liberty
ArboristSite Operative
I am looking to purchase some felling wedges to drop some trees for firewood. What brand,type and amount would be good to have on hand?
Felling wedges
- Thread starter liberty
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Spotted Owl
ArboristSite Guru
How big are you falling? What type are you falling? How many have you dropped in the past?
I would go with no less than 3 preferably 6+. I would not get anything fancy until you have some experience under your belt, that way when you cut into them you aren't out a bunch of $$$. Stay away from the gimick wedges, you won't need rifled, barbed/textured, or anything like that. Get 2 different sizes just in case, start with the small ones to keep open and if you need more lift slip in 1 or 2 bigger wedges. If you can start with some taller stumps, they will give you an idea of how they work and how to use them safely.
If you are wedging for firewood be damn carefull to make sure you are working solid wood. For the most part wedges aren't for the straight forward basic beginer trees, other than just keeping it open so you don't pinch.
Search the chainsaw board, there will be tons of info about how, when, where, and why.
Remember for every swing to drive a wedge you better be looking up and looking at everything between the ground and the top most twig.
Owl
I would go with no less than 3 preferably 6+. I would not get anything fancy until you have some experience under your belt, that way when you cut into them you aren't out a bunch of $$$. Stay away from the gimick wedges, you won't need rifled, barbed/textured, or anything like that. Get 2 different sizes just in case, start with the small ones to keep open and if you need more lift slip in 1 or 2 bigger wedges. If you can start with some taller stumps, they will give you an idea of how they work and how to use them safely.
If you are wedging for firewood be damn carefull to make sure you are working solid wood. For the most part wedges aren't for the straight forward basic beginer trees, other than just keeping it open so you don't pinch.
Search the chainsaw board, there will be tons of info about how, when, where, and why.
Remember for every swing to drive a wedge you better be looking up and looking at everything between the ground and the top most twig.
Owl
liberty
ArboristSite Operative
18" to 24" black ash,red oak and black walnut
When shopping for such items, I look in the local pawn shops/second hand stores first. Wedges, mauls, axes usually are there and much cheaper than new plus, in a lot of cases, better quality. They may take a bit of work to put them back in working condition.
Harry K
Harry K
hammerlogging
Addicted to ArboristSite
3 wedges, I only ever use 12" wedges. All for cheap plastic wedges, either Bailey's orange ones or the bright green ones are fine. Learn to plunge through the hinge to wedge small timber without folding the wedge tip. I don't like short wedges because they have less taper and can squirt out the back worse. He's right, knocking wedges on trees with hangers, known and unknown, can drop something big on you. Hardhat (and careful looking)
Black walnut is big $ sawtimber and low BTU firewood- make sure you're not cutting $2000 trees into $200 worth of firewood, tragic mistake. In that case, any sawtimber should stay in logs unless unreasonable to do so due to quantity or hauling logisitics.
Black walnut is big $ sawtimber and low BTU firewood- make sure you're not cutting $2000 trees into $200 worth of firewood, tragic mistake. In that case, any sawtimber should stay in logs unless unreasonable to do so due to quantity or hauling logisitics.
It would pay to search this subject.
+1 for second hand purchases and a lot of time better quality. I find that stuff at farm auctions, swap meets, etc. . You never know what you will be able to afford when you go. I have nothing against barb or textured wedges.
I like aluminum the best . To expensive new but I find them used now and then barely used cheap. Aluminum I find more durable. Plastic is great but it cracks easier if you are putting in tight spots. I like to have a steel wedge in my truck in case I need it. I used to have a almost flat wedge shaped shim made from steel that worked good to open cracks that pinched shut. I have made thicker wedges out of odd pieces of oak. I usually keep 1 or 2 small plastic or aluminum in my rear pocket when felling and bucking. My truck is seldom far from me and I have several bigger wedges if I need them. If I see I may need them I carry more or bigger.
I bought some plastic once that were junk. The plastic was brittle and cracked super easy, I do not remember what brand ,may have been Herr .
The Oregon and Stihl were ok and I currently have some green wedges from Bailey's that have been ok. I just got a small mess off a good deal on ebay, I think they are Timber Savage, one has a steel head. They look good but I haven't used them.
I did it for you. There is more just use wedges as your search word. I have not had good luck with the green Bailey's wedges, they tend to crumble and chip easily. I like Madsen's blue wedges and K & H the best but I use several brands including HardHead.
http://arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=47828&highlight=wedges
http://arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=47828&highlight=wedges
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All right! You are talking about colors now! Wedges come in pink also. But, since I'm only bucking up stuff, and I cut the wedges, I buy the ugly orange ones in the $1.50 bin at Madsens. There's a big bin in an aisle. Actually, the buck fifty ones last longer than the higher priced ones but I merely cut horizontal stuff. The orange does match the hardhat though...
hammerlogging
Addicted to ArboristSite
Truth b e known, I actually carry several kinds of wedges at different times, but always 12" and always plastic, usually K&H, but the green ones are my second fav. and good first wedges when you may be more prone to cutting in with them. If they're fracturing too much, maybe you're setting them too hard. If they're folding up too much, then maybe you're pushing the tree to hard which should only be the exception. So really, the green or orange ones should do. But I carry severel kinds at any given time for the festive nature of it, so pretty all those colors. I guess it depends on the funds when I'm ordering. I even joke to myself when I blindly reach for one and out comes the surprise "old greeny stepping up to the plate eh" Well, cutting all day you start talking to yourself, and when things get really exciting I don't know about you all but the hootin and hollering is prone to get going, all for the pleasure of the self. Got down to the landing one day and was asked about all the yelling, Emabrrassed, I'd thought the saw was too loud. I was really yelling that day, could have heard me down the whole valley,I suppose but when the felling's really rolling, its too much fun! Can be frustrating as hell every once in a while, but those good days are great.
Just Wondering
I just got done cleaning and bleaching and sanitizing the steel thermos (hot pink color) that I bought at a "flood sale". I wonder, anybody ever used one (not necessarily pastel) to drive a wedge? The heft feels pretty good. I've been tempted to thump some loggers with the lavender thermos. I think I even threatened to do so!
I just got done cleaning and bleaching and sanitizing the steel thermos (hot pink color) that I bought at a "flood sale". I wonder, anybody ever used one (not necessarily pastel) to drive a wedge? The heft feels pretty good. I've been tempted to thump some loggers with the lavender thermos. I think I even threatened to do so!
hammerlogging
Addicted to ArboristSite
Well I lost one once, on a vineyard I once worked on. Couple weeks later I discovered it must have fallen off the tractor and the bushhog had hit it. Glass inside.
Fortunately, my axe (and the sledge I used to carry till my wife bought me the axe which is way better) has a bright pink handle, when the paint is new. Makes me think, maybe pink hammer logging would be more suited.
Fortunately, my axe (and the sledge I used to carry till my wife bought me the axe which is way better) has a bright pink handle, when the paint is new. Makes me think, maybe pink hammer logging would be more suited.
PA Plumber
Addicted to ArboristSite
I bought a handful of 8" wedges my first go-around. They are useful to show someone what a wedge looks like. My next purchase was one case of 10" Bailey's green ones. Use/abuse them pretty often.
Salmon hammer logging...pink is salmon when guys use or wear it. Oh, I had some yellow wedges but I broke them very quickly the first time using them..during bucking. They split! Same size as the buck and a half ones but cost more. The cheapo ones are still going, but a bit ragged from getting nicked by the saw, or hitting the chain when the saw is stuck. I was going to use a wedge for an ice scraper, but I've chewed the edges on the longer ones too.
hammerlogging
Addicted to ArboristSite
leave one in the bed of your truck jam it into the door crack if you lock your car up, to get a stick in there to hit the lock with.
Buzz 880
ArboristSite Operative
That works great i have done that a few times now cheaper then the $100 tow truck,.
I was going to use a wedge for an ice scraper, but I've chewed the edges on the longer ones too.[/QUOTE]
Well there's your problem right there. Wedges are not made for chewin on! Get yourself some gum or jerky or wad up a piece of duck tape but stop chewing on the plastic woman! Even at 2 bucks there are better things to chew on. I'll tell ya, some people's children.
Well there's your problem right there. Wedges are not made for chewin on! Get yourself some gum or jerky or wad up a piece of duck tape but stop chewing on the plastic woman! Even at 2 bucks there are better things to chew on. I'll tell ya, some people's children.
stihl 440
Addicted to ArboristSite
wedges
I use timber savage, and double taper wedges mostly. I've used K&H but they're too expensive, but they last. If I get a good stand, I'll buy K&H I just think they're better made. I use mainly 8" and 10" wedges, I have one 12" but I hardly use it. The 8's and 10's will lift a 5ft DBH tree easy. I use timber savage, cause I'm not worried about them getting beat up. They're only 6-8 dollars at my dealer. And they are the only ones that I see that use the teeth on top to keep them from popping/spitting out of the backcut also.:chainsawguy: 
:rockn:
I use timber savage, and double taper wedges mostly. I've used K&H but they're too expensive, but they last. If I get a good stand, I'll buy K&H I just think they're better made. I use mainly 8" and 10" wedges, I have one 12" but I hardly use it. The 8's and 10's will lift a 5ft DBH tree easy. I use timber savage, cause I'm not worried about them getting beat up. They're only 6-8 dollars at my dealer. And they are the only ones that I see that use the teeth on top to keep them from popping/spitting out of the backcut also.:chainsawguy:
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