346xp OE handle 24" with skip chain?

Arborist Forum

Help Support Arborist Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Engineeringnerd

Engineeringnerd

ArboristSite Operative
Joined
Oct 29, 2006
Messages
475
Location
Georgia, USA
discipline for lining your cuts up. I've never plunge cut into the face cut as part of the back cut, is that something that happens or just an idea in a book?

Douglas Dent covers it in "Professional Timber Falling a Procedural Approach" pp 101 - 105.

I've never used the face bore cut as I've always had to have a long bar to make the cut. Now that I've sold my 372xp w/ 32" bar and only have the 346xp with a 20" bar, I may have to use this technique. My concern is how to manage getting a wedge in the back, and equally cutting the two sides of the hinge before the tree falls. If the hinge isn't cut precisely you risk unintentional pulling the tree to one side (especially when cutting a little slower with an undersized saw). Seems like a lot to manage! If the tree has a natural fall to the face, it would seem logical to bore in from the sides and leave a trigger on the back of the tree to nip for the fall.
 
SawTroll

SawTroll

Information Collector
Joined
Jan 13, 2005
Messages
64,856
Location
Troms, North Norway
..... My concern is how to manage getting a wedge in the back, and equally cutting the two sides of the hinge before the tree falls. If the hinge isn't cut precisely you risk unintentional pulling the tree to one side (especially when cutting a little slower with an undersized saw). Seems like a lot to manage! .....

Wedge the side you cut first - but don't overdo it, only to compensate for the kerf.
 
hamish

hamish

Addicted to ArboristSite
. AS Supporting Member.
Joined
May 1, 2010
Messages
3,480
Location
Ontario
Douglas Dent covers it in "Professional Timber Falling a Procedural Approach" pp 101 - 105.

I've never used the face bore cut as I've always had to have a long bar to make the cut. Now that I've sold my 372xp w/ 32" bar and only have the 346xp with a 20" bar, I may have to use this technique. My concern is how to manage getting a wedge in the back, and equally cutting the two sides of the hinge before the tree falls. If the hinge isn't cut precisely you risk unintentional pulling the tree to one side (especially when cutting a little slower with an undersized saw). Seems like a lot to manage! If the tree has a natural fall to the face, it would seem logical to bore in from the sides and leave a trigger on the back of the tree to nip for the fall.

Suit your saw to the wood you are cutting, dropping from a 32" bas and a 70cc powerhead to a 20" bar and a 50cc powerhead makes no sense if you are still cutting the same caliber of wood. The 346 is a great saw but,not that great in similar conditions. As Troll said, for a cut like that wedge it or use a felling bar (I know almost never seen or used here in North America but they work once you become accustomed to them. Your 346 is much more suited to a 15 or 16" bar..........unless you are cutting balsalm...........
 
wvlogger

wvlogger

Rock trucker
Joined
Oct 31, 2008
Messages
1,567
Location
At the slate dump
Here is one with a 28" bar.

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wdZ3Xm-46cQ?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wdZ3Xm-46cQ?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

yeah but jack builds the hell out of his saws
 
hamish

hamish

Addicted to ArboristSite
. AS Supporting Member.
Joined
May 1, 2010
Messages
3,480
Location
Ontario
yeah but jack builds the hell out of his saws


Well good for Jack! I wont use a 4cyl turbo charged rice rocket to pull my trailer..............can it do it yes...............for how long .............i dont even want to know thats why I have a truck, and most sawers have at least two saws.......suiting them to the job at hand.
 
wvlogger

wvlogger

Rock trucker
Joined
Oct 31, 2008
Messages
1,567
Location
At the slate dump
Well good for Jack! I wont use a 4cyl turbo charged rice rocket to pull my trailer..............can it do it yes...............for how long .............i dont even want to know thats why I have a truck, and most sawers have at least two saws.......suiting them to the job at hand.

I am not disagring i am agreeing Jack's saw shot not be shown as an example because it is way overbuilt
 
parrisw

parrisw

Tree Freak
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
13,786
Location
British Columbia, Canada
Well good for Jack! I wont use a 4cyl turbo charged rice rocket to pull my trailer..............can it do it yes...............for how long .............i dont even want to know thats why I have a truck, and most sawers have at least two saws.......suiting them to the job at hand.

The guy did it to prove a point that is all. It is not his main falling saw, which I think some of you think it is??? What's the freakin big deal?
 
Engineeringnerd

Engineeringnerd

ArboristSite Operative
Joined
Oct 29, 2006
Messages
475
Location
Georgia, USA
Suit your saw to the wood you are cutting, dropping from a 32" bas and a 70cc powerhead to a 20" bar and a 50cc powerhead makes no sense if you are still cutting the same caliber of wood. The 346 is a great saw but,not that great in similar conditions. As Troll said, for a cut like that wedge it or use a felling bar (I know almost never seen or used here in North America but they work once you become accustomed to them. Your 346 is much more suited to a 15 or 16" bar..........unless you are cutting balsalm...........

Most of the trees I cut now are 12 - 18" in diameter, but if I come across a 24" tree, I'd like to be able to cut it safely. I cut as a hobby, but my 346xp OE does surprisingly good with a 20" bar (using 95VP). If I was trying to make money at this I'd definitely want the 372 back, but not for a few cutting sessions each year.
 
webie

webie

ArboristSite Operative
Joined
Apr 9, 2010
Messages
241
Location
East central Wisconsin
Most of the trees I cut now are 12 - 18" in diameter, but if I come across a 24" tree, I'd like to be able to cut it safely. I cut as a hobby, but my 346xp OE does surprisingly good with a 20" bar (using 95VP). If I was trying to make money at this I'd definitely want the 372 back, but not for a few cutting sessions each year.

You can easily cut a 24" tree safely with a 20" bar
Honestly you can safely take down a 40 inch tree . I think you may be mistaken as to needing a longer bar that will go all the way through the tree , its nice but not necessary for that once in a lifetime tree.
 
Top