Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[James Miller]

I measured this one at about 44" DBH, and didn't even guess at a height:

View attachment 973278

View attachment 973279

This one might be the biggest on my property, but it is growing typical of the rest of the hundreds here. That's a 24' ladder I am using against the one in the video, and it is about half-way to the first limbs. I guess the ones along the edge of the woods have lower limbs than the ones in the middle of the woods.

Those big ones fall to the wind sometimes also. This oak was 40"+ and got bigger before it split for the canopy.

 

[Lionsfan]

Been there and done that lol.
Well maybe you can stop by and ask if you can cut some, it's great wood, but so are those ash trees.
If you look closely at the new x-cut chains, they have a standard hook, then just at the leading edge of the top plate it's sharpened very aggressive. They seem to get into the fiber quicker and easier, but because it's only that aggressive on the leading edge they cut fast and very smooth. And because the chain is much harder than the older Oregon chains it stays sharper much longer out of the box. And to all the guys who touch a chain up out of the box(sometimes I do too), you should try one out, great cutting chain for sure and if you square grind or file they will hold a nice edge once converted. I have a nice pile of them in 20" here, and I'm watching on a deal for 24".
Semi skip doesn't seem to need quite as much off the rakers, if you just file the cutters back a touch that may be all you need. Also if a chain isn't smooth cutting bigger wood(I know you said yours was), then the saw may not have the power to pull it hard enough to overcome an aggressive hook if the wood is hard.
This is an aggressively filed semi-skip chain in very hard wood, it would be very rough in the same wood with a stock 70cc saw. You can even see it grabbing onto the knot on the top of the smaller cherry, that's also where technique can "help"(it still needs to be fixed) on a chain you just want to run until you can refill and file the cutters back a little. A chain that chatters because it's too aggressive is not as fast as a smooth running chain.

I picked up 6 C83-84DL chains from an E-bay vendor a few weeks ago. They averaged $16.19, shipped to my door. For some odd reason, (supply and demand I'd guess) he was about a dollar higher a chain for 72 dl's.

For what it's worth, I like the Oregon ELX chain just as well, but I can't find it anywhere near that price point.

 

[Jere39]

View attachment 973379
Those big ones fall to the wind sometimes also. This oak was 40"+ and got bigger before it split for the canopy.

Great to have such good helpers in the woods. I'm pretty sure I saw your picture in a thread a while ago. My Grandson helped me identify the largest of each of the species on my property here. I think this looks like the same tree with a circumference of 142". (D=C/π) So, I think my estimate was pretty good.

 

[djg james]

Went out to the burn pile today to take a look. Found a 18-20" dia Bk Locust log lying on top. Bad news, it was punky already. Underneath was a solid 12" dia branch that I managed to get six rounds off. Tomorrow, I plan on trying to roll pack the top log to expose more of the branch.
My scrounges are getting tougher.

 

[Lee192233]

Been there and done that lol.
Well maybe you can stop by and ask if you can cut some, it's great wood, but so are those ash trees.

I'll hop on the Badger and come over.

If you look closely at the new x-cut chains, they have a standard hook, then just at the leading edge of the top plate it's sharpened very aggressive. They seem to get into the fiber quicker and easier, but because it's only that aggressive on the leading edge they cut fast and very smooth. And because the chain is much harder than the older Oregon chains it stays sharper much longer out of the box. And to all the guys who touch a chain up out of the box(sometimes I do too), you should try one out, great cutting chain for sure and if you square grind or file they will hold a nice edge once converted.

I have an X cut on my MS 362. It's a very nice cutting chain. It bore cuts easily and holds an edge well. I am curious about square filing a chain. How well do they hold an edge? I have some pretty dirty creek bottom trees that beat up full chisel chains pretty quick. I notice a significant decrease in performance after a tank. What file do you recommend to start with if I try?

 

[U&A]

About 80% maple and 20% red oak. 13-1/2 hours.

Im surprised it lasted that long.

This was a sugar maple in my woods/swamp that had a real bad widow maker in it. Had to come down. And the red oak is from my front yard[emoji23].

Sent while firmly grasping my Redline lubed Ram [emoji231]

 

[H-Ranch]

And little after dinner snack.

 

[ihookem]

Lee192233, do you live out by West Bend? There are so many dead ash out this way that the woods will rot long before anyone can burn it all. Some guys out here are cutting it and trying to sell it , but it does not seem to be going very fast. There is so much dead ash out here that I a afraid to walk the public land when its windy. When these trees are all fallen over, I dont know how I will ever get a deer out of there, in Theresa Marsh.

 

[chipper1]

Wet ground, heavy wet snow, and a ton of creeper vine. I've pointed out trees to the FIL that are going to be problems and he doesn't listen. Maybe this will be a wakeup call.

That's what it looked like, and I think you guys are a bit further along on the warmer weather too. Today it made it to 55, no hat, just my carhart pants and a hoodie, took the bibs off after a break. Good working weather, but the bugs are starting to come out, so I need to stay on it!
Hopefully he will learn from this one and remember. You may want to let him get an estimate on having it removed so he will appreciate the work you do too.
There's a little phrase I like and that has proven true in my life; the lessons that cost us the most, are the ones we are the slowest to forget .

 

[H-Ranch]

What do you have for a Jeep? Always nice to check out other folk's rigs.

One of my favorite things to do at off-road events - walk the parking lot (or trail) and look at rigs. I'm not too proud to steal someone's good idea!

My main trail Jeep is an 84 CJ. Fuel injected 4.2L, 5-speed, clocked Dana 300 with DIY twin stick, model 20 Detroit/Dana 30 lock rite, double military wrap spring over, 1000+ RTI, and lots of custom stuff. Currently also have an LJ, XJ, and Commander and numerous others come and gone. Would love a J10/J20/M715 and/or an SJ to restore - same problem as you with more wants than time!

 

[chipper1]

Thanks for the filing tips! That's a nice running saw!

Welcome .
That one was built by Randy and it did run very well, it's a heated handle 2171. I removed the cylinder and put it on a 372 with heat and put a new oem cylinder and a 268xp piston with a popup on the 2171, then shipped it to a buddy in Northern Ireland. I listed the 372 on here a last fall iirc, but sold it to a guy on another forum I think lol. I sold quite a few in the last 6 months.
Here it is after the cylinder/piston swap running a 24" hand filed EXL, it was a little more aggressive than it had the power to pull, but it still cut quite well.

I picked up 6 C83-84DL chains from an E-bay vendor a few weeks ago. They averaged $16.19, shipped to my door. For some odd reason, (supply and demand I'd guess) he was about a dollar higher a chain for 72 dl's.

For what it's worth, I like the Oregon ELX chain just as well, but I can't find it anywhere near that price point.

Speaking of EXL .
Do you have a link, heading out to do a job tomorrow, might just buy some real soon .
I think the husky chain holds an edge just a bit longer, but I really like the EXL too. I bought quite a few EXL last yr, getting down there though .

I'll hop on the Badger and come over.

I have an X cut on my MS 362. It's a very nice cutting chain. It bore cuts easily and holds an edge well. I am curious about square filing a chain. How well do they hold an edge? I have some pretty dirty creek bottom trees that beat up full chisel chains pretty quick. I notice a significant decrease in performance after a tank. What file do you recommend to start with if I try?

My neighbor and I were talking about that today, he said he took it many yrs ago. I've considered it, but its' so dang expensive, I just leaver early and run right thru downtown Chicago.

On a stihl , I'm running one on my ported ms261 right now. I think it's great chain.
Square does a great job, but for the extra money in files or a grinder I don't think you gain any value for what you're doing. I will say that square with a nice work grind/file is very smooth, but the files have been hard to obtain unless you're willing to pay a handsome price for them. I do use my old double-bevel files(my preferred file for square, I also have square grinders though) for filing rakers as they are nice for that with a husky style gauge, so that helps bring the overall price down a bit.
@MustangMike may have some tips on where to get files(I'd like to get some tips too) and his opinion on using square as he uses it exclusively.
Same saw, same operator, same wood. I got the same results when I cut with them too.

New husky/oregon chain.
This may have been an x-cut chain, not 100% . @Flint Mitch do you remember?




Fresh square ground chain.

 

[Lee192233]

Lee192233, do you live out by West Bend? There are so many dead ash out this way that the woods will rot long before anyone can burn it all. Some guys out here are cutting it and trying to sell it , but it does not seem to be going very fast. There is so much dead ash out here that I a afraid to walk the public land when its windy. When these trees are all fallen over, I dont know how I will ever get a deer out of there, in Theresa Marsh.

I live about one hour north of West Bend. If landowners and the state don't plant trees where these ash woods are they're just going to get taken over by Russian Olive, Buckthorn and Bush Honeysuckle. EAB is just a slow moving disaster. In my area some woods were almost all ash and they're almost completely dead now. Generally they're low, wet areas so there's a pretty limited suite of trees to plant. Sheboygan County recommends Swamp White Oak and Siver Maple.
Sucks.

 

[U&A]

I live about one hour north of West Bend. If landowners and the state don't plant trees where these ash woods are they're just going to get taken over by Russian Olive, Buckthorn and Bush Honeysuckle. EAB is just a slow moving disaster. In my area some woods were almost all ash and they're almost completely dead now. Generally they're low, wet areas so there's a pretty limited suite of trees to plant. Sheboygan County recommends Swamp White Oak and Siver Maple.
Sucks.

Iv got lots of silver maple and white oak in my swamp. Lots. And the ash is mostly fallen or about to be.


Sent while firmly grasping my Redline lubed Ram [emoji231]

 

[chipper1]

Almost forgot to load these, does it count since it's a day late .
My other helper actually wanted in pictures today, that's not normal, but nice .
Does this bucket make my loads look small lol. It is hard to split a load out of the bucket, not quite enough room, then I went and added some smalls to the mix with the splits to fill the bucket better.

 

[LondonNeil]

Welcome .
That one was built by Randy and it did run very well, it's a heated handle 2171. I removed the cylinder and put it on a 372 with heat and put a new oem cylinder and a 268xp piston with a popup on the 2171, then shipped it to a buddy in Northern Ireland. I listed the 372 on here a last fall iirc, but sold it to a guy on another forum I think lol. I sold quite a few in the last 6 months.
Here it is after the cylinder/piston swap running a 24" hand filed EXL, it was a little more aggressive than it had the power to pull, but it still cut quite well.


Speaking of EXL .
Do you have a link, heading out to do a job tomorrow, might just buy some real soon .
I think the husky chain holds an edge just a bit longer, but I really like the EXL too. I bought quite a few EXL last yr, getting down there though .

My neighbor and I were talking about that today, he said he took it many yrs ago. I've considered it, but its' so dang expensive, I just leaver early and run right thru downtown Chicago.

On a stihl , I'm running one on my ported ms261 right now. I think it's great chain.
Square does a great job, but for the extra money in files or a grinder I don't think you gain any value for what you're doing. I will say that square with a nice work grind/file is very smooth, but the files have been hard to obtain unless you're willing to pay a handsome price for them. I do use my old double-bevel files(my preferred file for square, I also have square grinders though) for filing rakers as they are nice for that with a husky style gauge, so that helps bring the overall price down a bit.
@MustangMike may have some tips on where to get files(I'd like to get some tips too) and his opinion on using square as he uses it exclusively.
Same saw, same operator, same wood. I got the same results when I cut with them too.

New husky/oregon chain.
This may have been an x-cut chain, not 100% . @Flint Mitch do you remember?




Fresh square ground chain.

I think my little ea4300 came with that chain. Really really aggressive hook but cut nice.... Until I had a falling log push my best sideways and it tickled the side of the metal saw horse I was trying out. Now it's filed normally.

 

[H-Ranch]

A bit of mish mash to start your morning:

A little something for the oak lovers (and you know who you are):

And I would be remiss without a load for the maple fans:

 

[bob kern]

Thanks hr !!!!! Much better now!

 

[Brufab]

Hot coffee and pics of h-ranch wheelbarrow loads, can't get much better than that to start the day!

 

[farmer steve]

Some locust this morning to finish out a 1/2 cord stack.

 

[Jere39]

Almost forgot to load these, does it count since it's a day late .
My other helper actually wanted in pictures today, that's not normal, but nice .
Does this bucket make my loads look small lol. It is hard to split a load out of the bucket, not quite enough room, then I went and added some smalls to the mix with the splits to fill the bucket better.
View attachment 973483View attachment 973484View attachment 973485View attachment 973486View attachment 973487

Lucky guy to have a helper. It looks like you are entering mud season there. Probably will here soon too, but still working in snow covered and frozen ground today.