Wood ID

Another vote for Hickory here. The fact the sap wood seems to be decaying quickly pushed me towards it.
Great heating material. Faster drying than oak.

 

Yeah kinda tough on a blow over with the rootball still attached. Mark your next cut and try to dig out the dirt if you can. Run the chain to a crawl and watch the nose of the bar at the end of the cut. Ive also cut s far as i can without cutting dirt and used a maul or sledge and wedge to chop off what i can.

 

Maybe this is what you meant by the last part you typed.

If you drive a wedge into the kerf as your getting close to the dirt, the wedge will actually lift the log slightly. Then just take it easy and FEEL your way in thru the rest of the cut.

If you cut with the tip it helps. Then move it back and forth and you can find each edge of the log in the cut. Once you feel/visualize the edges getting closer to each other you'll know you're about thru. Sometimes a good kick will finish her off. Ideally i try to cut to the bark and then roll the round out.

 

Sort of. Ive also excavated and pounded a 2x4, 2x6 etc to where the bar will come through so it hits wood instead of dirt. Most of the time i quit at the point where he did. Tired of dulling a chain for another round or two. A sacrificial one time last use chain helps too.

 

Haven't heard that one before. I'll just put that in my bag of tricks.

 

Ive also used scraps of plywood or OSB and in a pinch a skinny log or bark if im in the woods and nothing handy. Sure beats hitting dirt.

 

This is most likely the approach I will take.

I like the 2x4 idea though. I'll have to try and remember that

 

Sometimes they have some play in them too. Try using something as a lever and see if it lifts a bit.
One time i tried a scissor jack on a blowover. Cranked it so hard i bent the jack. Tree never budged.

 

Got out this afternoon after family time to work up a tree that is in the way of some better stuff. It seems like a softer wood but not entirely sure what it is. I was originally thinking maybe basswood until I saw the leaves on the half that is still standing. Either way it's going in the stacks.

It's been down for 5 or 6 years now but fortunately up off the ground. Apparently the roots are still attached because the wood is still green.




Other half still standing




Fresh split