Lots of rain last night and this morning. Too wet to run machines around. Bucked up the hickory and ironwood I brought home the other day. Had a few minutes to mark up a log tape. A cheapie because I’m going to try to weld a bigger tab onto it when I get in welding mode again. 16” is red and already marked on every construction ruler. I did 17” increments in blue (looks black) and 18” in green (for go) So on a precut log I can choose one of the three that leaves the smallest cookie. Sometimes 16’s and a couple 18’s. Whatever works. Best is to remember to bring it in the woods and cut the logs to an increment of 18” right away One thing I don’t like is that hickory makes my butt look big. Gonna have to go check on this.
I've marked firewood lengths a few different ways. The magnet sticks always seem to come off and can contact the chain. Tapes often seem to pop off as you run it down the log. The way I currently do it is a piece of 1.5" pvc conduit with an eye bolt through one end, perpendicular to the pipe. and black markers every 20". The eye bolt gets pulled snug to the end of the log, and the pipe sits on the log as I cut where the markers are. Doesn't work for every log, as some are not straight enough. Never tried the Mingo Marker. I'm sure it works, but you have to worry about buying paint and the paint freezing.
I prefer to cut to 16" but will adjust for the same reason you mentioned. I take the log and measure the whole thing (almost always dealing with delivered logs and not full length trees) then just divide it by 16. If it's not going to come out I will adjust by making the proper number of either 15" or 17" cuts. Works out pretty well and once you do it enough, you know exactly how to figure and adjust without doing any math.
good idea Joe. Ive used one of the 6' folding rules as im often cutting in the woods, tangles etc. Slips nicely in the back pocket. Im sure you've used the mason's version of the same. I cut 16" or a tad less, rarely more. Length works for my stacks.
I prefer my splits to be as uniform as possible so I like them at 16, which is great because I run an 18” Bar. Turn saw sideways, measure from dogs to tip of bar. Cut. Repeat. If that means I get a cookie at the end, it becomes kindling.
one of my first toys I can remember. Used to pull my dads mason rule out of his junk drawer in the kitchen and use it as a couch fishing pole. I like 18” +or- and hate math
I use a piece of threaded rod through the hole in the bar tip to measure. Has tape at 16" & 18". Rod is 24" to the end for my boiler wood. Fast & easy for me.
I just carry a tape measure. Set it to 17" and walk right down the log marking it with a piece of chaulk. Then clip it to the belt and grab the saw.
We cut mostly 18" too, pretty easy to figure. If I'm hauling logs, cut them 10'6", gives 7 rounds from each log. 18", 3', 4'6", 6', 7'6", 9' or 10'6". I try to get the straightest section I can. We also use a stick with 1 screw set at 18. Just look at log where end of Mark is
I cut everything to 16”. I tried several tapes and the Mingo marker. I liked the speed of the mingo but if the wheel slips a little your cuts are going to be off. I bought this tape and love it. Fits in my pocket and 16 on centers are marked red.
