Best Tree Felling Wedges 2024

Felling trees is both an art and a science. The tools used during this process play a crucial role in ensuring safety, efficiency, and precision. Among these tools, felling wedges stand out for their importance in guiding the direction of a falling tree. But with a myriad of options available in the market, how do you choose the best one? Fear not, for we’ve compiled a list of the top felling wedges that have proven their mettle in the field.

Best Felling Wedges List:

• Parts 4 Outdoor Tree Felling Wedges
• Felled Spiked Tree Felling Wedges for Tree Cutting
• Timber Tuff TMB Felling Wedge
• TIPU 4-Pack Tree Felling Wedge Set
• Redneck Convent Spiked Tree Felling Wedges
• New OEM Set of 3 8″ Husqvarna Felling Tree Wedges
• STIHL 7.5″ OEM Felling Wedge
• Oregon 23561 Felling Wedge for Logging
• Gator Wedge Spiked Felling Wedges
• Timber Savage Felling Wedge Chain Saw Logging Wedges

1. Parts 4 Outdoor Tree Felling Wedges

The Parts 4 Outdoor Tree Felling Wedge is a tool specifically crafted to aid loggers and arborists in their tree felling operations. Its primary functions are to assist in the control of the direction in which a tree falls and to keep the chainsaw from getting trapped or pinched during the cutting process.

Detailed Features and Benefits:

• Pinch Prevention: One of the main risks when felling a tree is the chainsaw getting trapped or pinched due to the weight of the tree pressing against the chainsaw bar. This wedge assists in keeping the cut open, thus safeguarding the chainsaw from being trapped, which in turn ensures uninterrupted and smooth felling.
• Directional Guidance: Trees don’t always naturally fall in the desired direction, especially if there’s an uneven weight distribution or external factors such as wind. This wedge can be strategically placed to exert pressure and guide the tree to fall in a predetermined direction, ensuring safety and precision.
• High-Quality Materials: Made with robust and high-impact materials, the Parts 4 Outdoor wedge is not only built to last but also designed to endure the immense forces exerted during tree felling. This durability ensures that the wedge doesn’t crack or shatter upon impact.
• Efficiency: Its design ensures that it can be easily driven into the cut and removed after the process. The wedge shape amplifies the force applied, ensuring minimal effort is needed for maximum effect. This design promotes efficient and faster tree felling.
• Versatility: Suitable for a range of tree sizes, from smaller trees where you want to ensure precise direction to larger trees where preventing pinching is vital.

2. Felled Spiked Tree Felling Wedges for Tree Cutting

The Felled Spiked Tree Felling Wedge stands out in the market, not just for its durable construction but for its unique design elements that cater specifically to the needs of tree-felling professionals. Measuring 5.5 inches, this wedge is designed with both functionality and longevity in mind.

Detailed Features and Benefits:

• Durable Plastic Construction: Crafted from a robust plastic material, this wedge is resilient to the intense pressures exerted during the tree felling process. Unlike some other materials that may splinter or shatter under stress, this plastic construction ensures the wedge remains intact, providing safety and reliability for its users.
• Singular Taper Design: The Felled Spiked Wedge’s unique single taper design is its standout feature. This design ensures that the wedge can be inserted into the tree’s kerf (the cut made by the chainsaw) with precision and ease. The gradual taper allows for a smoother and more controlled entry, minimizing any potential for the wedge to get stuck or be ejected.
• Spiked for Extra Grip: The wedge isn’t just tapered but also comes with spikes. These spikes provide an added layer of grip, ensuring the wedge remains firmly in place once it’s driven into the kerf. This grip reduces the chances of the wedge slipping or dislodging, especially under the immense weight and force of a falling tree.
• Facilitated Control: The very essence of a felling wedge is to influence the direction in which a tree falls, ensuring it doesn’t pose a danger to people, property, or the environment. The Felled Spiked Wedge, with its design and features, greatly assists in this, ensuring the tree falls in the desired direction, thereby minimizing risks and ensuring a smoother operation.
• Versatility: While the 5.5-inch size is perfect for medium to large trees, the design elements of the wedge make it adaptable for a variety of tree felling scenarios. Whether it’s ensuring precision in a tight spot or providing added leverage in open areas, this wedge has got it covered.

3. Timber Tuff TMB Felling Wedge

Timber Tuff, a renowned brand in the logging industry, brings forth its 12-inch felling wedge, a tool explicitly designed for handling the challenges presented by large diameter trees. Created with precision and purpose, this wedge incorporates features that enhance its usability and effectiveness in specific scenarios.

Detailed Features and Benefits:

• Durable ABS Plastic Construction: The choice of ABS plastic is not incidental. ABS, known for its toughness and resilience, ensures that the wedge can withstand the intense forces exerted during the tree felling process. This durability is crucial, especially when dealing with large trees, as the wedge needs to remain undamaged and retain its shape even under significant stress.
• Large 12-inch Design: The generous size of this wedge makes it particularly suitable for large diameter trees. Larger trees require more force and stability to guide their fall, and the 12-inch design of Timber Tuff’s wedge provides that necessary leverage and control.
• Serrated Side for Enhanced Grip: One of the standout features of this wedge is its serrated side. These serrations, or teeth-like structures, dig into the wood, ensuring the wedge remains firmly lodged within the tree’s kerf. This grip is vital to prevent the wedge from slipping out or moving, especially when dealing with the unpredictable nature of large trees.
• Limitation for Smaller Trees: Due to its size and design, this wedge is not ideal for smaller tree operations. Using such a large wedge on a small tree might lead to over-forcing, making the felling process cumbersome and potentially unsafe. Additionally, the wedge might not fit comfortably within the smaller cuts typical of smaller trees.

4. TIPU 4-Pack Tree Felling Wedge Set

TIPU’s felling wedge set offers a blend of versatility and functionality, specifically designed to cater to varied tree-felling requirements. With a mix of sizes and unique design elements, this 4-pack set ensures that forestry workers have the right tool for the job, regardless of the tree’s size.

Detailed Features and Benefits:

• Versatile Dual-Size Offering: One of the set’s most distinguishing features is its dual-size offering. With two 5.5″ wedges and two 8″ wedges, this set offers adaptability for different tree-felling scenarios. The 5.5″ wedges are tailored for medium-sized trees or situations that demand more delicate control, while the 8″ wedges are more suited for larger trees where additional leverage is required.
• Robust PA6-GF30 Plastic Construction: The wedges are crafted from PA6-GF30 plastic, renowned for its sturdiness and resistance to impact. This ensures longevity, even under the rigorous conditions of tree-felling, where wedges are subjected to substantial force and pressure.
• Enhanced Grip with Barbs: Traditional wedges can sometimes slide out or shift, especially if not placed correctly or under the weight of a hefty tree. TIPU’s wedges come with added barbs, small projections that dig into the wood, ensuring a secure grip and minimizing the chance of the wedge dislodging during operations.
• High Visibility Yellow Hue: Safety and efficiency are paramount in forestry operations. The bright yellow color of these wedges ensures they stand out against the natural backdrop, reducing the likelihood of them being overlooked or misplaced. This visibility not only makes the operation more efficient but also reduces the chances of accidents caused by misplaced tools.
• Value Proposition: With all these features packed into a single set, TIPU’s felling wedge set presents itself as a value-for-money proposition for forestry workers. Instead of purchasing different wedges separately, this set offers a comprehensive solution, making it both economical and efficient.

5. Redneck Convent Spiked Tree Felling Wedges

Redneck Convent, in its tradition of providing specialized tools, brings to the fore an 8-inch felling wedge crafted for precision and durability. With its distinctive features, this wedge is particularly designed for those aiming to safely and effectively fell medium to large-sized trees.

Detailed Features and Benefits:

• Durable ABS Plastic Construction: The choice of ABS plastic for the wedge’s construction is not arbitrary. ABS is a plastic known for its toughness, impact resistance, and longevity. This ensures that the wedge, even when under the considerable stress of tree-felling, does not crack, splinter, or deform.
• Distinctive Single Taper Design: The wedge’s single taper design is noteworthy for its ease of insertion into the tree’s kerf. This shape ensures a smooth and controlled entry, minimizing the chances of the wedge getting stuck or being forcibly ejected during the felling process.
• Serrated Surface for Enhanced Grip: The wedge’s serrated surface is a design enhancement that provides it with an added advantage. These serrations dig into the wood and prevent the wedge from sliding out or shifting, ensuring stability and safety during the tree-felling process.
• Nine Strategically Angled Spikes: Beyond the serrations, Redneck Convent has innovatively added nine strategically placed and angled spikes. These spikes further ensure grip, offering an added layer of stability and confidence, especially when working with large trees that can exert significant forces.
• Not for Wood Splitting: Despite its robust design and features, this wedge is explicitly created for tree felling. It’s not designed for wood splitting tasks, which require different wedge characteristics and might result in damage or inefficiency if used for that purpose.
• Expertise with Medium to Large Trees: Given its size and design, this wedge is particularly adept at handling the challenges presented by medium to large-sized trees. Its features ensure that it can provide the necessary leverage and control, ensuring the tree falls in the desired direction and minimizing potential risks.

6. New OEM Set of 3 8″ Husqvarna Felling Tree Wedges

Husqvarna, a brand synonymous with quality and reliability, unveils its set of three felling wedges, approximately 8 inches in size. These wedges have been crafted with utmost precision, keeping the challenges of felling larger trees in mind. While there might be a minor discrepancy in the exact size, the design and functionality promise efficiency and safety.

Detailed Features and Benefits:

• Robust ABS Thermoplastic Construction: The selection of ABS thermoplastic underscores the wedges’ durability and resilience. This material is known for withstanding rigorous conditions, making it an ideal choice for tools that undergo significant force, such as felling wedges. ABS thermoplastic ensures these wedges don’t easily crack, deform, or wear out, thus extending their lifespan.
• Approximate Size and Practical Use: While labeled as 8 inches, Husqvarna’s wedges might come in slightly shorter. However, this minor difference in size doesn’t detract from their efficacy. Their design ensures that they can handle the demands of felling larger trees with ease.
• Elevated Design for Pinch Prevention: One of the standout features of these wedges is their design that elevates more than an inch. This elevation is purposeful – it acts as a buffer, preventing the chainsaw from getting pinched during the felling process. Anyone who has experienced a chainsaw getting stuck knows how invaluable this feature can be, as it not only ensures a smoother operation but also safeguards the chainsaw’s blade from potential damage.
• Set of Three for Added Versatility: The offering of three wedges in a set adds a layer of versatility and convenience. It means a user has backup wedges at their disposal, which can be particularly useful in more complex tree-felling operations where multiple wedges might be required.
• Ideal for Larger Trees: Given their size and design attributes, Husqvarna’s wedges are particularly suited for dealing with larger trees. Their construction ensures they can provide the necessary leverage and stability, guiding the tree to fall in the desired direction and minimizing potential hazards.

7. STIHL 7.5″ OEM Felling Wedge

STIHL, a renowned name in the forestry and landscaping sector, introduces its 7.5-inch felling wedge, a product that seamlessly combines efficiency with design ingenuity. With features specifically curated for tree felling and bucking tasks, this wedge exemplifies the brand’s commitment to innovation and user-centric solutions.

Detailed Features and Benefits:

• Durable and Lightweight Construction: The wedge is crafted from a plastic that strikes a balance between sturdiness and weight. The choice of material ensures the wedge can endure the pressures and forces associated with tree felling while ensuring the user doesn’t feel burdened by its weight. This combination makes it both a practical and ergonomic tool for forestry tasks.
• Expertise in Tree Felling and Bucking: This wedge isn’t just a generic tool; it’s tailored for specific tasks – tree felling and bucking. Its size and design elements come together to provide the necessary control, leverage, and stability required for these operations, ensuring both safety and efficiency.
• Unique Dual-Sided Design: One of the standout features of STIHL’s felling wedge is its distinctive dual-sided design:
  • Serrated Side for Enhanced Grip: On one side, the wedge features serrations. These serrated edges dig into the wood, ensuring the wedge remains firmly in place during operations. This grip reduces the likelihood of the wedge slipping or being dislodged, even under significant pressure.
  • Opposite Side with Tapered Lines: The wedge’s other side, featuring two tapered lines, isn’t merely aesthetic. These lines amplify the grip on the wood, adding another layer of stability and security. By providing multiple grip points, the wedge ensures a more controlled and safe tree felling or bucking process.

8. Oregon 23561 Felling Wedge for Logging

Oregon, a brand with a rich legacy in forest tools and accessories, presents its 8-inch felling wedge, masterfully blending design and functionality. Designed primarily for smaller tree operations, this wedge encapsulates features that maximize safety, visibility, and efficiency.

Detailed Features and Benefits:

• Sturdy Yet Lightweight Design: The choice of a durable, lightweight plastic in the wedge’s construction serves dual purposes. First, it ensures that the wedge can withstand the physical stresses of tree felling and bucking. At the same time, its lightweight nature ensures that users can handle and position the wedge with minimal fatigue, enhancing ergonomics and user comfort.
• Tailored for Smaller Trees: Despite its 8-inch size, this wedge is crafted with smaller tree operations in mind. Its design aspects cater to the unique challenges and requirements of felling and bucking smaller trees, ensuring precision and control in these specific scenarios.
• Dual-Sided Surface for Versatility: Oregon’s felling wedge boasts a dual-sided design that enhances its adaptability and functionality:
  • Smooth Side: This side facilitates easy insertion into the tree’s kerf, ensuring swift positioning without any hindrance.
  • Serrated Side for Amplified Grip: The serrations on the other side are strategically designed to latch onto the wood, ensuring the wedge remains firmly anchored. This reduces the risk of slippage or dislodgment, particularly when the tree exerts pressure on the wedge.
• Enhanced Visibility with Light Yellow Hue: In the dense, often shadowy settings of forests, tool visibility can become a challenge, increasing the risk of misplacing tools or potential accidents. The subtle light yellow hue of the wedge addresses this issue, ensuring it stands out against the forest floor and is easily located even in cluttered environments.
• Convenient Hanging Tab: A seemingly small, yet significant feature is the wedge’s hanging tab. This allows users to hang the wedge when not in use or for storage purposes. The tab can also be a point of attachment to belts or tool bags, ensuring the wedge is always within arm’s reach.

9. Gator Wedge Spiked Felling Wedges

Gator Wedge introduces a versatile collection of felling wedges, offering choices in three different sizes to cater to diverse tree felling needs. Beyond the adaptability in sizes, these wedges exemplify a commitment to quality and user-specific features, making them stand out in the tree felling tools segment.

Detailed Features and Benefits:

• Variety in Sizes for Flexibility: Gator Wedge’s set encompasses three distinct sizes – 5.5, 8, and 10 inches. This range ensures that forestry professionals and enthusiasts alike have the flexibility to choose the most appropriate wedge depending on the tree’s size and the specific requirements of the task at hand.
• Durable ABS Construction: Crafted from Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), a robust thermoplastic polymer, these wedges are built to last. ABS is celebrated for its resilience against unfavorable weather conditions and temperature fluctuations, ensuring that these wedges maintain their integrity even in demanding environments.
• Proudly Made in the USA: The wedges’ USA origin is a testament to their quality and adherence to high manufacturing standards. It’s a nod to local craftsmanship and an assurance of premium quality.
• Exclusively Designed for Tree Felling: While some wedges can serve multiple purposes, Gator Wedge emphasizes that their products are specifically tailored for tree felling. Users are cautioned against using them for wood splitting, ensuring the wedges’ longevity and optimal performance.
• Consistent 1-inch Heel Across All Sizes: A remarkable feature is the 1-inch heel present in every wedge, regardless of its overall size. This heel acts as a buffer, preventing tools like chainsaws from getting trapped or pinched during the felling process, thereby enhancing safety and efficiency.
• Innovative Double Taper Design: Gator Wedge’s signature double taper design adds an extra layer of functionality:
  • Soft Side: This side ensures smooth and effortless insertion into the tree’s kerf. It’s designed to minimize resistance and facilitate quick positioning.
  • Serrated Barb Side: The opposite side, adorned with serrated barbs, ensures the wedge gets a firm grip within the tree. These barbs prevent the wedge from slipping out or being displaced, even under significant pressure.

10. Timber Savage Felling Wedge Chain Saw Logging Wedges

Timber Savage steps into the limelight with its 5.5-inch felling wedge, a product that seamlessly blends innovation with practicality. Offered in sets of four, this wedge offers a unique combination of durability, design sophistication, and user-centric benefits, making it an invaluable asset for those engaged in tree-felling tasks.

Detailed Features and Benefits:

• High-Impact Lightweight Plastic: Timber Savage has chosen a high-impact lightweight plastic for crafting its wedge, which brings dual advantages. First, the high-impact nature guarantees resilience against the stresses and strains of tree-felling operations. Simultaneously, its lightweight property ensures easy handling, reducing fatigue during prolonged use.
• Versatility in Application: With its 5.5-inch size and double taper design, the wedge proves to be versatile, and suitable for both small and average-sized trees. This adaptability ensures that forestry professionals have a tool that can cater to varied tree sizes without needing to switch tools frequently.
• Innovative Double Taper Design:
  • Smooth Side: The wedge’s smooth side allows for a hassle-free insertion into the tree’s kerf, ensuring that positioning the wedge is quick and doesn’t encounter undue resistance.
  • Barbed Edges: On the flip side, the wedge features barbed edges, designed to grip the tree’s interior firmly. These barbs act as an anti-slip mechanism, preventing the wedge from being easily dislodged, even under substantial pressure.
• Enhanced Portability: A standout feature of Timber Savage’s wedge is its portability. Given its compact size and lightweight nature, it’s easy for users to carry it around, whether attached to their belts, toolkits, or just in hand. This ease of transportation ensures that the wedge is always within easy reach, enhancing efficiency.
• High-Visibility Orange Hue: Functionality also meets safety with the wedge’s vibrant orange color. In the dense forestry environment, tools can easily get lost or misplaced. The bright color ensures that the wedge stands out, enabling quick location if dropped or set aside. This not only reduces the chances of misplacing the tool but also enhances safety by ensuring that it’s easily visible to other workers.

In Conclusion

The perfect felling wedge is an amalgamation of durability, design, and efficiency. Whether you’re a seasoned logger or a beginner, investing in the right wedge can be the difference between a flawless felling and an unexpected mishap. Choose wisely and remember, the best wedge is one that resonates with your needs and the demands of the task at hand.

Unraveling the Secrets of the Perfect Felling Wedge

Venturing into the world of felling wedges? These triangular marvels, often dubbed the “winter wedges,” play a pivotal role in splitting logs, controlling the fall of trees, and counteracting leaning forces. Dive with us into the nuances of what makes a superb felling wedge!

• Material Matters: Felling wedges predominantly use ABS plastic, a material that yields if a chainsaw accidentally grazes it – saving your blade in the process! Traditional wood fiber and even metal-capped options exist, but be wary of full-metal wedges. Their weight and potential to damage chainsaw teeth make them a less popular choice.
• Sizing It Up: From dainty 5.5-inch wedges to the majestic 20-inch ones, the market offers a smorgasbord of sizes. Your choice hinges (pun intended) on the tree’s diameter. While smaller trees require shorter wedges, a large one demands length. And for those in-between tasks? A varied wedge ensemble in your toolkit is a lifesaver!
• Texture & Taper: A toothy wedge surface ensures it doesn’t pop out mid-job. You’ll come across single, double, and even triple taper wedges. And while single and double variants reign supreme in popularity, the choice truly boils down to personal preference.
• Color Cues: Lost a tool in the underbrush? Fear not! Manufacturers often opt for light, eye-catching colors, ensuring your wedge stands out against nature’s canvas.
• Felling 101: Felling a tree isn’t just about wielding a chainsaw. It’s an art! Wedges aid by supporting the tree’s trunk, ensuring your chainsaw doesn’t get trapped, and even altering the tree’s fall direction. Remember, the wedge is your fulcrum, leveraging the tree past its tipping point.

The Steps to Success

1. Face Notch Mastery: Begin by crafting a forward-facing notch in the direction of the desired fall. Aim for a 70-degree angle for optimal control.
2. Wedge Count: Factor in tree size and lean. Larger or more inclined trees demand more wedges, while smaller ones need fewer.
3. Tree Segmentation: Understand the tree’s segments. Each segment’s size mirrors the distance from the hinge’s face to the tree’s lean. This helps determine how many wedges are needed.
4. Precision Cutting: Post-notch, align your cut to the notch’s center. Leave ample space for the wedge and maintain a robust tree stump.
5. Wedge Positioning: Either a hammer or an axle works wonders in positioning the wedge. If one wedge doesn’t do the trick, don’t hesitate to introduce more, placed 70 degrees apart.

Bonus Technique: Tackling a forward-leaning tree? Start with a shallow notch, followed by boring into the tree. Ensure enough wood remains to maintain stability. If you can’t cut through, alternate your boring approach until you meet the initial hole. Then, use wedges to command the fall.

There you have it – the art and science of felling wedges demystified! Whether you’re a seasoned logger or just starting, remember: the right wedge can make or break your felling experience. Choose wisely!

FAQs

1. Why are they called “winter wedges”?
   Often, felling wedges are dubbed “winter wedges” due to their high utility in colder months when trees need extra assistance to fall in the desired direction because of snow and ice.
2. What’s the difference between ABS plastic and wood fiber wedges?
   ABS plastic wedges are durable and won’t damage a chainsaw chain if contact occurs. Wood fiber wedges, while traditional, might wear out faster but provide a natural feel.
3. Do color variations in wedges have any functional benefits?
   While the color of a wedge primarily aids visibility in dense forests, some professionals believe that lighter colors absorb less sunlight, preventing potential warping or weakening in prolonged exposure.
4. Why do some wedges have teeth?
   Teeth on the wedge surface ensure it grips the wood securely and doesn’t pop out under force, providing a safer and more effective felling experience.
5. Metal-capped vs. ABS plastic: Which one’s better?
   Metal-capped wedges combine the durability of metal with the safety of plastic. They provide the strength needed without the risk of damaging chainsaw teeth, making them a popular choice for many professionals.
6. Can I use a felling wedge for splitting firewood?
   While it’s possible, it’s not recommended. Felling wedges are designed for guiding the fall of trees, whereas splitting wedges are thicker and meant for splitting logs.
7. Why do some professionals carry wedges of different sizes?
   Different tree diameters and situations demand varied wedge sizes. Having an assortment ensures that the logger can handle any tree with precision.
8. How do I know when to use a single, double, or triple taper wedge?
   Single and double tapers are popular for general use. However, a triple taper, with its changing angle, can offer more precise control in certain felling situations.
9. Are there any safety tips for first-time wedge users?
   Always ensure the tree’s surroundings are clear, use protective gear, and make sure your wedge is visible. If you’re unfamiliar with tree felling, consider professional guidance or training before starting.
10. How often should I replace my felling wedge?
    The lifespan of a wedge depends on its material and usage frequency. Regularly inspect your wedge for cracks, excessive wear, or damage. Replace if you notice any signs of compromise.

We’d love to hear from you! Share your personal experiences and insights about the best felling wedges you’ve used in the comments section below. Your firsthand knowledge could guide fellow loggers in choosing the right tool for the job!

David Murray

Forestry Author

I'm David Murry, a forestry equipment specialist with a focus on chainsaw operation. With over 13 years of experience, I've honed my skills in operating and maintaining a wide range of machinery, from chainsaws to log splitters. My passion for the outdoors and commitment to sustainable forestry drive my work, which emphasizes safety, efficiency, and staying updated with industry advancements. Additionally, I'm dedicated to sharing my expertise and promoting environmental awareness within the forestry community.