Hey Jim I've seen quite a few other crosscut saw videos and this one was one of the best. I'm 15 and bought and then restored my first crosscut saw recently. I used it for the first time this weekend and it was great. This video really highlighted some techniques I need to work on, like making sure the face notch is wide enough, and to clean up the angles of it. Also jumping out of the way behind another tree when it is falling, usually I'll step 6 or so feet back. Thanks a lot Jim Zach
Here are a couple basic guides that cover crosscut bucking and falling: www.fs.fed.us/t-d/pubs/pdfpubs/pdf06672805/pdf06672805dpi300.pdf www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/recreational_trails/publications/fs_publications/04232822/toc.cfm
Nice, i started with just a double blade axe and crosscut saw, plus climbing spurs for topping big ones at 14 and I split enough cords at $55/cord to buy my first dirt bike the following year. Awesome video sure brings back memories.
I recently felled tiny leaning trees with an axe. I remember thinking to myself as my hands wanted to quit, "can't I just use a hand saw". I'm glad I can because boy was that tough work. Toughest work my hands have done. I'll leave the axe for splitting for firewood.
I’ve been an amateur woodsman for a few years now and this is great stuff. I have a nice old sager chemical ax, a nice craftsman 5 1/2 bucking saw. I’d love to get my hands on a topping saw to do felling like this where might i start to look for these saws. I also have most of the gear for logging/ felling too.
Great job my Friend...You are a cutting machine!! Excellent camera work. Very educational and informative. Merry Christmas to you and your family. Thanks again for your time and dedication. Much Respect from St Petersburg Florida....
Nice work Jim, my family came here by way of Canada on my mother's side they were river drivers and lumbermen, I can imagine them applauding your talents, thank you for sharing this and keeping an old but efficient method alive.
Great video. A few questions: where do you buy the elastic band? When do you decide to you it since you don't always do? And why do your saws look so new? Are they vintage or are people still making them? Thank you
Where is a good place to look for a good older topping saw? Im in an area that has never had a lot of logging but would still prefer to use one to supply my wood working habit.
You find many saws on Ebay but a topping saw would be a little harder. Many quality two man vintage saws can be cut down to a shorter length to make a good topping saw. That is what they did back in the day, they were never sold them that way new.
It takes just a few minutes to fall the smaller ones and longer for the larger ones. For hand falling, bucking, splitting, moving and stacking I figure about 8 hrs per cord of firewood.
Jim Thode thanks for reply. I found a one man saw in scrap today bought it for $5 and after I tidy it up will find out soon enough. I have a 2 man cross cut saw too 5 I swapped for a pig my dog caught. must be 7 feet long . looking forward to using it.
Most all brands made good quality saws as well as less expensive lower quality saws. Stay with vintage saws rather then the lower quality ones made today. For a one man saw, a lance tooth is normally better then a perforated lance tooth saw. Perforated lance tooth saws are thinner and more flexible and don't work as well when falling. You can get a good idea of the quality by studying old saw catalogs available online.
Plenty of firewood to boot !!! So Jim, I have a one man bucksaw, about 5 feet in length, perforated lance tooth design. No teeth are broken and are in great shape. The handle is in good condition too. The blade has light surface rust, no pitting. What would be the best way to clean the blade and take off the surface rust? I was thinking Scotch Bright and WD40. Also, where could I find the tools necessary to take care of the teeth? I was thinking of making a holding fixture as well........Any advice would be appreciated, thanks !!
There are a ton of ways to clean saws. Your Scotch Bright and WD40 or even water should work fine for light rust. If you use water, just dry it off right away and oil or wax to prevent rust. For sharpening, saw vice and a bunch of other info see: www.bchw.org/Tech%20tips/Crosscut%20Sharpening.htm
Awesome Jim, thanks. I saved the link for future reference. I plan to use this saw in the future a lot, especially when we get completely moved over to our new ranch in Eastern Oregon. I'm not sure of it's age, probably early 1900's. It came from my wife's family ranch over in Easter Washington. Apparently hanging in the barn forever. I remember seeing it in the barn in the early 1980's, and they say it was in the same spot 50 years prior to that, LOL..........
Jim Thode That's an awesome link. I've rapidly become addicted to cutting wood, and I want to be able to continue falling during summer, when it is hot and dry. I'll be picking up some crosscut saws ever the next month and getting started doing it manually. I look forward to going through the information in-depth. I appreciate the effort!
Actually it is miss-labeled in the video. It is a 42" cut off falling saw, also known as a topping saw. It likely started as a 7ft falling that was cut in half. Also, no logo on it but I'd guess that it is a #513 Simonds Royal Chinook. It is quite stiff and works well for one man falling as well as smaller log bucking.
You wrote, "Hello, where can I buy one of those saws?". It depends on where live but in the USA and maybe world wide you can find saws on Ebay and other old tool sellers. Maybe, (Depende de dónde viva, pero en EE. UU. Y quizás en todo el mundo puede encontrar sierras en Ebay y otros vendedores de herramientas antiguas.).
Fallers watch the top of the tree because any moment in the tree will be noticed there first. The sooner the fallers know the tree is falling, the more time he has to move to a safe location when it falls. The faller also looks up during the tree fall to watch for any hazards falling in his direction.
Depending on where you live you may be able to find a saw at local garage sales, flea markets or antique stores. Also can be found on ebay and FB market place and such online.
I used a Sells handle or parts of a Sells handle in this video. They may be found on ebay once and awhile or depending on where you are located they can be found at flea markets and garage sales and such.
Is there less likelihood of barber chairs etc when using a saw. My thinking being the stresses in the tree are released more slowly than when using a chainsaw. Look forward to comments
Other that the advantage of being able to hear better with the crosscut I believe that no real difference between a chainsaw and crosscut saw when doing a conventional notch and the back cut. The chainsaw does sometimes have an advantage because it can bore cut the center and leave some holding wood on the exterior for the final release cut. I find that the slower cutting speed of the crosscut is an advantage because a saw is much less likely to get pinched or stuck in a tree. With a chainsaw it very east to quickly cut in a get it stuck and with a crosscut you can feel a slight drag and remove the saw before it is stuck. There are advantages and disadvantages of each. For a potential barber chair the banding of the tree as in this video (at 4:49 ) will prevent a barber chair split no matter what saw is used.
Thanks. The dead trees are a natural process of a growing forest. As the trees get larger and require more light the larger trees choke out the smaller trees. This area was logged in the early to mid 1900's.
Hey Jim I've seen quite a few other crosscut saw videos and this one was one of the best. I'm 15 and bought and then restored my first crosscut saw recently. I used it for the first time this weekend and it was great. This video really highlighted some techniques I need to work on, like making sure the face notch is wide enough, and to clean up the angles of it. Also jumping out of the way behind another tree when it is falling, usually I'll step 6 or so feet back. Thanks a lot Jim
Zach
Here are a couple basic guides that cover crosscut bucking and falling:
www.fs.fed.us/t-d/pubs/pdfpubs/pdf06672805/pdf06672805dpi300.pdf
www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/recreational_trails/publications/fs_publications/04232822/toc.cfm
Your escape route should be behind the direction of fall and not in front of it!
Wow Jim! Beautiful technique! Those hinges are textbook! Always a pleasure viewing your wonderful videos! Thanks for sharing! 😃👍
Nice, i started with just a double blade axe and crosscut saw, plus climbing spurs for topping big ones at 14 and I split enough cords at $55/cord to buy my first dirt bike the following year. Awesome video sure brings back memories.
I recently felled tiny leaning trees with an axe. I remember thinking to myself as my hands wanted to quit, "can't I just use a hand saw". I'm glad I can because boy was that tough work. Toughest work my hands have done. I'll leave the axe for splitting for firewood.
YES! I just love the Planets in the background. Couldn’t have picked a better piece of music IMO. Superb videography and sawing :D
this is amazing, and great cinema, great sense of graphic drama.
I’ve been an amateur woodsman for a few years now and this is great stuff. I have a nice old sager chemical ax, a nice craftsman 5 1/2 bucking saw. I’d love to get my hands on a topping saw to do felling like this where might i start to look for these saws. I also have most of the gear for logging/ felling too.
Just got to say.. love that side view on you, that angles of edges are just artistic :)
Fun video Jim!
Mighty man, God bless ya, keep you the good work!
Great job my Friend...You are a cutting machine!! Excellent camera work. Very educational and informative. Merry Christmas to you and your family. Thanks again for your time and dedication. Much Respect from St Petersburg Florida....
The planets… great choice for a soundtrack.
Great video, very instructional.
Man o man, that is some masterful position dropping.
Great video ! I subscribed.
I want one for Christmas.
Excellent video thanks.
Nice work Jim, my family came here by way of Canada on my mother's side they were river drivers and lumbermen, I can imagine them applauding your talents, thank you for sharing this and keeping an old but efficient method alive.
These trees all look like they are dead. Time to replant. God bless and keep you safe
Looks like fun :-)
I sharpened my one man cross cut, not sure if I did it right, this is so much more exhausting than it looks
When the oil runs out we will know how to begin again.
Hot Dam!!!...what a great channel....Yes indeed...New Sub here... Thanks again....Brilliant techniques ....a wealth of information....
Impressive
Great video. A few questions: where do you buy the elastic band? When do you decide to you it since you don't always do? And why do your saws look so new? Are they vintage or are people still making them? Thank you
how come you haven't uploaded in awhile? i enjoy your videos
Awesome!
Where is a good place to look for a good older topping saw? Im in an area that has never had a lot of logging but would still prefer to use one to supply my wood working habit.
You find many saws on Ebay but a topping saw would be a little harder. Many quality two man vintage saws can be cut down to a shorter length to make a good topping saw. That is what they did back in the day, they were never sold them that way new.
You were right in banding that Alder. Looked like it wanted to barberchair. Nice scarfing with the axe. How long does it take to fell these trees?
It takes just a few minutes to fall the smaller ones and longer for the larger ones. For hand falling, bucking, splitting, moving and stacking I figure about 8 hrs per cord of firewood.
Jim Thode thanks for reply. I found a one man saw in scrap today bought it for $5 and after I tidy it up will find out soon enough. I have a 2 man cross cut saw too 5 I swapped for a pig my dog caught. must be 7 feet long . looking forward to using it.
What brand of one man crosscut saw would you recommend? I think I would like a 42" blade.
Most all brands made good quality saws as well as less expensive lower quality saws. Stay with vintage saws rather then the lower quality ones made today. For a one man saw, a lance tooth is normally better then a perforated lance tooth saw. Perforated lance tooth saws are thinner and more flexible and don't work as well when falling. You can get a good idea of the quality by studying old saw catalogs available online.
Plenty of firewood to boot !!! So Jim, I have a one man bucksaw, about 5 feet in length, perforated lance tooth design. No teeth are broken and are in great shape. The handle is in good condition too. The blade has light surface rust, no pitting. What would be the best way to clean the blade and take off the surface rust? I was thinking Scotch Bright and WD40. Also, where could I find the tools necessary to take care of the teeth? I was thinking of making a holding fixture as well........Any advice would be appreciated, thanks !!
There are a ton of ways to clean saws. Your Scotch Bright and WD40 or even water should work fine for light rust. If you use water, just dry it off right away and oil or wax to prevent rust.
For sharpening, saw vice and a bunch of other info see: www.bchw.org/Tech%20tips/Crosscut%20Sharpening.htm
Awesome Jim, thanks. I saved the link for future reference. I plan to use this saw in the future a lot, especially when we get completely moved over to our new ranch in Eastern Oregon. I'm not sure of it's age, probably early 1900's. It came from my wife's family ranch over in Easter Washington. Apparently hanging in the barn forever. I remember seeing it in the barn in the early 1980's, and they say it was in the same spot 50 years prior to that, LOL..........
Jim Thode That's an awesome link. I've rapidly become addicted to cutting wood, and I want to be able to continue falling during summer, when it is hot and dry. I'll be picking up some crosscut saws ever the next month and getting started doing it manually. I look forward to going through the information in-depth. I appreciate the effort!
what kind of saw is at the very end, 36" Topping Saw, cutting the 12" dead alder (at 6:10)?
Actually it is miss-labeled in the video. It is a 42" cut off falling saw, also known as a topping saw. It likely started as a 7ft falling that was cut in half. Also, no logo on it but I'd guess that it is a #513 Simonds Royal Chinook. It is quite stiff and works well for one man falling as well as smaller log bucking.
@@jimthode Thanks! Just ordered the Lynx 3' One Man Crosscut Saw. Might have to try the #513 Simonds Royal Chinook.
I love the idea of the rubber man!!! I'm going to try buying some shock cord or similar, to help me buck a big tree. I'm using a 2 man saw on my own.
Where can I buy a topping saw?
That's a dam good exercise no need to go to the gym
Hola, donde puedo comprar una de esas sierras?
You wrote, "Hello, where can I buy one of those saws?". It depends on where live but in the USA and maybe world wide you can find saws on Ebay and other old tool sellers. Maybe, (Depende de dónde viva, pero en EE. UU. Y quizás en todo el mundo puede encontrar sierras en Ebay y otros vendedores de herramientas antiguas.).
someone explain why they look up before it falls?
Fallers watch the top of the tree because any moment in the tree will be noticed there first. The sooner the fallers know the tree is falling, the more time he has to move to a safe location when it falls. The faller also looks up during the tree fall to watch for any hazards falling in his direction.
Where can a guy find a saw like this
Depending on where you live you may be able to find a saw at local garage sales, flea markets or antique stores. Also can be found on ebay and FB market place and such online.
🙏🙏🙏🧡👍👍👍👍👍
Yes, he hates trees….. all the trees
Where can i buy a handle like that?
I used a Sells handle or parts of a Sells handle in this video. They may be found on ebay once and awhile or depending on where you are located they can be found at flea markets and garage sales and such.
@@jimthode im in CT and im always at flea markets. Also go to maine a lot checking antique shops
leave some snags for wildlife
Is there less likelihood of barber chairs etc when using a saw. My thinking being the stresses in the tree are released more slowly than when using a chainsaw. Look forward to comments
Other that the advantage of being able to hear better with the crosscut I believe that no real difference between a chainsaw and crosscut saw when doing a conventional notch and the back cut. The chainsaw does sometimes have an advantage because it can bore cut the center and leave some holding wood on the exterior for the final release cut. I find that the slower cutting speed of the crosscut is an advantage because a saw is much less likely to get pinched or stuck in a tree. With a chainsaw it very east to quickly cut in a get it stuck and with a crosscut you can feel a slight drag and remove the saw before it is stuck.
There are advantages and disadvantages of each. For a potential barber chair the banding of the tree as in this video (at 4:49 ) will prevent a barber chair split no matter what saw is used.
I enjoyed the video. A lot of dead hemlock. What from?
Thanks. The dead trees are a natural process of a growing forest. As the trees get larger and require more light the larger trees choke out the smaller trees. This area was logged in the early to mid 1900's.
To see what way it’s going so they get out of the way just in case the tree kicks back
About 5:45 you can see a deer running.
Good eye. That is Miss Molly the mule. You can also see her at 5:26. She just ran up in the woods and came back in a few minutes.
Jim
Don’t FELL trees if you don’t know what the job is called.
Don’t comment if you think your the last engineer