Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[GrizG]

REMINDER EVERYONE, STAY SAFE BY PAYING ATTENTION! I'll share a moment's stupidity and a near miss. Not even a scratch but only sheer luck.

I just ran a tank through the Makita 4300, 15" bar. Remember, small but powerful saws with shortish bars will kick back quickly.
I was bucking up a pile of long limbs mostly 5-10" diameter stuff but a few short bits just a couple of inches too. Remember with a pile of logs things can move around, pinch the saw or touch the tip.. smaller stuff moves easily. I had full chisel chain on, remember it can be grabby on small stuff. Okay I was taking care and doing ok then it started to rain. I had a quarter of a tank left and started rushing just to get it used up and get in out the rain...I let haste take over and care and attention left the building. Cutting a small piece of 2" diameter branch in half I made a really stupid move, let go of the rear handle completely to grab the next log as things moved a bit. I guess I thought the saw was already through the cut but it wasn't and although off the trigger the chain was still spinning and I had no control of the saw. Thankfully I did have a good hold of the front handle and my left arm was taught because the little log moved, the chain bit and grabbed and quick asa flash the saw kicked hard! With my left arm taught it couldn't move toward me but did fly up rotating rapidly in my left hand. Inertia chain brake worked to stop the chain and thankfully I got enough control of the saw in my left hand to stop the saw's rotation with the bar a couple inches from my elbow. So no harm done and after cursing my stupidity and thanking Makita for making a good inertial chain brake, I more carefully readied the last half dozen logs and cut a few more before the saw ran out of fuel.

So several errors, mainly rushing and lack of mindfulness with the saw (most unlike me!), And doing that when cutting up small loose logs in a messy pile was really asking for trouble. I was lucky, got reminded to pay more ATTENTION. I'm sharing as we probably all do stupid things occasionally and a reminder of what can happen is a good learning opportunity! Stay safe gents.

I found that due to it's light weight, when using my MS170 I was doing things I'd never try with my MS261 or MS461. I made the conscious decision to NOT do them any more!

Regarding the chains... the safety chains come into their own when cutting the small stuff. My son put a Rapid Super Stihl chain on a saw prior to cutting up limbs. While it could cut faster on the 4" limbs it would also grab and whip the small stuff around. I suggested he run a green safety chains on the saw for the small stuff and he found it was a lot safer while not noticing any real difference in cutting speed because the stuff was all relatively small.

Glad you survived the experience unscathed!

 

[LondonNeil]

Yes the small saws lull you, and you wave them about stupidly at times. My ms180 though had so much less power then this dolmakita, in particular the chain speed seems a lot more... Hence it's a bit dangerous but only if you're careless... As I was this time

 

[JustPlainJeff]

I know a lot of guys want to use the "he-man" full chisel and skip tooth chains, myself included. But in all honestly, I personally have no problem with the safety chains. I'm cutting firewood on my own property, and at my own pace. I'm not cutting firewood for "production", it's just for my personal use. At 54 years old, I'm no speed demon anymore anyway. If it takes me 2 seconds longer to buck the next round off of a log, so be it. I don't have a problem with that. I've also found that the safety chains seem to hold their edge longer than the full chisel chains do when cutting in dirty wood.

 

[Kodiak Kid]

Worked on my pile a little this evening. After running just newfangled saws lately, I almost forgot how much fun my points ignition 041 Farm Boss is to run and listen to. It reminds me of an old cast iron engine with a humongous flywheel. It takes 2 seconds to get to full speed and 3 seconds back to idle.View attachment 992168View attachment 992174Gotta take the bad with the good from a tree service. This was a tough one to roll, but the bottom was plastered with wet mud and I needed to finish the cut.
View attachment 992180
These two are next for another day. I rolled them to let the mud dry out so I can remove it easier with a wire brush. I'm going to start doing that with all of the logs The large one was bowed up in the middle so just some mud on the ends.
View attachment 992195View attachment 992200View attachment 992202View attachment 992203View attachment 992204

Love the 41 FB!!! My dad had one and it was the first power saw he ever let me run! I was 16. He gave me about a one hour tutorial on the do's and don't then handed it to me and said "now clear out that brush for the new fence line!" Then he yelled, "and don't cut your leg off or your mom will cut my balls off!"

 

[SS396driver]

My scrounge today

 

[Kodiak Kid]

I know a lot of guys want to use the "he-man" full chisel and skip tooth chains, myself included. But in all honestly, I personally have no problem with the safety chains. I'm cutting firewood on my own property, and at my own pace. I'm not cutting firewood for "production", it's just for my personal use. At 54 years old, I'm no speed demon anymore anyway. If it takes me 2 seconds longer to buck the next round off of a log, so be it. I don't have a problem with that. I've also found that the safety chains seem to hold their edge longer than the full chisel chains do when cutting in dirty wood.

Nothing wrong with that! I run AKB chain on my 260. I like it just fine.

 

[Kodiak Kid]

My scrounge today View attachment 992372View attachment 992373View attachment 992374View attachment 992376View attachment 992375
View attachment 992377

Nice! Very nice!

 

[SS396driver]

Is this saw even worth picking up . Seamed to have compression since it kicked back on the recoil .
There was also this large chain sharpener I can get if it’s worth it as I’m going back tomorrow for a wood lathe with about 50 different tools

 

[SS396driver]

Ohh and a Stihl rototiller

 

[Kodiak Kid]

REMINDER EVERYONE, STAY SAFE BY PAYING ATTENTION! I'll share a moment's stupidity and a near miss. Not even a scratch but only sheer luck.

I just ran a tank through the Makita 4300, 15" bar. Remember, small but powerful saws with shortish bars will kick back quickly.
I was bucking up a pile of long limbs mostly 5-10" diameter stuff but a few short bits just a couple of inches too. Remember with a pile of logs things can move around, pinch the saw or touch the tip.. smaller stuff moves easily. I had full chisel chain on, remember it can be grabby on small stuff. Okay I was taking care and doing ok then it started to rain. I had a quarter of a tank left and started rushing just to get it used up and get in out the rain...I let haste take over and care and attention left the building. Cutting a small piece of 2" diameter branch in half I made a really stupid move, let go of the rear handle completely to grab the next log as things moved a bit. I guess I thought the saw was already through the cut but it wasn't and although off the trigger the chain was still spinning and I had no control of the saw. Thankfully I did have a good hold of the front handle and my left arm was taught because the little log moved, the chain bit and grabbed and quick asa flash the saw kicked hard! With my left arm taught it couldn't move toward me but did fly up rotating rapidly in my left hand. Inertia chain brake worked to stop the chain and thankfully I got enough control of the saw in my left hand to stop the saw's rotation with the bar a couple inches from my elbow. So no harm done and after cursing my stupidity and thanking Makita for making a good inertial chain brake, I more carefully readied the last half dozen logs and cut a few more before the saw ran out of fuel.

So several errors, mainly rushing and lack of mindfulness with the saw (most unlike me!), And doing that when cutting up small loose logs in a messy pile was really asking for trouble. I was lucky, got reminded to pay more ATTENTION. I'm sharing as we probably all do stupid things occasionally and a reminder of what can happen is a good learning opportunity! Stay safe gents.

We all must cut safe, stay sharp, and be aware!!! I've had many many close calls over the years. A lot of them most definitely life threatening. Most of them being safty issues over looked from being in a hurry. I would usually shut down the saw sit on a stump for about five minutes shaking in my bones and think hard about what just almost happened because of my stupidity! An old master OG cutter I was working under years ago while breaking in felling timber once told my after seeing me make a stupid mistake was this.

"As timber fallers. We gain experience by exercising poor judgement, and we avoid exercising poor judgement by gaining experience! I hope you just learned a valuable lesson in safety and gained a little bit of experience! Because you have a long road ahead if you plan on staying alive in this business kid!"

Talk about really hitting home!
Then he looked at me with a stern look on his face and said...

"Cut safe, Stay sharp, and be aware!!!"

 

[sean donato]

Well boys, listed both the 562's on the bay. Time for them to fly the coop. Actually sad to see the one go, had a mild port job on it. Had thought about keeping it, but the 359 is the "back up" and runs wonderfully and has a normal carb.... that I can get cheap..... really been thinking about listing the 394/5 xp as well. My cousin got a band saw mill amd I haven't touched it or the Alaskan since. The 390xp just is so much nicer in the hand when I "need" a big saw to sling a big bar. Deffinatly doesn't have the grunt but it's lighter and runs very well.
I do have a unrelated question. I busted the handle on my little axe I use for pounding wedges. Ots pretty light head. 2lbs. Been thinking of getting another axe. Bit heavier with a wider flatter back side so it doesn't bugger the wedges up so much. I'm open to suggestions. I'm really not much of an axe/hatchet type of guy. But it's handy. Just think something a bit heavier would be better for wedging. Shouldn't have to swing quite as hard if you know what I mean.

 

[davidwyby]

So kinda looks like this is about the only place much happens on this forum, eh?

 

[sean donato]

So kinda looks like this is about the only place much happens on this forum, eh?

Kinda the town square.

 

[Kodiak Kid]

Well boys, listed both the 562's on the bay. Time for them to fly the coop. Actually sad to see the one go, had a mild port job on it. Had thought about keeping it, but the 359 is the "back up" and runs wonderfully and has a normal carb.... that I can get cheap..... really been thinking about listing the 394/5 xp as well. My cousin got a band saw mill amd I haven't touched it or the Alaskan since. The 390xp just is so much nicer in the hand when I "need" a big saw to sling a big bar. Deffinatly doesn't have the grunt but it's lighter and runs very well.
I do have a unrelated question. I busted the handle on my little axe I use for pounding wedges. Ots pretty light head. 2lbs. Been thinking of getting another axe. Bit heavier with a wider flatter back side so it doesn't bugger the wedges up so much. I'm open to suggestions. I'm really not much of an axe/hatchet type of guy. But it's handy. Just think something a bit heavier would be better for wedging. Shouldn't have to swing quite as hard if you know what I mean.

Try a 3.5 or 4 pound Council with a 28 inch handle. Check them out on Madsen's web site catalog. You can get them up to 5 and 6 pounds, but those are a lot heavier to swing and really intended for very large timber and larger wedges. I use a 4lb and really like it! It's a great rafting axe that's easy to swing with plenty of driving force for smaller and bigger timber. 5lb is good for big heavy leaner's, but a 4lb will also do that job well! Hope this info helps!

 

[sean donato]

Try a 3.5 or 4 pound Council with a 28 inch handle. Check them out on Madsen's web site catalog. You can get them up to 5 and 6 pounds, but those are a lot heavier to swing and really intended for very large timber and larger wedges. I use a 4lb and really like it! It's a great rafting axe that's easy to swing with plenty of driving force for smaller and bigger timber. 5lb is good for big heavy leaner's, but a 4lb will also do that job well! Hope this info helps!

Thanks, I got their catalog downloaded, I'll have a look.

 

[Kodiak Kid]

So kinda looks like this is about the only place much happens on this forum, eh?

I haven't been a member here long but this thread seems to have the most posts with good guys with good info and/or advice that seem to know what they are talking about. There are a lot of threads on this forum. Some are comical, some educational, some will make you ponder in disbelief, and others, well? You'll just have to check them out your self. Being as you've been here a while, you probably already have!

Cut safe, stay sharp, and be aware!

 

[SS396driver]

And a duck

 

[sean donato]

And a duck View attachment 992392View attachment 992393

Tis a nice looking duck!

 

[farmer steve]

So kinda looks like this is about the only place much happens on this forum, eh?

Pretty much. It does get off topic once in a while with guns,whiskey,fishin and maple syrup but it's all good. Pics, we all like pics. Especially wood and chainsaws.

 

[farmer steve]

Tis a nice looking duck!

Run the 400 anymore? Put 4 tanks thru mine Sunday. Mostly noodling a big mulberry.