A Blowdown Puzzle

[slowp]

I'm really hoping the firewood cutters get this cut up over the weekend. If not, I'll have to cut it but will insist on having help. I've been changing my mind on which one to cut first, but now think the closer fir (18")is the one to start with, first cutting it off at the rootwad which is just to the right of the picture. It'll come down and hit some smaller trees on the bottom.

The other bigger one has the rootwad attached uphill, and the top is firmly lodged between two alders. There's some side bind on it too, if I remember. So, whaddaya think? I know, hard to tell from pictures....and I didn't pose the Barbie Doll on the trees.

 

[redprospector]

slowp,
I wouldn't even guess just looking at picture's.
Just be carefull.

Andy

 

[wood4heat]

I'll go get it, Where is it???

 

[Burvol]

Piece of cake Slowp, just study where the "wow" is in the tree, and be careful when you release the pressure. Since it's firewood and not saw logs, you can shotgun it into as many small chunks as needed to safely release it. Be careful, bucking blowdown can be just as dangerous as falling timber.

 

[forestryworks]

i think it looks like fun :greenchainsaw: but i'm from texas
what do i know about bucking blowdown?

but i'd sure like to learn

thanks for sharing the pics

 

[Gologit]

Hmmmm...I think my tools of choice would be a grapple Cat, a Timbco, and a stroker/delimber.

 

[slowp]

If things were perfect, I'd have a shovel grab it. I am taking the used dog up and will cut some of the other stuff up for firewood. It is only 5 miles from here. Our early start is not going to happen, the used dog got me up--absolutely would not let me ignore him, and it turned out to be for a very good reason. No more chicken goodies for a while.

 

[ASD]

a good job for our hand snips

 

[Philobite]

Slowp,

I'm assuming you don't have big equipment to yank it around, so here's how I'd approach it. Close one first, and I'd limb it as far as I could reach. That way if it rotates when bucking the branches sticking out won't pin you or grab you. It's hard to tell from the photos whether top or bottom is compressed, but I'd cut about 1/4 of the way through on the compressed side first, then keeping my distance I'd carefully cut the tension side through. Make sure your feet aren't caught in the branches on the ground and can move freely.

On the back one it'd be good once you buck it up to about 10" to attach a chain and pull it out of the alders with a truck if you can get at it. Otherwise it's going to climb away from you and the tip will be inaccessible.

 

[tek9tim]

If things were perfect, I'd have a shovel grab it. I am taking the used dog up and will cut some of the other stuff up for firewood. It is only 5 miles from here. Our early start is not going to happen, the used dog got me up--absolutely would not let me ignore him, and it turned out to be for a very good reason. No more chicken goodies for a while.

Dang, that looks like quite the score. I'm sure if you let ol' Jim Jager know where it is, he'd make it disappear pretty quick. He lives just on the other side of the school from you, might be somebody good to help get that stuff on the ground. 5 miles from there, that up Watch mountain?

 

[slowp]

Yup. The Watch Mtn. Road took a beating from the wind over the winter. I'm optomistic that those trees will disappear this weekend. I met a pickup as I was coming down with a load from an easier spot. Only two tags left!

 

[Spotted Owl]

like with the alder before, let the tension out easy. Also if you have an up hill rootwad be above it so it doesn't chase you down the hill. Looks like lots-O-belly cuts comming for you or someone else. Don't forget your wedges.

On the first if there is a cut bank to the left use it. Crawl up on the bank and cut the top loose if it can be done safely. Then cut on the road break over on the right, cutting here pay attention to the stump side wood. This cut maybe close enough to the point where the roots want to stand everything back up again, you don't want to catch that on the chin as it comes past you. Cutting at these two points will cause the cut to open at the top and almost eliminate pinching. then wrap a chain around the log and drag it off the road, or into a better position for bucking the rest of it up.

Cut the rest of the junk out of the way, back your rig to the next.

On the second if you can't cut it free of the roots without being above the wad, then I would belly cut atleast 10' away from the rootwad. That small stump will keep it from wanting to try and eat you for cutting to close. Then cut the belly out in chunks where the saw is at a comfy working level for you, be that either 18" pieces or 6' pieces. When you get to the top end try and cut the last pass so the top will swing. I can't tell from the photos, but 9 out of 10 when we do this the top will swing it's self out of where it is stuck. That swing will dislodge it and it will generally fall down the road fill to the toe, unless it hangs on something else durring the fall. If you swing the top have a good clear way to get back, sometime when we do this it will run a 180 and will land in almost the same spot just backwards.

There is alot of bind in both of these. What ever you do be damn carefull so you can show us the after photos with the story of how you got it done later.


Stay safe

Owl

 

[slowp]

I will take a thermos of coffee so I'll be more jittery too. But since the two worst ones are Dougs, of a nice size, and I opened the road so they can be driven to, I really really hope somebody got them this weekend. Then there's just a few straightforward ones to cut and the road is open to where it needs to be. Thanks for all the info. Should I post a stump picture?

 

[tramp bushler]

A Little Trick

. Bucking blowdown is a pretty easy way to get hung up ..
1 trick that works where a tree has a break in it as it,s laying out . when you buck near or in a break , make 3 similar cuts next to each other and about 2 " apart ..bring them thru the log simultaneously ..

It is faster to take a little extra time on the buck and save your bar ,chain and alot of frustration
used to have to buck alot near breaks as often the timber was twice as tall as the lay was .......

A long bar makes bucking blowdown safer and easier on the power head .. to say nothing about safer ...
Wrap handle allows you to stand in the clear when stuff springs past ...

 

[slowp]

Since I'll do anything to keep from cleaning the house, here's a couple more shots I took. The good thing is the ground is fairly gentle right here.

Here's looking up from the root side on the 18 incher (the closest one in the other picture)

Here's looking towards the rootwad of the 16 incher, the one hung up in the alders.

Now off to do more cleaning.

 

[smokechase II]

God forbid

I'm just glad you FS types don't allow that stuff to get on a log truck.

--------------------------

 

[slowp]

I'm just glad you FS types don't allow that stuff to get on a log truck.

--------------------------

Well, actually, I called the logger who has a sale in that area, but with the market the way it is, and there wasn't enough for a load, and he had moved his equipment out, and the illegal atvers would probably whack it up, he wasn't interested. The stuff on the road before this was pretty much junky busted off or busted up stuff. Not enough for a load, not enough for a sale.

 

[RPM]

Hmmmm...I think my tools of choice would be a grapple Cat, a Timbco, and a stroker/delimber.

Hmmmm......Waratah harvester / processor head and bucked to 16" rounds into the back of the crummie

 

[slowp]

It is still there, nobody to help today. Try again Wednesday. Maybe if I put a No Woodcutting sign on it....

I'm getting calls asking about snow levels so I checked that. The undrivable snow starts at around 3400 feet, two sales are still unreachable without plowing in.

 

[Gologit]

It is still there, nobody to help today. Try again Wednesday. Maybe if I put a No Woodcutting sign on it....

I'm getting calls asking about snow levels so I checked that. The undrivable snow starts at around 3400 feet, two sales are still unreachable without plowing in.

LOL...The "No Woodcutting" sign works every time.