Tractors and wood! Show your pics

[Creamer]

I used to use the bar length as a gauge. Since I mostly use 16" bars, and I like 16-17" logs, it was a nice match. However, turning the saw to measure got old.

Then I was shown a nice gizmo by an old timer: Bent a piece of stiff wire (a coat hanger will work) into an L shape. The short leg is only 1 to 1.5" long. Use 2 zip ties to attach it to the lower left end of your front handle. (I have the short leg pointed down along the handle, and the long leg poking off just above where the handle curved to go under the body of the saw. I put a hook in the end of the short leg and crimped it over to keep it from sliding out from under the zip tie.) Swing the long leg of the wire out perpendicular to the bar. For a 16" log, trim it so the distance from the bar where it meets the saw to the end of the wire is 16" (the wire itself is a good bit less than 16", since the handle is already 6"+ away from the bar at this point). When you want to cut 16" logs, swing the wire out perpendicular to the bar and use it as a gauge for log length. When not in use, you can flip the wire in, along the side of the saw pointing rearwards. Mine stays right along the side of the saw, out of the way when not in use (I tied the short leg of the L to the inside of the handle, so that it will lay flatter against the side of the saw)

A couple of tweaks to the design:
1) If you cut the long leg a bit longer than you need, you can fold the end over to the length you want, then tape it up. This makes the end of the wire less of a "poke hazard".
2) with the right zig-zags bent into the short leg, and the right tension on the zip ties, you can make a sort of "detent" that will help hold the wire either out at 90˚ or flat in against the saw body.

If I remember, I'll try to post a picture. It's simpler than it sounds.

I think I have it but a photo would be great!

 

[Baby Grand]

I have an old, wood pickaxe handle with 16" & 22" lengths marked in wide, black Sharpie ink.
It gets used with a lumber marking crayon to mark my cuts down the full length of the log before I start up the saw.
16" for the little stove, upstairs, and 22" for the big one in the basement.

 

[vsteel]

I just use a cut piece from an old broom handle, bright red so it doesn't get lost and some sidewalk chalk. The kids love to help out and mark my logs before I start cutting.

 

[Will_C]

Do the same thing with pieces of 1 x 1 wood-mark the wood with a log crayon.

Will

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Are you guys REALLY that **** about getting FIREWOOD all the same length??

SR

 

[Rustyiron]

YES Rob, if my firewood is not exactly the perfect legnth, I'll just burn the dang thing:laughing:

 

[vsteel]

Are you guys REALLY that **** about getting FIREWOOD all the same length??

SR

You obviously have not seen my kids mark firewood. :laughing:

 

[TomSeller]

I purely eye ball every cut. Then burn the evidence.

 

[Gordon Gould]

My woodshed is 9'-5" inside. I need to get 6 rows of 18" wood in it. It is a lot easier to measure and mark before I cut than try to pick and choose pieces to fit as I stack it in the shed. I use an 18" stick and a wood marking crayon. I try to mark the next log in the pile with my saw as I cut the first log.

I'm probably a little paranoid too

gg

 

[chopped]

I purely eye ball every cut. Then burn the evidence.

OMG too funny..