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18 Feb ’12
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so i traded an old winchester model 50 i had laying around for a mcculoch mac 4600 with a 20 inch bar. i've used a chain saw a few times, but never had to maintain a saw, or done much woodcutting. my father in law (former construction foreman) imparts daily wisdom to me in the way that only a gravely, gristly construction worker can. the guy that i traded with collects saws as a hobby and has offered to tune my saw and showed me how to sharpen the chain by hand and he's been cool about answering any questions i have, but i'm looking for some pearls of wisdom that any of you may feel like sharing.
i bought a house a year and a half ago that has a fireplace insert. i've been thinning out trees in my inlaws yard using a small electric saw, but needed a gas saw to harvest more trees at a friend's farm. my father in law has coached me through felling a few trees, including determining the plumb of a tree, choosing a target, different types of notches and backcut, and felling trees using wedges and plunge cuts.
i've split plenty of firewood in the past, and those skills have come back quickly. in fact, i've lost 8 pounds and dropped a pants size in 2 weeks.
so lay some truth and wisdom on me. what do you wish someone had told you in the early days of your woodcutting experience?
1 Nov ’12
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keep an appropriate tension, keep it oiled, sharpen to decrease effort.
Betting you knew all that already.
Oh, don't lend it to neighbors.
21 Feb ’12
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Make sure it has plenty of bar oil, check it regularly when cutting. make sure you're cutting pieces that can fit into your opening. With a fireplace it's usually less crucial but with a wood stove it's really important. Nothing sucks more than having to cut the same piece of wood twice.
28 Feb ’12
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be carefull, would be my advice. these things can be dangerous
15 Feb ’12
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eye.head. ear protection, if you don't have them, buy a pair of chaps, it could save a knee. Never cut down anything you are not comfortable with, this may make common sense, but I see way to often men get this macho image of themselves (especially around their friends) and try and cut down a tree outside their expertise, and accidents happen. Before you cut down anything, make sure you have a clear path to escape and look up the tree, see those dead branches that look sturdy way up there? Those are called widow makers for a reason, be careful cutting down dead trees, they can do funny things sometimes, practice on small stuff first, have a set of wedges on hand in to help if needed.
18 Feb ’12
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make sure you're cutting pieces that can fit into your opening. Nothing sucks more than having to cut the same piece of wood twice.
already did this. insert instructions say standard 16" logs are OK, but 12" works better. i have a bunch of 8" logs from the first face cord i cut and split. 
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