• A chain saw is one tool used for cutting timber.Chain saw against firewood pile image by Andrzej Thiel from Fotolia.com
  
  Cutting timber is serious business, and having the proper tools on hand for the task is essential. You want to use tools that are right for the job at hand. Make certain that they are top operating condition, with blades sharpened, chains oiled and adequate power available to complete the task.
  
  

Chain Saw

• A chain saw in a portable power saw with teeth linked in an looped chain. It is commonly used to remove branches and foliage and to fell trees. There are three sizes of chain saw. Lightweight chain saws, which are the best for felling small trees 6 to 10 inches in diameter, have an 8- to 12-inch guide bar. Mid-weight saws have a 14- to 20-inch guide bar, and are good for use on trees 12 to 18 inches in diameter. Heavyweight chain saw have guide bars 20 inches or longer, and are used for larger trees.
  
  

Wedges

• Wedges are tools that are driven into the crack formed in the timber by a saw. The wedge is placed between the timber being felled and the roots of the tree, in the void left behind the saw. Its purpose is to keep the tree from tilting back toward the void so that the tree does not fall on the saw. Wedges are made of metal such as steel, or synthetic material such as molded plastic. Some wedges are made of a hybrid of steel and plastic, and these are very popular in the industry.
  
  

Axes

• An ax is a tool used to split, cut and shape timber. It consists of an ax head, made of steel, and a handle, made of fiberglass or wood. The cutting edge of the blade on the ax head is beveled on both sides, and slightly curved. Axes are often used to cut smaller trees, less than 3 inches in diameter, and to score the cutting lines of larger trees, which can then be cut by chainsaws.