Chainsawing downed dirty timber

[Madsaw]

As for the bees, I think Im more worried about a timber rattler hanging out in the area. But we've been very cautious with clothing, sprays, gloves, etc.

LOL I hear you about bees and hornets. Try scrapping in the summer. Always takes me 5-10 mintues before I move a piece of iron to make sure it has no little guys living in it.
You must be along the wis river to have issues with snakes. Another faster and more fun way is just get a skid steer for a weekend. There is many renatals places. You may have other uses for it too when you have it there.
Bob

 

[TJ-Bill]

for the last 2 years I've been getting some wood from a land developer. He basically just goes in rips the hardwood out of the ground then drops on a cleared lot and that's where I go cut it. Alot of this wood is very dirty and I'm basically cutting on rocks and sand. I bring a few large bars so I can turn the wood and try to keep my saw up high off the ground plus I file my saw after when ever I stop to fill up. Plus I'll knock as much crap off the logs as possible, about all you can do really.

 

[rmihalek]

Wedges are good on rotted wood. I do a lot of trail clearing and found that most dead/down trees can be cut about 2/3 (maybe 3/4) of the way through then drop in a wedge (or stack two if you can) and pound them into the kerf. Many partially rotted logs will split apart if you do this. If they don't split, you've got a nice wide kerf to stick the tip of the bar in to nip the rest of the wood away.

Once I get a section small enough to roll, then I'll just make multiple cuts down from the top, roll the log and cut up through the kerf to sever the pieces.

 

[deathisastar]

does cutting rotted wood itself dull a chain?

Howdy. First post.

I need to cut some logs into pieces for clearing. I can move them around, so hitting the ground is not a concern. They're not covered in dirt, but the bark and some of the wood is rotted. Based on the comments here, I'll scrape off as much as I can. Still (haha), it's mostly solid wood, so I either struggle through it with my cheap electric Poulan or I breeze through it with my Stihl MS180.

I've been warned (by a buddy, not by the dealer) not to cut through rotted wood with the Stihl because it dulls the chain, and this thread is along those lines, but the warnings really seem to be about hitting the ground because of rocks. Is cutting through some rotted wood by itself bad for the chain (and if so, does it actually dull the chain), or does it somehow clog the saw, or is it fine?

Thanks.

 

[jimbo1490]

The reason rotted logs on the ground can dull your chain is dirt. When wood or anything else 'rots', what is really going on is that some creature (often many different creatures) are eating it for food. This rages from bacteria and fungi all the way up to worms, insects and maybe even some higher animals. The trouble is some of those creatures (the bugs especially) like to bore tunnels though the wood and then carry dirt into the wood. That's why rotted wood on the ground can dull your chain quickly.

Jimbo

Howdy. First post.

I need to cut some logs into pieces for clearing. I can move them around, so hitting the ground is not a concern. They're not covered in dirt, but the bark and some of the wood is rotted. Based on the comments here, I'll scrape off as much as I can. Still (haha), it's mostly solid wood, so I either struggle through it with my cheap electric Poulan or I breeze through it with my Stihl MS180.

I've been warned (by a buddy, not by the dealer) not to cut through rotted wood with the Stihl because it dulls the chain, and this thread is along those lines, but the warnings really seem to be about hitting the ground because of rocks. Is cutting through some rotted wood by itself bad for the chain (and if so, does it actually dull the chain), or does it somehow clog the saw, or is it fine?

Thanks.