have been stretched to the point of actual breaking.

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