Glossary term
What is Back cut?
Short answer
A back cut is the final cut made on the opposite side of the notch that frees the tree to fall, leaving the hinge intact.
Back cut, explained for tree service owners
A back cut is the last major cut when felling a tree. It is made from the side opposite the notch, a bit above the bottom of the notch, and it stops before reaching the hinge wood. Once the back cut is deep enough, the tree starts to move and the notch closes. Keeping the back cut level and stopping on time are key. On large trees, crews often place wedges in the back cut to keep the saw from pinching and to help push the tree along. A tree service owner can explain to customers that a safe removal depends on the whole sequence, not one cut: plan, notch, then a back cut that leaves the hinge intact.
Related terms
- Hinge wood
Hinge wood is the strip of uncut wood left between the notch and the back cut that steers a falling tree.
- Humboldt notch
A Humboldt notch is a less common face cut, shaped differently from the conventional and open-face notches, and only trained cutters…
- Notch cut
A notch cut is a wedge cut in the side of a tree, made on the side it should fall toward, to aim the fall.
- ANSI Z133
ANSI Z133 is the American national safety standard for tree care operations, such as climbing, rigging, chipping and working near power…
- Chainsaw chaps
Chainsaw chaps are cut-resistant leg guards that clog a saw chain if it touches the leg, giving time to stop.
- Chipper feed rollers
Chipper feed rollers are the powered rollers at the chute that pull branches into the blades at a steady pace.
- Climbing spikes
Climbing spikes are sharp metal points strapped to a climber's boots that bite into the trunk, used mainly on trees being removed.
- Conventional notch
A conventional notch is a wedge cut with a flat bottom and a sloped top that guides a tree to fall in a set direction.
More terms, A to Z
All 199 glossary terms This term in the A-Z list Learn by topic Our services Pricing
Want to know how your company does on this?
Get a free 5-minute audit of your phone, website and Google profile. We check what you can see from the outside, in plain English. No call needed.
Get my free 5-minute audit