Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[turnkey4099]

Hmm. Might be a touch longer that that, I'm afraid.

Pro tip. Unless you want to see a vein rupture in someone's forehead, don't ask the surgeon if you can cut wood the day after your six week review.

This shouldn't be too bad, arthritis in L4 - they are going to clean that out. Instructions say normally back to work in 3 weeks but not physical type work. I tell everybody that I will be good for the 6 weeks but that wood pile is sure gonna be calling.

 

[Deleted member 149229]

The black locust out here (all imported mostly by the settlers) doesn't have a strong smell and I like what it does have. Some people here even use it for smoking and I have a regular customer who wants it for pit barbecue.

As for splitting I find it easy with a Fiskar's. Green I commonly get a 'bounce' with the first strike. Dry it splits like a dream.

The locust splits good in the splitter, this stuff was up to 20” diameter on the trunk, it’s just the smell that sucks. And the locust I just split was cut in July of 2017. My buddy stopped the day I was splitting and from 30’ away he asked what stunk.

 

[woodchip rookie]

I love my 346/550 with a 16" and even my 562 with a 16".

A 562 w/a 16" bar would be friggin killer.

 

[woodchip rookie]

I like to wear a mask when I'm weed whacking large areas.
I feel for you with the asthma, I've done more breathing treatments and hits off the emergency inhaler than I have in the past 5 yrs put together, it's been a rough summer for sure.
So glad I have been feeling better the last 5 days or so , praise God.

I don't short myself on PPE. I wear gloves, glasses, boots, pants & earplugs when running saws, brush cutter or splitter. I used to have a good resperator but havent needed it in years and I let it get away. I will be puting a PPE bag together soon. I have also been looking at one of those logger/forestry helmets.

https://www.husqvarna.com/us/access...-hard-hats/forest-helmet-technical/588646001/

 

[svk]

A 562 w/a 16" bar would be friggin killer.

Oh yeah. Although with the ported 50's it was redundant so I sold it. Great saw though.

 

[rarefish383]

The hip shouldn’t be bad, like you I’ve seen and heard nothing but horror stories about knees. My knee won’t get done until I have to crawl.

I'm going to the surgeon to schedule my right knee next Monday. Hopefully get it done early October. Did my left 2 years ago. Only problem I had was my knee swelled up with fluid, twice it's normal size. Couldn't bend it past 90*. The PT had her shoulder on my shin and feet against the wall and couldn't bend it. The boss PT said not to worry, when the swelling went down, the knee would bend. My surgeon had a fit. She said if you wait for the swelling to go down, scar tissue would build up and I would never bend it. Surgeon was pretty much right. At 6 months the PT said there hadn't been any improvement and the insurance was cutting off PT. I was at 26* extension and 80* flexion and they said after 6 months I wouldn't see any improvement. I started going to the health club, and the owner, a friend, said I was using all the wrong muscles. He had major knee surgery after an accident. He put me on a new routine and in six weeks had me at 0* extension, straight as a poker, and 100* flexion. I made more progress after 6 months than I did with the first PT. Now I know to be a better advocate for myself. If the right knee starts to swell I'll get the diuretics sooner and make the PT bend the knee.

 

[svk]

That is incredible process that you made on your own Joe.

My grandpa at 86 years young is looking at needing a knee or knees in the next couple of years. Trouble is he lives alone and no family within several hours of him. So he would probably need to stay with my aunt during recovery. I told him if he ever needs help during his cross country trips (he drives from his condo in Miami to MN then on to his summer home in Montana and back eac year) that I would drop everything to help. So far he's doing great on his own.

 

[James Miller]

Leaving the 18” on one 400, just ordered 12” bar and chains for the other 400. I did learn. All my 60 and 65 cc saws only have 20” and the 80 cc saws only have 24”, oh yeah, the 50 cc has 18”.

My 7910 has a 24 on it but had no problem pulling a 32 buried at the last gtg I was at. The 490 is my go to for most stuff I cut. Its leaving for a good cause soon. Replacement will be a 501 with the 3/8lp setup that's on the 490 now. They don't come any lighter at 50cc that iv seen

The black locust out here (all imported mostly by the settlers) doesn't have a strong smell and I like what it does have. Some people here even use it for smoking and I have a regular customer who wants it for pit barbecue.

AS for splitting I find it easy with a Fiskar's. Green I commonly get a 'bounce' with the first strike. Dry it splits like a dream.

Agree when it comes to locust the fiskars is faster then the splitter.

 

[JustJeff]

Yep.

Been playing around with that 5020 I have. The 20" bar is too much IMO for hardwood. Cuts OK in softwood. When I swapped to a 16" it is an enjoyable saw to use. Same with the 3516/4218. Good saw with a 14 or 16" but the 18" is way too much, especially in hardwood.

The 5020 benefits from a muff mod. I took the cover off and removed the screen and enlarged the hole in an oval using a die grinder. Then put the screen back. Stock bar is closer to 19”. 70 drive links. I’ve used mine to cut down a couple 30”+ trees. It will bog and catch if it pinches slightly or side load but does decent for what it is. If the bar wears out before the motor I might put a 16 on it.

 

[svk]

The 5020 benefits from a muff mod. I took the cover off and removed the screen and enlarged the hole in an oval using a die grinder. Then put the screen back. Stock bar is closer to 19”. 70 drive links. I’ve used mine to cut down a couple 30”+ trees. It will bog and catch if it pinches slightly or side load but does decent for what it is. If the bar wears out before the motor I might put a 16 on it.

The one I have right now runs significantly stronger than the last one I used. Noticed the same thing between the three 42 cc models I have used.

Thinking I am going to hold onto this one for a bit. The muffler mod is an easy improvement for sure. I have a 16" bar that I can use on it for the time being. I am going to have a 55 Husky ready to send to my uncle soon and it will probably go out with that 70 DL bar on it as he needs more than a 16" down in hardwood country.

 

[rarefish383]

You guys are always talking about 45 and 50 class saws, so I thought I'd break down and get one. Put the word out I was looking, and Greg "undee70ss" hooked me up. Got home and there was a package on the porch. Oregon .063 roller nose. Can't wait to get it on one of my Super 1050's and get a few links of .404 on it. Anyone know how many links go on a 45" Oregon roller nose?

 

[rarefish383]

Oh, still looking for a 50" and 60".

 

[Deleted member 149229]

My 7910 has a 24 on it but had no problem pulling a 32 buried at the last gtg I was at. The 490 is my go to for most stuff I cut. Its leaving for a good cause soon. Replacement will be a 501 with the 3/8lp setup that's on the 490 now. They don't come any lighter at 50cc that iv seen

View attachment 667671 Agree when it comes to locust the fiskars is faster then the splitter.

I’m wondering if I would like the 3/8 lp better than the .325? What bar length you using and how many dl? Where did you get conversion parts?

 

[svk]

I’m wondering if I would like the 3/8 lp better than the .325? What bar length you using and how many dl? Where did you get conversion parts?

There are lots of knowledgeable guys out there who go one way or another on which is better. Truthfully I don't have the knowledge to weigh in. I can tell you I do like 3/8 over .325 for a 50 cc pro saw.

 

[Deleted member 149229]

There are lots of knowledgeable guys out there who go one way or another on which is better. Truthfully I don't have the knowledge to weigh in. I can tell you I do like 3/8 over .325 for a 50 cc pro saw.

I don’t have any Pro saws, I’m just a rookie.

 

[dancan]

I don't short myself on PPE. I wear gloves, glasses, boots, pants & earplugs when running saws, brush cutter or splitter. I used to have a good resperator but havent needed it in years and I let it get away. I will be puting a PPE bag together soon. I have also been looking at one of those logger/forestry helmets.

https://www.husqvarna.com/us/access...-hard-hats/forest-helmet-technical/588646001/

I've been trying to get a good look at one of those but no luck yet .
The cheaper one has good muffs and I'm happy with the visor but the helmet sucks .
I have a Skullbucket , I like that one in the heat .

 

[svk]

Going off "published" HP ratings I would say 3.5 hp or greater saws should wear full 3/8. Where you draw the line for .325 is subjective. I had a Husky 41 with .325 and a Husky 142 with 3/8LP (both Poulan made Huskys). I liked the 142 much better and after muffler mod it is the favorite small saw in my current fleet.

 

[muddstopper]

From what I can see by doing a google search they are different blades but very similar in appearance. A few guys say they liked the Maxi better. I have always bought the Maxi.

I always just use string on my weed wacker. I mulch pretty much eveything so I can mow around it with my mower. My brother weed eats a lot of fence around his pasture. I fixed a head like this one,

By removing the plastic blades and replacing them with short pieces of bandsaw blades from my 14in bandsaw. Cutting the bandsaw blades and then drilling a hole in it is the hard part. The performance in small brush is fantastic. 1in dia woody stuff cuts like it has been attacked by a chainsaw. My brother always wears chaps when brushcutting, but he hasnt had a blade break yet, but he has bent the heck out of them hitting metal fence posts. I always figured the bandsaw blades would wearout the pins the blades attach to, but so far that hasnt been the case.

 

[svk]

Oh, still looking for a 50" and 60".

Left Coast Supply still has some big GB bars for sale.

 

[dancan]

Hmm. Might be a touch longer that that, I'm afraid.

Pro tip. Unless you want to see a vein rupture in someone's forehead, don't ask the surgeon if you can cut wood the day after your six week review.

Now that's funny lol !
Kinda like when I showed these to my PT people after the first weekend when the surgeon said I was good to start strengthening ,,,



Ya , it sucked but no pain , no gain lol