Noodling Rotted Sugar Maple Log Firewood Cutting

Firewood Cutting Opening Day 2016 Season

Yesterday I got out to start firewood cutting for the 2016 wood burning season.  I’ve already got plenty of seasoned wood for this year.  It was a crisp fall day and I felt a need for chainsaw.

I grabbed the 036, cleaned the air filter, checked the chain tension, filled the chain oil and fuel tank and started cutting.  I thought I put the saw away sharp but after two cuts it was best to stop work and sharpen the saw.

I put the saw in the vice and took 4 strokes off my weak side and 2 strokes off my strong side.  The marks on top of the vice helped keep my file at a 25 degree angle.  Once I sharpened the teeth I took two strokes off the depth gauges and then another two to round the leading edge.

Oregon Semi Chisel Chain with Safety Depth Gauges
Oregon Semi Chisel chain with Safety Depth Gauges. That’s how it looks after sharpening and one tank of use. Semi chisel chain isn’t as aggressive as full chisel chain BUT it stays sharper if you hit dirt and is easier to sharpen.

The Sugar Maple melted away as my saw cut like a hot knife through butter.

I’ve missed that feeling.

I went through one tank of gas before I had to quit because it was getting dark.  It felt great to be outside with a sharp chainsaw in my hands.

Firewood Cutting Updates

I’ve been removing wood from the holz hausen that fell.  It amazes me how stable an improperly built holz hausen is.  Imagine how strong it would be if I built it properly.

Holz Hausen Half Gone
The pile on the left is ‘wetter’ firewood than the one on the right. I started pulling wood from it because that was the pile that fell. Every time I pull wood from a holz hausen I’m amazed by how dry the wood is.

I’ve been running the saw dust and bark from firewood cutting through my Bearcat Chipper.  I admit it’s a slow and often tedious process.  I enjoy chipping and shredding and knowing that I have a 3-4 cubic yard pile of mulch ready for the yard.

Chipper Log Splitter and Chainsaw Mill
The little chipper that could. The pile behind the chipper is 3-4 cubic yards of bark and saw dust. It’s just as fine as the mulch I buy locally. I still have to tune up the log splitter for the season. You can see my log table in the background. I need to get some time on that next.

Have you started cutting firewood yet?

What do you think?