Tool to cut branches?

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rodogg

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Nov 25, 2011
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I have a big dead tree in my back yard which I will be cutting down for firewood next week probably. I'll use an axe to cut up the trunk pieces of the tree, when Ive cut the tree up with a chainsaw. So my question is this: there are loads of big long fairly thick branches on this tree. I could use the chainsaw again to cut these small, but (as my being on this forum shows) I'd rather use a bladed tool. Now if I lay the branches down on another big piece of wood and hit them with an axe or, I assume, a machete, the piece thats cut off can be prone to fly off and potentially whack me. Ive had that happen before. Also a hand held saw would be a lot of hard work. So I'm wondering what tool would be the best for this job? Consider that the branches wont be attached to the tree as Ill have cut them off with a chainsaw so Ill just have big long pretty thick branches to cut into short pieces.
 
I think you've answered your own question. Simply lay them across a section of the trunk, cutting block fashion, and chop to length required. If you're chopping you should be wearing safety glasses anyhow:)
 
See I have done that before but if you get a bendy bit it can be prone to fly off at angles and Ive hit myself with bits before.
 
I use an 18v sawzall with aggressive wood blades for branches, even edging. Not as loud as a chainsaw and less work than hacking.
 
If you start with the ax or machete you'll either get fustrated and/or tired out in short order, in which case you'll break out the chainsaw.
If you start with a battery powered sawzall you'll quickly run the battery down and get either the ax or the chainsaw. If going with the ax see above.

Might as well go right for the chain saw and skip the nonsense.
 
I would trim what you can before chopping the tree down, and to do so I like a nice hatchet or large bladed object, whether thats a big knife or kukri
 
Big trees + hand tools = hella work.

If you want to have fun with your toys (hey, we all do it ...) then set one of the larger limbs aside for play time. For the actual WORK, go strait to the chainsaw or you may run out of daylight. ;)
 
Hah yeah its true that the chainsaw is the sensible option, but I do love cutting things with big knives lol. Chainsaw it is. Probably set some wood aside for playtime though... lol
 
If you're really set on roughing it, I suggest the saw on a Leatherman Wave. :D
 
A broad-bladed machete will do just fine. I was using my Baryonyx machete for wood processing this weekend and it was actually preferable to the Snow & Nealley axe in the foreground because of the lack of a flat, level striking surface out on the ice. If I tried using the axe the chopping block would fall over!

VintageMooseheadBaryonyx.jpg
 
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I wouldn't use a sawzall or a machete. Sawzalls aren't made for this kind of work. Nor are machetes.
I'd use a chainsaw to get the logs into the preferred lengths, then either use one of these (woodcleaver in swedish):

vedklyv_5t.jpg


or an axe which is designed to cleave wood, such as one from Fiskars:

122460.jpg


You could definitely do it with your machetes n' whatnot, but if you're gonna chop up an entire tree, I'd only use those in the beginning, so as to get some usage out of your hard-earned tools.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
He's not talking about logs--he's talking about branches. ;)
Click to expand...

Yeah :P Maybe I didnt explain what I mean well enough... Imagine laying a big bendy branch on a log. Now whack it with an axe or machete. The piece thats cut off can fly anywhere, including your face. Anyway I've come to the conclusion that I'll do the sensible thing and use the chainsaw. I do like hitting things with knives though :D
 
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