hello all. Been awhile since I posted on here. Just got myself a chainsaw a couple weeks ago and have been cutting wood from a local tree service. Question is. It's been raining a lot (and flooding) but question is, should I be cutting wood with chainsaw when wet like this as well as should I be splitting wood when wet like this. Getting a lot of grief from the boss of the house that he wood pile is a mess so wondering what is best, wait until it's drier from the rain or it's okay to split now being wet. Thanks all.
Only thing that would concern me would be safety and comfort. You don't want to slip while using a saw or while carrying wood. It is obvious that dry is better conditions, but we don't always have ideal condition. As someone who is new to cutting wood, stop and think every time that you pick up that saw. Lots can happen while you are learning.
So long as the waves aren't too high and not big splashes (get's water in the eyes) when you split the wood all should be well. You can work in the rain if you wish. It does no harm to the wood. But as Larry stated, be sure you have good footing. I sadly remember they years I worked in the woods and many times had to endure all the mud and water. You get a bit messy but work has to be done no matter the weather. So, cut and/or split away!
The wet wood will help your bar run cooler so it sounds good to me if the water running down your neck doesn't interfere with your concentration.
I asked the neighbor the same question a few years back when I started processing my own wood. He says" You can, but do you really want to? I'm sure you can find something better to do in the rain. Be enough dry days to cut in." I think it'd be quite miserable and slippery too, and hard to see through the safety glasses. Nevermind all the chips that would probably stick to you like crazy. Just my thoughts.
It is a miserable time to process wood for sure. If it can be avoided, most everyone will. But, I'll bet that everyone else on here (a number of times myself) has also processed wood under the same circumstances! As others have expressed, be careful.
10'x10' canopy at a sporting goods store for $60. Pop it up, have a good time, fold it up and store it. Money well spent if you need to work in the rain, snow, sun or whatever.
I would wait for things to dry up. I've slipped in my and water while loading wood, could have ended badly but I was lucky. Would have been worse if I had been running a saw.
Cutting in the rain sucks! Chips get caked all over you, the saw, jam up your bar and oiler making your bar run hot! That being said I have done it a few times.
We need a logger from the PNW to chime in My .02. No need to worry about the saws and equipment. Like others have mentioned, safety is the biggest concern, but not enough to prevent working in it, just be aware and be careful. IMO, doing anything in the rain is miserable.
Yeah thats what I was thinking, the chips sticking to everything would be a pita. I dont mind a bit of rain but when its coming down in buckets I think I would be looking for something else to do as well. If I had to process in the rain then nothing would stop me but if I have a choice......I enjoy cutting during a dry snow fall though!
So all I did before it dried was stack the uncut stuff into a better pile so I was in less trouble with the boss of the house.
By time you get done moving and stacking, most of the chips will fall off. Safety first, but if you don't mind working in the rain I say enjoy