Approaching an 8-foot-tall pile of logs to chop can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. By being safety conscious and constantly scanning your log stack for potential problems, you can have a safe bucking experience. Let’s see how it’s done.
what is bucking
Chopping wood is the act of cutting logs into smaller segments. Firewood is cut to lengths to fit a wood burning device. Most people who mass burn wood and do their own processing receive 8-foot-long logs, usually in 10-cord loads. Uprooting such logs to firewood length can put you in a risky position. Taking the time to identify and eliminate all potential problems eliminates such risks.
The leverage pole
The pry pole is a must-have tool when working with log piles. The lever post gives you a way to move heavy logs or lift one end of a log to free it. You can make your own leverage post out of smaller logs or small fence posts, about three inches in diameter and 6 to 8 feet long (the longer the better). It has to be reasonably straight and light enough to be lifted easily. Cut the smaller end into a wedge 5 or 6 inches long to allow the end to fit into the gaps between the logs.
the pile of logs
For most people who burn large amounts of wood, the log pile is the starting point for processing the wood. Most trunks are delivered in 8 foot lengths, typically 10 cables at a time. Loggers delivering lumber must make a base with pairs of base logs on which they stack the remaining logs. If a pile height of more than 8 feet is unavoidable, the highest point should be eight or more feet from the end of the pile. This leaves room to safely roll logs down as you work your way to the highest point.
You should never have a log roll without rolling it. A several-hundred-pound log rolling down from an eight-foot-high log pile must happen at his command and not when Mother Nature decides. This is done by constantly analyzing the stack and planning each roll. Learn to read the information the stack is giving you.
Before moving to the front of the log pile to split, use your pry stick to check the logs higher up in the pile. Make sure the records are secure. Any log that is partially in front of another is at risk of moving while bucking. Always remove a possible registry problem by trying to force it to roll. If it is difficult to move the trunk, there is no risk.
If logs move easily, they are a hazard and should be lowered. Sometimes a log rolls a few inches and then gets stuck. Other times, a log (and one or more below it) will slip or roll a few feet and get stuck. Other times, the log rolls into the bucking area.
Any log that gets stuck should be checked. Test again to see if the trunk will move from its new position. You need to anticipate problems and eliminate them all before you stand in front of the stack to do your job. By practicing these safety precautions, you will never risk logs rolling while bucking.
Summary
Create a leverage post and use it to remove potential problems from a pile of logs. By looking for and anticipating problems, your parting experience can be safe and productive. You don’t need to put yourself at risk if you practice safety throughout the process.
This article is excerpted in part from the author’s book. Simplified wood processing.