Cutting teeth

[Kelvin 506]

So I just used the Husqvarna chainsaw, it's a 400 and something. 2 years old, given to me. Electric company took down a 30 footer that has been leaning on a wire for 2 years. I was excited to cut it up closer to the 22 in length my stove thirsts for.
The bark was mostly gone from the upper part but still on the lower part, a bit pulpy, wet. When I cut it with the saw it was like a knife going through butter. Awesomeness! Aome of the bottom logs had some big black ants in the middle (some of them has wings). Maybe these are termites, never seen one, but the non-winged looked exactly like steroid ants.
My x27 arrived today (thanks amazon and UPS) and I was excited to get splitting. I learned right then why it's important to cut length with flat level lines! They were close enough to at least stand but it tool some time getting them lined up properly.
The top logs split easily with one swing and the wood flew across the shed (feel like I'm writing fetish porn here). When I got to the bottom(est) logs the axe would thud into it and get somewhat stuck. Swung with all I had, I'm about 150 pounds soaking wet... with sweat, and broke a piece off. Could tell it was really wet.

Im trying to score a MM but home depot only had a $50 model in stock with no prongs, passed on it. Was hoping this leaner log would be burnable but I'll be lucky if I can burn the top sections. I think it was oak, judging by the adjacent trees. Around 24" diameter at bottom. The absolute bottom log would just have the axe bounce off it, now granted I was quite tired at this point. I was swinging like the little leaguer trying to hit one outta the park.
Interesting first day with the wood. I'm wondering if x27 is best for turning logs into kindling.
At what point does one rent a splitter? My neighbor has some leaning dead maples she wants me to get. If one rents a splitter for a day how many logs might they (being a novice) expect to split in that time? I figure I will have the logs cut to length and ready to split.
Maybe I'll get some pictures up tomorrow. Maybe, maybe not.

 

[moojpg2]

Uhmm what does this have to do with cutting teeth? I assumed you were talking about teeth on your saw. Lol that being said if u want to rent a splitter get everything prepped beforehand. Get all the rounds into one spot. Park the splitter next them and run two people, one on the lever, one handling the wood, it goes much quicker. You should be able to split two cords in a day with any decent splitter and two people without too much trouble.

 

[Kelvin 506]

Uhmm what does this have to do with cutting teeth? I assumed you were talking about teeth on your saw. Lol that being said if u want to rent a splitter get everything prepped beforehand. Get all the rounds into one spot. Park the splitter next them and run two people, one on the lever, one handling the wood, it goes much quicker. You should be able to split two cords in a day with any decent splitter and two people without too much trouble.

If I labeled the post more accurately nobody would be interested in reading it, got to reel em in! I didn't have any trouble with the saw teeth. That reminds me, I have 2 of those 2-person huge saws in the work shed that were left here at the house from ages ago. Maybe I should rub some oil on the them and put them to work! Will have to get pictures of that stuff up here some day.

Thanks for the advice and estimates, I suppose I can get my brother to help me out, he's used a splitter before.

 

[Danno77]

back up a second here. What 2-man saws do you have? Are you attached to them?

 

[Jags]

back up a second here. What 2-man saws do you have? Are you attached to them?

Sounds like push/pulls to me. No thanks.

To the OP - if you are physically capable of going the distance a two person work crew can get a bunch done in a day. It might even be north of 2 cords if you are really moving and can maintain that for a long day.

 

[Danno77]

Sorry. He did say "rub some oil on them" I shoulda picked up on that faster. NEVERMIND!

 

[Kelvin 506]

Wood shed, old saws, stove in there, first batch of wood from the downed tree. It did get rained on last night,I moved it this morning.

 

[Jags]

I think that stove may have some clearance to combustible issues.

 

[Kelvin 506]

Sounds like push/pulls to me. No thanks.

To the OP - if you are physically capable of going the distance a two person work crew can get a bunch done in a day. It might even be north of 2 cords if you are really moving and can maintain that for a long day.

I can get a grapple of wood for $500. Was thinking it would be "economical" (if you don't count the manual labor cutting and splitting.
Are the chaps mandatory for cutting down logs? I don't have a pair currently. I don't think I'll be doing more than 5 take downs of trees.

 

[Jags]

Are the chaps mandatory for cutting down logs?

Mandatory? No. A very wise choice? Yes.

Please take no offense, but it sounds like you may be new to this wood burning game. PPE (personal protection equipment) is highly recommended each and every time you plan on touching that saw to wood. I personally have known 3 people that have opened up a knee cap or leg with a chainsaw. Not a chance I am willing to take.

 

[Danno77]

Even an experience saw user can have a hiccup. I have a nice chunk of sole missing from my right steel toed boot. I didn't use the steel in there to save my toes, but a 1/4 inch deeper and it would have. It was just a kiss and I'm still not sure how it happened. Didn't even notice it until I was taking the boots off later.

 

[Kelvin 506]

Mandatory? No. A very wise choice? Yes.

Please take no offense, but it sounds like you may be new to this wood burning game. PPE (personal protection equipment) is highly recommended each and every time you plan on touching that saw to wood. I personally have known 3 people that have opened up a knee cap or leg with a chainsaw. Not a chance I am willing to take.

No offense taken. I have been cutting with feet apart legs pretty straight and arms fully extended V position to avoid kickback accidents. Wasn't sure if chaps are more for felling trees (cutting horizontally) or when removing branches off of trees. I'm doing standard cuts. I do have the steel in the boots too! Will shop around for some chaps.

 

[Jags]

Chaps are for whenever the chainsaw is running. If I had to venture a guess, I would bet more kickbacks or chain contacts happen during bucking than during a felling cut. To be even more specific - I would bet limbing to be the number one culprit.

 

[Bigg_Redd]

So you want to know if you should rent a splitter?

As a point of fact, you're the only one who can answer that. The fact that you're asking the question after one session of splitting leads me to think that you probably should.

 

[Kelvin 506]

So you want to know if you should rent a splitter?

As a point of fact, you're the only one who can answer that. The fact that you're asking the question after one session of splitting leads me to think that you probably should.

haha, true! I was more wondering how many days to split a grapple load and that got me thinking about how annoying it would be to rent a splitter and be done with it in a few hours. Want to have enough wood on hand to make it worthwhile.
Bucking and splitting 1 tree was surprisingly tedious. Plus I had to move the logs out of the woods.

 

[Bigg_Redd]

Life is short - If you do not enjoy hand splitting then by all means rent a splitter.

 

[Danno77]

My rental place charges by the day, but I've said to him "I think I'll be done with this in a few hours, can you cut me a deal?" and he usually cuts the price in half if I bring it back quickly. I've never done that with a splitter, but if you think that might happen, you should ask. If it ends up being a whole day, then so be it.

 

[Kelvin 506]

Life is short - If you do not enjoy hand splitting then by all means rent a splitter.

I've read many positive reviews of the x27. Not sure if I should consider a maul for bigger damp logs. When I cut into the bottom most log from the tree it almost sounded like a suction cup! The axe went in a quarter of the way and was stuck. The upper portion of the tree was able to be split pretty easily.

 

[craigbaill]

Try it for a day and see how it goes...the two person idea works well. Remember that part of the day involves getting the splitter, fueling, checking it to see its serviceable to use and getting in a rhythm working with someone else.

 

[blades]

A grapple load all cut up ready for the splitter depends what is meant by a grapple load as that could a dozen sticks or one big 45" incher by x long. Not being a spring chicken and without stacking I can get 2 cord split in a day on the plain jane hydro. That's if I go for the big splits if I want 4" items maybe a cord + add stacking in and I will hard pressed to get a cord done in a day without having a stroke or heartattack.

 

[Kelvin 506]

I saw the grapple delivered to a friend and it was about 15 to 20 logs.

Days 2 was more eventful and I got about a cord split with the axe. I had an old big piece of maple for a base and have been whittling it down in size (not by choice).
I found that using the chainsaw to start some splits on the logs made the larger wet rounds easier to split with the axe. The shavings were a bit more dusty, not sure if this is chain wear or cutting with the grain. The chain was fine bucking logs the other day.
The wood has a sweet smell to it, not super pleasant. Still learning. I want to get some steel toe boots for the splitting though.

 

[Danno77]

Are you cutting with the grain, like along the log? Or are you cross cutting, like cutting on the face of a log? If the previous, you should be making noodles, not any sort of fine dust. Google/forum search "noodling" to get more info.

 

[Kelvin 506]

Yes, held the log upright and started cutting down. At first it was really long spaghetti like noodles but I'd hit spots where it was a bit dustier. The logs sat out in the rain the last day and a half and came from the bottom of the tree which seems to be way wetter/ heavier than the stuff from the top.
I double checked the saw, it's a 350 model husq. It's been taking like 50 pulls to get it started.
Should I be looking to clean out air filter? One it fires up it works flawlessly.

 

[Danno77]

Never hurts to have clean filter, new plug and make sure your fuel and 2-cycle oil are fresh.