Brush-clearing head evaluation [electronic resource] / Andy Trent.
Describes the evaluation of a new steel-bladed head for brush-clearing saws that can be used to cut small-diameter trees (less than 2 inches in diameter) efficiently. The brush-clearing head has an aluminum alloy housing with three replaceable steel blades that do not have to be sharpened. The head eliminates many of the problems encountered when using circular saw blades to cut brush. The new tool may make it possible to thin stands of lodgepole pine or ponderosa pine while the trees are still young and small. Trees in these stands have usually been allowed to grow large enough so that they could be safely cut with chain saws. The crowded stands were growing slowly during this period. If the stands were thinned earlier, the remaining trees would grow more quickly, and wildlife species that prefer open stands would benefit. However, when trees are small, they must be cut off near the ground during thinning to keep their lowest limbs from regrowing. Making cuts close to the ground with chain saws can be dangerous and is tiring. In addition, chain saw blades must be resharpened when they strike rocks or dirt. So must the blades of circular saws. The steel blades of the head do not require sharpening, but they must be replaced when the blades have become too badly worn. In rocky areas, blades might have to be replaced daily. The head throws debris that can cause injuries. Operators must wear protective equipment. Even though operators wore protective equipment during the evaluations, they suffered minor injuries in the chest and groin.
Electronic resources
Record details
- Physical Description: 1 online resource (8 pages) : illustrations (black and white).
- Publisher: Missoula, MT : United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Technology and Development Program, 2003.
Content descriptions
- General Note:
- "2400; 0324-2336-MTDC.""December 2003."In scope of the U.S. Government Publishing Office Catalog and Indexing Program (C&I) and Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP).
- Reproduction Note:
- Electronic reproduction. [Place of publication not identified]: HathiTrust Digital Library. 2024.
- System Details Note:
- Master and use copy. Digital master created according to Benchmark for Faithful Digital Reproductions of Monographs and Serials, Version 1. Digital Library Federation, December 2002. http://purl.oclc.org/DLF/benchrepro0212
- Source of Description Note:
- Description based on online resource; title from PDF caption (USDA FS, viewed June 3, 2025).
Search for related items by subject
- Subject:
- Saws > United States > Evaluation.
Clearing of land > United States > Equipment and supplies.
Brush control.
Equipment.
Saws.
Occupational health and safety.
Additional Physical Form Titles
| Brush-clearing head evaluation. |
