When you cut down trees, you want them to fall in the right direction. If you only use an ax or a chainsaw, there’s always a chance that a tree won’t fall in the desired direction.
With felling wedges, however, you can ensure that the trees fall in the right direction every time.
Contents
Top Tree Felling Wedge Reviews
In this section, we’ve compiled a list of the top felling wedges. We’ve cut a lot of trees down over the years, and these make up the best felling wedges on the market.
Best Overall Felling Wedge: Timber Savage 5.5” Felling Wedge
Starting off the list is one of the best overall felling wedges on the market. The Timber Savage 5.5” Felling Wedge is one inch high and excellent for small to medium diameter trees.
The Timber Savage weighs about 3.2 ounces, making it the lightest felling wedge on our list. It’s so light that you can count on it to be portable. You might even forget that you’re carrying it since it won’t add much weight to the tool bag.
Luckily, the wedge’s bright orange makes it easy to locate, so you don’t need to worry about losing the product any time soon.
Another feature that distinguishes the Timber Savage from other felling wedges is its material. The Timber Savage is made from a unique polycarbonate material that makes the wedge quite invincible.
Polycarbonate is a lightweight polymer that’s extremely strong and impact-resistant. Because of these material characteristics, the Timber Savage felling wedge can withstand pressure and heavy loads.
In addition, the Timber Savage is double-tapered, which is unusual in felling wedges. This type of tapering allows the wood to move equally away from both sides of the wedge. It also keeps the felling notch from closing and pinching the saw.
Pros
- Lightest felling wedge on our list, weighing only 3.2 ounces
- Affordable price for a pack of four wedges
Cons
- Not suitable for large trees due to the wedge’s small size
Best Value: Poweka 55′ Felling Wedges Set for Chainsaw
The 55′ Felling Wedges Set for Chainsaw is an excellent option for log wedges to help keep the tree from pinching your chainsaw bar and helps the tree to fall in the direction of the notch cut.
Tree felling wedge set is made from super-tough ABS plastic composition, which can resist chipping and breakage. 2 Pack of 5.5-inch high viscount orange felling wedge perfect for small trees.
Nevertheless, the Stihl Felling Wedge has many distinguishing features. For starters, it is smooth on one side, serrated barbs on the other side to hold abs wedge in place in a tree.
The 55′ Felling Wedges Set for Chainsaw he plastic construction is soft enough so that it will not damage your logging chain if it accidentally comes in contact with the chainsaw wedge, and help the tree fall in the safest direction to protect yourself.
While it’s not the cheapest, it’s safe to say that the 55′ Felling Wedges Set for Chainsaw offers the highest quality features at its price point—making it the most value-for-money option on our list.
Pros
- Super tough ABS plastic compositionPrice to quality ratio is hard to top
Cons
- Its size makes it unsuitable for large trees
Best Budget: Felled Spiked Tree 5.5” Felling Wedge
The Felled Spiked Tree 5.5, which costs nearly half the price of the most expensive option on this list, is a bright-colored ideal felling wedge for beginners.
The Felled Spiked Tree isn’t only the most budget-friendly wedge on our list. It’s also one of the easiest felling wedges to push into a saw notch.
The wedge has an angular point that easily slides into the notch. It’s also a single-taper wedge, which pushes the tree from its gravity center and prevents the tree from leaning back. Because of the single tapering, you may be able to use this wedge on a large tree.
In addition, the 12 serrated blades on the upper surface maximize the wedge’s grip, which makes up for its low-quality material.
The Felled Spiked Tree is one of those wedges that make it easy to cut down a tree in the right direction with minimal effort.
The rest of the felling wedge is made from solid ABS plastic. While it’s not the toughest material out there, it can handle a great deal of pressure. It’s also quite durable, so you won’t need to constantly replace the wedges.
While the Felled Spiked Tree lacks some of the features found in more expensive models, it can still take down small to medium-sized trees with ease.
What’s more, while most other felling wedges have a one-inch to three-inch height, the Felled Spiked Tree is the only wedge on our list that has a five-inch height.
This higher lift capability improves and speeds up the overall felling job. It also prevents that chainsaw bar and chain from pinching.
Pros
- Durable four-pack felling wedges at a low-cost price
- Easy to use design, which is suitable for beginners
- Five-inch lift height, which is the highest on this list
- The only 5.5” wedge on this list that can cut down large trees
Cons
- Low-quality serrated blades and most felling wedges’ blades are made from sturdy material
Best for Thick and Large Trees: Husqvarna Felling Wedge (Set of 3)
So far, we’ve had either individual or sets of four felling wedges. How about a set of three?
The Husqvarna Felling Wedge is a versatile three-piece set product from a brand known for its high-end woodworking tools. The three felling wedges are 5.5, 8, and 10 inches in length.
Because of this size variety, you will be able to work on all trees, whether small, medium, or large.
The wedge also has built-in sloping spikes designed to endure pressure and create an enormous force to handle the tree’s falling direction. The force can also push back any accidental lean back.
This sturdiness makes the Husqvarna a more than a suitable substitute for metal felling wedges if you’re looking for increased durability.
One feature that’s unique to the Husqvarna is that it’s made from ABS thermoplastic. This material protects the wedge from deteriorating due to weather or temperature, ensuring that it always delivers an effective performance.
What’s more, when the wedge isn’t affected by the elements and extreme temperatures, you can rest assured that it’ll last for a very long time.
The Husqvarna Felling Wedge comes packed with top-notch features and functionality, which may justify the wedge’s high price.
Pros
- Only product on our list that comes in three varied sizes, 5.5, 8, and 10 inches
- ABS thermoplastic that’s weather and temperature resistant
- Integrated spikes that boost the wedges overall performance
- As durable as a metal wedge, but much safer
Cons
- The most expensive on our list
Most Durable: Parts 4 Outdoor Tree 5.5” Felling Wedge
If you don’t want to spend a steep price on the Husqvarna Felling Wedge, you should consider the more affordable Parts 4 Outdoor Tree Felling Wedge.
Although the Parts 4 Outdoor Tree comes in one size, you get four felling wedges that are as sturdy as the Husqvarna wedges.
It’s made from ABS thermoplastic that provides optimum durability to the frame, preventing it from breaking or cracking easily. It can also withstand heavy pressure, destructive impact, different weather elements, and extreme temperatures.
Unlike the other orange-colored wedges, the Parts 4 Outdoor Tree is neon yellow. The color is still as effective as orange and has high visibility.
Similar to the Felled Spiked Tree, the Parts 4 Outdoor Tree wedge has 12 serrated spikes arranged in four rows and three columns. This arrangement allows the barbed surface to remain steadfast inside the tree trunk.
Despite these remarkable features, the Parts 4 Outdoor Tree has a perceivable downside. The wedge weighs around 15.5 ounces, which makes it the heaviest wedge on our list. You may not have the easiest of times carrying this wedge around.
That said, the Parts 4 Outdoor Tree Felling Wedge offers excellent value for money, so what’s a little extra weight to carry?
Pros
- A four-piece set that costs 65% less than the most expensive felling wedge on this list
- Durable ABS thermoplastic that doesn’t get damaged easily
- A unique neon yellow frame that stands out from the common orange-colored frame
Cons
- The heaviest felling wedge on this list, weighing around 15.5 ounces
Felling Wedge Features to Consider
Let’s take a look at some features to consider that can help you choose the most suitable felling wedge.
Wedge Materials
Felling wedges are usually either made from plastic or wood, but, in some cases, they’re made from metal.
- Plastic wedges are the most common and highly recommended due to their durability and low cost. They also increase stability and deliver a soft contacting point.
- Wood felling wedges are even more durable, but they tend to have a steep price. They also tend to wear out due to continued exposure to moisture. That’s why there’s less demand for them.
- The most durable wedges are made from metal, more specifically steel or aluminum. Despite their durability, these wedges are almost never recommended.
If a chainsaw’s teeth accidentally come in contact with a metal wedge, they could get seriously damaged. As a result, most people go for soft-material wedges.
There are felling wedges that have plastic bodies and metal heads. These wedges pose little risk to the chainsaw’s teeth and are incredibly durable. They can be more expensive, though.
Wedge Size
Felling wedges are typically available in the following lengths: 5.5, 7.5, 8, 10, 12, 15, and 20 inches. Because each size is appropriate for different tree diameters, the wedge size to use is determined by the size of the tree.
As a rule of thumb, the length of the wedge increases with the diameter of the tree. For example, if you’re cutting a tree with a 22-inch diameter, you should use a 10-inch felling wedge.
However, if you’re working on a small tree, you can use the 5.5-inch wedge. Just keep in mind that any wedge under 5.5 inches is more suitable for bucking than felling trees.
When you’re felling various size trees, you may need a variety of wedge sizes on hand because not all trees have the same diameter.
That’s why most lumberjacks recommend keeping a variety of sized felling wedges in the tool bag.
Wedge Color
The bright colors of felling wedges are what most people first notice about them. While these colors make for an eye-catching appeal, they have the main purpose.
Manufacturers tend to make felling wedges bright, almost neon-like colors, so they don’t blend in with the forest floor or tree trunks. You want to use that neon orange and yellow-colored wedges to increase their visibility.
On the other hand, there are dark-colored felling wedges, but you want to avoid those. They can strain your eyes while you’re trying to pound them into the tree.
In addition, if you accidentally drop them, you might have difficulty finding them amid the dirt and debris.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Wedges Do I Need When Felling Trees?
The number of wedges you need for your logging job depends on the tree’s size. You wouldn’t need more than one felling wedge for smaller trees. The same is true for a tree with a slight back-lean.
Large, thick trees usually require three to four wedges to generate enough leverage to tip the tree over.
How Do You Use a Felling Wedge?
After you make the face notch in the direction of the desired fall, you should make a cut on the other side of the trunk moving towards the notch.
Stop cutting once you make room to fit a felling wedge without coming into contact with the chainsaw, but leave enough tree stump to hold the tree in place.
Remove the chainsaw and insert the wedge’s thinner side into the back cut. Then, with a hammer or an ax, pound the wedge in.
This video should be useful for learning how to use felling wedges on both small and large trees. Just don’t leave the chainsaw hanging in the felling cut as the guy in the video does.
Is There a Difference Between a Felling Wedge, a Bucking Wedge, and a Splitting Wedge?
Each type of the three wedges is specifically designed for felling, bucking, and splitting respectively. That said, you can use felling wedges for bucking. Splitting and bucking wedges, on the other hand, can only be used for their intended purpose.
What’s more, each wedge type is usually made from different materials. Most felling and bucking wedges are made from soft materials such as plastic and wood. Splitting wedges and some bucking wedges, however, are made from metal.
Conclusion
Each felling wedge on the list offers unique features that set it apart from the others. You can always find a wedge that suits your felling job and budget. That said, our top recommendation is the Timber Savage felling wedge.
It’s slightly more expensive than other felling wedges and more suitable for small to medium trees. Still, the Timber Savage is quite sturdy and lightweight. It’s designed specifically to effectively push the trees in the right direction without pinching the saw.
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