Vaughn McMillan
07-22-2006, 3:26 AM
Got to work this afternoon (I'm working really strange hours right now) and noticed a large branch (14" diameter) had broken on one of the trees on our company property. (Based on the shape and smell of the leaves I think it's some type of eucalyptus, but I'm too tree species-challenged to know for certain.) I sent a message to the Facilities Manager asking to have the tree service guys set a few big pieces aside for me when they removed the branch. He answered back that he was going to cut it up himself later, and I was welcome to have any of the bigger pieces I wanted. I went out later and checked, and he was on a ladder, trying to cut smaller (4") brances off with a Stanley carpenter's saw. Not very successfully, I might add. Realizing he was not going to get the tree cut up with that saw in my lifetime, I told him I'd go get a saw and cut up and haul away the big stuff, but I didn't have a way to get rid of the smaller branches and foliage. He jumped on the offer for me to cut up the big stuff and leave the rest for him to clean up later. This was about 4:30 in the afternoon, and the branch had fallen in such a way that it needed to be cut up today...it couldn't wait until Monday.
I have a 10" Craftsman electric chainsaw that was found in LOML's garage when we sold her house. It's probably 30 years old, and I'm sure the chain has never been sharpened. Not much faster than the handsaw. I decided it was time for a gas chainsaw. Since I had to buy on short notice, and on a somewhat limited budget (about $200), I went to the Lowe's that's about 5 minutes from work to pick out a saw. (Any shops that would sell pro chainsaws would be closed by 5:00, and I already figured a Stihl was out of my budget.) Among the saws Lowes offered, they had a $200 Husky that looked decent on paper, but they were out of stock. I couldn't spring for any of the bigger Husky models, so in blatant disregard for advice I'd seen here on SMC, I decided to buy a $150 Poulan model. I figure I might use a chainsaw three or four times a year, so I figured I'd chance it and get a "homeowner" saw. It's got a 40cc engine and an 18" bar, and it also came with a case. (I was planning to buy a case, since there's no way I'm hauling an oily chainsaw in my Lexus without one.) I figured I'll take a drubbing from the SMC gang for buying a Poulan chainsaw, but hey, I've got a Sears lathe and nobody's sent me threatening letters. Yet. :p
Anyway, enough of my making a long story longer. I'll cut to the chase. The saw worked great, and I got enough wood to keep myself busy, even though I divided the wood between me and co-worker who's also a woodturner. My haul doesn't hold a candle to most of the ones I've seen posted here (including Bernie's Elm/Walnut stuff today), but for Los Angeles logging and an out of shape nancy boy like me, it's a good load. Of course I picked a very hot and humid day to do it, and I was soaked with sweat by the time I was done. (Glad I went home to change clothes before cutting it all up.) I got several good crotches, and one little 8" burl (I think), so I'm pretty sure there's some nice stuff waiting to be found in the logs. I got everythig sealed up tonight with a nice thick coat of old Zinsser latex primer, since I really don't want to deal with any splits in this stuff.
Here's the proof...The complete haul, including the saw (in colors only a Marketing Department could love):
43229
An example of the heartwood, and a bit of inclusion stuff:
43230
The little burl:
43231
A crotch that I think will be fun to open up:
43232
That's my story and I'm stickin' to it. Let the beatings begin. :D
- Vaughn
I have a 10" Craftsman electric chainsaw that was found in LOML's garage when we sold her house. It's probably 30 years old, and I'm sure the chain has never been sharpened. Not much faster than the handsaw. I decided it was time for a gas chainsaw. Since I had to buy on short notice, and on a somewhat limited budget (about $200), I went to the Lowe's that's about 5 minutes from work to pick out a saw. (Any shops that would sell pro chainsaws would be closed by 5:00, and I already figured a Stihl was out of my budget.) Among the saws Lowes offered, they had a $200 Husky that looked decent on paper, but they were out of stock. I couldn't spring for any of the bigger Husky models, so in blatant disregard for advice I'd seen here on SMC, I decided to buy a $150 Poulan model. I figure I might use a chainsaw three or four times a year, so I figured I'd chance it and get a "homeowner" saw. It's got a 40cc engine and an 18" bar, and it also came with a case. (I was planning to buy a case, since there's no way I'm hauling an oily chainsaw in my Lexus without one.) I figured I'll take a drubbing from the SMC gang for buying a Poulan chainsaw, but hey, I've got a Sears lathe and nobody's sent me threatening letters. Yet. :p
Anyway, enough of my making a long story longer. I'll cut to the chase. The saw worked great, and I got enough wood to keep myself busy, even though I divided the wood between me and co-worker who's also a woodturner. My haul doesn't hold a candle to most of the ones I've seen posted here (including Bernie's Elm/Walnut stuff today), but for Los Angeles logging and an out of shape nancy boy like me, it's a good load. Of course I picked a very hot and humid day to do it, and I was soaked with sweat by the time I was done. (Glad I went home to change clothes before cutting it all up.) I got several good crotches, and one little 8" burl (I think), so I'm pretty sure there's some nice stuff waiting to be found in the logs. I got everythig sealed up tonight with a nice thick coat of old Zinsser latex primer, since I really don't want to deal with any splits in this stuff.
Here's the proof...The complete haul, including the saw (in colors only a Marketing Department could love):
43229
An example of the heartwood, and a bit of inclusion stuff:
43230
The little burl:
43231
A crotch that I think will be fun to open up:
43232
That's my story and I'm stickin' to it. Let the beatings begin. :D
- Vaughn