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For the want of a saw

pencheff

pencheff

Joined
Nov 2, 2005
Messages
224
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1
Location
Lancaster, PA
Website
www.gvpencheff.com
The wife called on the way home from work on Friday to tell me she saw a HUGE downed tree laying in someone's front yard, with the word "FREE" spray painted on it. Had a chance to check it out today. The wood in question looks to be maple and the figure in the stump was curly. Carolyn said it was bigger when she saw it on Friday so someone had been at it and removed what was portable. Big sigh. I have an 18" chainsaw. The trunk that remains is about 12 feet long and 4 foot in diameter.

I guess this will be a "big one that got away." 🙁
 
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A long while ago, a friend and I chopped up a 4 foot diameter curly maple log using chainsaws with 16" bars. Just cut it out in chunks - a cut from the side, a cut from the top that just meets the cut from the side, then a cross cut to remove the chunk. It didn't take that long to fill my pickup and we found 5 nails the hard way.
 
pencheff said:
The wife called on the way home from work on Friday to tell me she saw a HUGE downed tree laying in someone's front yard, with the word "FREE" spray painted on it. Had a chance to check it out today. The wood in question looks to be maple and the figure in the stump was curly. Carolyn said it was bigger when she saw it on Friday so someone had been at it and removed what was portable. Big sigh. I have an 18" chainsaw. The trunk that remains is about 12 feet long and 4 foot in diameter.

I guess this will be a "big one that got away." 🙁
Click to expand...

Greg,

Go rent a big one. 28" bar will do nicely from what you describe. Alternatively, hire a tree-guy (most are slow, right now) to come whack it up for you. Have to work or I'd come down and work it for shares.

m
 
Mark Mandell said:
Have to work or I'd come down and work it for shares
Click to expand...

This thing is sitting right on a main thoroughfare between Lancaster city and Amish country. 1000's of cars a day drive by it. Since we're approaching the heating season I expect some firewood guys will get to it before I can. The fact that it's just labeled "free" and is on a first-come-first-served basis makes me doubtful I'll have a whack at it. It is on my Mrs' commute so she's gonna keep an eye on it for me, but I do expect it'll disappear in short order. Shame to burn something that pretty though.
 
Mark Mandell said:
Yeah, but remember, the stuff does grow on trees 😀
Click to expand...

Good thing too, eh?

Carolyn just called. The entire thing is gone. Somebody busted their butts today to cut that monster up and haul it away. Probably appearing sometime soon in a fireplace near me. 🙁
 
I wouldn't have let that happen. I did like Brian and chopped up enough bowl blanks for a while. The trunk was 47" across. A friend of mine and myself just took 2 18" chainsaws, started at the end and took the wood out 2 bowl blanks at a time. Left the rest to the firewood boys.
 
Penchef,
I saw that sunday. A bunch of guys took all the smaller stuff then. I am in the same boat, my Husq. is only 18" too. :mad: That was one big tree.
 
Brian Myers said:
I saw that sunday. A bunch of guys took all the smaller stuff then. I am in the same boat, my Husq. is only 18" too. :mad: That was one big tree.
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Hey, another turner in Lancaster! Nice to meet you.

Well keep your eyes open and if you see anything sharable let me know and we'll tackle it together. Two 18" saws makes one 36" saw, right? 🙄
 
I`m game whenever the woods free. Have trailer, will haul. :cool2:
 
Want to know the trick to getting all the free wood you can handle?

Otay. Call up a couple of local tree companies. Ask them where they dump the logs that are too big to split or chip. What you'll find is that there are log yards scattered around who charge you to drop off yard waste or logs then shred and split it to resell. Show up at the closest, introduce yourself to the owner, and show him/her an example of what you make. When he/she "oohs" and "ahhs" over it, give it to them. Then ask if you can look around their yard. Don't ask before giving it to them and don't ask if you can take any wood. They may say no and react politely then repeat the process a few weeks later. Worst that will happen is you'll be out a couple of small pieces.

If they say yess and you see something really great, then ask if you might be able to take a few chunks with you or cut a bit off. Start slow and always bring them nice things. Get to know folks. Next thing you know, you'll have free run of their yard with a chainsaw and they'll be firing up the cherry picker to drop large pieces in your truck/trailer.(I'm not joking, I've had them go get a piece of turned of machinery to drop large logs in my truck).

If you take time to build a relationship, you'll never have to buy wood again. Plus, you make friends and get great rates on mulch.

Have fun,
Dietrich
 
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two ways to go about a big trunk with a short saw

1) dice it like an onion starting on the end. This is the easiest and gives most turners pieces plenty big enough for them to turn

2)Slice off sections lengthwise your saw can handle. You will want a few wedges t keep the the trunk from binding the bar. This will go faster than the previous method but you end up with slightly smaller bowls but much longer (as long as the trunk) pieces. It would also help to have someone help roll the log for easier slicing.
 
dkulze said:
Want to know the trick to getting all the free wood you can handle?

Otay. Call up a couple of local tree companies. Ask them where they dump the logs that are too big to split or chip. What you'll find is that there are log yards scattered around who charge you to drop off yard waste or logs then shred and split it to resell. Show up at the closest, introduce yourself to the owner, and show him/her an example of what you make. When he/she "oohs" and "ahhs" over it, give it to them. Then ask if you can look around their yard. Don't ask before giving it to them and don't ask if you can take any wood. They may say no and react politely then repeat the process a few weeks later. Worst that will happen is you'll be out a couple of small pieces.

If they say yess and you see something really great, then ask if you might be able to take a few chunks with you or cut a bit off. Start slow and always bring them nice things. Get to know folks. Next thing you know, you'll have free run of their yard with a chainsaw and they'll be firing up the cherry picker to drop large pieces in your truck/trailer.(I'm not joking, I've had them go get a piece of turned of machinery to drop large logs in my truck).

If you take time to build a relationship, you'll never have to buy wood again. Plus, you make friends and get great rates on mulch.

Have fun,
Dietrich
Click to expand...

Round here, the tree guys are always looking forr someplace to dump their big stuff without having to pay to do it. I put myself on their "firewood" list and they would happily back a loaded crane truck up my driveway and unload the whole thing. I'd then return them a few bowls, and Shazam!!!, I 've got more wood than I know what to do with. In fact, I have to call them and ask them nicely NOT to bring any more for a while! 😀
 
Mark Mandell said:
Round here, the tree guys are always looking forr someplace to dump their big stuff without having to pay to do it.
Click to expand...

I did approach the tree guy who has removed trees from MY yard and taken MY money in return and was ignored. Guess I need to make more inquiries before giving up on that route, huh? There are certainly enough tree service companies around here, that's for sure.
 
That's the nice thing about the log yard, Mark. You can pick and choose what you want and what you don't. I limit myself to burls, cool crotches, big cherry, and wierd pieces of wood (like the 4' diameter chunk of apple or the 3' diameter yew). I can pick up specific stuff for commissions too without having to keep it stocked.

Dietrich
 
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