Working this scrounge with all the big, long stems, have been marking multiple bucking spots and wishing for a tape or a longer stick or something. What do you use? I just been using my saw's guide bar, I know where 16" is on it. I saw a video recently of a guy who used three cable ties, not just one, need to revisit that. You affix it to your saw. I had a cable tie on a saw but I guess it broke off, because I haven't seen it in forever and completely forgot about it until I saw the mentioned video. Marking stick, how long you make it? I guess a 48" broomstick could work! Painted neon orange! Or, go high tech and get one of those laser gizmos. I've been using my curved Samurai hand saw to mark the 16", it has a belt loop such that I have it on my belt, so, it is right there available when I need it. And makes a very visible cut quickly.
6' folding rule and kids sidewalk chalk. The ruler fits perfectly in the back pocket and the chalk in the front although chalk can be a PITA to get out if sweaty or with gloves on. I had a broom handle marking stick cut at 32" but lost it at a score last year. Ive been using a folding rule on the job for 35 years and its an instinctive move to go in and out of the pocket.
Years back when my mom bought triaxles of logs i made a 48" stick to mark. In an area with no obstruction a tape measure works but more often than not it slips off the end.
I just bought a used Mingo Marker. Everything they offer and 2 cans of full paint for $25. Just need the weather to dry up a little so I can try it out. Before that it was a 16' tape measure pulled out and then a mark with the saw.
Here is my super high tech marking system. A piece of hardwood flooring ( because it was laying around some times I use a regular old stick) and a can of marking paint. Every time they guys go out on a job they bring a fresh can and when done put the leftover on a shelf where it sits. One day we were clearing out and I got a pile of mostly full cans that were going in the dumpster.
I like your style. Just make the stick the length you want the wood cut. I worked with an old timer who would go down the log from left to right with his measuring stick in his left hand and a hatchet to mark in his right. He was 84 at the time and moved right along. I have gone from sticks to tape measures and paint to a Mingo marker. I think that the Mingo is the most efficient for me. I cut long straight sticks of Doug fit and western latch. 16” lengths are just right for my stove.
A yardstick and adult sidewalk chalk. It seems to last longer than the kid's stuff buZZsaw BRAD uses. However, I digress. I will be marking my pickeroon, x27, peavy, and anything else I'm sure to have, at 16 and 32 inches.
Are you serious? Ive used normal chalkboard chalk (i couldnt get the sidewalk stuff anywhere when covid first hit) but it breaks too easily and is harder thus doesnt mark as well.
I've made a few measuring sticks with a magnet for my bar, they started falling off the bar and became a PITA, I did like warner and marked with some paint and a stick. Recently started measuring with the bar and might carry a lumber crayon. I'm going to mark my pickaroon now and use that couple different methods sounds better than just one. Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
I use a couple sections of an old tape measure, one is 18” the other is 36” and sidewalk chalk. ( learned about sidewalk chalk here after trying many other things. It works the best of anything I’ve tried)
I have used the saw bar, a yardstick, a old shovel handle marked at 16” and32”. I bought a Mingo marker and find it the easiest and fastest. Only thing is I need to remember to take it in on cold nights as the paint freezes
I use a free Harbor Freight tape measure and a can of green upside down paint. All the 16" increments are marked for studs and that is what I cut my firewood at. You can pull the tape long for straight logs like Doug Fir ( I used to work as a carpenter so it is second nature to keep it hooked) or just extend about 18" for marking limbs or gnarlier trees like Cherry or Madrone. I use the non-toxic paint. I found a couple cases at a garage sale.
I was too. Somewhere in my hoard of tools downstairs, I have a clip on “disk” for increasing the standard tape measure hook. I’d go find it if I could walk. It’s roundabout the size of a .50¢ piece with a ring of fine teeth pointing back at the end cut of a stick of lumber or in this case a log. Worked too well on lumber… those little teeth grabbed really gooder. Lowe’s was selling them back in the mid 2000’s.
Never really thought about the toxicity of the paint…I did think I could identify my wood by the paint if anybody ever split with my splits…. Edit: I was just looking at the current years fuel in the basement. I know I had a can of blue marking paint that year. I can’t see any on the wood. So I guess it would only be identifiable for so long.
I don't use the non-toxic paint specifically for that reason. All VOC's would be gone by the time you burned it. I just happened to get a good deal on the NT paint. I think that, anymore, surveyors and utility markers are required to use non-toxic stuff since they are spraying on the grass and dirt. If you used that Designer Heirloom Artisanal firewood then you could always trace the splits by the serial numbers!
I started out eyeballing, then went to a stick and hatchet, then stick and spray paint, then stick and lumber crayon. Last spring I got a stick-on measurer, and it works very well. Haven't even managed to lose it yet. Not that long ago I would have laughed at the idea of measuring out every round (and smoothing out any knots), but a little extra care with the saw makes the wood much easier to handle.
