My first Craig's List Score - more than I bargained for

I get some wood off my property and my neighbor's property (doesn't burn much wood). But I buy more than 3/4 of my wood. So I was looking on Craig's list as I have had trouble finding a good wood guy that I can buy from year after year.

So I found a Craig's list ad offer free sugar maple, delivered. It looks like a tree service that just wanted to get the stuff off their trailer. However, this is a huge mega trunked tree, like 36-40" diameter. Also, there are a lot of junctions/forks. Three of the mega trunk pieces are 4 to 5 feet long. So I need to cut these huge trunk lengths down to 20 to 22" rounds before splitting. The problem is that I only have a 18" bar on my Sthil 028 Super WB.

The score also came with 20 feet or so of 18 to 22" logs. The best part of the deal was the guy had it on a trailer and delivered and dumped it in my side yard. However, I have not dealt with mega size trunks and the mega forks. I'm thinking that I might get 2 cords out of it if I can process it. Pictures to follow.

Pictures of the sugar maple

So my strategy with the large trunk sections that need to be cut is to use my 18" saw to cut an outer ring of 18" and then split it off with a maul. Then cut the inner core off. After two sessions of a couple hours each, I got two of the truck sections cut and most of the top part split.

Two problems I have run into:

I found that this sugar maple does not have straight grain and it is tough to split with a maul. Also the junctions are going to be tough.

I bought two nice Oregon Super 20 chisel chain loops. Figured I wanted good sharp chains to cut this stuff. So I got through the first trunk section. On the second trunk section, I ruined my chain loop on a piece of chain (like swing set type) that was buried inside the wood. So chain loop was pretty messed up and could not sharpen it to be very functional.


The biggest problem is that splitting the maple with a maul is a bear. Any suggestions? I'm thinking I need to borrow or rent a splitter once I get everything cut to size.

webie said:

Looks like lunch meat for the JUDGE ( STIHL MS460 )
To bad you are so far away I would love to come out and play .

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I guess I could use a friend like you! Actually, a buddy that I play volleyball with said that I can borrow his splitter. So I am making due with my 18" bar and will look to borrowing his splitter.

Danno77 said:

don't listen to these people telling you to get a different saw for this one find. At a max I'd buy the 20" bar and chain for your current saw. My 028 isn't a super and it handles it fine.

seriously, though. look at that maple above. and you with yours. somebody with those huge tough looking splits please get a fiskars and try it out, because i keep reading the hype, but i don't think it will handle that stuff any better than a 6 or 8lb maul. that's more like what i split every day. prove me wrong.

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The 028 has served me well. With the new Oregon Super 20 chisel loop, it pumps out the shavings. I only have one or two more cuts to make on the mega diameter stuff. I've had it for about 20 years and only needed to replace the spark plug, fuel filter, sprocket, bar, and, of course, loops. This is the biggest stuff I have ever tackled with it.

I am sure these guys big saws would make quick work of even this stuff. The thing is, I don't think I am going to get into the big stuff. So when I replace the saw, I'll probably go for something in the 300 series with a 20" bar. But I could not have been happier with the 028.

The tough part is splitting the parts with twists in the grain. So I try the splitter I getting from my buddy.