How should I attack these felled trunks?

jatoxico said:

You'd need a big peavey if you had to roll stuff like that around all the time. Nice one.

Click to expand...

I broke the hook on it once and had to reinforce the weld, but works great now.

Yes, don't use a metal wedge if you like your chain. You can always use a piece of wood if you need a wedge in a pinch. You probably won't need to look far to find one.

drewmo said:

Have you gone and burned all the trees?

Click to expand...

I know what you mean. There are no trees here in this part of Wyoming it is just grass land. I scrounge all my wood from town or go to the mountains.

You do realize that sooner or later some of the bucking you do on those logs is going to be cutting from the top down.
All you need is one plastic wedge and do not worry about pinching the bar.

Mag Craft said:

I know what you mean. There are no trees here in this part of Wyoming it is just grass land. I scrounge all my wood from town or go to the mountains.

Click to expand...

How did you get those rounds home? Figured they were on the property somewhere. I split large rounds on site, which is why I don't end up taking too many large rounds by myself.

Mag Craft said:

You do realize that sooner or later some of the bucking you do on those logs is going to be cutting from the top down.
All you need is one plastic wedge and do not worry about pinching the bar.

Click to expand...

I used a plastic wedge while bucking for the first time the other day. It's a pleasure. No staring at the kerf, just start the cut, bang in the wedge and finish. No worries, no kickback, no problems. Done it both ways and I'm liking the wedge.

I cut those and then rolled them into my trailer which has a ramp. I am 63 so it takes all I have to get them in there but I manage.
This was taken in town at my brother in laws place, I live about 30 miles out of town.
That round is about 40" across.

I do not advocate that a wedge will stop kick back but it will prevent the bar from being pinched.

BrotherBart said:

Don't even start believing that wedge will stop/prevent a kickback. I have started using them for felling but see no use for them for bucking. If I need to wedge a buck I am not looking at the log right.

Click to expand...

Have it your way but as far as I'm concerned for $4 bucks the added safety and convenience when needed is worth it. Nobody said anything about absolutes or cutting w/ the saw in one hand and a beer in the other but the wedge does what it's supposed to.

2:20 min

3:55 min

Yep even professional loggers use wedges when bucking large logs. Good videos with good safety tips. Thanks for sharing those jatoxico.

I find a wedge to be useful to me at least when bucking up log loads. Its not that I just bang it in and run the cut into the dirt, but occasionally you get odd shaped logs that bend, etc and cant easily be cut 3/4, rolled, then cut 1/4. In these cases its nice to have a wedge to keep the kerf open while you finish the rest of the cut.

Is it possible to buck all your wood without a wedge? Sure. But they're useful to have around. I buck and haul all of my wood without a peavy/cant hook/round grabbers, but that doesn't mean that they're not useful and that others wont find them to be a help.

I too use a wedge when doing log loads in the back yard. There are often a few stems like the OP that cannot be rolled, even when up on stringers. The wedge is a good trick to have in your bag. Not for every cut but when you need to it works.

BrotherBart said:

Dig under that spot that has some light under it. Then make the first cut up through the log. Then you have two pieces that are a lot easier to flop over.

Click to expand...

+1000 to this. Any time you can make the log lighter, it will be a lot easier to roll over.

Backwoods Savage said:

But first, I would cut from top down and keep a very close eye on the kerf. Any movement, you get that saw out fast. You can do this without pinching the saw if you pay close attention to it. Then go about the under cutting. It is simple and it works.

Click to expand...

In principle you are absolutely right. If done correctly, there is no need for wedges. But working by yourself, and especially new to working with wood this big, I HIGHLY recommend a felling wedge. You get your cut started and insert it so that the saw cannot be pinched.

I have been at this for a while, and I have worked with more than decent sized firewood. No matter how careful you are, it is easy to get a saw pinched. Sometimes those logs do something you didn't anticipate.

Mag Craft said:

With the right peavey you can roll those logs. This is one I made just for large logs.

Click to expand...

But your trees are nice and round.......his have large limbs sticking out. Those will be difficult to roll over, even with help.

drewmo said:

I really don't want to pinch the bar. I only have metal wedges and would hate to hit one with the chain.

Click to expand...

OP, you are correct.

What you are looking for are called "felling wedges" and they are plastic. If you hit one with the bar the chain will simply take a little of the wedge off. You try not to hit them, but it happens

We'll smokedragon they do not always come round I just cut the branches off to make them round so I can then roll them. But good point.

smokedragon said:

In principle you are absolutely right. If done correctly, there is no need for wedges. But working by yourself, and especially new to working with wood this big, I HIGHLY recommend a felling wedge. You get your cut started and insert it so that the saw cannot be pinched.

Click to expand...

+1 to the OP, bet you find them useful.

If you guys take a good look at the first log you might see that you can probably put a 4x4 under the middle and then roll it with a peavey from the butt end 1/4 or so turn clockwise. If there are no knobs on that side it looks like you will get the top half suspended clear up off the ground and free cuts for the top half of the log. That is what I always go for. No digging or wedges or under cutting to debate if you can get that top free and clear. Get rid of that weight and you will wind up with a mangeable lower trunk where you can cut your rounds till just before pinch and roll to finish.

Noodle it. DUH.

Kool_hand_Looke said:

DUH.

Click to expand...

Don't listen to him, he's still loopy .