Within the grapple load I had delivered about a month ago, I have two very large diameter logs remaining with a challenge on how to buck it. One log is 45" in diameter (red oak) and the other is 42" (sugar maple). Without buying a professional chainsaw that can take a 24" bar, are there any tricks to get through these prehistoric beasts?
Mammoth wood quandry
- Thread starter Tansao
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mayhem
Minister of Fire
Rent a big saw for a day.
What saw do you own? Maybe a bigger bar and a skip tooth chain option for occasional use?
What saw do you own? Maybe a bigger bar and a skip tooth chain option for occasional use?
smokinj
Minister of Fire
42-45 inchs can be done with a 20 inch bar most of the time. Look for a flat spot on the log this will let give you the extra couple inchs you need.
Right now the only bar I have is 18".
I may have a solution coming. A friend of a friend may want a slab of the sugar maple for a table top in trade for bucking the rest.
When the guy I got the grapple from asked if I wanted big or small logs, I didn't envision this size when I told him I preferred them larger!
I may have a solution coming. A friend of a friend may want a slab of the sugar maple for a table top in trade for bucking the rest.
When the guy I got the grapple from asked if I wanted big or small logs, I didn't envision this size when I told him I preferred them larger!
smokinj
Minister of Fire
smokinjay said:
My Dolmar with a 20" bar has a usable length of about 18" from the dogs. Might be able to chew through it if it cuts really straight, but it would mean rolling that big beotch a few times. A couple of 4' oaks is why I bought a 28" bar.
I have a yet unidentified Partner saw that cuts really well, with an 18" bar on it. Was my father in laws and he gave it to me.
Anyone have experience with cutting in as far as you can then splitting on the log as you go to get to the inside?
Anyone have experience with cutting in as far as you can then splitting on the log as you go to get to the inside?
woodsmaster
Minister of Fire
Thanks for the offer, Creeky. I think that friend of a friend possibility is going to work out. I'll keep that in mind though!
If it were me, I'd ask him to cut two slabs of table-top maple, and keep one myself. I bet that's going to be a thing of beauty.
Good luck on getting this finished off, and stay safe.
Good luck on getting this finished off, and stay safe.
smokinj
Minister of Fire
jeff_t said:
No need to roll it...The only saw I run dawgs on is the 880, everything else is bumper strip. Its faster and doesn't use up the bar. There is always a flat spot!
Tansao said:
He didn't say how big his truck is...he might be packing a triaxle! J/K!
Sounds like you have your work cut out for you. Good luck and don't pinch your bar. If you see the kerf start to close get that saw pulled asap. Getting unstuck from something that big is not fun.
Backwoods Savage
Minister of Fire
Whoa Tansao! That is some mighty fine looking wood you have. I hope it does work out so you can get it cut up good. If you can cut it with only a couple inches in the center that you can't cut, it will split off real easy so go at it and have some fun.
mesuno
Member
how well does maple split?
Could you noodle a groove along the length and drive some wedges in?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIDLVhGN4eY
They used a jack to open the split but you could do the same with some homemade wooded wedges and a maul
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-8eZKQJfCk
Could you noodle a groove along the length and drive some wedges in?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIDLVhGN4eY
They used a jack to open the split but you could do the same with some homemade wooded wedges and a maul
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-8eZKQJfCk
Bigg_Redd
Minister of Fire
smokinjay said:
The 3' log I cut up last week says otherwise. My 20" bar barely got it done (I think the dogs take an inch or so). Also, the cut-and-roll method takes on a whole new dimension of misery with a 1000lb+ log on uneven ground.
I say get the pro saw with a 25" bar.
Thanks for those two links Backwoods! I may just try the jack method if the friend of the friend doesn't end up working out. He may mill a few boards off them to buck the rest.
I'd be surprised if the wedge method along the length would work so well on that size and with it being green.
I'd be surprised if the wedge method along the length would work so well on that size and with it being green.
mesuno
Member
Tansao said:
Huh!
I'm far better looking than Sav, I'll have you know.
I used the wedges method (without pre noodling) on an 18 inch log not so long ago without too many problems. If you can make up a variety of wedges of a nice hard wood like oak, and harden them off a bit by drying, I think you'll be surprised by what you can achieve.
If you noodle first to a reasonable depth you should have no trouble getting them in. I'd be thinking about one wedge every 12 inches or so and work your way backwards and forward along the log giving each a few good hard whacks.
If you pre-noodle one bar depth - say about 18 inches - you give yourself a pretty good chance. Does it have any nasty knots?
You could always try gunpowder - check on you tube for some scary scary videos of log splitting with gunpowder.just drill a couple of holes and pack them with the stuff.
Backwoods Savage
Minister of Fire
Backwoods Savage
Minister of Fire
Mesuno said:
Shoot, I should have read this post first. I have no doubt you are better looking and probably a better man too. ;-)
I still hate noodling....
My bad =D
What is noodling? I can infer it's making a cut to get a wedge started. I have needed to do this with a few bucks that refused to split even with the x27.
What is noodling? I can infer it's making a cut to get a wedge started. I have needed to do this with a few bucks that refused to split even with the x27.
Backwoods Savage
Minister of Fire
Noodling: A despicable thing to even think of doing!
It is cutting the logs the wrong way rather than the normal way of cutting. Folks do this when they get large logs but I won't be caught doing it! It leaves long chips of wood cutting this way that remind you of noodles.
I hope this helped Tansao.
It is cutting the logs the wrong way rather than the normal way of cutting. Folks do this when they get large logs but I won't be caught doing it! It leaves long chips of wood cutting this way that remind you of noodles.
I hope this helped Tansao.
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