Firewood Cutting Guide

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I don't like the idea of having something sticking out of the bar and getting in the way.
I use a 16 inch bar in my MS390. From the tip of the bar to a notch on the sprocket cover is 19 inches.
My VC Vig is 22 inches wide so 19 inch splits work great.
I just put lay the saw in line with the log, placing the tip of the saw at the end of the log or latest cut and then eyeball where the sprocket cover notch lies and that's where I make my cut.
My rounds come out very uniform.
This is also quicker than marking your cuts with a tape measure and a can of spray paint.

But, we've all got to do whatever works best for us.
 
Thanks for the ideas. So I went and made something up.
I don't mind too much if my cuts are longer than 16 ,but sometimes I end up cutting them shorter and I don't like that.
I have a bunch of ,amateur band 2 meter, fire stick type mobile antennas, that I got free with an electronics grab box ,they have a tunable whip on the end , I have used them to make flags for off-road, and bicycles , so I took one apart and voilà , the nylon part on the end has a quarter inch Stub and it just so happens it is a 1/4-20 thread, so I grabbed a wing nut ,stuck it in the hole in the bar, and tightened it up , once tightened it will stay tight because the one part is nylon .
This thing is very light weight,and it is flexible .
Painted it red to see it.
I didn't have a magnet on hand so this is what I came up with , takes only about 3 seconds to put on or take off.

View attachment 81902

Just an update, after I have used this ,I have found It fits so tight in hole in the bar, the wing nut isn't necessary, mark my cuts, pull it out , cut em up :cool:
I will make another one 20" , which is max length for my splitter
 
Yep. My bar is 18" I eye up or put the bar up to measure.
I'm very close with 17 and 18 inch cuts.
 
I highly recommend the following hi-tech item:

IMG_2969-rev-web.jpg

This is the pink chalk model, but I have also tried the white and yellow versions and they also seem to perform satisfactorily.
 
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interesting idea for those that would use it.. I'm an eyball guy...

For a lightweight suggetsion, how out some of the flexible driveway markers? should be lighter than a broom handle and easier to see and attach magnet too...
 
Thanks for the ideas. So I went and made something up.
I don't mind too much if my cuts are longer than 16 ,but sometimes I end up cutting them shorter and I don't like that.
I have a bunch of ,amateur band 2 meter, fire stick type mobile antennas, that I got free with an electronics grab box ,they have a tunable whip on the end , I have used them to make flags for off-road, and bicycles , so I took one apart and voilà , the nylon part on the end has a quarter inch Stub and it just so happens it is a 1/4-20 thread, so I grabbed a wing nut ,stuck it in the hole in the bar, and tightened it up , once tightened it will stay tight because the one part is nylon .
This thing is very light weight,and it is flexible .
Painted it red to see it.
I didn't have a magnet on hand so this is what I came up with , takes only about 3 seconds to put on or take off.

How's it working?
Nice idea with the antenna. ;)

Saw Marker.jpg
 
How's it working?
Nice idea with the antenna. ;)

View attachment 99468
Ya know ! I wasn't sure if I would like it or not, but wanted to make it and try it anyway and now I gotta have it, works great, I use it every time bucking trunks, mark em, take it off ,stick in back pocket, zip zap cut em up ::-)

IMG_20130407_141939.jpg
 
I do the same with mine.
I get round 17" (+/- less than an inch. ;) )

Sometimes I have it on the little saw & mark the lengths then buck with the 20".
Good use for a broken fishing pole.

I made 2, a 16" & a 17".

DSCF0843.JPG
 
I have a 16" chunk of broom handle with a rare earth magnet screwed on to the end. It nicely snaps on to the bar of my saw for marking and will fall off if needed. I mark my 16's then grab it off and throw into my back pocket for bucking. Super convenient and total investment of $ 0.00 (junk laying around) and my wife was nice enough to break the handle on my broom for me to use. :mad: The rare earth magnet is actually out of a hard drive.

Went back to an old post and found a picture...

IMG_0673.JPG

i know this is old but ya get the best magnets out of hard drives, i got some i swear would hold a encyclopedia to the side of your fridge
just dont stick one in your left pocket and another in your right LOL
 
I do the same with mine.
I get round 17" (+/- less than an inch. ;) )

Sometimes I have it on the little saw & mark the lengths then buck with the 20".
Good use for a broken fishing pole.

I made 2, a 16" & a 17".

View attachment 99494
Making something out of stuff I have lying around, that works as good or better than store bought ,just tickles the $hit outa me ::-)
Made a 3ft,next a, 6ft pipe hookaroon
Grade 8 bolts not cheep though $26 for 2, 6in bolts + nuts
 
i know this is old but ya get the best magnets out of hard drives, i got some i swear would hold a encyclopedia to the side of your fridge
just dont stick one in your left pocket and another in your right LOL

Earth magnet a good idea.
May try one ;)
 
Earth magnet a good idea.
May try one ;)
Ya a magnet would be best n fastest, I figured I would do that as son as I got around t picking one up.
It wouldn't take much to hold that whip ant. on , it's very light.
After I made mine ,I was thinking of using a collapsible antenna, would be adjustable length, I have one with a clip on the end for lighting ,pilot lights.
But IDK if U bumped it could change the length.
Working on a way to make the one I have adjustable
 
i know this is old but ya get the best magnets out of hard drives, i got some i swear would hold a encyclopedia to the side of your fridge
just dont stick one in your left pocket and another in your right LOL

Don't let them get anywhere near your cc or anything with a magnetic strip on them either
 
Don't let them get anywhere near your cc or anything with a magnetic strip on them either

Wonder if a strong magnet on the tip of the bar would cause wear issues with the roller tip or the bar chain groove.
Mines is on & off easy with the wing nut.
Just take a few extra nuts with me, should paint them flo orange/pink
 
Wonder if a strong magnet on the tip of the bar would cause wear issues with the roller tip or the bar chain groove.
Mines is on & off easy with the wing nut.
Just take a few extra nuts with me, should paint them flo orange/pink
All this talk about putting maggots on the guides ,I picked one up at HF today ,40mm dia, about 1 1/2" 15lb pull, and it's plenty strong enough for the tiny weight, had to drill a bigger hole in the steel part but the 1/4" nut fit right down inside the hole that comes in the magnet, to attach my guide .
It will be quick but won't be able to stick it in my pocket any more
They can't call me a wing nut any more ;)
I have 13 more if the antennas but don't need that many guides ;lol
I the pic it looks like the whip on the ant. is hard to see but, it isn't next to a log

IMG_20130414_151943.jpgIMG_20130414_152010.jpgIMG_20130414_152128.jpg
 
Did you notice any movement when running it.?
I was thinking a 1/4'' stud sticking out to fit in the 1/4" hole in the bar might make it more secure

I think you are onto something, better get a patent ;)
 
Did you notice any movement when running it.?
I was thinking a 1/4'' stud sticking out to fit in the 1/4" hole in the bar might make it more secure

I think you are onto something, better get a patent ;)
Nope it didn't move a muscle.
Patent Pending, adjustable length ==c
They had stronger magnets, were bigger diameter ' 25,65,95lb pull strength , not sure I could buy the 95 cuz I couldn't get just one off ,all of em hanging there were stuck together big time, standing on my tip toes, I could not pull em apart, I didn't want to destroy their rack ;lol
 
Nope it didn't move a muscle.
Patent Pending, adjustable length ==c
They had stronger magnets, were bigger diameter ' 25,65,95lb pull strength , not sure I could buy the 95 cuz I couldn't get just one off ,all of em hanging there were stuck together big time, standing on my tip toes, I could not pull em apart, I didn't want to destroy their rack ;lol
you bars upside down :p
 
All this talk about putting maggots on the guides. . .

Hmmm . . . how do you get the maggots to stay on . . . and how long do they last before they turn into flies? ;) :)
 
Hmmm . . . how do you get the maggots to stay on . . . and how long do they last before they turn into flies? ;) :)
It's very tricky, Just have to wait n see ;)
 
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