I drove today to the bushes by the river and I was cutting almost 7-8 inch thick fallen tree lying on other trees and my chainsaw got stuck :'( the end of that tree was supported on others and I was cutting somewhere in the middle from the top down instead from the bottom up and the bar with chain got squeezed in the middle, I couldn't get it out.
I realized then I forgot to take second saw or hammer with wedge to get it out. :(
It took me 20 minutes or so to get it finally out using force of my hands and moving the bar up and down.
After this operation the chain was loose and needed tightening. I was lucky the tree wasn't thicker and bigger because then I could not be able to succeed without a wedge or second saw.
Is there any way to do help yourself in situation like this without tools? :P
Always carry another bar and chain, plus axe and plastic wedges.
Been there, done that.
I always take two saws...
Now when you get 2 saws stuck in the same log, then you look a bit silly. Crazy thing is that it was about a 6" limb that had been twisted into a pretzel shape and was so full of tension that it grabbed the saw. Had to cut it out, and it also grabbed the 2nd saw, but no so tight that I couldn't work it loose. :-[
Ian
Quote from: Ianab on September 18, 2010, 05:38:21 PM
Now when you get 2 saws stuck in the same log, then you look a bit silly. Crazy thing is that it was about a 6" limb that had been twisted into a pretzel shape and was so full of tension that it grabbed the saw. Had to cut it out, and it also grabbed the 2nd saw, but no so tight that I couldn't work it loose. :-[
Ian
that's really funny :) I imagine how you could feel.
Anyway "unfortunately" even doing such simple thing like logging we have to think about physics laws.
It does make one feel rather silly. did it yesterday, stuck one saw cutting a 6 inch post oak limb. Went and got the second saw, cut up from underneath, DanG limb twisted sideways and pinched the second saw. Couldn't pull either one loose, finally got the forks on the tractor hooked into the limb and broke it off. Then tried to lift the log with the loader on the tractor. I could get it off the ground, but couldn't move, rear wheel off the ground. Had to drag the log out to smooth flat ground to get it loaded on the trailer. 12 ft X 24 inch post oak, it will be cut into 4X4 for fence posts. What else is post oak good for?
Not to one up you, but I've gotten three saws stuck in the same log, and I'm a professional logger. It happens to all of us. If I can reach it with the skidder winch I can get it unstuck. If I can't reach it with the skidder winch I probably wouldn't be cutting it anyway.
I keep spare bars and chains on the skidder and in the truck for this sort of situation. Usually every month or two I have to take off the powerhead and install another bar and chain. It happens. Almost always when I'm limbing or bucking twisted logs and limbs under tension.
I was felling a big old SYP when a wind came up. Instead of falling, it just spun around and hung up in another tree. I didn't have another saw or bar/chain. I just removed the powerhead and went home. I checked it a couple of days later. The tree was on the ground and my bar/chain was lying on the stump.
Magicman,
Grandpa knew a guy who did that regularly. If he couldn't get a tree wedged over he just walked away for the day and hoped it would fall by morning. Many times it did. He and grandpa worked together on some jobs and it always worried grandpa when he did this, as there is always the chance that someone could come by when it fell and get hurt.
but shouldn't we cut always making notches on the log first on the top and the bottom, especially when the logs are twisted and lying in difficult terrain so that way the bar couldn't be clinched anyway? although that requres more cuting hence more fuel and time. I was cutting on the edge of the river on a pile twisted logs so it was not easy even to stand still so using other tools like wedge and hammer couldn't problematic anyway. Detaching the head would be even more
hard to do but I see a point now to have spare bar with chain with me...
Just reading about different techniques of cutting wood depending how they are supported or twisted. :P
Quote from: motif on September 18, 2010, 03:58:41 PM
I drove today to the bushes by the river and I was cutting almost 7-8 inch thick fallen tree lying on other trees and my chainsaw got stuck :'( the end of that tree was supported on others and I was cutting somewhere in the middle from the top down
Is there any way to do help yourself in situation like this without tools? :P
Well I don't know about with no tools but with a small tree like that it would be pretty easy to just find a branch or pole lying nearby and with a fulcrum use it to pick the log up the fraction of an inch it would take for the saw to fall out. Also, maybe don't start cutting in the middle begin on an end where there is no risk of pinch and work down in to the tree relieving the pressure as you go.
Especially when a limby tree such as our Red Oak falls, there are many different forces, both upward and downward. Each limb must be read in a different way. Sometimes you are right and sometimes you miss something and figure wrong. Just topping the fallen tree can cause problems because the trunk is providing downward pressure and the limbs are providing upward pressure.
Bottom line is, if you saw, you will eventually get pinched. Better have a backup.
Your incident reminds me of something that happened to me 25+ years ago. I was cutting my first job with a 17HP Kubota tractor with a Farmi winch. The landowner wanted every 6" plus hardwood tree on the 5+ acres logged for firewood. I always carried 2 saws and felt pretty foolish after getting the second saw stuck trying to get the first one out. I thought what am I going to do now when I realized I could get a third saw from my neighbor's shed. I went and got the saw and finally got my 2 saws un-stuck. Not wanting to waste a trip I put his saw in the bucket and pulled a twitch of logs out to the landing area. When I got there I dropped the logs and pushed then up on the pile with the loader bucket. As I backed up the pieces of my neighbor's saw fell onto the ground. That ended my day as I went home to call around to find parts for a Poulan. I finally found a distributor down in Portland, Maine (4-hour drive) who had the parts. Lesson learned!
It's interesting to read that other guys have this problem too, even the professionals. If the FF ran a poll about experience, skill and knowledge I'd probably be in the top 2 for lack of all. After reading this though I can see that it can happen to anyone. In the future I'll have more tools available and follow your suggestions. The bonus is that I learned something here and won't feel so foolish for making these mistakes. I always read the posts about using a chainsaw, falling trees and working safely because it's very apparent how dangerous this kind of work is. There have been numerous times that I'm concerned about what I'm doing. I've got some trees that I won't cut and will have to get some professional help with, they're just too dangerous for a guy with my level of experience. Thanks for sharing your experiences, I appreciate it because every little bit helps me learn to work safely (is that a word?).
Talking about getting stuck with a bar in wood (happens to me too) brings to mind two things.
If possible, get into a couple of the courses of the Game of Logging (at least #1 and 2) and,
go into the woods with a buddy.
I often go in alone but it isn't the best game plan, especially for the inexperienced. Too many things can happen, as we often find out. I was just in the woods mowing and clearing trails, and a 4" limb flipped on top of me, missing my hardhat-less head by inches. ::) ::) Just being in the woods without a hardhat is probably not wise, even when not cutting.
Wear the protective gear too, especially the chaps.
I've used a car jack to lift the log and get the saw out works on big logs too
I usually take two saws with me in the woods, but i never go without an axe and wedges. You cant go wrong with an axe, if its a limb just cut it off with it and if its a log then drive a wedge. The axe always starts and never runs out of gas! :)
gush, from what you're guys saying even a 3 chainsaws could be not enough... ;D
I need a axe and a wedge then with me all the time that for sure.
Murphys law will prevail.... ;)
I found an old rusty bar, with chain, stuck in a standing tree, one time!
:)
N :D
Quote from: Nate Surveyor on September 20, 2010, 08:09:49 AM
I found an old rusty bar, with chain, stuck in a standing tree, one time!:)N :D
Nate, Can I have my bar back. I meant to go and get, but I forgot. ::) ::) ::) ::)
Bruce
When my brother and I started logging for ourselves, (31 yrs ago), we didn't have a backup saw, just one saw for each of us. We kept an axe and a misery whip in a large box at the job, which we could lock up. In the box we also kept some tools and gas and bar oil. This allowed us to go to/from the job most days on a motorcycle. Had to use the hand saw a few times to get a saw unstuck. A few times both chainsaws would be stuck and we needed to rely on the axe and hand saw to get unstuck. It happens to anyone who has spent any time cutting wood. BTW, I have left a nice chain/bar impression on the end-grain of a stump or two as well.
Quote from: motif on September 20, 2010, 06:48:41 AM
gush, from what you're guys saying even a 3 chainsaws could be not enough... ;D
The number of saws you'll need is one more than you have with you.
Well said! Especially if you only have one saw. ;)
:-[ :-\ I hung both of my saws up today felling a large White Oak. The sap wood had rotted a bit which caused the tree to collapse on the bar as it started to fall. I went and got the other saw. Now I had to dodge the first bar and chain. Yup, pinched the second one. 4 wedges, two stacked, and down it went. I still had two extra bars and several chains, but they weren't needed.
Well I thought I was the only one to ever have three saws hung in a twisted limb. I would have had four stuck in it but didnt have another saw to give it a try!!!
You guys are just not taking the right equipment along to the woods, now for me I use big equipment that way when the patience run low we use brute strength and do damage, I tend not to walk back and get the second saw, I head off and the other way and start up some muscle and use hydraulics attached to levers to get my saw back. Now I remember a few years back when this happened but since my memory is getting bad I may just have imagined it happened :D
Seriously though I'd almost always have an axe along if I work with one saw, I do use equipment most times to get my saw back but sometimes its easier to just swing an axe a few times or pound in a wedge than even take the powerhead off and put another bar and chain on. My dad prided himself for having a sharp and shiny ax and I told him once that I wanted mine dull and ugly, sitting in the corner rusty from lack of use because I was good enough not to ever need it, he never said anything about his axe again, must have given him something to think about.
Look at the brite side, you get to buy more toys to play with.
Quote from: Randy88 on September 23, 2010, 07:18:13 AM
Look at the brite side, you get to buy more toys to play with.
not sure about that, now when going to woods I have to take big travel bag loaded with:
protective shoes,
long sleeves shirt,
mask or glasses,
gloves,
chainsaw file,
bar oil,
tank of gasoline mix,
spare chain,
universal wrench,
screwdriver,
axe,
wedge,
chainsaw,
backup handsaw,
sparkplugs,
"headphones",
first-aid kit,
bottle of rum...
am I forgetting something? I'm sure I am.
this is expedition not a wood hike ;D
I would seriously suggest buying a forestry helmet. The glasses are a good start but if anything is being dropped around you, i.e. trees, and you're not wearing head protection, you're a sitting duck. Also I really hope that you're wearing chaps or some other form of UL rated chainsaw leg protection.
If you want the full list I'd add another spare bar, chains, spare saw, I have extra gas and oil mix, bar oil like gallons instead of a gallon or a quart, spare chainsaw parts, a chain breaker, bulk chain, rivet spinner, power sharpener,service truck with welder generator, vise on back of truck, drop cords, tag trailer loaded with a diesel skidsteer[ a big one], log chains, spare grapple bucket for skid steer, load binders, air compressor with a blow gun for blowing off saw dust and a full set of tools, logging cable about 150 ft long, a small hydraulic cylinder to use to jack over trees in case of emergency, lunch box full of goodies, thermos of warm soup and also another with coffee and don't forget the large water cooler and a cell phone in case of emergencies, I usually carry a set of dry clothes in the service truck and I'm sure theres more but it hits the highlites anyhow, basically I have my service truck loaded anyhow I just take that instead of my pickup and drag along a tag trailer with the skid steer on for making life easier. Oh yea don't forget the help, a wife or friend or even a georgous sexy remale to assits with whatever comes to mind. Now when I'm hauling out logs or firewood blocks I have the help drive her own semi and dump trailer to haul home the wood. If I'm far fromthe truck I also take a 4 wheeler to aid in the refreshment distribution. I think that about covers the basics for now, but remember the friends and cold beer for after the long day in the woods, now my crew likes an open fire and marshmellows and hot dogs so there needs to be lawn chairs and something to make a fire pit out of as well, don't worry about the wood, they can cut some there. Its not an expediton but more like takng along some niceties to enhance the fun. And the most important, a large garbage can to put all the junk in to keep the woods clean and neat after your done.
Never forget the chance for a "georgous sexy remale" ::) ::) 8) 8)
;D
Sorry Randy, couldn't resist. :)
-first aid kit
-smart phone
-pre-programmed voice activated 911 number in case your hands don't work anymore
-phone numbers of nearest neighbors
-leave note to family member with location and when to come looking for you
-phone number of nearest helicopter logging outfit
-bookmark to forestry forum sawmill, logging and chainsaw pages