Whether free or not, it will be real cheap compared to the worst case scenario, and cheap enough if anything should go wrong. Don't do this around power, and wear your ppe, especially a hard hat and safety glasses.
For future reference, when trying to side notch a branch, ropes work wonders. How big of branches are we talking about? What kind of a tree is it? What saw are you using?
Barring any rope work though, it can be done. Some trees are more forgiving than others, but the key for me has been to give it a slightly downward angle from perpendicular. Let gravity give you a hand, and then bring the backcut in at an angle so that you leave plenty of hinge on the top side, even more than on the bottom, often much more, but don’t cut through the bottom. If the branch is long and heavy enough the hinge can and will pull apart on the top side and you've lost control. I do what I can to reduce weight and length if possible. And I won't go anymore perpendicular than I have to in order to miss what I don't want to hit.
I'll take a little at a time as I approach my limit, as you can only take so much, it depends on the tree's wood characteristics, and length and weight of the branch. I can’t stress that enough. DO NOT keep cutting if it doesn't go. Alot of times I'll quit and take my Stihl ht131, or something long enough and give the branch a shove at a safe place towards the tip of the branch if I can reach it. Somewhere that the saw will not get hung up as it goes. Sometimes it will only go so far because I have left a conservative hinge. Then I’ll address the backcut a bit and I’m done. Playing the wind, especially on a leafed out branch can be helpful to. In fact, if wind is a factor, do not cut towards it, let it work for you if anything.
Keep an eye on the branch and hinge and be mindful. Try to read what it's doing. Don't work directly underneath, if your saw is not long enough to be out a ways, don't do it or get a longer saw. Don't use a ladder.
Keep your escape routes open and don't hesitate to sacrifice the saw. It can even get pinched in the kerf before or during the branch falling.
Often times the branch will still be connected to the tree once it’s down. That can be tricky, dangerous and counterproductive. You’ll be tempted to cut it at the tree, but too often that can put you at a dangerous disadvantage. You don’t want a branch butt sandwich. I recommend cutting the branch in segments and working back to the tree from a safe distance and position. Take your time. It can be cut at the tree, but depending on the branch characteristics it can become very unpredictable and destructive. Don’t forget to finish with a proper pruning cut.
That’s the best advice I can give online. I hesitate to do so, but I’d rather you had some tips than just go at it. Just be careful. When in doubt, call a pro….so often it’s the cheapest and safest option in the end. You might even learn some good info first hand.
