Outboard step cuts often snatch my saw

[AK280300]

Recently, I’ve been noticing when up a tree that when using outboard step cuts when the branch is snapping off, it snatches my saw.

 

So my questions are what is going on here and when should I step cut and when should I put a standard face cut in?

[matt padden]

Don't bother with an outboard cut if free-falling timber - pretty much always grabs the saw because the bar/chain end up  in the kerf of the wood being cut off. Inboard or level with the first cut to avoid it. 

If you're hand-holding the wood you could use an inboard or outboard cut if you make the cuts on the side of the timber rather than top and bottom, as it will hold better but this is more for shorter sections rather than entire branch.

Face-cuts help with direction and or a more gradual break. If you don't need to worry about the finish you can just back cut and let the fibres act like a hinge.

 

 

[Mick Dempsey]

I believe the modern thinking is to cut exactly in line with your bottom cut, you can nip the sides as well on bigger pieces.

It’s all species/weight/power of saw/ dependent of course