1/2'ing big ole logs with a chainsaw

[dad2nine]

I know a lot of you guys have done this before so I would like to open up a discussion about  sawing a log in half or splitting the pith with a chainsaw. I've got a few under my belt but, I'm sure there is a better way, something I have not thought of yet.

First thing is to regrind the chain I get pretty flat on the angle about 8 on the grinder scale, normal chain is around 30. Be careful not to burn the chain while grinding. What angle these numbers really mean I really don't know, I just go by the grinder scale. Someone told me a rip chain would be better so I bought a loop and that's how I got the angle for the grinder.

marking the log... take a couple of old 2x4's and lay them on top of log, lining them up end to end and making sure you your lining up just on either side of the pith. Sometimes the pith is not in the center of the log - well most of the time it isn't. Leave about a 1/2" wide gap between the 2x4's and spray paint the 1/2" gap. Remove 2x4's and you have a painted line to follow while cutting.

Cutting the log... Make sure oiler adjuster is set to full (husky) and the bar oiler is working right. Fire up chainsaw, go to each end of the log and line the saw up on the line, start cutting straight down to the bottom of the log, as far as you can without getting the chain into the dirt (flat nicely trimmed log ends help a lot here and watch out for kickback!). Drive some thin peices of wood in the kerfs you just cut one each end. Wedges would also work but there always seems to be scrap wood laying around and the thought of using steel wedges and a chainsaw never really set will with me and why buy plastic ones when scrap wood works just as good?.

Now finish cutting on the line... make sure your bar is lined up on the line and about 1/2 way in from the end of one of the two kerfs (log ends). Lay the bar on the line and just tilt the saw forward (watch out for kickback!) till it's deep enough without tip hitting the dirt. Once that cut is done, move the saw up the line about 1/2 ~ 3/4 a bar length forward and cut again. Repeat till the other end of the log is reached. Pound in some old pieces of wood into the kerf as you go to keep the kerf open so the bar don't get pinched.

Once your at the other end, roll the log over (big yard lift comes in handy here) paint your line again and repeat cutting. Watch for kick back and when the log splits in half, make sure your out of the way. I take the last bit of cutting from the end of the log so I'm not beside the log or on top of it when it falls apart.

What else could I do differently to make easier / better / safer?

Thanks


 

[cantcutter]

blow them then pick up the pieces

[gharlan]

Well that is about the same thing I do. I use a level to lay out the ends so that I know both ends are straight and plumb. I then debark the cutting area on top and use a chalk line with lots of chalk instead of the paint. I have been using a 24 inch bar on mine with just regular chain. I always put on a fresh loop to start and have not had any trouble making straight cuts. I have tried to pick em up and drop them from the tractor after getting one side cut hopping they would split the rest of the way. But that has always proved to be a waste of time. Maybe I need to learn the black powder trick! good luck--gary 

[footer]

I will have to get some more pics uploaded but here is a 48" diameter red oak after it was cut in half.



I do as gharlan does with the level and chaulk line, but on this one i screwed a 2x4 along the line and used a Beam Machine attatched to my chainsaw, Stihl 084 with 60" bar and Ripping chain from Balies. I blocked the log up off the ground to keep the chain out of the dirt.

[ErikC]

  I have done this a couple of times only, for milling with a friend who had a woodmizer. One thing we didn't think about the first time was how much harder it is to move 1/2 without a loader there. It won't roll! We just cut down from the top and used wedges to split the last few inches that we couldn't reach. It wasn't all that hard suprisingly, just get a sharp saw. I think we snapped a stringline, and put marking paint over that.

Erik

[dad2nine]

blow them then pick up the pieces

(Big Grin) yep did that it's fun to play with dynamite, but it does not work so well with logs really ruins them....

Level and chalk line got it - didn't think of that - thanks

[Daren]

I do the spraypaint trick, with just one board. Lay the board down, spray the edge and cut right beside it. I usually have a sledge and wedges involved too. 

[Kcwoodbutcher]

How did that beam machine work? I got one for Christmas last year and I still haven't used it. I have a 39" white oak to split that I've been putting off because of all the mud around here.

[footer]

How did that beam machine work? I got one for Christmas last year and I still haven't used it. I have a 39" white oak to split that I've been putting off because of all the mud around here.

Supprisingly well for as chinsy as it looks

Just dont let the setscrews come loose or it will raise havoc with your chain. As you can see from the pic, the cut was pretty darn good, and split the pith directly in half. Not bad for being 48" across.

[stonebroke]

About 25 years ago I sold a woodlot with seven very large ( smallest was 44 inches smallend the largest the logger could not pickup off the ground with the arch on a jd skidder, also had to push on the log truck cause the picker would not pick it up) anyway I asked the logger how the saw mill was going to cut them and he said that they put them straight up and down like they were growing and got in a bucket loader and just cut from the top to the bottom. No wedging necessary but I would not like to be cutting the last few inches. He said they stayed upright. He also comment the sawmill liked those logs cause you could cut on them for quite a while.

Stonebroke

[ely]

i do just like you except i just use a chalk line , the rest is pretty much the same. i do also put the log up on some poles or small trees to keep the bar out of the dirt. biggest so far is 44 inches on the small end. if it is less than 30 i just saw them on the mill.

[ARKANSAWYER]

 


  I use a chalk line and often paint over it when snapped and use it like a blumbob to do the ends.  Some times I can not get the bar to hit in the middle so I use a 20 ton jack to cut into the butt flare to split the halves off.

[Slabs]

We've done that too.  Wiggle the halves up on the mill and split them down the middle and you're set up for some great quartersawing.  Watch the rings until the angle approaches the limit of quarter and roll the cant 90 degrees.

[ely]

if i half one with a chainsaw i also quarter it with the chainsaw. i meant if the log is less than 30 inches, we just do all the sawing on the mill. if its my mill i roll it around and take slabs off until i can saw it, but on dads mill we can quarter it alot quicker without all the rolling,.

[scsmith42]

Jeff, you need to stop fooling around with those big logs and drop them by my place instead!

Scott

[Dan_Shade]

But he can cut a 21" wide quartersawn board from a big log, Scott

I'm waiting on another whopper to show up at my door, I made a jig to quarter a log that I want to try out.

[zopi]

When you are splitting with the chainsaw put the log up on some square timbers and chock 'em in good and tight...and high enough to keep the bar out of the dirt however deep you go...

I have split logs like this, but it is a pain to guide the saw through the second cut...i generally get close and split it with wedges...depends what you are sawing for i guess...

[New Inn Wood Man]

Hi,

I get quite a bit of my business from larger logs .

I have some piccies on my website of me chainsaw milling with my little aluminum frame. Anything above 30 inches I usually breakdown before band milling. I half it if there is a machine to lift it or quarter it if we have to manually move it or quartersaw it. When halfing we cut from either side which usually meets within a sixteenth of an inch. Usually

Richard

[New Inn Wood Man]

Right I think I've mastered the photo thing! Well very nearly!

 

[gharlan]

New Inn Wood Man I thank you for the pics. I also loved your web site. i am curious though how long it takes to get the chainsaw mill attached and set up for quartering a log.