Henry G.
ArboristSite Guru
Decided this winter to sell firewood on the side for extra cash. (Sold enough loads to pay for the splitter, the husky, and misc chains and cable).
Found a new 22 ton splitter cheap ($450), and realized my dads old Mac SP-81 and 20 year old Homelite 12" saw wasnt going to cut it as I needed a lighter medium grade saw I could work alot and didnt want to ruin my old mans Mac, so I bought a Husky 455 new $400 bucks at Lowes. I was comfortable using a chain saw but still a rookie no doubt.
Over the last couple months got a new 28" bar and Carlton chain for the SP-81, rebuilt the clutch and cleaned it up nice, and got two 2 Stihl chisel chains for the oregon 20" bar I already had. Through trail and error realized old files and no technique dont get chains sharp. Bought a filing guide and ditched the sub-par safety chain that came on the Husky. Read lots of threads and posts here about saw maintenance, chain sharpening, got some sharp files and a guide and learned how to properly sharpen a chain. Bought 2 Carton chisel chains for the Husky and threw the safety chain in the trash after realizing what a POS it was.
So today went to a spot on the highway where the highway dept here in Kalifornia has left some huge Eucalyptus trunks on the side of the road that I had been cutting pieces off over the last couple months. For you right coasters Eucalyptus is very hard wood, and after sitting out for about a year, was really hard although still moist in the center. Hard as oak if not harder. I got a system down where I would cut off slices with the Mac, then rip them into chunks with the Husky. Today both saws with sharp chains and I were like a well oiled machine, very satisfying. I pulled out the smaller log that was about 36-40" in diameter with a cable and my truck and went to town. I went back n forth with the Mac as the 28" bar could not make it through completely, but by switching from side to side constantly was able to make clean cuts right through without wandering and wasting time. When I got near the bottom, I hammered a wedge in the top and made sure not to touch dirt with the chain. Patience and carefull cutting let me finish without having to touch up either chain with a file. Both saws rocked. I know many people talk about this saw and that saw are the best, and I know my Husky and 33 year old Mac are not pro saws but today they just flat kicked ass. Some pics:
Sun just came up great looking day.
This piece measured 7 feet across at the base..I'm guessing at least 100 years old. Not gonna attack this one today, need a game plan for it...
Gonna go after the 36" piece next to it...
Used a cable yanked it out a ways so I could get at both sides...
Got it out now I can get to work. Used the Mac to cut off slices, Husky to rip them into blocks.
First slice came out nice.
Blocks are stacking up. Running the Husky at 40:1, HS screw set to full open, runnning good. Probably needs another turn out but the smog police screwed me on that.
Blocks stacking up. Each piece was about 2/3 the density of concrete no kidding, between 40-80 lbs per block.
Trucks full, my back is screaming and time to go home. Both saws ran great, I just held them they did the work. I LOVE Carlton chisel chain. Time for lunch and nap, then back to work graveyard shift. I'm still a rookie at this stuff but after today feel like an advanced rookie. Total haul around 1500-2000 lbs of blocks. This winter it will mix nicely with the pine I cut from a USFS permit and and hopefully make for a Merry Christmas $$$.
Found a new 22 ton splitter cheap ($450), and realized my dads old Mac SP-81 and 20 year old Homelite 12" saw wasnt going to cut it as I needed a lighter medium grade saw I could work alot and didnt want to ruin my old mans Mac, so I bought a Husky 455 new $400 bucks at Lowes. I was comfortable using a chain saw but still a rookie no doubt.
Over the last couple months got a new 28" bar and Carlton chain for the SP-81, rebuilt the clutch and cleaned it up nice, and got two 2 Stihl chisel chains for the oregon 20" bar I already had. Through trail and error realized old files and no technique dont get chains sharp. Bought a filing guide and ditched the sub-par safety chain that came on the Husky. Read lots of threads and posts here about saw maintenance, chain sharpening, got some sharp files and a guide and learned how to properly sharpen a chain. Bought 2 Carton chisel chains for the Husky and threw the safety chain in the trash after realizing what a POS it was.
So today went to a spot on the highway where the highway dept here in Kalifornia has left some huge Eucalyptus trunks on the side of the road that I had been cutting pieces off over the last couple months. For you right coasters Eucalyptus is very hard wood, and after sitting out for about a year, was really hard although still moist in the center. Hard as oak if not harder. I got a system down where I would cut off slices with the Mac, then rip them into chunks with the Husky. Today both saws with sharp chains and I were like a well oiled machine, very satisfying. I pulled out the smaller log that was about 36-40" in diameter with a cable and my truck and went to town. I went back n forth with the Mac as the 28" bar could not make it through completely, but by switching from side to side constantly was able to make clean cuts right through without wandering and wasting time. When I got near the bottom, I hammered a wedge in the top and made sure not to touch dirt with the chain. Patience and carefull cutting let me finish without having to touch up either chain with a file. Both saws rocked. I know many people talk about this saw and that saw are the best, and I know my Husky and 33 year old Mac are not pro saws but today they just flat kicked ass. Some pics:
Sun just came up great looking day.
This piece measured 7 feet across at the base..I'm guessing at least 100 years old. Not gonna attack this one today, need a game plan for it...
Gonna go after the 36" piece next to it...
Used a cable yanked it out a ways so I could get at both sides...
Got it out now I can get to work. Used the Mac to cut off slices, Husky to rip them into blocks.
First slice came out nice.
Blocks are stacking up. Running the Husky at 40:1, HS screw set to full open, runnning good. Probably needs another turn out but the smog police screwed me on that.
Blocks stacking up. Each piece was about 2/3 the density of concrete no kidding, between 40-80 lbs per block.
Trucks full, my back is screaming and time to go home. Both saws ran great, I just held them they did the work. I LOVE Carlton chisel chain. Time for lunch and nap, then back to work graveyard shift. I'm still a rookie at this stuff but after today feel like an advanced rookie. Total haul around 1500-2000 lbs of blocks. This winter it will mix nicely with the pine I cut from a USFS permit and and hopefully make for a Merry Christmas $$$.
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