Troubleshooting a Chainsaw Mill Motor Chainsaw's getting cranky when it's running hot — what's up with that? Find out here — this forum knows chainsaw motors. April 20, 2011
Small Scale Timber Management A balanced discussion of low-impact sustainable horse logging versus one-time heavy harvesting. April 18, 2009
Winches for Skidding Logs If you want the muscle to move logs, you should look at hydraulic winches, not electric. Read on for other skidding advice. July 3, 2008
Sap Content and the Seasons Despite rumors to the contrary, live trees contain the same amount of sap, summer or winter. July 28, 2012
Squirting Tree Phenomenon Stand back: trees in wet locations, infected with bacteria, may squirt smelly water when cut. Here, experts explain why. August 29, 2006
Seasons and Logging The time of year when a tree is cut may affect drying time, and also can have other effects. April 18, 2009
Skidding Extra-Heavy Logs A sawmiller needs to move some multi-ton oak logs using a farm tractor, and gets advice on how to manage it. November 13, 2005
Slabbing a Large Cherry Trunk Advice on getting the best from a large Cherry tree growing in the courtyard of a home. December 31, 2012
Value of Dead Standing Oak Moth-killed Chestnut Oak (also called Rock Oak) need not be felled immediately, and can produce valuable boards and timbers. October 1, 2009
Unusual Bar Shape on an Old Chain Saw Back in the day, some chain saws came with a bar that was interrupted in the middle, advantageous for limbing and for cutting stumps. June 15, 2014
Value of Salvaged Burnt Timber Trees killed by wildland fire still produce good lumber beneath the charred portion. January 8, 2010
Loading and Moving Big Logs with Minimal Impact This starts out as a conversation about block and tackle mechanical advantage, but develops into a detailed and useful discussion of ways to skid and load logs without tearing up the woods or lot. June 18, 2010
Pecan Wood for Use as Ties A little info (and some unanswered questions) about the usefulness of Pecan wood for railroad ties.June 14, 2014
Business Basics for a Timber Sale Sawmill pros and foresters advise a landowner on how to approach structuring a deal to cut and mill standing timber. July 30, 2007
Chain Saw Tooth Modifications for Ripping Detailed, specialized advice on chain selection and tooth grinding and sharpening for chainsaws used to rip logs into rough thicknesses. April 20, 2011
Chainsaw Compression Release Explanations of the purpose and value of a compression release valve on a chainsaw, and some advice on starting a stubborn saw with less pull-back on the rope. February 22, 2011
Bulldozed Saw Logs Trees that have been pushed over may have various kinds of damage near the butt — and pulling them out of the pile can be hazardous, too. June 22, 2012
Advice for Ripping Large Logs How the pros make longitudinal cuts in the field, in order to expedite getting their harvest to the mill. January 25, 2005
Books About Historic Lumbering and Sawing Sawmill forum members recommend some interesting reading about the history of logging and sawmill operations in various regions of North America. April 18, 2015
Doyle scale basics A primer for those unfamiliar with the Doyle scale. March 28, 2001
Crosscut Saw Manual Comprehensive manual for the care, maintenance, and sharpening of a crosscut saw, from our friends at the U.S.D.A. Forest Service. January 5, 2007
Sustainable forestry How sustainable forestry relates to the woodworker and consumer demands. June 3, 2003
Waste wood into profit Sawyers turn wood otherwise destined for the landfill into a business. June 5, 2002
Tree identification guide Recommended resources for identifying the trees in your region. February 28, 2001