Glad to be back. Even though I wasn't processing wood for a couple years, I should have stuck around the forum for the camaraderie. BTW, how is deer season going? I've seen a nice 7-pointer on camera but probably won't be going out for deer this season. I only went out once for bear season and could have had a smaller, average-sized bear (for NH), but decided with the current health issues that it wasn't worth the amount of work it would have taken to get the bear out of the woods and process it. Bugger walked right in front of my stand and I could have jumped on its back. Even though I opted not to shoot it, I greatly enjoyed watching it eat at the bait site for an hour. Could hardly get out of the stand and walk back to the truck, and driving home was difficult, so not shooting was the right decision. Figures that's the way things go this year as I saw more bears, and more large (300+) bears on camera at the bait site then ever before. Had 9 bears there at one time a couple times. Such is life.
So what's wrong with this picture? Was going to start splitting some of the rounds I bucked yesterday and the Troy-Bilt was being a PITA to start. Wouldn't you know it, the cord snapped. It was already short due to the the same thing happening a few years ago. Always said I was going to get a backup. Too late now and the closest place that has one is too far for me to drive at this time. Now I'll have to wait for the big brown truck next week. It's always something... Maybe the Troy-Bilt is jealous I ordered a new splitter. Figured I would still get something done in the effort to clean up the staging area(s) so I cut a bunch of limb wood left over from the 15 trees I had felled last fall. Small stuff up to about 7 inches. Made a mess to clean a mess, but it'll all burn.
There is nobody close to you that stocks nylon rope? I learned many years ago that once the rope breaks a time or two, I need to replace it, as I have a long wingspan, and if the rope is short enough that I find the end of it during a normal pull, they don't last long at all...I've broken shortened/repaired 1/4" ropes in 1 pull before. Something that may help you out in the meantime...take the recoil off, put the proper sized socket on an adapter in a cordless drill (or corded, if you have one of those big ole torquer models) put the drill in low gear and turn the engine over using the flywheel nut (with everything set to start) keep your coattails outta the flywheel then!
Closest is still too far for me to bother trying at this point (the post office is only a mile away, and since they don't deliver mail here, I have to drive there every day and just that short trip is excruciatingly painful). I like your idea about the cordless drill on the flywheel nut. Might have to try that. Thanks.
The old drill to start an engine; that can twist a wrist real quick I see the old put the splitter on oil ramp trick another of my favorites
Welcome back EODMSgt. Sorry to hear of your physical ailments. Have the t-shirt. Missed several years of processing myself trying to reach the three year goal. I look at it this way, if it weren’t for firewoodin I’d probably have more issues than I do now. Doing something is better than doing nothing. As for the big nut driver to start an engine,,,,did that many years ago for an 8hp side shaft on an old Locke triplex Mower I used on my yard. 12 volt battery operated drill with clutch. Ground a 1/2” socket extension down to a conical three point that fit inside the 3/8” drill chuck. That was what I considered a safety release if things went to hell It actually all worked well, never a mishap, no sprained wrists. Not sure if the cone shape was even necessary, nothing scary ever happened. As you said, sometimes sitting back and figuring an easier way is just as fun as doing it. Keep well.
Thanks, it's good to be back. You make a good point about "if it weren’t for firewoodin I’d probably have more issues than I do now". There's a lot of stuff I don't do, or can't do anymore. Sold the old Jeep and the snowmobile (both too painful to operate) and haven't rode the Harley in years (should probably sell it). Running out of things for 'therapy' and I think that's a void the firewood processing filled. I missed that.
Question for the felling brain trust: I need to drop this good-sized standing dead birch and want it to land in my staging area (once I get it cleared out). You can see it's got a wicked lean. A while ago, a logger told me the way he does these, but I can't recall his formula. He would gauge the lean and use math to determine where to put his top cut so that even with the lean, the tree would drop where he wanted it. Something like so many inches away from the direction of the lean for his top cut per foot of lean. It's not that big of a deal if it ends up in the woods, but it would be nice if I could get it to land in the lot. In the first picture, I want it to land directly in line with the way I'm looking. I have a Maasdam rope puller, so would be tying off with that to aid in having it go in the right direction. Just wondering how others gauge where to put their top cut based on the lean (if your intent is to have the tree drop in a direction other than the way it is leaning).
I’m not an experienced feller but WB are known for punky wood inside. I wouldn’t try to move it from its natural lean too much. The hinge may not be worth a damm. I would think the formula you’re looking for only works with a slight lean or doglegs in the trunk. Often I’ll see a leaner, the higher you cut the more center of balance comes back into play. But it’s only a slight amount of lean that can be overcome by height alone and the hinge has to hold.
Good points. I've had pretty good luck with standing dead WB over the years here, and am hoping I can get some decent wood out of the lower part of the trunk for the 26-27 shoulder season. The tree only died off within the last couple years. And you're probably right that this tree has too much of a lean to make accurate felling in another direction (away from the lean) a viable option. I'll still use the rope puller to try and swing it towards the staging area but if it goes in the woods, so be it. This is looking off the deck, and I need to drop the red oak to the right of the WB as well. It has some limbs on my side, but the trunk has a slight lean towards the staging area. This is the last of the caterpillar-killed oaks that is right near the house.
Been a great season so far. I'm holding out for one buck inparticular. Wish we had bears to hunt here.
EODMSgt When ya get that new splitter after looking at pic.. weld some X on that smooth push plate.. Gives it a little extra grip when pushing through
