Harrowsmith – September 2019

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Gear,” page 201), start up the saw,

rev it to full speed, then move the

spinning chain into the trunk to

make the three felling cuts.

STEP 2: CROSSCUT LOG TO LENGTH

Now’s the time to use your

chainsaw to cut logs into lengths

that fit your wood stove or

fireplace. Measure the space

inside your wood-burning

appliance, then subtract 2.5 cm

(1 inch) to get the firewood length

you need. It’s common practice

to eyeball the length of firewood

blocks being cut from logs, but

there are two problems with

this: besides the fact that a pile of

firewood of varying lengths can’t

be stacked neatly, it’s a pain when

you can’t close your wood stove

or fireplace insert door properly

if you happen to cut the odd block

too long. That’s why I always take

the trouble to mark logs before

cutting. Make a measuring stick

to the firewood length that’s

ideal for your setup, then use it

to guide a hatchet for marking

the block length. A couple of

hits with the blade makes a

mark on the bark that ensures

consistency when sawing.

As you work, keep the cuts

square. Also—and this is vitally

important—avoid letting the

saw chain hit soil or rocks

underneath the logs as they sit on

the ground. Even a split-second

contact with a small amount of

dirt will turn a razor-sharp chain

into a near-useless assembly

of spinning metal. A dull chain

can be re-sharpened, but the

process takes anywhere from

10 to 30 minutes. A two-part

cutting process is key to avoiding

trouble. Make each crosscut

three-quarters of the way down

through the log as it lies on the

HOME & DESIGN: TREE CUTTING

STEP 2STEP 2