Got a free drop off the other day.. might be some horizontal splitting in my future. I'll be getting after it with a 20" bar, so it'll be close. It's just pine, but I'll need it and the price was right! I'm looking forward to getting into these once the front area is cleared. For the record, these will be split savage style.
Lol! Yeah, you're right! Phrased that part poorly for sure. What I was trying to say is that I may have to split the butt by cutting, splitting some off by hand, then finishing the cut. Whatever I can get through with two passes of the chain though is definitely destined to be split vertical.
Good eye! I had to know, so I just put a tape measure on the fattest part of the end of the log on the right and got 42" - should be good to go since it tapers a little from there. With enough work around front tomorrow I might get out back to these tomorrow evening. Better get to bed soon.
If Im cutting wider than the bar, I start a normal cut top down, then once I have it down a bit I bring the saw back up and dig the dogs into the top and use some leverage to cut through the widest part of the back side, then finish the cut on the front and right out the bottom if its elevated. I have never cut a massive tree, but this has worked for me with an 18" bar in trees in the approx 24-26" range
No problem, 20" will work fine, I've done stuff that big with a 16" bar, not ideal but I made it work. If you have to, roll the log a little to get at it.
That's pretty darned close but why not start the cut at the top and just keep tipping that bar down, cutting on the far side. I usually stop when the saw is almost vertical then finish on the side where you are standing. I see guys cut on one side then the other and wonder why they switch sides. It really is a simple cut and once people try it they wonder why the didn't do that before. (Hope I explained it right) EDIT: 20" bar should do just fine.
Sure will post pics. Sadly, I am nowhere near as good at ID on the pine family as I am on deciduous. Around here it's all "pine" so any feedback in that regard would be welcome. As I understand it, spruce has limbs that sprout at the same elevation all around the tree, is that correct? In other words, a ring of limbs, a space, a ring of limbs, etc? Will get some more pics soon.
I ID my trees like I ID snakes. If it's not hardwood, it.must be pine. With snakes, if it doesn't have a rattle, its gotta be a cobra.
Yup, that's how I do it, and if you don't get thru it, take your Peavy and roll the log away from you and line up your cut and punch the bottom 1/4 or 1/3 of the log out.
