Mud....

[Jon_E]

Mud sucks. I say this because I recently had an excavator on my property to dig trenches for new garage footings and frost walls. Two large ash trees had to come down to make room, and the trunks were moved with the machine off to one side so that I could buck them for firewood.

Saturday I was out cutting and quickly dulled my chains, realizing that even a little tiny bit of mud in the bark is enough to make your saw cut like - well, mud.

I don't understand how it is even worth trying to cut any logs that have been skidded out on log roads or trails, or dragged anywhere for any distance. I am meticulous about keeping dirt and stones off my log piles (pre-processing) because I KNOW that it wreaks havoc on my chains. How do you guys deal with the issue of dirt, mud, sand or other debris on your firewood logs?

 

[wingsfan]

I usually use one of my older chains and brush off as much dirt as I can and keep sharpening every once in a while.

 

[Fred Wright]

This is why I prefer to buck logs where they fall.

A suggestion ~ measure and mark your logs where you'll be cutting. A splodge of spray paint will do. The dirt can be removed where you wish to cut via pressure washing or removal of the bark with an ax. Roll the log over to finish.

 

[TreePointer]

1.) As mentioned, I try to buck firewood where it is
2.) I wait to do all my firewood skidding on frozen ground with snow.