Now that I've got my Stihl, I'm attacking logs too large to lift onto the sawbuck. Fun! Yowza, that saw rips!
But Ive learned on this forum that you should never let your saw blade touch the earth or it'll dull the cutters in an instant. So what's the best way to buck a log laying flat on the ground? Bring the sawblade through the wood almost to the ground then roll the log over to finish the cut? Or roll the log onto a small wedge or something to get it an inch off the ground?
You are right in that saw will do an excellent job for you. Hopefully you have a way to file the blade yourself too.
You are also right about dirt and the saw chain. They just don't mix well. I also do as you in bringing the saw blade almost through the log, rolling it over and finishing the cut. But wherever I can, I'll put small poles under the log so I can cut all the way through without rolling the log. On others, I'll use the cant hook to roll the log onto some poles.
I’m working on my Norway maple tree this weekend, 26” diameter with a 16” bar. Pretty heavy slabs to roll !
And this is where a cant hook will pay for itself over and over!
I’d rather pound a nail through my scrotum than take the time to lift tiny arm sized limbs onto a saw buck. I’ve tip cup thousands and thousands of feet of those rounds and the number of times I hit dirt you could count on one hand and still have fingers left over.
I've never tried the nail bit but I do use a sawbuck. With two people you can cut a lot of small limbs in a very short time using the sawbuck....and save the scrotum in the process.
Turning the log is a great idea in theory. But it’s not always possible. Like when it’s frozen to the ground. Or it’s wedged at the base of standing trees on a wicked slope. Being new to cutting, I think I’m going to keep the stock chain and put it on in these circumstances. If it touches dirt at least it’s not chewing up a nice chain.
Once again, a cant hook is the answer for rolling those frozen logs. Even that stock chain will get so it won't cut butter very fast.
Pardon me for asking, but people actually lift logs to place them in a sawbuck? Sounds like double the work to me. I like to place a small round under the fallen tree and move it as I go along. I also look for places to undercut the tree so I can help make manageable sized pieces.
Yes, we actually lift logs....but only the small ones, like the ones that are too small to be split after cutting. Well, maybe some 6" logs too if not too long. It really does save time. Besides that, for folks like me with a back back it is wonderful. My wife puts the logs up and keeps shoving them my way. All I do is stand straight up and keep sawing. Fast, easy and safe.
