| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| Anders |
Two person sawHi all,Does anyone know where you can get one of those big two man saws for cutting logs too big for a bow saw? This is for cutting tree trunks into a size I can split for firewood. I am toying with the idea of getting a chainsaw and probably will eventually, but if a saw can do the job I might wait. Thanks Anders |
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| sean |
Here. | ||||
| Blue Sky |
Are you sure that you can talk Judith into 'manning' the other end? | ||||
| Anders |
That was quick, thanks.
Does anyone here use one? If so, are they efficient? |
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| judith |
Would it make me a sad nerd if I were to mention the origins of the term "top dog"? | ||||
| Northern_Lad |
Not at all. How long have you been helping Anders with the cutting? |
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| judith |
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| Anders |
What is the "top dog" about.
And Simon, - I haven't told Judith yet, but she is not happy about chainsaws so I am sure she'll give it a go. Otherwise maybe you could come round and give a hand 
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| judith |
Explanation here. Although it then goes on to cast doubt on the origins, so I may be talking rubbish! | ||||
| Anders |
Just ordered a saw.
Simon, - what day is best for you?
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| Treacodactyl |
Have you tried splitting the logs before sawing them? We collected a large amount of oak a while back and some of the logs were too thick to cut with a bow saw. I found them easy to split with a couple wedges into quarters and then saw. I know some types are much easier to split than others, the oak was so easy you could split it with a wooden wedge! | ||||
| vegplot |
Drool! |
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| Anders |
It is for cutting whole trees which have come down in a storm, so I have to cut. I'll be using wedges too I imagine. |
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| Slipsurfer |
I've bought 2 Saws on ebay:
4ft 6ft I resharped with the aid of a book on sharpening... their great. I've used them when taking wood from a local park that insist on chainsaw qualifications! |
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| Anders |
I got my saw today. Very nice. We're taking it to France tomorrow to give it a whirl. | ||||
| dpack |
a candle stump rubbed on the flats of the blade regularly helps lots 
as do good gloves |
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| Anders |
Is this true, - about the candle? Anyway, - we tried the saw and its pretty good. Obviously hard work but we were quite impressed. Now I just need to learn to sharpen it and get my neighbour to take home the wood when we've cut it all up. |
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| vickersdc |
I just finished restoring one of my two-man crosscut saws the other day; had to get rid of all the surface rust, make new handles and 'handle holders' and sharpen it (which took an age!).
Fortunately I was able to sharpen in the workshop at work, where I could put the saw between two vices (one at either end) and clamp the blade between two pieces of wood so that it was supported along it's length. The saw works well - just remember that it's a pull-saw, never push it. Top-dog and under-dog - from the days of pit-sawing (which is still used in many 'under-developed' countries of course). Cheers, David. |
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| besonen |
the teeth on this saw are not as efficient as later designs. if you are cutting green softwood look for a crosscut saw with perforated-lance teeth, example: a two-man crosscut perforated-lance bucking saw some terms: perforated-lance = teeth best for green softwood tuttle or champion = teeth best for hardwood bucking saw = a thicker heavier blade felling saw = a more flexible blade for felling standing timber a good place to learn more: Saws That Sing: A Guide to Using Crosscut Saws html: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/fspubs/04232822/index.htm pdf: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/fspubs/04232822/04232822.pdf peace, david |
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| Slim |
welcome besonen! | ||||
| Gervase |
Thanks for those links, David. Fascinating reading. |
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| besonen |
thanks for the warm welcome Slim.
here are some quotes that might entice folks to learn more about crosscut saws. from "Saws that Sing: A Guide to Using Crosscut Saws": "More and more, I see trail managers and others discovering that it's cheaper and more efficient to switch off the chain saw and pick up the crosscut. Some trail contractors have found that they pay lower worker's compensation insurance premiums when they use crosscut saws rather than chain saws. With the right training and a sharp saw, it is amazing to see the esprit de corps and crew cohesion that develop among younger fire and trail crew members as they learn, master, and apply their crosscut saw skills." from the Crosscut Saw Manual: "Many readers undoubtedly have run crosscut saws in the past, and a lot of you know the difference between a good running saw and a poorly filed one. A poorly filed saw deserves the name I have often heard attributed to it... "misery whip." A well-filed saw, however, is efficient and can be satisfying to use. Only in recent years was a chain saw developed that could beat a topnotch bucker in a contest. There is a record of a 32-inch Douglas-fir log cut in 1 minute 26 2/5 seconds by one bucker." Crosscut Saw Manual html: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/fspubs/77712508/ pdf: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/download/hep/fspubs/pdf77712508hi.pdf -- david |
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| dpack |
yes wax is good |