Falling pics 11/25/09

[RandyMac]

You need to tip your hat back a bit. :msp_biggrin:

 

[mile9socounty]

I'll have to remember that for the next time I go cutting.

 

[Gologit]

So true, it is not like I never pulled fibers.

Hey now...it's not fibre pull unless there's so much left on the stump that you have to face it and back it up to trim it off. :msp_biggrin:


mile9socounty....you did fine. The only thing that gave me a little pause (you didn't think you were getting away scott free did you?) was putting your axe into the tree. I now it's handy to grab from there but they can vibrate out and fall on the saw. Or your head. Doesn't happen often but it happens. And if you forget the ax is there until it's too late and the tree is going over you can rest assured that tree will turn and bury or break that ax. Ask me how I know. :msp_rolleyes:

And, after watching the video again, I think maybe you stayed at the stump, sawing up, just a little too long...but that's a judgement call and I'm not bagging on you for it.

 

[mile9socounty]

You are very correct there Gologit. Thank you for the tip about my axe. No, I would not want that thing dropping on my B&C. Its already a PITA hand filling a full comp chain anyways. Plus I don't need anymore holes in my head. I already have too many as it is.

 

[bitzer]

A sweet sound to the ears. Nothing can capture that groan and boom that the earth and wood make when they collide. Unless you've been there you'll never know that feeling. Too bad I'll never know the feeling of an OG redwood touchin down. Ehh. I was born a little too late.

I've got a couple of monster oaks yet to sling this week. They make for some good thumpin.

I'll bet that sounded good.

 

[bitzer]

Bitz, I never thought that saw dust thing for more traction.

I've got both Stihl and Oregon wedges, with nails and without, fine and fat. I don't know if it's just me, but the plastic feels like it gets harder in the cold than it used to. I've always had problems with softwoods below zero fahrenheit degrees. The wood turns glass. I've managed somehow this far, but now it seems like the kerf is literally throwing the wedges out.

It came to me I'm going to give a metal splitting wedge a try. It may well eat few chains, but at least it shouldn't sink into the frozen wood.

Don't do the metal wedge thing! That'll only give you grief! What size timber? Try backing up you trees first and get the wedges set good and tight before you face em. That may help. The little bit of rocking back and forth in frozen wood can spit them out if you face them first in smaller dbh timber. Otherwise time for something new.

 

[Gologit]

Too bad I'll never know the feeling of an OG redwood touchin down.

They made a lot of noise sometimes. Equally impressive was the total silence after one went over. The saw was off, the birds were scared quiet, it was almost eerie. Sometimes you could hear your heart beating.

 

[madhatte]

fiber puller

I can't believe you said that.




No, really.

The only thing that gave me a little pause (you didn't think you were getting away scott free did you?) was putting your axe into the tree. I now it's handy to grab from there but they can vibrate out and fall on the saw. Or your head. Doesn't happen often but it happens. And if you forget the ax is there until it's too late and the tree is going over you can rest assured that tree will turn and bury or break that ax. Ask me how I

Sound advice, there. I've done the same a time or two for the same reason... I'll take that bit of wisdom and pass it on.

 

[RandyMac]

grab it with your crab hand Nate.

 

[madhatte]

I got a normal hand too, y'know.

 

[tramp bushler]

Glen, is there any sort of wedges would hold in the deep frozen wood? I do a lot jacking in winter because the steely wood keeps spitting the wedges out if there's any pressure on. I don't mind jacking, but I mind dragging the thing around in the snow.

Yes, there are 2 types. The good old fashion aluminum wedge ( called Maggy) ie, magnesium. . I've actually had a few that were made from magnesium. Absolutely Must wear eye protection when beating them.

And the plastic (Toothed) wedges. You can get them in up to 12" . They drive a little harder and you want to put the teeth on the stump side. Bailey's has them, maybe Madsen's. You could prolly just Google Plastic Toothed Felling Wedges. For your side of the Atlantic.

 

[tramp bushler]

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Throwing myself to the wolves.

Looks good, saw sounds real good too! :msp_w00t:

 

[Samlock]

Yes, there are 2 types. The good old fashion aluminum wedge ( called Maggy) ie, magnesium. . I've actually had a few that were made from magnesium. Absolutely Must wear eye protection when beating them.

And the plastic (Toothed) wedges. You can get them in up to 12" . They drive a little harder and you want to put the teeth on the stump side. Bailey's has them, maybe Madsen's. You could prolly just Google Plastic Toothed Felling Wedges. For your side of the Atlantic.

The toothed plastic wedges I have a couple in my pouch and they have done fairly good before. Thing is the plastic seems to me has changed harder and more slippery somehow. They even sound different in cold. Like icicles when you knock them. I have no old wedges left to test my intuition, though.

Hey, but the Husky dealer has some Maggies on the shelf. I remember I had a couple of them years back, but they ate my chains. I never thought they could work in cold. But thinking it over, yeah.

Cheers, Glen.

 

[bitzer]

Sam- the other thing you can do is make your own texturing on the wedges that may get them to stick better. Run a dremel over them or something. Usually a wedge pings when its too tight to pound. Hope you have better luck.

Mile9- Looks pretty good to me. The wind throws in a little extra fun. I stay at the stump too long sometimes myself, just trying to get that little extra. Its nice when you can just dog in your backcuts. Lately I've been backbarring so many either in the face or back to keep my stumps low. Its a lot easier to pay attention to the top when you're dogged in.

 

[Samlock]

Sam- the other thing you can do is make your own texturing on the wedges that may get them to stick better. Run a dremel over them or something. Usually a wedge pings when its too tight to pound. Hope you have better luck.

That's an idea worth giving a try too, Bitz.

Another thing about the wedges this winter... I just realized they won't turn into mushrooms like they did. OK, it may be the old age. But they crumble... You can't even get them tight, but they keep popping off the kerf while tapping. That's when the wood is frozen good.

 

[mile9socounty]

Looks good, saw sounds real good too! :msp_w00t:

Thank you sir. It does pretty good for just a stock saw. 2002 Husqvarna 372XP with an 8 pin. 32" Full Comp.

Mile9- Looks pretty good to me. The wind throws in a little extra fun. I stay at the stump too long sometimes myself, just trying to get that little extra. Its nice when you can just dog in your backcuts. Lately I've been backbarring so many either in the face or back to keep my stumps low. Its a lot easier to pay attention to the top when you're dogged in.

Every day I was out there cutting on that piece. 11am would roll around and the wind would start to pick up. By the time it was noon, I damn near had to put a wedge into every tree to keep it from setting back. Better be safe than sorry. It doesnt take very long to pull one out of my back pocket. And use my axe that I left stuck in the tree :hmm3grin2orange: to snug them in.

I guess that's why the called that drainage Windy Creek.

Sam, have you got the package yet good sir?

 

[Samlock]

Sam, have you got the package yet good sir?

No, still waiting. It seems to take a bit longer from Oregon. Pony Express?

 

[mile9socounty]

Federal Express. Well that chaps me pretty good there. Maybe all that cold weather and snow you have Sam scared it into hiding?

 

[Samlock]

Federal Express. Well that chaps me pretty good there. Maybe all that cold weather and snow you have Sam scared it into hiding?

That must be it. Let's wait some more and hope for the best.

 

[tramp bushler]

Hey Sam ; yes plastic wedges get brittle in the cold. Last winter I had to wedge over a dead spruce that wads 16" or so on the butt. Sounds pretty easy, but when the tree hit the ground where I wanted it to. I went to pick up my wedge and found it was in several pieces on the stump. It was about 38 below .
I put in the back cut and tighten it up before putting in any face cuts a lot on smaller trees. Another thing I do is use full face Siswheel because the sap wood is so brittle. It helps the holding wood flex a little better. .