Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[Kodiak Kid]

No firewood scrounging today. I just added the last (and most important) piece to my he-man women haters club man-cave!!! Damn people were out of the Jager though, damn supply chain shortages LOL!View attachment 994556

View attachment 994557

Hell Yeah Brother!!! Nice Work! The Mrs. Parked her wheel barrow in front of me beer/bait fridge in my shop! I told her "Sweety, I really don't mind if you block the people door or even the big shop door with your wheel barrow, but I'd really appreciate it if you could not block the access to my fridge!" She said "I'd appreciate a man with more on his mind!" Can you guys believe that!?!? Cut safe, stay sharp, and be aware of a woman who blocks your beer and bait fridge!

 

[muddstopper]

Hell Yeah Brother!!! Nice Work! The Mrs. Parked her wheel barrow in front of me beer/bait fridge in my shop! I told her "Sweety, I really don't mind if you block the people door or even the big shop door with your wheel barrow, but I'd really appreciate it if you could not block the access to my fridge!" She said "I'd appreciate a man with more on his mind!" Can you guys believe that!?!? View attachment 994844Cut safe, stay sharp, and be aware of a woman who blocks your beer and bait fridge!

Naw, she was trying to hide the fact your fridge is placed on top of the wood stove.

 

[chipper1]

My spelling is not the best. Swizzle, Sizwheel, whatever? They work in conifer just fine. I would think they would work better in conifer than hard wood, because conifer wood fiber flex's much more than hard woods. However, like Ive mentioned before. I have little experience with hard woods. Also, I don't use a swizzle that much at all. In fact, I'd much rather just face up any leaner, throw a deep buck cut in it, set a wedge with the quickness if nessasary, pull the saw out if the kerf. Find a good tree behind the tree I've just crippled, and use the tree behind it to drive that SOB over! No Jacking, no wedging, no swing cuts, no swizzle, cuts. Just straight up mow'n em down!!!

Cut safe, stay sharp, and be aware!

On that particular tree I was pulling it 180 against the lean and couldn't stay at the stump to steer it and it needed to clear the trees on the woodline before turning towards the woods. I faced it up so that the hinge would be as strong as possible, then the sizwheel would pull it as far as possible towards the woodline(it actually went further than I wanted). Had I left a standard hinge that tree would have been 25-30' up the hill, good to have a bag of tricks in your pocket. I've only ever gotten to push them like your describing a couple times, but I've done a lot of doubles that were limb locked(or vines), but if I have the skidding winch I just pull them through the canopy.
Here's one I did yesterday, not sure I left enough stump shot lol. This was just a larger branch on a HVBW, it was about 14". Tip your screen to make the dirt in the right lower corner level to see the lean it had. I used a triangle cut(coos bay), she let loose quite nice for walnut, as it can be very brittle.

 

[chipper1]

Well, since you guys are posting ... this is what I brought to a 2019 GTG (I think the last time they had one in NY!)

I seen a nice mustang at the gas station the other day, the guy driving it looked like you a bit, I had to look in the back to see if there were any saws , nope, not Mike lol.

 

[chipper1]

Yep

Some guys have all the fun .

 

[Logger nate]

On that particular tree I was pulling it 180 against the lean and couldn't stay at the stump to steer it and it needed to clear the trees on the woodline before turning towards the woods. I faced it up so that the hinge would be as strong as possible, then the sizwheel would pull it as far as possible towards the woodline(it actually went further than I wanted). Had I left a standard hinge that tree would have been 25-30' up the hill, good to have a bag of tricks in your pocket. I've only ever gotten to push them like your describing a couple times, but I've done a lot of doubles that were limb locked(or vines), but if I have the skidding winch I just pull them through the canopy.
Here's one I did yesterday, not sure I left enough stump shot lol. This was just a larger branch on a HVBW, it was about 14". Tip your screen to make the dirt in the right lower corner level to see the lean it had. I used a triangle cut(coos bay), she let loose quite nice for walnut, as it can be very brittle.

View attachment 994866

Nice job Brett. I’ve used a Dutchman to swing trees quite a bit and a open face (coos bay?) to get hinge wood to hold longer but only used a sizwheel a couple times, they seem to work well.

Some guys have all the fun .

A week ago I looked up at the wrong time and the end of a limb that broke out a ways up hit me in the chin, pulled a couple pieces of wood out about 1/2” long. Some days are more fun than others but falling trees is one job I really do enjoy and have never gotten tired of.

 

[chipper1]

Nice job Brett. I’ve used a Dutchman to swing trees quite a bit and a open face (coos bay?) to get hinge wood to hold longer but only used a sizwheel a couple times, they seem to work well.

A week ago I looked up at the wrong time and the end of a limb that broke out a ways up hit me in the chin, pulled a couple pieces of wood out about 1/2” long. Some days are more fun than others but falling trees is one job I really do enjoy and have never gotten tired of.

Dang brother, be careful out there. At least it didn't knock you out cold .
I had a branch I was cutting jump up at me yesterday, I wasn't paying attention! The good thing is I was set up on the right side of the branch from the sweep in it so it couldn't reach me, but even at only 3-4", it could have sent me sailing.
Are you talking about a block face?
Triangle or coos bay is for leaners. Instead of cutting straight into the back cut, you cut both sides of the back cut from the corners off the back side of the hinge to the very back center of the tree, this cuts the strongest fibers at the point where compression/ tension meet and reduces the chance of chairing. It also reduces the amount of wood that you have to cut in the back cut so you can chase your back cut a lot quicker.
It's pretty cool how slow many leaders will release and I've never had one chair or even crack up the back cut when using this cut.
Sorry the picture sucks, I'm on my phone.

 

[Logger nate]

Dang brother, be careful out there. At least it didn't knock you out cold .
I had a branch I was cutting jump up at me yesterday, I wasn't paying attention! The good thing is I was set up on the right side of the branch from the sweep in it so it couldn't reach me, but even at only 3-4", it could have sent me sailing.
Are you talking about a block face?
Triangle or coos bay is for leaners. Instead of cutting straight into the back cut, you cut both sides of the back cut from the corners off the back side of the hinge to the very back center of the tree, this cuts the strongest fibers at the point where compression/ tension meet and reduces the chance of chairing. It also reduces the amount of wood that you have to cut in the back cut so you can chase your back cut a lot quicker.
It's pretty cool how slow many leaders will release and I've never had one chair or even crack up the back cut when using this cut.
Sorry the picture sucks, I'm on my phone.
View attachment 994894

Thanks, yeah thankful it wasn’t worse. The good Lord has graciously saved me from worse many times I’m sure.
Oh ok, got ya. No I was referring to an open face, basically a humbolt and conventional undercut used together (looked like what you used on leaner?) so tree hits the ground before undercut closes and breaks hinge wood, can help maintain direction/control of tree longer, in soft wood anyway. Block face has a taller hinge that holds well also but unless your “block” cut out is really big (tall) it closes and breaks hinge off sooner than an open face normally would. I’m sure you know all that though. I’m still learning

 

[Kodiak Kid]

Dang brother, be careful out there. At least it didn't knock you out cold .
I had a branch I was cutting jump up at me yesterday, I wasn't paying attention! The good thing is I was set up on the right side of the branch from the sweep in it so it couldn't reach me, but even at only 3-4", it could have sent me sailing.
Are you talking about a block face?
Triangle or coos bay is for leaners. Instead of cutting straight into the back cut, you cut both sides of the back cut from the corners off the back side of the hinge to the very back center of the tree, this cuts the strongest fibers at the point where compression/ tension meet and reduces the chance of chairing. It also reduces the amount of wood that you have to cut in the back cut so you can chase your back cut a lot quicker.
It's pretty cool how slow many leaders will release and I've never had one chair or even crack up the back cut when using this cut.
Sorry the picture sucks, I'm on my phone.
View attachment 994894

 

[Kodiak Kid]

Nice job Brett. I’ve used a Dutchman to swing trees quite a bit and a open face (coos bay?) to get hinge wood to hold longer but only used a sizwheel a couple times, they seem to work well.

A week ago I looked up at the wrong time and the end of a limb that broke out a ways up hit me in the chin, pulled a couple pieces of wood out about 1/2” long. Some days are more fun than others but falling trees is one job I really do enjoy and have never gotten tired of.

Glad your alright I've dodged a few good ones in my day once or twice that would have really clobbered me if not killed me. I applied for a cutting job on Afognak about four days ago and got an email yesterday to get my gear together because I'm going to be getting a call to "go to work"! I'm pretty excited but haven't cut in timber professionally in three years on an industrial scale. I Hope I still got it!

 

[Logger nate]

Glad your alright I've dodged a few good ones in my day once or twice that would have really clobbered me if not killed me. I applied for a cutting job on Afognak about four days ago and got an email yesterday to get my gear together because I'm going to be getting a call to "go to work"! I'm pretty excited but haven't cut in timber professionally in three years on an industrial scale. I Hope I still got it!

Congrats! Stay safe, send us some pictures.

 

[chipper1]

Thanks, yeah thankful it wasn’t worse. The good Lord has graciously saved me from worse many times I’m sure.
Oh ok, got ya. No I was referring to an open face, basically a humbolt and conventional undercut used together (looked like what you used on leaner?) so tree hits the ground before undercut closes and breaks hinge wood, can help maintain direction/control of tree longer, in soft wood anyway. Block face has a taller hinge that holds well also but unless your “block” cut out is really big (tall) it closes and breaks hinge off sooner than an open face normally would. I’m sure you know all that though. I’m still learning

I hear you there .
Oh, I get what you're saying, an open face lol. Yep, that's what I did.
I don't think I've ever used a block cut, but seen many pics. That's kinda what a sizwheel is, but only on one side, amazing how far these guys swing softwoods off their lean with sizwheel and a soft dutchman or an "ultra soft' dutchman(multiple soft dutchmans on top of one another from what I've seen). In hardwood some of the fallers will use a triple hinge, similar to the block cut it incorporates a vertical cut or two but they are behind the initial face cut(kinda like a bore cut as it's made before the back cut and sets up the hinge width), then a back cut. It's similar to a sizwheel as it's done on one side rather than both to swing it, kind of a novelty cut, I've never tried it.
I've seen the guys use a deeper snipe with a block cut to allow the hinge wood to flex until it hits the snipe, to control when it breaks off.

 

[LondonNeil]

I doubt I'd ever get to cut a tree down, but it really enjoy reading stuff from you guys that do it for a living and know the tricks. Thanks gents

 

[chipper1]

Glad your alright I've dodged a few good ones in my day once or twice that would have really clobbered me if not killed me. I applied for a cutting job on Afognak about four days ago and got an email yesterday to get my gear together because I'm going to be getting a call to "go to work"! I'm pretty excited but haven't cut in timber professionally in three years on an industrial scale. I Hope I still got it!

Congrats.
Cut safe, stay sharp, and be aware! .

Congrats! Stay safe, send us some pictures.

Or it didn't happen .

 

[Kodiak Kid]

On that particular tree I was pulling it 180 against the lean and couldn't stay at the stump to steer it and it needed to clear the trees on the woodline before turning towards the woods. I faced it up so that the hinge would be as strong as possible, then the sizwheel would pull it as far as possible towards the woodline(it actually went further than I wanted). Had I left a standard hinge that tree would have been 25-30' up the hill, good to have a bag of tricks in your pocket. I've only ever gotten to push them like your describing a couple times, but I've done a lot of doubles that were limb locked(or vines), but if I have the skidding winch I just pull them through the canopy.
Here's one I did yesterday, not sure I left enough stump shot lol. This was just a larger branch on a HVBW, it was about 14". Tip your screen to make the dirt in the right lower corner level to see the lean it had. I used a triangle cut(coos bay), she let loose quite nice for walnut, as it can be very brittle.

View attachment 994866

Yup! It really looks like you do nice work Chipper! So keep chipp'n away at her bud! I really enjoy the pictures of your stumps! Although, I don't think I myself wood have been standing that close right off to the side of that big ass limb taking a picture that late into the limbs stage of fall!


Cut safe, stay sharp, and be aware!

 

[Kodiak Kid]

Congrats.
Cut safe, stay sharp, and be aware! .

Or it didn't happen .

Always! And Thanks Brett!

 

[Kodiak Kid]

Congrats! Stay safe, send us some pictures.

Will do!

 

[chipper1]

Yup! It really looks like you do nice work Chipper! So keep chipp'n away at her bud! I really enjoy the pictures of your stumps! Although, I don't think I myself wood have been standing that close right off to the side of that big ass limb taking a picture that late into the limbs stage of fall!


Cut safe, stay sharp, and be aware!

I'm sure you know she was already on the ground .

 

[Kodiak Kid]

I hear you there .
Oh, I get what you're saying, an open face lol. Yep, that's what I did.
I don't think I've ever used a block cut, but seen many pics. That's kinda what a sizwheel is, but only on one side, amazing how far these guys swing softwoods off their lean with sizwheel and a soft dutchman or an "ultra soft' dutchman(multiple soft dutchmans on top of one another from what I've seen). In hardwood some of the fallers will use a triple hinge, similar to the block cut it incorporates a vertical cut or two but they are behind the initial face cut(kinda like a bore cut as it's made before the back cut and sets up the hinge width), then a back cut. It's similar to a sizwheel as it's done on one side rather than both to swing it, kind of a novelty cut, I've never tried it.
I've seen the guys use a deeper snipe with a block cut to allow the hinge wood to flex until it hits the snipe, to control when it breaks off.

Never heard the term "ultra soft" I've always known it as a "triple step" or "three step" dutchman. With each of the three soft "DM" being shallower and shallower into the stump. If that makes any sense. Please don't make me draw a picture! We've all seem my art work!

 

[Kodiak Kid]

Actually I didn't! Until I looked at it again and titled my head to see that it was parallel to the ground!

I'm sure you know she was already on the ground .