When do you guys stop cutting?

[carpniels]

HI,

I have only been cutting trees for a few years and i have an interesting question:

When you fell a tree, do you start cutting it in sections from the top or the bottom? Also, if you start at the top, what diameter branch do you cut and when do you not cut it because it is not worth your time? 2, 3, or 4 inch?

Thanks

Carpniels

 

[babalu87]

<
Patiently waiting for what Eric has to say

I usually cut from the bottom up since I am already standing there
I go down to about a Red Bull sized can for branches when cutting it up
They are a great size to have around for overnight burns, I can usually wedge a few in there somewhere

 

[Eric Johnson]

I start at the bottom like most everyone else and work my way up the tree until the branches get to about 2 inches in diameter. That's probably too small to fool with, but I always try to keep the slash down, and if I'm going to cut it up, it's going on the pile. Plus, like babalu says, it's nice to have a variety of different size wood for different situations and types of fire.

I always try to fell trees so that the trunk is up off the ground. It's not always possible, but it's worth the effort and planning, considering the damage you can do to a saw chain by running it into the ground or hitting a rock. If you plan ahead, you can fell a series of trees onto each other and accomplish this. Another benefit is that you don't have to bend over quite as far to make your cuts.

Now that you guys have got me thinking about cutting wood, I'm looking forward to next spring. Usually I'm up to my ears in backcountry skiing this time of year, but all our snow melted off and we've only got about an inch of new stuff on the ground. Plus it was -10 up here in the Adirondacks this morning. Hopefully we'll get some decent winter weather before it's all said and done.

 

[pinefarm]

It depends. If the trunk is off the ground, I start there. If its not, I start with limbs that are about shoulder height. I start out on the limb at about 3 inches and work back toward the trunk. I keep at those limbs, watching to see if the tree will roll as I remove weight. Sometimes I can grab a limb and roll the tree. Often that will bring the trunk up off the ground. If it does I move down to the butt. If not, I keep at the limbs. Remember the volume of the chunks of equal length varies as the square of the diameter. Thus, chunks with twice the diameter have 4 times the wood. For example. It takes 25 8" diameter logs to make a cord and 213, 3" logs. Dave

 

[Wyatt]

It depends. If the trunk is off the ground, I start there. If its not, I start with limbs that are about shoulder height. I start out on the limb at about 3 inches and work back toward the trunk. I keep at those limbs, watching to see if the tree will roll as I remove weight. Sometimes I can grab a limb and roll the tree. Often that will bring the trunk up off the ground. If it does I move down to the butt. If not, I keep at the limbs. Remember the volume of the chunks of equal length varies as the square of the diameter. Thus, chunks with twice the diameter have 4 times the wood. For example. It takes 25 8" diameter logs to make a cord and 213, 3" logs. Dave

25 logs at what length?

 

[pinefarm]

8 foot length, altho the relationship holds for any length Dave

 

[carpniels]

Thank guys,

I will start cutting soon. The way the winter has been here in Upstate NY, I will be wearing short in March

Anyway, I will cut all the limbs from wrist size and up.

Can't wait.

Carpniels