Chainsaw Maintenance and Cross-cutting

Verified by City & Guilds (formerly NPTC), this course is a great starting point whether you’re looking to be at the forefront of Arboriculture or looking to gain experience for non commercial use.

• Unit 201: Learn the inner workings of a chainsaw, its parts, functions, maintenance and best practices for storage and handling during and after cross-cutting. Participants will learn the uses of its components and their maintenance requirements

• Unit 202: Learn safe and efficient methods of cross cutting and how to apply them to different situations. This course will cover proper cross-cutting techniques on the forest floor and in the workshop. We give special emphasis on crucial technical concepts, like pivot points, swing directions and tension and compression sites. This part of the course will be conducted on site as it also includes on-site preparation and risk assessment.

About the Course

This qualification is about the maintenance of chainsaws and cross-cutting timber for further processing. The maintenance section of the course will cover corrective and preventative maintenance that is carried out daily or at regular intervals by the operator. Cross-cutting operations will include cross-cutting timber under tensions,  horizontal stems, or any timber in a similar situation that needs further processing.

The course will also cover start procedures, health and safety SOPs and risk assessments. You will learn how to identify possible dangers on the forest floor and eliminate or resolve them so you can proceed with cross-cutting on site as safely as possible.

After the training, an NPTC assessor will verbally examine participants to see whether they gained a deeper understanding and knowledge about operating a chainsaw. Passers will then receive an NPTC Certificate of Competence (CoC).

Course Participants

This course is ideal for anyone aspiring to become a highly-skilled and knowledgeable feller. Participants are not required to have previous experience in operating a chainsaw.

The Chainsaw Maintenance and Cross Cutting Course is best for individuals whose job involves felling and processing trees between eight and fifteen inches in diameter. Consider this course as a fundamental stepping-stone for the following careers:

• Arboriculturist

• Tree surgeon

• Feller

• Trainer

 Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will have gained meaningful hands-on experience; increased your knowledge about safety legislation; learn the equipment requirements and appropriate protective equipment; and master the technical aspects of chainsaw maintenance and cross cutting.

Practical takeaways from this course include:

• Sharpening chains

• Fueling and oiling chainsaws

• Felling techniques

• Snedding and de-limbing felled trees

• Using hand tools to take down hung-up trees

• Mastering site safety and pre-start checks

Learning to select appropriate personal protective gear

What Cross-Cutting is and Why You Need to Learn It

With cross-cutting, the name pretty much says it all. You use the chainsaw to cut across the trunk of the tree or the branch you wish to cut. While cross cutting timber is simple in theory it can be pretty tricky in practice which is why if you aspire to be an arborist you will need an NPTC chainsaw maintenance and cross cutting certificate of competence.

One thing your DTE instructor will stress with you is the importance of doing accurate risk assessments of both the chainsaw and the trunk or branch to be cut prior to starting the cut. It’s vital, for instance, that you make sure the trunk or branch is not under any tension when you cut it. If it is, it may well spring back toward you when the cut is complete. That can have very grave consequences for your health and safety.

Your instructor will cover the details of the process but the goal is to ensure you get a nice clean cut at a 90-degree angle to the outside of the trunk or branch. In short, you will learn how to:

• Stand properly when addressing the trunk or branch to be cut.

• How to test to see if the branch or trunk is under tension.

• The proper method of holding the chainsaw before, during and after the cut.

• How to maintain control of the chainsaw and optimise power projection.

Preventing the Chainsaw From Getting Caught Up During a Cross Cut

When done right the cross cutting technique enables a nice clean cut that not only increases the arborist's work efficiency but also enhances on the job safety by preventing the chainsaw from becoming stuck partway through the log. Conversely, a poor or incorrect technique when cross cutting timber can, and often does, cause the guide bar on the chainsaw to become pinched. In addition, poor technique can also cause the trunk or branch to split in a way that is counterproductive or downright dangerous.

The City & Guilds, or NPTC Chainsaw Maintenance and Cross Cutting course, will provide you with the knowledge and practical experience you need to work on trees large and small safely and effectively. You will also become familiar with relevant safety regulations, the proper use of appropriate safety gear and how to conduct an independent assessment of your equipment and the tree to be worked on before you start.

Rentals and PPEs

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) can be rented from us at an additional price of £40 or if your would like to bring your own heres a list of what you will need;

• Chainsaw protective boots (complying with EN 20345)

• Chainsaw protective helmet (complying with EN 397)

• Ear defenders (complying with EN 352)

• Face Visor (complying with EN 1731/Safety Glasses EN 166)

• Chainsaw protective trousers (type C) (complying with EN 381-5)

• Chainsaw protective gloves (complying with EN 381-7)

• A first aid kit (to include large wound dressing

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All of our courses are held in a laid back and constructive setting, welcoming all learners who strive to be their best. Our trainers are seasoned and qualified instructors from whom participants can glean useful tips and insights about the industry.

DTE Academy is the official training body and resource provider for Down to Earth Trees, Ltd., one of the oldest and biggest arboricultural contracting companies in the U.K. The company is highly respected in the industry as a multi-disciplinary company that offers tree management, tree surgery, maintenance and consultancy.

FAQs

What is City & Guilds?

City & Guilds is an educational organisation founded in 1878 by the City of London and a collection of 16 livery companies (also known as guilds) to develop a national system governing technical education in the UK. Today, City & Guilds operate under a royal charter and, among other things, offer accreditation for a variety of professional qualifications, including several having to do with the work of the tree surgeon.

Do I need to know how to operate a chainsaw to become a tree surgeon?

Yes. Because the chainsaw is the one indispensable tool of the tree surgeon you will need to demonstrate competency in chainsaw use with it if you hope to become a tree surgeon. This Chainsaw maintenance and Cross Cutting Training Course is something you will need to pass in order to have any chance of realising your arborist aspirations. You will also need to demonstrate you have mastered the basic techniques of tree climbing and aerial rescue.

Do I need to supply my own chainsaw?

No, you do not have to supply your own chainsaw. We will supply chainsaws to all training course participants that they can use to master the material. If you do end up becoming a tree surgeon you may need, or simply want, to buy your own chainsaw. But for the purposes of this course DTE will supply a chainsaw for you to learn on.

You mention we will learn "snedding". What is snedding?

Snedding is the process of removing small side branches and sprouts from a felled branch to create a smooth log. These days snedding is most often done using a chainsaw but there is a long history of snedding with an axe. The resulting limbless branch can then be cut into firewood.

What happens if I fail the course?

Our instructors are extremely patient and thorough and it is unusual for a participant to fail to gain certification for chainsaw maintenance and cross-cutting. That said, it is possible that an individual may not grasp all of the concepts and master all of the techniques necessary on the first go around, in which case they are free to take this training course over.