How Long to wait for cutting up tree into Firewood?

[charlz]

my saw only has a 20" bar so its not going through the trunk in just one pass, it will be a bit of a challenge for me, but the right person with the right equipment could most likely get the job done quickly, to have such a large tree

You _might_ be able to rent a larger saw to tackle the big parts.

 

[dave1949]

You _might_ be able to rent a larger saw to tackle the big parts.

That's a good suggestion. Don't wait until your 20" saw is pinched tight in several tons of oak 10 minutes after the rental shop closes

Seriously, that's a lot of tree, take precautions, especially with the root ball not flopping back and the spring tension that is probably stored in the limbs.
Dave.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I like to cut wood when it's cold. Plus it splits easy when frozen.

 

[dmccarty]

I have two bars and several chains. If the bar gets pinched you just have to leave the stuck bar and chain in the tree. Then put on the replacement bar and chain to free the stuck bar and chain.

A 20 inch bar and chain is plenty big enough for the trees I have to handle. Though after Fran knocked down some big fat oaks at the wife's kin folks place I thought I might have to buy a 30+inch bar/chain. :confused2: Thankfully someone else cut that tree up.

Wood mostly dries through the end grain so the sooner it is cut into firewood length rounds the better. Having it split helps for sure but at least cut it to length ASAP. The wood we burn I cut from 12-18 inches long for the stove. I am lucky if it has 6-9 months to dry and that is long enough. I have managed to burn some wood that 2 years old but we did not see a difference between it and our usually aged firewood.

Later,
Dan

 

[MossRoad]

I have only had a stuck bar a couple times. Wedges and sledges do wonders to get them out. :thumbsup:

 

[MarkV]

An old growth Oak like that probably has some pretty good wood in it. You might want to check around and see if anyone that does portable milling would be interested in it. I don't think you will make money but you might get rid of the tree if you don't burn firewood.

MarkV

 

[deepNdirt]

I took another look at this monster and it is not going to be any easy task,
the first challenge is trying to get across the creek, all this rain has cause the creek to also wash out the walk across bridge I built, and the tree has fell from one side of the creek to the other side, the large root ball prevents me from simply walking the tree log across, this tree sure looks a lot larger now that it's down then what it looked when it stood upright,
about 10 years ago I had pulp wooders come in and thin out the pines from our woods because of having so many pines of the ground several years prier due to the pine Beatles coming thru this area, the Pulp wooders made a real mess of things leaving the mess for me to clean up but back then I was younger and enjoyed working on my tractor, the pulp wooders had a large skid loader and could handle most all the pine tree's but I don't think even that machine could budge this oak, 2 years ago I watch the crew with their large machine clear 10 acres across from my property and was amazed with how fast they cleared it, (3 days) But they had a machine that would drive up to a tree clamp hold to it and saw it at the stump all in just 1 motion and was rolling with the tree upright position in a matter of 45 seconds, that is the machine I need :thumbsup:
I still have yet to get that lightning struck poplar down it my front yard, it worry's me evertime a storm comes up and yet now I have another to deal with

 

[Chuck52]

I have only had a stuck bar a couple times. Wedges and sledges do wonders to get them out. :thumbsup:

If you need lessons in how to get your saw stuck, I'd be happy to oblige. I have an uncanny ability to misread the stresses on a limb so that I can pick the exact wrong angle to start a cut from. I can't think of a single time using my Husky that I haven't gotten it stuck at least once. The only thing that has saved me from more stuck chains is my mastery of flooding the saw when trying to start it.

Chuck

 

[dmccarty]

I have only had a stuck bar a couple times. Wedges and sledges do wonders to get them out. :thumbsup:

Long limbs aka levers work as well.

Usually when I get a bar pinched is topping a tree. It will be a wee little branch. Meaning 4-6 inches. Small but with too much weight to move. Wedges wont work. Most of the time the long lever method works. Only once or twice have I had to cut out with an axe or handsaw.

ONCE I had to leave the bar and chain in the tree. It was late in the day. Almost dark. I should NOT have tried to cut down this particular tree after a long day. But I tried. :confused2: The tree pinched the bar. Since a standing tree pinched the bar things were not going well. Sanity returned. Better late than never.

Left that bar and chain in the tree. Came back a week later and cut the tree down with my spare bar and chain.

Later,
Dan

 

[mbohuntr]

It will dry faster if you "ring" it, or cut down thru the cambium layer into the hardwood. Cut a ring 3/4" deep all the way around the tree by the root ball, and it cannot feed itself from the root ball.

 

[Chuck52]

Son got me one of these to prune my fruit and nut trees with:

YAMABICO 330 Large Teeth : Silky Saws

It also comes in handy when (not if) I get my chainsaw stuck. I used it Saturday to cut a 3" limb that seemed to be what was generating the force that got my chain stuck that time. It goes through those small limbs like a hot knife through butter. In fact, yesterday I was working on limbing the tree I dropped on Saturday and it was such a tangle I was doing the work with my heavy machete and the Silky saw because I didn't want to wade in there with my chainsaw until I got it back to the main limbs. The holster makes it easy to carry. The one I have is similar to the one in the link, but without the top teeth.

I have a little more work to do before I get the small stuff off, and then I can get my saw stuck in the main trunk.....I don't know if they make a big enough Silky to help me there.

Chuck

 

[charlz]

Son got me one of these to prune my fruit and nut trees with:

YAMABICO 330 Large Teeth : Silky Saws

Silky Saws are real popular with the dedicated mountain riders around here. Heavy spring clearing is done by packing chainsaws on the dirtbikes but a small handsaw is a handy thing to have... every time the wind blows trees go down. :confused2:

 

[LBrown59]

You _might_ be able to rent a larger saw to tackle the big parts.

That's what i was thinkin.