Canyon Angler
Addicted to ArboristSite
Hey, guys,
Sorry this is so long winded but I wrote one question, and that led into more. TL/DR - Tried to break it up with CAPS --questions in red
I've been running saws for firewood for a number of years, and I try to follow all the safety rules and have been lucky not to have any accidents or scares, but I'm now moving into some fairly new territory for me – felling and logging in some woods that aren't super remote, but I'll working be alone. (Building a bandsaw mill to cut the yellow pine and oak into timber/furniture grade wood.)
CHAIN BRAKE QUESTIONS
When I use the saw for cutting firewood, I usually engage the brake between cuts if I have to move around or pause, then disengage the brake when I want to cut. Do you guys check to make sure the brake works properly, by stopping the moving chain from time to time? If so, how often? And does this wear or degrade the brake band (or anything else) enough to worry about?
SAFETY AND RIGGING QUESTIONS
Plan to use my chainsaw chaps and a face shield/hardhat, and read up here on what to do if you get hurt, but could also use some advice on some of the technical stuff – felling, rigging with wire rope and snatch blocks, etc. (Will be using my truck and a backhoe and sometimes a home-built log arch to drag logs on sandy level ground in coastal Virginia, and since it won't be a clearcut situation, I'll need to drag logs out of the woods to where I can get a straight pull on them.)
Anyone know of any good, simple online guides to rigging snatch blocks and tree-saver straps, d-ring shackles, chains, wire rope, Amsteel, etc.?
Planning to fabricate a steel log skidding shield like this from the bottom of a 100-gallon propane bottle, to drag out logs without them tearing up stuff and getting hung up as much.
FELLING
I've felled a few smaller trees, and I've read and downloaded all sorts of guides on how it should be done, and think I have a decent understanding of how to do it, but I've also been told that I should find/hire an experienced feller to show me the ropes in person for a day before attempting it myself. Do you guys agree with this? (Will eventually be felling yellow pines to 50-60' and maybe 24" DBH or so.)
Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance for any suggestions.
Jeff
Sorry this is so long winded but I wrote one question, and that led into more. TL/DR - Tried to break it up with CAPS --questions in red
I've been running saws for firewood for a number of years, and I try to follow all the safety rules and have been lucky not to have any accidents or scares, but I'm now moving into some fairly new territory for me – felling and logging in some woods that aren't super remote, but I'll working be alone. (Building a bandsaw mill to cut the yellow pine and oak into timber/furniture grade wood.)
CHAIN BRAKE QUESTIONS
When I use the saw for cutting firewood, I usually engage the brake between cuts if I have to move around or pause, then disengage the brake when I want to cut. Do you guys check to make sure the brake works properly, by stopping the moving chain from time to time? If so, how often? And does this wear or degrade the brake band (or anything else) enough to worry about?
SAFETY AND RIGGING QUESTIONS
Plan to use my chainsaw chaps and a face shield/hardhat, and read up here on what to do if you get hurt, but could also use some advice on some of the technical stuff – felling, rigging with wire rope and snatch blocks, etc. (Will be using my truck and a backhoe and sometimes a home-built log arch to drag logs on sandy level ground in coastal Virginia, and since it won't be a clearcut situation, I'll need to drag logs out of the woods to where I can get a straight pull on them.)
Anyone know of any good, simple online guides to rigging snatch blocks and tree-saver straps, d-ring shackles, chains, wire rope, Amsteel, etc.?
Planning to fabricate a steel log skidding shield like this from the bottom of a 100-gallon propane bottle, to drag out logs without them tearing up stuff and getting hung up as much.
FELLING
I've felled a few smaller trees, and I've read and downloaded all sorts of guides on how it should be done, and think I have a decent understanding of how to do it, but I've also been told that I should find/hire an experienced feller to show me the ropes in person for a day before attempting it myself. Do you guys agree with this? (Will eventually be felling yellow pines to 50-60' and maybe 24" DBH or so.)
Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance for any suggestions.
Jeff