How do i use a wedge?

turnkey4099 · May 26, 2004

Re: firewood cutter

Originally posted by geofore
To turnkey 4099, that guy cutting firewood, you don't use the plastic wedges to hold the kerf open in a log on the ground? Why not? It'll keep from sticking your bar as the pieces pinch together, that is what they are for and they do work.

Oh yes, I use wedges for that almost everytime I am out. I was referring to falling only. Can't imagine bucking without have wedges available. I don't use the plastic ones as they didn't last long for me, constantly breaking. Of course that was in the 60s so maybe they have improved. I find I only need to hold the cut open with a wedge on big (to me) logs, i.e, 24" up. By the time they bind, there is plenty of room to use an iron wedge without hitting it with the saw.

Harry K

geofore · May 26, 2004

iron wedges

Turnkey, you need hit an iron wedge only once with the chain to realise you could have used the plastic ones to hold the kerf open on a log on the ground. The iron ones are to tip the tree over or split wood. Tap the wedges don't whack them.

Ryan, a small Deere, property owner's machine, a 5' belly pan for mowing the 3+ acre lawn with a loader on the front. The property owner said I could use it to do the clean up and after we talked price he said he'd do the clean-up, just cut every thing to 4'-5' lengths. That's fine if most of the trees are close to 2' DBH but the 4'+ elm is wayyyy to big for the machine to handle safely on a hill at 4' lengths (2,800lbs) 16"lengths weigh ~ 1,000lbs. With all the rain we've had a larger machine would dig up the lawn, sink in soft ground or slide down the hill. What doesn't go to the tubgrinder will be firewood so 16" lengths are just the right size for the drop spliter that attaches to the Deere. When this guy tallies up the time/ material he and his son have on clean-up he'll see my estimate was right on.

NeTree · May 26, 2004

The number one reason for using a plastic wedge for bucking...

Weight!

Who the hell wants to walk around all day with a steel wedge in their back pocket?

Grande Dog · May 28, 2004

If you want some great information on directional falling (with or without wedges), check out a book called Professional Timber Falling A Procedural Approach. It was written over 30 years ago by a feller named Doug Dent, but still holds true today.

Grande Dog
Master Mechanic
Discount Arborist Equipment and Tree Care Supplies

glens · May 28, 2004

There are certainly a few good points in that book, but it's fairly painful to read due to the poor writing style.  And, as I recall, there are many typographical errors; it really should have been proof-read by now.  He'd probably fit right in here... hahaha

Glen