Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[Kodiak Kid]

I thought I saw water in the one picture, but it was hard to tell what you're seeing a picture, what a mess .
Also reminds me of what our place looked like last fall, glad we got that mess all cleaned up right away. I didn't want to be the "tree guy" with all the trees down at his place.
While I don't suggest others do it without some experience cutting, I do enjoy the challenge, but I'd prefer it not be at my house...
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That's a considerable amount of storm damage Brett!
Lovely. Just lovely.

 

[GrizG]

Thought I'd post some pics of a nasty patch of wind fall I'm cleaning up for a customer. It's basically the fringe of a grove of Spruce on her property that borders an old logging clear cut. A lot of my neighbor's are having this problem ever since they logged the forest in tbis particular area. I really don't like dealing with big patches of blow down. It can be quite dangerous. Even if one has a lot of experience dealing with windfall. A lot of hidden dangers. One must look the entire patch over carefully before they begin to harvest and even then hazards can easily be overlooked or hidden. Not the most desirable scrounge for sure!

The customer is a young lady and has recently been widowed within the year. She dosent have much money, so I'm doing this job for her at a HUGE discount. She's very happy with the price and she is also giving me the majority of the wood. I truly feel for her loss and am greatful I can make her property a safer environment for her kids to play.

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With the exception of a few cuts I made the day before. This particular photo is basically a before pic of one end of the patch of wind fallen timber
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I will safely dispose of or tip the root wads back into place once the logs and tops are hauled out.

Cut safe, stay sharp and be aware.

Dangerous work in my experience… spring poles and loaded branches and trunks everywhere!

The extensive loss of ash trees is causing similar issues along the rail trail I help maintain. With the ash the wind didn’t cause much trouble but without them lots of other trees are uprooting. It’s especially a problem with the large oak and maple as there isn’t much soil on top of the bed rock.

There is a lesson here but I don’t know that we have any control over what nature and our neighbors do…

 

[Kodiak Kid]

But how's the fishin in that creek?

Lol, it's not. No fish.

 

[davidwyby]

Narrow kerf .325 chain such as stihl’s 23rsp is nice for avoiding pinch in messes like that since the chain isn’t much wider than the bar.

 

[davidwyby]

 

[Kodiak Kid]

Dangerous work in my experience… spring poles and loaded branches and trunks everywhere!

The extensive loss of ash trees is causing similar issues along the rail trail I help maintain. With the ash the wind didn’t cause much trouble but without them lots of other trees are uprooting. It’s especially a problem with the large oak and maple as there isn’t much soil on top of the bed rock.

There is a lesson here but I don’t know that we have any control over what nature and our neighbors do…

Yes, very dangerous! Spring loads, twist loads, teeters, hangers, trip hazards, unstable root wads, ect. and it can be difficult to see them all. One must be paying close attention and pick it apart like a puzzle. Piece by piece step by step. I've had more close calls cut'n windfall patches than I ever have cut'n standing timber. I've had my saw jerked out of by hands and thrown thirty feet away from me, had the pistol grip shot into both my chest and my face, I've been catapulted in the air over ten foot high. The list goes on and I have an extensive amount of experience dealing with wind fall. Storm damage is not to be taken lightly by any means.
The bottom line is. I really frick'n don't like dealing with it. This particular patch wasn't too bad thankfully.

 

[Kodiak Kid]

Narrow kerf .325 chain such as stihl’s 23rsp is nice for avoiding pinch in messes like that since the chain isn’t much wider than the bar.

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A lot of folks don't like .325 chain. I love it myself. Cuts faster than 3/8 and .404 too.

 

[Squareground3691]

David , get out of the desert , stop cutting that petrified wood lol , nice video buddy.

 

[GrizG]

Yes, very dangerous! Spring loads, twist loads, teeters, hangers, trip hazards, unstable root wads, ect. and it can be difficult to see them all. One must be paying close attention and pick it apart like a puzzle. Piece by piece step by step. I've had more close calls cut'n windfall patches than I ever have cut'n standing timber. I've had my saw jerked out of by hands and thrown thirty feet away from me, had the pistol grip shot into both my chest and my face, I've been catapulted in the air over ten foot high. The list goes on and I have an extensive amount of experience dealing with wind fall. Storm damage is not to be taken lightly by any means.
The bottom line is. I really frick'n don't like dealing with it. This particular patch wasn't too bad thankfully.

I like it from the perspective of it being a challenge… and am pleased when it’s over!

 

[Squareground3691]

A lot of folks don't like .325 chain. I love it myself. Cuts faster than 3/8 and .404 too.

You try the .325 RS Pro yet, ?

 

[GrizG]

Narrow kerf .325 chain such as stihl’s 23rsp is nice for avoiding pinch in messes like that since the chain isn’t much wider than the bar.

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Can you elaborate on that a bit? It runs contrary to my experience but maybe I’m missing something I hadn’t considered. For example, in my experience with saws (rip and crosscut hand saws, bow saws, pruning saws, one man cross cut saws, circular saws, band saws, chainsaws, etc.) having adequate, even large, clearance between the kerf and plate is critical when you have reactive wood. The only place I’ve gotten away with near zero set is on fine dovetail and tenon saws (rip tooth profile) , and crosscut back saws, when cutting dry stable wood.

 

[davidwyby]

Can you elaborate on that a bit? It runs contrary to my experience but maybe I’m missing something I hadn’t considered. For example, in my experience with saws (rip and crosscut hand saws, bow saws, pruning saws, one man cross cut saws, circular saws, band saws, chainsaws, etc.) having adequate, even large, clearance between the kerf and plate is critical when you have reactive wood. The only place I’ve gotten away with near zero set is on fine dovetail and tenon saws (rip tooth profile) , and crosscut back saws, when cutting dry stable wood.

When breaking down large canopies, large branches, if I feel or see it start to pinch, I can pull the saw free. It slides out on the smooth bar surface instead of grabbing the cutters.

 

[davidwyby]

In fibrous palm, wide kerf .404 is the way to prevent getting grabbed

 

[davidwyby]

 

[GrizG]

I found it better to use a brush and vacuum the debris out rather than blow it out. I occasionally remove the covers under the clutch cover and vacuum the debris out of the brake mechanism on my Stihl saws. Doing so has kept the brakes working correctly and the edges of the cover don’t melt from the brake dragging. I use a sparse amount of grease on the needle bearings rather than spray as it attracts far less dust. It’s a different approach from what is generally practiced but it works for me.

 

[GrizG]

When breaking down large canopies, large branches, if I feel or see it start to pinch, I can pull the saw free. It slides out on the smooth bar surface instead of grabbing the cutters.

Interesting! I use an MS 170 for pruning small limbs and brush… vines too. I use the green safety chains. This combo is less prone to getting pinched and having the chain pulled off than others I’ve tried. I run rapid super Sthil chains on the 261, 461 and 661. I’m not shy about palming a wedge when bucking if the kerf isn’t stable. What we are cutting probably makes a difference in our experiences.

 

[farmer steve]

Caught him snoozin over there..
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Poor fella probably half froze. Where's the ice hut and heater?

 

[Kodiak Kid]

You try the .325 RS Pro yet, ?

I have not! Is it a square grind .325?

 

[Kodiak Kid]

I like it from the perspective of it being a challenge… and am pleased when it’s over!

Well put.

 

[Squareground3691]

I have not! Is it a square grind .325?

It’s Stihl own perprietary grind , but you could square grind it if chosen, its very fast and it’s NK , there’s no gullet , and the raker is totally different than others,