Looking for ideas. I was given a large maple log 5' to 6' accross & 10' long. No, I don't have a swing mill :o i have an LT40HD so I need to use a chainsaw. Here are my thoughts. I have a 20" bar on my chainsaw. so my first cut will be down the middle toward the heart. Roll the log and cut toward the middle from the opposite side. Then cut some notches in both ends of the log & place hydraulic jacks and try to split the rest of the log. Anyone ever try this? Or any ideas on other methods?
jim
FFG ;D
Jim if it has a heart crack follow it on one side as best possible with the chainsaw and then try to split it with wooden wedges. I use my trackhoe at that point but see if the wedges will pop it.
Good luck.
I'm with Bro. Noble, black powder. Drive the cahinsaw bar down from the top in the middle of the log, fill it with about 6 oz. of powder and a model rocket fuse, pack the remainder with sawdust, stand back and touch the leads to a battery. I've done it and it works well. A little wasteful but no worse than a crooked chainsaw cut.
I would go to the local Rent-All and pick up a chainsaw with a 4foot bar!
It would take some time to cut it, but it would work.
Surely there is an Old Timber cutter around somewhere. I have a friend who can actually saw passible boards. After doing it awhile they got awfull catty with a saw. One Mill (I-P) actually had an Eletric power saw with a 10 ft bar and every summer they stood short logs on end and split them to get them into mill
There is nothing wrong with your idea. Follow Norm's suggestion and take advantage of any crack that is already in the log. Don't try to bury the bar with your first cut. Just take an inch or so with each pass.
I wish that I was helping you. I love big logs..... ;D
Here's a thread from a while ago...
https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,21764.0.html
It looks fun. :)
JD,not to be an old curmudgon but thats going to be one long hard project.To do it right you'll have to quarter it.If you don't have a powerfull need for maple,it may be better to cut it in discs and split for firewood.Frank C.
Brad S
You got any photos or video of spliting with black Powder? It would be interesting to see how it works. T A
I agree with chuck white. That is how I fell in love with my 090G, rented for 45.00 and they in turn put it toward the great deal I got on the saw. 60" bar and all. Looking back I wish I had bought the other 2 they had. I found out later they went to the scrape yard. The chain is not avaiable in our area anymore. Like they said a little work and had to build a guide because of the weight but it worked. CV
Quote from: taschmidretired on March 01, 2010, 05:02:09 PMYou got any photos or video of spliting with black Powder? It would be interesting to see how it works. T A
Probably do a search. There's a video on here somewhere.
Thanks for the ideas. Gun powder is out. The log sits next to his fuel tank :D & it's to big to move. Metal spinner thanks for the link. That is kinda what I had in mind. I think I'll do what Norm suggest & look for a heart crack & saw along there. If that doesn't work I'll rent or borrow a saw with a 4' bar. Frank, I just can't bear to see a log like this cut into firewood. Besides I see some nice table tops in there, I hope.
Thanks everyone,
jim
Thanks Magicman
may as well bring it up again for entertainment purposes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kldc_R9yfmQ&feature=PlayList&p=C1FE8D27A0D2259E&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=11
I still can't watch it without laughing...... :D
Now it will fit on the mill!
Got Toothpicks ???
A old movie Line comes to mind after watching that<Think ya used enough powder there Butch> Had one older fellow who came from Mich. talk about drilling holes in chunks then fill them with water and wait for winter to freeze water and split them
It can split steel reinforced concrete that way, why not wood. T A
I use a long bar but do not like to get to close to the dirt, so I use a 20 ton bottle jack and just cut a notch for it to slide down into, some logs pop open so be carful when it opens up, others open up wide and have to be pried all the way open. You will still have a lot of wood holding even coming in from two sides, even a 32" bar would make a big difference.
They sell a product now for splitting concrete and stone you drill a hole put it in and it expands and cracks,forget the name but it works.Sometimes you can take your chainsaw and cut a groove then use common splitting wedges, sorta work the crack along.Only sure thing it's a buster.Frank C.
I saw large logs in half with a chainsaw mill. 52" width of cut. Have Alaskan and Sperber mills. Both are modified to have the option of deeper than normal cuts. The Alaskan is a 56", and I bought two uprights from them with 36" long vertical bars. Eric at Granberg sold these to me. The Sperber has round aluminum uprights which are end drilled to mount at the top. I made 3 sets of auxiliary uprights from aluminum of the same diameter, which I end-drilled on the lathe, tapped, and inserted a threaded stud of the same diameter/thread in order to make extensions which I add to the top of the mill's uprights to extend the depth of cut. Have used it to quarter very large logs too big for the wood-mizer to quarter, under 4' diameter.
QuoteI saw large logs in half with a chainsaw mill.
OK Dennis, when do you want to come over to Candor & show me how it works? ;D
Jim
I put the 5' bar on the big saw climb up on top of the log with a straight board as a reference and start down the length of the log. I finish both ends from the ground so that I am clear of the log when it falls in half. Then I put the 32" bar on and cut a 12" flat edge the length of each half or split it down the middle depending on the log. I got a big 52" fir that goes 30' before it gets small enough to fit on the mill. This would be a good log for a swing mill. Give me a few days to get to this project and I will post some pictures.
Jim I'll let you know next time I'm setting up to do it. If you can't make it I'll send you a picture. dennis
Dennis (terrifictimbersllc), welcome to the Forestry Forum!
Dennis and I are part of the small fraternity of portable sawmills in Connecticut. We're about an hour away from each other.
I would be interested in seeing a big log halved or quartered too. If you're willing to have an audience, drop me a line the next time you have one of these jobs.
Thanks,
Peter