| Chainsaw techniques |
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| Written by Steve | |||||||
| Thursday, 31 January 2008 | |||||||
Page 4 of 5  Saddle cuts. The generally accepted best practice for joining logs at the corners is using notches placed across two cuts which called saddles. These are curved cuts on either side of the log on a pitched angle ( the precise angle is unknown and not important and will vary with each log). The two cuts make the log at this location look like a saddle and hence the name. The curved cut is made with the chainsaw - yes, the chainsaw can be used to cut curves just like a bandsaw. The curves of course are not severe and can easily be made with a regular 18" bar.The saddles are best cut 'wrong handed'. ie: the trigger is operated by the left hand and the right hand is on top of the bar pulling the saw into the cut. The saddles are marked out with a top, bottom and two side V marks and the bar is first lined up to create the angle required to just hit inside of the top and bottom cut. The cut is started on the inside of the end mark and ends just inside the end mark at the other end. This way and rough edges left by the chainsaw can be cleaned up with other chainsaw techniques or with a grinder and still leave room to flare the saddle out to the lines. The chainsaw is running full speed on this cut because it is cutting a wide rip cut whereas the chains are usually designed for cross cuts. The chainsaw moves slowly and should always be running exactly at right angles to the log. The saw chain will want to move the saw towards the operator but the weight of the saw will want to the move the saw down into the cut. When correctly executed, the saw seems to float in the cut because of the two counteracting forces. It is a very nice feeling and the saw feels very light in the cut. This leaves the right hand to guide the saw throught he cut. This cut is as complicated as it sounds but it can be mastered. The most difficult part of the cut is to maintain the right angle and to create a nice even flare into and out of the cut. The first few cuts usually need a lot of doctoring with the grinder but after several cuts, cutting, cleaningup and sanding this cut in could be accomplished in less than 15 minutes. |
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| Last Updated ( Thursday, 14 February 2008 ) | |||||||
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