45 degrees over 8 inches of limb is a challenge. Over two meters, I would yawn, grab my heat gun, and lay into it with not so much as a doubt or fear! I heat sections about 30 cm at a time. If you have 45 degrees and it is consistent, that means you are knocking off only about 7-8 degrees at a time. That's not going to stress the wood a whole lot, the heat can achieve that for you just fine!
Show that ANZAC fearlessness!