Spark arrestor screens can be a great annoyance to chainsaw operators everywhere. Spark arrestors are the mesh screens on the exhaust of virtually all modern chainsaws, and they can occasionally get clogged with carbon, greatly affecting chainsaw performance. Predictably, many are tempted to simply throw these easily-removable screens away, but is that really a good…
In small-scale logging, logs are often hauled out of the woods with small and under-powered equipment, such as ATVs, snowmobiles, and small tractors. Thus, reducing the friction and resistance of logs moving across the ground is the key to enhancing operational ability. This is where skidding cones come in handy. Skidding cones are cones that…
We have all done it: Drop starting our chainsaw. It is an extremely popular way of starting a saw due to its ease and success rate. But should you really drop start a chainsaw? While drop starting a chainsaw is an easy way of starting a saw, it does come with a few elevated safety…
It has happened to all of us: We go to cut a log and our chain starts throwing sparks like a musket. If it is happening to you, don’t worry. There are a few common reasons why the chainsaw may be sparking, and the majority of them are quick fixes. In most cases, it is…
Electric chainsaws have become wildly popular in the consumer market over the past decade, and for good reason. Despite the scoffing from experienced sawyers and heavy-duty users, electric chainsaws offer a friendly, gentle, and entry-level chainsaw experience for homeowners and those with small woodlots. A key to their appeal is that they appear to be…
Feller Bunchers and Harvesters (also known as processors) are some of the most important pieces of equipment used in modern forestry. A far cry from the classic chainsaw, these mechanical behemoths make short work of timber with high tech and complex machinery. While both machines cut timber, that is where the similarities end. Both have…
From west to east, cedar is an iconic species peppering lowland forests around the world. Known for its rich fragrance and towering trunks, cedar is a species like no other. But how does cedar stack up as a firewood? In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about burning cedar. First, let’s…
Beech is a lesser-known but extremely common tree in the forests of Europe and North America. Often growing in tandem with maple, beech’s smooth bark and straight stems are known for its production of beech nuts–a staple for wildlife that depends on hard mast. However, the American beech has fallen victim to beech bark disease,…
Birch trees are some of the most identifiable trees in the world. With a huge range circling around the earth’s polar region, they are one of the most abundant species in the world and have been used for everything from canoes to toothpicks. But what about firewood? How good is birch as a firewood, and…
Maple is an iconic tree in the forests of Europe and North America. Its leaves adorn the Canadian flag, and its syrup adorns the top of our pancakes. It is one of the most valuable (and beautiful) hardwoods in North America for the wide variety of products it can produce, including beautiful veneers and stunning…