I seem to have a hard time keeping my cuts the same distance apart; currently I just eye it. Awhile back I saw on a post where one of the FHC crowd made a stick on measure stick using a rod and magnet. You stick the measure stick to the bar, mark where you are going to make your cuts, snap the measure stick off and go to cutting. I think the guy said he got the magnet at Harbour Freight. I might try making one of those.
There many solutions to this issue. You could use a tape and lumber crayon if you wanted. The stick. Or one of several devices made for this. The stick is a simple solution.
I starting using one of those last year. It works pretty good. I think I got my magnets from Tractor Supply. I use an arrow for the measure stick, that made it real easy to secure it to the magnet, removed the bullet point, cut the arrow to 18 inches, found a 8/32 screw, attached the arrow to the magnet. I filled the hollow end with silicone and wrapped some red electrical tape around the end. I made two, figuring one might get damaged....and I did end up running one over with my tractor a few months later.
I like the chainsaw waltz method myself. Mark the bar 16" (or whatever you need) away from the saw and use that as your measuring device. Turn saw sideways, mark the cut, and repeat.
Used to do it this way for a few years. This year I took a $1.39 fiberglass driveway marker, cut it to my desired length (got 2 out of it, 1 for back up) and just mark with a red lumber crayon as I walk the tree after limbing. I nearly doubled my cutting efficiency!
I got my magnet at Harbor Freight, I just go along and Mark the log, then pop off the cutting guide then buck up the log. Sometimes I put it toward the back of the saw and just leave it on I use a crayon sometimes also, depends on what and where I am cutting. Here is a thread How I measure rounds to length | Firewood Hoarders Club I get Lumber crayons at the Home Depot Johnson Lumber Crayons in Yellow (2-Pack)-3502-Y - The Home Depot I put my crayon in one of these retractable pencil holders and hook it on my belt 3-1/2 in. Pencil Pull Holder in Black-10570 - The Home Depot
I also have a built-in measuring stick, it just so happens, from my elbow to the tip of my middle finger is 17 inches, that's what I cut my to, for my stove If I used my other built-in stick they would be a little too short
I usually do the Waltz as MasterMech mentioned. I know on each of my saws where the 16" mark is from the tip of the bar. Sometimes though it's better to pre-mark the tree so you can adjust for twisted trunks or decide to start from the opposite end to swap which end the last short piece is on. When I pre-mark I use some pretty fancy tools: a free pocket tape measure from Harbor Freight and super cheap, but not quite free, sidewalk chalk:
I'm trying to be accurate all over to get better looking stacks. How do you find your stacks looking?
I use the distance from my elbow to my knuckles = 16". The other built in would be more like a pencil!
A yard stick and chalk works well for me. Regular chalk sticks like we used in school. https://www.amazon.com/Crayola-51-0...?ie=UTF8&qid=1475933343&sr=8-3&keywords=Chalk
Nobody sees them much, so that doesn't matter to me. I find what I cut is close enough to do what I need.
I use a couple of different methods. One is the magnet with a fiberglass stick attached to it called the "Firewood Buddy" from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IJJT9L...TF8&colid=2LYYDDGZ9OQ7X&coliid=I3B8Y0I8LLX7BN Just walk along making my marks at 16" on the log. Then on my return trip, remove the Firewood Buddy and stick it in my pocket, and cut my rounds from there. It works reasonably well. I cut off an inch from the end and put the red cap back on it so it measures 15 inches. The reason behind that is when your operating the saw with the thing attached to the bar, the line of sight will add about an inch. Since I make my stacks into cubes, I prefer 16 inch splits. My cubes might measure 4 feet across (3x16) by 5+ feet high, by 10 to 20 feet in length, sometimes longer. The other method which has already been mentioned is using a tape measure and some chalk. But with Black Locust, it's hard to get the chalk to make a mark, so I've found an old fashioned beer can opener (pointed on one end) sharpened a bit, makes a nice mark. I'll use that when I'm cutting wood for someone else and they want it more than 16 inches long (20", 22", and 24") Either way gives a fairly uniform look to the stacks. Another is the Mingo Marker that uses a chalk type paint which I have never used. Don't own one either!
I just make a "T" with the length I need, and use a lumber crayon or spray paint to mark logs while I walk alongside. Close enough...