Do you use a cutting area for Bucked logs?

[arrow]

Measuring stick? I lay my forearm on the log - from my elbow to the tips of my fingers is right about 18 inches. I usually lay my forearm, lift back up and mark real quick with the saw. Can mark out all my cuts on the main trunk of a tree in 2 minutes that way.

My family always cuts them where they fall. We start with the downed ones, then start dropping the dead ones if we need more wood.

Start at the top of the tree, take the brush and crown off, then start working on the limbs. Work on the loose ones first, and be careful when limbing the ones under pressure....they are usually holding the main trunk off the ground. Its an art to take them out in the right sequence so that you don't bind your saw, and roll the trunk wrong (onto yourself).

When you get some good logs cut off the branches, use these to help buck up the main trunk off the ground. As you cut more logs off the main trunk and forks the tree will drop onto these logs that you lay under the main trunk, making it alot easier to continue cutting without having to move the tree or worry about touching the ground with your saw.

If for some reason you wind up with the trunk on the ground, (it just happens sometimes) make sure you level out the saw as you approach the bottom of the log (and the ground). It takes awhile to get the feeling of it, but I can often cut a log so close to all the way without actually passing through, that I can just give the log a swift kick and it pops the rest of the way off. When the final trunk gets to less than 6-8ft (oak, 35-40" diameter), I can often roll it over with a good shove, and finish the rest of my cut through's with a quick zip.

We have a home made wooden carry-all with short sides for the tractor. Its good for bringing in the saws and gas and hauling out the firewood. I can usually put 3 40"x18" cut logs on it at a time and drive them out to our splitting spot. Its amazing where a 2wd tractor will go with AG tires and working steer brakes. I can get to spots that ATV's have trouble getting, just stay in the low gears and don't freak when the front wheels come off the ground. The carry-all acts like a wheelie bar, lower it if the front end gets too high, and steer with the brakes.

If we get 4 of us working at the same time, it gets super efficient. Dad and I with saws get a tree down and started, then I get on the tractor and start hauling cut logs over to the splitting area at the edge of the woods, and 2 people start on the cut logs with the hydraulic splitter. Dad keeps the the cut wood going, I use the tractor to keep the splitter fed. We can average about a cord an hour this way. That's cut, hauled, split and stacked.

My entire extended family burns wood for heat. 4 households go through about 12 cords a winter or so. But if at least 4 of us get together to work on the wood piles, we can get it all done in about 3-4 afternoons throughout the fall and winter. Its one of my favorite past-times when the weather gets cold...always reminds me of doing the same with grandpa when he was alive. = )

To all who like a uniform cutting up of wood. The fastest way I know is to use a foresters tape. Affix the tape to the butt end of the branch and then walk up the stem cutting off branches as you go. The tape will string out as you go up the length. Now depending on how long you want your round, walk the distance back or side step for short pieces and grab the tape to your leg and mark the tree with a cut where your leg is. Repeat at whatever intervals you want then cut the tree up at the marks. Admittingly this tool is more advantageous for longer lengths. These tapes are heard to be called logger tapes or Dtapes but you want the one that has length marked on the opposite side of the tape. The other side measures diameter of trees to calculate how much wood is in the tree so its strickly cannot be called a Dtape or diameter tape.

This is a super past time for a family Farmer.

 

[crazyal]

This is how I keep the wood off the ground when cutting. If not then I cut the whole log up cutting about 1/2 to 2/3 of the way through it and then use the fel to roll the log. Most of my logs are not straight enough to use a cant.

As for marking length I took a 4 1/2" grinder and made a mark at 16" on each side of my 20" bar. Knowing where 20" is and 16" allows me to cut to almost any size I may need.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

This is how I keep the wood off the ground when cutting. If not then I cut the whole log up cutting about 1/2 to 2/3 of the way through it and then use the fel to roll the log. Most of my logs are not straight enough to use a cant.

As for marking length I took a 4 1/2" grinder and made a mark at 16" on each side of my 20" bar. Knowing where 20" is and 16" allows me to cut to almost any size I may need.

Al,
I don't have a hoe (yet). This is MUCH more like my cutting environment.
Tomorrow I will try to take a picture of the pile of wood I have set aside at the moment for firewood. It is a big jumble of logs.

Thanks for the pointers!
Be well,
David

 

[samhudson3]

All my logs sit on a pair of large fence posts. This keeps them off the ground. The fence posts are perpendicular to the logs...

When cutting them... I usually have two logs that are on the posts. Then the log that I'm cutting sits on top of the two bottom logs. This forms a cradle that supports the log that I'm cutting. Works real well. Plus I can cut the logs consistently because the bottom log has cut marks on it! :thumbsup:

Have fun with your new saw. You bought a nice one! :drink:

I use 3 of the logs and push logs to be cut on them with my FEL. Keeps them off the ground and with 3 underneath, I find it easier to cut without pinching the bar.

I measure each cut from the tip of the saw to the second bolt on the bar cover, takes just a second but makes consistent piece size. Hate 'em too short and definitely hate them too long!

 

[MossflowerWoods]

I use 3 of the logs and push logs to be cut on them with my FEL. Keeps them off the ground and with 3 underneath, I find it easier to cut without pinching the bar.

I measure each cut from the tip of the saw to the second bolt on the bar cover, takes just a second but makes consistent piece size. Hate 'em too short and definitely hate them too long!

I cut all the fruit woods and some of the others short for my smoker, the rest I try to cut consistent size (I'm still a noob though and my wood pile is very inconsistently sized).

I seem to have an issue with cutting straight, all my wood does not sit level when I get out the maul to split some.

I'm going to cut some firewood for a buddy who is gimped up from surgery this weekend. I hope I do it well...

A log splitter is on my Christmas list...
David

 

[DAY]

I mostly cut standing dead trees-and the ones Mother Nature drops for me:thumbsup:
If it is accessible with the tractor and wagon, I cut and split where it lays. Before felling, I put a few lengths of deadwood across the estimated drop line, and the tree is supported for bucking. If i miss, I use the cant hook.:laughing:

If the future firewood is up on the hillside, I use wire rope and a snatchbock to git 'er down to the Bucking Zone.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

I mostly cut standing dead trees-and the ones Mother Nature drops for me:thumbsup:

Day,

I have not felled a tree yet. I am only processing the good scraps the loggers left, and the stuff that is falling. I'm going to cut down my first trees probably this weekend (I have a couple vacation days) (if the wife let's me have any tractor time) and I will start with dropping the snags and broken trees that snapped 10-15' up.

For example in the pic below, that bent over poplar snapped off last weekend at about 12-15' up.

I have many, MANY cords of wood on the ground now...

David

 

[crazyal]

I lost lots of wood simply because I couldn't burn enough of it. I had so many trees that were not healthy or blown over by mother nature that it took years to clean them all up. It doesn't take long for rot to ruin good burnable wood.

 

[Combustix]

David I cut my logs into 12 to 15 foot lengths and take them to my wood shed were I buck them up. Cut a two foot round and stand it up then you can rest your grapple on the log while holding the log to be cut.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

David I cut my logs into 12 to 15 foot lengths and take them to my wood shed were I buck them up. Cut a two foot round and stand it up then you can rest your grapple on the log while holding the log to be cut.

THAT is BRILLIANT!:thumbsup::thumbsup:

I hope to do some cutting this weekend, I'm going to try that idea out.

Do you shut the tractor off while cutting? Do you pinch the log or just cradle it?

David