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Logging Terms  - B -

BACKCUT (Felling Cut): The last of the three cuts required to fall a tree. Located on the opposite side of the tree from the face and minimally 1" above the horizontal cut of the face. The 1" is referred to as stump shot and prevents the tree from kicking back over the stump toward the faller. The backcut must never be continued to a point at which no holding wood remains. Variations of backcutting are discussed in: face-boring backcut, side-boring backcut, and side-notching backcut.

BACK LEAN/SIDE LEAN: Weight of tree is opposite or opposed to the intended felling direction.

BALLISTIC NYLON: A nylon fabric of high tensile properties designed to provide protection from lacerations.

BAR OR BLADE: That part of the chain saw upon which the cutting chain travels. Long, thin projection of the chain saw upon which the saw chain travels. Improper use of the bar results in kickbacks and saw cuts. It is the extreme top and bottom of the bar's nose that is sensitive.

BARRIER: A fence, wall or railing to prevent passage or approach.

BARBER-CHAIR: Vertical split of a tree during the falling procedure. Generally a result of improper facing and/ or backcutting. Characterized by a portion of the fallen tree being left on the stump.

BASE OF TREE: That portion of a natural tree not more than three feet above ground level.

BEAVER-TAILING: Burying the whole bar of the saw while cutting.

BED: The intended position in which a tree will be felled.

BIGHT OF THE LINE: Any area where a person is exposed to a controlled or uncontrolled moving line.

BIND OR BOUND: Series of pressures in a felled tree resulting from objects (terrain, stumps, windfalls, etc.), which prevent the tree from lying flat on he ground. The two major components of bind are impression and tension. It is their directional pressures that determine the technique and procedure used while bucking.

BINDER: A hinged lever assembly for connecting the ends of a wrapper to tighten the wrapper around the load of logs or materials.

BLOWN-DOWN: An area of standing timber which has been blown over by strong winds or storms.

BLOW-DOWN: Trees that have been blown down as a result of wind.

BOOMBOAT: Any boat used to push or pull logs, boom, bundles, or bags, in booming ground operations.

BOOMSCOOTER: A small boat, usually less than fourteen feet in length, equipped with an outboard motor, having directional pushing capabilities of 360 degrees.

BORING: Method of using the nose or tip of the bar to saw into the tree while falling or bucking.

BOTTOM BIND: One of the five basic tree positions commonly encountered while bucking. A tree in a bottom bind situation is tensioned on the top and compressed on the bottom.

BRAILING: When tiers of logs, piles, or piles are fastened together with a type of dogline and the ends of the side members are then fastened together for towing.

BROW LOG: A log or a suitable substitute placed parallel to any roadway at a landing or dump to protect the carrier and facilitate the safe loading or unloading of logs, timber products, or materials.

BRUSH-OUT OR SWAMP-OUT: To clean out brush and other material around the base of trees to be felled or logs to be bucked. Gives protection against saw kickback and provides safe footing.

BUCK: To cut a felled tree into logs.

BUCKING: Process of sawing a felled tree into sections called logs. Length of the log is dependent on the species of the tree and what type of product it will be made into.

BULLBUCK OR BULLBUCKER: Supervisor of the fallers. Among his responsibilities are assignment of fallers to working areas and insurance that work is done safely and efficiently.

BULLBUCKER: A foreman or supervisor of falling and bucking operations.

BUSHELING: Method of payment in which the faller is paid for how many trees he falls and bucks. Generally the number of trees is converted into thousands of bored feet and a specific amount paid for each thousand board feet.

BUTT: Bottom of a felled part of a tree.

BUTT LOG: Portion of a felled tree from the butt to the first bucking cut.

BUTT WELDING: The practice of welding something end to end.

BYPASS (Dutchman): Situation created when the two cuts of the undercut (free cut) do not meet exactly, i.e. one bypasses the other. Creates undesirable results such as barber chairing, cracked tree butts, excessive fiber pull and misdirected fall of the tree.

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