my bucking back...

Firewood Bandit said:

I cut these yesterday. They are pretty heavy the way they are, 4-6' long and I wouldn't be able to lift them.

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Looks like Oak. I'm guessing you didn't actually pick them up yourself? They have to be 3-400 lbs.

claydogg84 said:

Looks like Oak. I'm guessing you didn't actually pick them up yourself? They have to be 3-400 lbs.

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I put them into the trailer by myself, and they go around at least 300#'s. I only cut red & white oak along with hickory.

I roll them in by lower the expanded metal gate in the back.

Firewood Bandit said:

I put them into the trailer by myself, and they go around at least 300#'s. I only cut red & white oak along with hickory.

I roll them in by lower the expanded metal gate in the back.

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Even rolling those big bastards must have been a pain in the arse. I know the oak rounds I got a few weeks ago were about the same size and the 2 of us struggled getting them into my pickup towards the end of the day.

It sure makes getting it moved easier. Today my friend and I brought 5 trees, elm & maple,home from next door.. Got a cord of small rounds bucked and stacked with about 3 more cord waiting on the splitter.

j7art2 said:

How the buck do you guys buck without hurting your bucking back?

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I do deadlifts at the gym.

Noticed this thread tonight so Im a bit late to the party. You may be stronger and not have the same issues I have but heres what Ive found. I have a back problem that goes back from an injury on the job site over a decade ago. Im ok for the most part but every lifting job comes with some consequences. I dont have a problem with bucking but often will bend my knees or rest a knee on the ground like someone above suggested (since you're wearing chaps this wont be a problem). I also try not to work on the ground if possible but that can be hard. I also leave big ass trees for the people with stronger backs. Some other things I do to minimize the risks is to harvest smaller diameter rounds, smaller arm loads to the truck, (its not a race), use proper form when lifting, use a splitter on almost every occasion, when stacking, my arm loads are smaller. I seem to recall you are looking at getting a new chainsaw and someone on that thread mentioned that yes you can get to big of a chainsaw. So if bucking is straining your back maybe consider the weight of the one youre buying. As stated in my sig my 455 Rancher doesn't add to much strain to me. I think anyone can go big if they only process a cord or two a year but when your serious like you and I are it can be the repetition and volume that gets you! PS I never pick up 6' logs but buck on site. Hope this helps j7art2.

I had been cutting to logs and then bucking at home... but my logs were 40" which would go into my sawbuck and get cut into 3 ~13" pieces. At 40" long, a good rule of thumb was I could handle up to what my 8" tongs could grasp...


which was generally 8-10". Might be able to go a little bigger/longer with both arms handling one but no way I could easily lift something 6' and of decent girth.

I may work out and be pretty fit, but I'm a distance runner not a body builder, and weigh around 150 lbs lol... not going to be picking up any huge logs anytime soon.


^Firewood Bandit?

I've been experiencing this lately too. I do all my bucking where the tree falls, usually to about 14-18 inch long pieces, then its a hand carry to the split/stack site (all on my property). Longest carry so far has been about 100-150 ft. I just go slow, and try not to carry too much. I have to say though, 3 hours or buck, carry, split and stack and I am done. If I can do it about 1-2 times a week, my endurance builds up and I don't hurt as much. Definitely need to look into some sort of a log hook or handles so I don't have to carry rounds against my arms and chest. Strain would be a lot less carrying it like a suitcase.

Joe13 said:

I've been experiencing this lately too. I do all my bucking where the tree falls, usually to about 14-18 inch long pieces, then its a hand carry to the split/stack site (all on my property). Longest carry so far has been about 100-150 ft. I just go slow, and try not to carry too much. I have to say though, 3 hours or buck, carry, split and stack and I am done. If I can do it about 1-2 times a week, my endurance builds up and I don't hurt as much. Definitely need to look into some sort of a log hook or handles so I don't have to carry rounds against my arms and chest. Strain would be a lot less carrying it like a suitcase.

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I bought a wheelbarrow and it's helped me immensely. I'm 6'6" with some back issues and it keeps me from bending all the way to the ground. It will also make those trips to the woodpile much easier. Carrying armloads sucks

Babaganoosh said:

I bought a wheelbarrow and it's helped me immensely. I'm 6'6" with some back issues and it keeps me from bending all the way to the ground. It will also make those trips to the woodpile much easier. Carrying armloads sucks

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Ive thought about that, but the terrain is not too friendly to a wheelbarrow. My best bet will be a tractor at some point.

I just bought the Timber-Tuff log grippers from Amazon for my dad for Christmas. There's a Youtube video on them. Bailey's has a similar product. He carries armloads through the woods to dump in his trailer, so anything to make his life easier was a good thing. I haven't tried them myself yet but if he likes them, I may get some for me. Of course, if he hates them, I may get his...

Babaganoosh said:

I bought a wheelbarrow and it's helped me immensely

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For the most part this wouldnt work in my forests but I have used one from time to time with great success. If you have to travel great distances while hauling a wheel barrow then you could lose efficiency but where Ive used one I was only minutes away from the harvest site. I like the claw idea though.