Bucking 36" dbh monster maple!

Billy_Bob · Aug 7, 2008

I go from one extreme to the other! (Very small trees to very large.)

Anyway yesterday (and today) we are wrestling with a 36" dbh maple log, 15 ft. long. This sucker is over a dip in the ground the ends are holding the entire log up in the air. (This is in a lady's yard and she want's it removed.)

All my usual tricks are not working. The can't hook can't hook it! (Actually peavey - I have the largest peavey they had for sale at the logging store BTW.)

We can't get it to roll over, too heavy. And I don't want to just cut it in the center, because when it falls, it is also going to roll. I can imagine it wrecking my saw and myself as well.

What I did yesterday was use a 12 ton bottle jack to jack it up in the center and start slicing 6" sections off the end. Each of these slices takes two guys to pack out of the yard. Hopefully I can continue this today and get it light enough to roll over so I can buck it normally. (So it lies flat on the ground and the rolling danger is gone.)

Anyway this is the first log I could not roll with a peavey.

Suggestions for bucking a very heavy log this large? (I have a 36" bar which barely clears the opposite side.)

Nikko · Aug 7, 2008

Post an ad on the local Craiglslist to see if anyone wants to come and mill it on site. You may have the log removed for you and someone may end up with some usable lumber. It may take an extra couple of days to get it cleared out, but it's a win/win/win situation if you can coordinate it.

Nikko

Bushler · Aug 7, 2008

I think I'd rather take my chance with a power saw over a bottle jack. Be careful, take pics.

Dayto · Aug 8, 2008

Cut under log untill starts to pinch , Cut down from the top Use a WIDE TAPERD wedge(Get thick quick) Get the wedge in as soon as you can ,(Tie off bothe end of the log so when they split they wont roll off) , Also you can Cut a "V" out of the top of the log just a shalow V chunk taken out of the wood , then use the same procedure but with the wood taken out you can pound in a bigger wedge.

Just practical cutting

Billy_Bob · Aug 8, 2008

We got it all bucked up and hauled away yesterday.

The key was using the bottle jack. This allowed me to cut off 15 inches on one end which was preventing the log from rolling one direction (partial branch sticking out below). Then the log settled down rolling one direction when [very carefully] lowering the jack. It then had its center resting on the ground and I could safely cut the log in the center. (Both ends stayed put and did not roll after cutting.)

Then we were able to roll each half with the peavey and make cuts as needed.

Billy_Bob · Aug 8, 2008

Dayto said:
...Tie off bothe end of the log so when they split they wont roll off...

That is an excellent suggestion!

I don't know what I would have tied the ends to. I'm sure if I tied the log to my truck and my truck had the parking brakes on and was in gear and the log rolled, it would have dragged my truck forward! This sucker was HEAVY!

BUT I could have placed large wedges of wood on the ground under the ends of the log and this would have prevented it from rolling. Then I could have safely cut it in the center.

BTW about 5 ft. of this log was larger than 36 inches by about a foot (about 48 inches), so I had to make cuts from both sides (using my 36 inch bar) for this section.

Thanks!