How to Use a Buck Chain

Bucking is a term used by foresters and lumberjacks when describing working with timber. While bucking generally refers to cutting trees into sections, the term also describes moving logs with a heavyweight chain and winch into position to facilitate trimming or loading. When moving trees with a bucking chain, safety must be the priority. If the chain or winch cable snaps while under load, serious injury or death can result.

Things You'll Need

  • Safety helmet
  • Eyewear
  • Heavy gloves
  • Protective shoes
  • Chain saw
  • Bucking chain
  • Winch
  • Heavy rags
  • Anchor chain
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Instructions

    • 1

      Wear a safety helmet, eye protection, heavy gloves and protective shoes.

    • 2

      Trim as many braches from the downed tree as possible with a chain saw. Cut the tree into sections. The size of the sections will depend of the intended use for the logs and size of the tree.

    • 3

      Wrap one end of the bucking chain around the circumference of the log, 2 feet from the cut-off end of the tree. Wrap the end of the chain around the chain’s main section and then back around the log in the opposite direction.

    • 4

      Pull the chain tight, removing all slack from the tag end of the chain. Slide the hook at the end of the chain over a link in the main section of chain. Insert a bolt through the link on the tag end of the chain, connected to the hook. Run the bolt through a link in the main section of chain and secure the bolt in place with a nut, screwing the nut to the bolt as tightly as possible with your fingers. Place the hook of a winch cable through the hook attached to the free end of the bucking chain.

    • 5

      Weight the winch cable. Tie heavy rags along the length of the winch cable every 10 feet, and soak the rags with water. This will prevent the cable from whipping through the air if the cable should come free of the chain, or snap, under load.

    • 6

      Anchor the winch. If the winch is attached to a larger vehicle, such as a truck, the weight of the vehicle will be enough to anchor the winch. If you are using a winch attached to a smaller vehicle, such as a four-wheeler, wrap an anchor chain around a stout tree, similarly to how the bucking chain is attached to the log. Connect the hook on the opposite end of the anchor chain to the frame of the four-wheeler.

    • 7

      Activate the winch to move the log. Reposition the winch, winch cable and bucking chain as needed, until the log is moved into position.