Cutting a large log in half.

[kenmbz]

I use a timberjack for smaller trees to about 12" and the tractor with forks for bigger ones. did a few 20 something inchers with the forks and can cut up a 30 foot tree pretty quick. Noodling for the big rounds for me as I only use an 8 pound maul. Have done quite a few cords with that in the last three years.

 

[oldballs]

Either get a longer bar or refine your cutting methods. Think about what you are doing.

I have a Stihl Farm Boss that came with a 16 inch bar, but I bought a 20 inch bar too. The Boss powers that 20 inch bar just as well.

Thus, I keep chains for both size bars depending on what I'm I doing.

 

[CobyRupert]

The problem is cutting a large log with a short bar that doesn’t reach all the way through.

Example: Say a cut curves to the right a couple inches as you cut through the log, this is doubled when you then go to the other side of the log and are facing the opposite direction. Now that side’s cut will miss the other side by 4” at the bottom.

As others have said, try to use as much of the cut you’ve made as a guide. Yet, sometimes the cuts still don’t meet.
This is where wedges and a hammer are handy to pop the tree apart when cuts didn’t meet.
Check that your saw is cutting straight. Uneven sharpening and/or a bar that is worn uneven on one side (left or right rail) can make cuts curve. Do you unconsciously push the saw so it curves?

Try to cut as much of the log with the saw facing the same direction instead of going to the other side of the log where saw faces opposite direction increasing the chances cuts don’t meet. Try to cut all of log, except what is touching ground, from one side of log. Cut far side from top with saw nearly vertical at times and work back towards yourself.
My 2 cents.

 

[dodge man]

I could go quite a bit bigger on my bar if I went to a skip chain but this last tree is about as big as I ever half to deal with. I just Noodle the big stuff in half and then get it on my splitter. I’m guessing some of this pieces weighed 200 lbs until I noodled then in half.

 

[dodge man]

Coby Rupert, another good idea, when the cuts don’t meet it wouldn’t take much to pop it apart. Instead I keep hacking away with the chain saw. Sometimes the obvious isn’t so obvious.

 

[ericm979]

I would not use steel splitting wedges as felling wedges like that video with the electric chainsaw. It's too easy to get the chain into the wedges.

 

[Diggin It]

Every time I see this thread, I misread the title as Hog. Maybe I'm just hungry?

 

[dodge man]

I have both plastic and steel wedges. The steel ones I use for splitting, the plastic for dropping trees or keeping my saw from being pinched.

 

[dodge man]

Every time I see this thread, I misread the title as Hog. Maybe I'm just hungry?

You could use a chainsaw for that but it might be a little messy.

 

[BrokenTrack]

My son finally killed my 266SE milling poplar logs, and that was with ripping chain.

I kill one of my saws about once every year by driving over them. One of the Husky's I ran over with a bulldozer was no big loss (it was a Husqvarna), but I almost cried when I ran over my MS 461 Stihl. ($1100 saw)

I try to keep the saw up on the skidder instead of putting it down, but every once and awhile, things go sideways and I end up putting a saw under a bulldozer or skidder. It gets me a new saw, but that is an expensive way to get one!

 

[CobyRupert]

Every time I see this thread, I misread the title as Hog. Maybe I'm just hungry?

A sawzall does a good job.

I’d imagine with a chainsaw you’d want to use vegetable oil for bar and chain oil.
....and a face shield. I wouldn’t want to have to clean the chain saw afterwards or clean up the saw “shavings”. Eww.

 

[Diggin It]

A sawzall does a good job.

I’d imagine with a chainsaw you’d want to use vegetable oil for bar and chain oil.
....and a face shield. I wouldn’t want to have to clean the chain saw afterwards or clean up the saw “shavings”. Eww.

Well, if you use veggie oil, you just put the chain over the grill and cook it off ... pulled pork.

 

[WranglerX]

This was my solution to not having a "timberjack" to get log up off the dirt.... You can cut from any side....



Dale

 

[edgarrian]

I use my tractor to move 15ft logs. I have log rack that will let me put about 3 or 4 logs at time in depending on the diameter. I then am able to cut them with the chainsaw without bending over and not worrying about running the chain into the ground. I have put some big logs in it as well. Id say 2 to 2.5ft in diameter. Best thing i have purchased when it comes to cutting wood. I can do it all day and not get to sore the next day. Im nearly done for the year. I have some newly downed trees i need to cut up and get ready for next year. My little massy has been a workhorse as well. Its great to have.

 

[5030]

Back in the day - I fell and cut my big 'ol Ponderosa pines for firewood. Some are up to 40" on the butt. I had a MONSTER Stihl with a 28" bar. All notching had to be done from two sides. I'd measure the fallen tree for each cut. Cut the tree into 10' sections. Cut as far down as possible - rotate the section with the tractor - find the cut slot - complete the cut.

After doing this for a couple years - I fell back to the 16" to 24" trees. A whole lot less bother. A whole lot easier to fell.

Loan you my Stihl 075. It has a 4 foot bar. Sounds like a MX bike when it idles. 404 skip tooth square chipper. Had a 090G and sold it. Was just too big. Should have kept it for giggles.

 

[yomax4]

This was my solution to not having a "timberjack" to get log up off the dirt.... You can cut from any side....

View attachment 654026

Dale

I do this as well. Big logs just get lifted up waist high with the loader and the other end on the ground. Can't imagine doing it any other way. Sadly my tractor will only lift 1000# with the loader.