Newbie...cutting questions

[stevew]

Hi purchased a Stihl ms290 with 20 in. bar....save the comment...plastic,heavy,underpowered and home user. Anywho its what I have...I have a Willow Tree about 7 feet in dia at the trunk. I had a portion about 30 feet up taken off...and I am doing the cleanup cutting. Most of the billets are about 4 ft long and 16-22 in dia. When I cut it seems like it takes alot of effort, in addtion I have resorted to putting wedge in after I begin the cut to keep the wood from collasping on hte saw...and I have to do this many times for one cut. The saw is new and has only cut some minor 2 in dia stuff prior to this project. In a 5 hour day I made maybe 35 cuts is this super slow ? I look forward to splitting the billets I make with a splitter axe and wedge/sledge cause its easier. Should I get a new chain ? what chain do you recommend for this project ? Thanks for any replies.

 

[livewire]

First off, I've never dealt with willow but from what I've HEARD it can be a PITA.

Check out this thread
http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=42218&highlight=460+bogging+willow

You might find some insightful info here!

Good luck!

Almost forgot, WELCOME!!!

 

[Tzed250]

The chain

Are the chips from the cut like powder, or do they look like peelings. If they look like dust then your chain needs to be sharpened. Try some searches on here about sharpening, lots of info. The 029/MS290 is a good unit. Stihl doesnt sell millions of them for no good reason. Learn to file your chain, and do the preventative maintenance on your saw and you will do fine. Welcome Aboard!

 

[PA Plumber]

First of all, welcome to AS.

Breaking it down a little more, that is approx. 7 cuts per hour. If that includes limbing, blocking, rolling over the log to finish the cuts, moving rounds to new location, cleaning up the brush and making the yard look nice, I would say you're doing okay. If this is just blocking into splitting chunks and nothing else, it sounds slow.

One thing for sure, it is better to be safe and slow than fast and going to the emergency room, or worse!

The saw should feed itself into the log. If you have to "horse" it, something doesn't sound right. New Chain?? Is the chain on correctly? Does the bar get hot? Plenty of Oil getting to the bar? Etc...

RMC3 chain should do farily well for your application. I'm sure there will be other suggestions. If your able, could you post a pic of your new saw?

 

[Timberhauler]

Just by the sound of this,it sounds like your chain may be dull,and you are probably using the safety chain that came with the saw..Get yourself some single drag chain...and keep it sharp...They ain't nuttin' wrong with your saw choice...It sounds like your saw just needs a little love.

 

[stevew]

Good thread LiveWire..thanks, Pics of my MS290

View attachment 47513

View attachment 47514

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View attachment 47516

 

[ericjeeper]

Not a safety chain

which is faster. Ok in order to not get the saw pinched.. do not cut all the way through. Just cut the log half way, Then roll it and cut it through. Another way, after you have some experience. Is to bore through about 2 inches below the top of the log and then cut down and out if lof is elevated a bit.Then carefully cut the top out. Make sure the saw is sharp. I can not tell from your pics.
That looks like a little bit more bar than that saw will pull. Looks like a 24 to me.. My wife guesstimated it at a 3 footer.. LOL

 

[Tzed250]

I'm with Eric, 18 to 20" is all the 029 wants. The saw will be happier with a bar in that range, chain is easier to file, etc.

 

[begleytree]

sounds like the log is all twisted up, happens with silver maple too. as you cut it releases in places and binds up your saw. cutting thru from tension wood to compression wood can be a real SOB sometimes.
-Ralph

 

[stihl 440]

dull

By the looks of your fourth pic your chain is super dull. Either take it to a dealer and have them sharpen it if you don't know how. Or get a new RM (round tooth), or RSC (square tooth)chain. That should put you back in business.

 

[ropensaddle]

if chain is sharp make sure drags or rakers are filed to correct set, a sharp chain will not cut if teeth do not make it to log. I agree with on bar length
a twenty is good for most work and willow is a softwood and should cut easily but if rolled in mud will dull saw rapidly. Dirty logs will dull as fast as getting saw in dirt get files gloves and a guide if you can't keep depth and angle! I've learned to file without a guide and keep angle and depth true. Twenty years can do wonders but I now have a machine, sharpen five chains or so and when one gets dull swap out for sharpened one! I don't have time to file sharpen,but a good file sharpened chain will cut better than a machine sharpened one just takes longer.

 

[manual]

yea what they say,
One Thing I would try on that saw would be a Organ, full chisel skip tooth chain.
might help out. I just bought a loop for a 20" bar at $14.95

 

[computeruser]

First off, welcome to the site! It's always good to see more folks from my 'hood hanging around here.

As for your situation, it sounds like something is going wrong, most likely in the way of chain sharpness. Willow is, generally, pretty easy wood to cut. And with a sharp chain you shouldn't have to do much except guide the saw in the right direction as you block your 4'x16-22" sticks into splittable rounds.

On the subject of willow, here's one we took down Saturday morning: Cemetery Willow Takedown.

 

[Streblerm]

In the fourth picture it looks like the chain might be on backwards.

 

[stonykill]

In the fourth picture it looks like the chain might be on backwards.

it is on backwards, btw streberm, is that a 65 to 69 corvair I see? My dad way back when collected these. The only car I ever rode in until I was around 10 was a corvair. My moms main ride was a 65 corvair convertable, 4 1 barrels, dual glass packs. My dad besides his old International pickups, had a 62 'vair hardtop. My dad had 23 corvairs in all at one point, my parents got divorced, and they all got junked:bang:

 

[SawTroll]

First off, I've never dealt with willow but from what I've HEARD it can be a PITA!!! ....

The willows we got here is pretty soft - much softer than birch........:biggrinbounce2:

...but often badly twisted also, like Ralph said.

 

[thomas72]

I thing the picture was taken towered the powerhead so the chain would not be backward. It first got me, but look at where the oil stain on the bar is on the picture

 

[SawTroll]

In the fourth picture it looks like the chain might be on backwards.

It surely looks like it is....... :greenchainsaw:

 

[mountainlake]

It's not on backwards, the picture is taken from the left side of the bar. Take it in and get it sharpened and then keep it out of the dirt, They get dull in a hurry when you hit dirt. Steve

 

[blis]

The willows we got here is pretty soft - much softer than birch........:biggrinbounce2:

...but often badly twisted also, like Ralph said

atleast when sawing with clearing saw the willow dulls the blade much faster than birch, even thou it might be softer...