Cutting Limbs to Size

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
Status
Not open for further replies.
WarmGuy

WarmGuy

Minister of Fire
Jan 30, 2006
519
Far Northern Calif. Coast
I have a big pile of limb wood that I'll be cutting to stove size with my electric chainsaw. I'm looking for the best way to support it while cutting it.

I find that if I have them supported by other limbs or bigger pieces on the ground, that bending over and cutting is tiring.

Something that's worked pretty well is to stick a limb about waist height, in between the logs in this pile, so that it sticks out. I can then just work my way from the end back to the pile of logs.

Any other suggestions for jigs or methods of doing this?

Thanks.
 

Attachments

  • Feb2007Unsplit2.jpg
    Feb2007Unsplit2.jpg
    73 KB · Views: 587
Build a simple wood rack with a pair of crossed 2x4's at the ends. Then just place the wood in the cradle and saw away. I posted a picture a year ago that showed ours. There's a picture of our saw buck towards the end of the thread. It seen about 10 years of use, I'll be making a new one this year.
https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/22/

Another approach is to use a chop-saw. And other ideas:
https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/1265/
https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/285/
 
I'm assuming your talking about small limbs. I bought a product that mounts to your chainsaw that helps. It's called the CHAINSAW BUDDY. I love this product! For tree limbs in the 3-6" range nothing can cut it faster and easier. At least from what I have tried. A chop saw works, but the piece can get cocked and jam the blade. Do a search on the inter-net for chainsaw buddy (might be one word). They have a video on it. Once you try it I'm sure you'll love it. Let me know if there are any questions I can answer for you on it. I am no way affiliated with them. I just like the product.

-Mike
 
I think Bart has one too. There should be a link to them in the first thread I posted. www.chainsawbuddy.com
 
When I cut small stuff, limbs and branches I make a very neat pile of them near or on the spot I want to stack the cut pieces. As I am stacking them I use a machete to cut all the very small branches off. Then I stack them in a pile all starting even at on one end, running in the same direction as close together as possible. I will then chain saw all the limbs in the pile at once, starting at the even end. One cut at a time through a lot of limbs at once.
 
I bought a chainsaw buddy too. It was around 30 bucks at Bailey's Online. It works as advertised. I recently filled the back of my truck up with 4" - 6" diameter logs (8' long each) and the chainsaw buddy helped make short work of them. Also helps keep my chain out of the ground.
 
I use a modified version of BeGreens, the top of mine looks like the attached picture. I'm not skilled with drawing, I use paint for my picture software.

I throw 8-12 branches in, make them flush to one end, and cut them between the gaps of my holder and at the end. Lift them out and into a wheel barrow, perfect size every time and only the ends fall to ground.
 

Attachments

  • untitled.gif
    untitled.gif
    838 bytes · Views: 431
Thanks for the tips. Yes, I like the idea of having several places where you can cut, so that you don't have to cut, then shift, etc.

But my system does work quite well. It avoids having to bend down a lot, which takes a toll if you're working for several hours. Here are some photos I took yesterday:
 

Attachments

  • SawingLimbs1.jpg
    SawingLimbs1.jpg
    222.5 KB · Views: 385
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

O
Transition plate scratches
Replies
2
Views
397
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
vbu
vbu
Nick Mystic
Bought my first battery operated chainsaw
Replies
26
Views
3K
The Gear
Wood1Dennis
Wood1Dennis
P
Covering my wood
Replies
12
Views
2K
The Wood Shed
peakbagger
P
bigealta
The mechanics of Top Down, Why it works so well.
Replies
12
Views
1K
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
Wildflush
W
P
Squirting Sugar Maples
Replies
6
Views
493
The Wood Shed
Max W
Max W
Top Bottom
Back