Author Topic: Do you cut hedge/osage orange?  (Read 926 times)

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Offline brettl

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Do you cut hedge/osage orange?
« on: April 16, 2014, 03:58:40 am »
I've found some kind landowners this year and am cutting more hedge for my folks than ever. I've always just went to my Stihl dealer, told him the pitch and drive link number and trusted to whatever chain he provided me with.
I have some old 16", .325 pitch bars on my 024 and 028s and run Stihl full-comp/standard chain. Do you think 16" is pushing it on a 024? What sprocket, bar and chain combo would you use on a smaller saw like this? It's a 42cc saw. I'm hoping some of you other hedge cutters will "chip" in with what's working for you. Thanks.
Sthil Man. 011AV, 015, 020, 020, 024, 025, 026, 028 WB(2), 028AV, 028 Super, 029 Super(2), 039, 041, 192TC, 200T, 250, 260, 390, 440, 441

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Offline SDB777

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Re: Do you cut hedge/osage orange?
« Reply #1 on: April 16, 2014, 09:46:32 pm »
Guess the simple answer is: YES

I cut some, mill it, dry it, and re-sell the 'chunks' for turners all over the world.  I'm currently out of stock, but always looking for more.

Last tree I got ahold of was just under 22"dbh, and I yielded about 550bdft, that made me about $12.55/bdft(plus or minus $.50)
I used a Stihl 064 w/24" milling set-up(ripping chain) to slab the bigger chunks for bowl blanks and pepper mills.  Then I put some of the slabbed flitches onto the sawmill and make the smaller stuff.  Limb are done with a MS250 18" bar.


Bar/chain combos have more oiling issues the longer they get......







Scott (low hp can be made up for by slower feeding) B
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Offline 660magnum

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Re: Do you cut hedge/osage orange?
« Reply #2 on: April 16, 2014, 10:04:31 pm »
Hedge apple or Osage orange is very common in this area. Grain is a lot like sugar maple but the wood has a noticeable yellow tinge. If I get into it, I just use what I'm running but the chain needs to be sharp.
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Offline brettl

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Re: Do you cut hedge/osage orange?
« Reply #3 on: April 16, 2014, 11:02:59 pm »
Scott, yes that you cut hedge or yes that this is to much bar for a 024? Thanks for your answers. I wish I had a mill set-up. Here in Kansas hedge is everywhere.
I guess I should have asked, have you cut with a 024? I'm cutting hedge with mine with a 16" bar, .325 pitch, full-comp. I'm just cutting firewood. If you've cut with one and have cut hedge you can be of particular help in telling me what sprocket, chain, and bar combo worked on your 024 in hedge or similar hardwood. Frankly, I don't know off-hand what the sprocket tooth count is on mine. The 16" bar is an older one with no tip sprocket at all. I just want to make sure I'm not overworking this saw. Of course, I can control this by cutting smaller branches but if 16 is just to much, I'll try to find a 14 with the bigger stud gap to fit on my 024. Thanks
Sthil Man. 011AV, 015, 020, 020, 024, 025, 026, 028 WB(2), 028AV, 028 Super, 029 Super(2), 039, 041, 192TC, 200T, 250, 260, 390, 440, 441

Offline jmester

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Re: Do you cut hedge/osage orange?
« Reply #4 on: April 23, 2014, 08:31:36 pm »
Green they are not to bad. If they are dead good luck have spent a lot of time sharpening after cutting dead ones. I would run a 7 tooth sprocket and the full comp 16" bar and chain.
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Offline 660magnum

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Re: Do you cut hedge/osage orange?
« Reply #5 on: April 23, 2014, 09:03:03 pm »
I've heard of people seeing sparks on dead ones?

Cutting the dried wood in the pattern shop - it cut OK but would burn unless the saw was sharp.
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Offline rms61moparman

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Re: Do you cut hedge/osage orange?
« Reply #6 on: April 23, 2014, 09:20:47 pm »

Yes I do cut it!
Yes I do love it as firewood!

I have found a good semi chisel works better than a square cornered full chisel chain.
I have also found on the stuff up to 10 inches, the smaller saws with a good 3/8ths low pro actually cut better (longer without sharpening and minimizing the stress on the sawyer) than the bigger saws with more aggressive chains.
.325 narrow kerf also works well.

I have personally seen LOTS of sparks in the dusk hours cutting Hedge if it is dead!

Let the saw do the work.......trying to force it at all will only dull your chain that much faster.


Mike

Offline brettl

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Re: Do you cut hedge/osage orange?
« Reply #7 on: April 25, 2014, 07:50:07 am »
Thanks all. Mike, have you experimented with different brands of semi-chisel? What have you found to work best? Thanks again everyone.
Sthil Man. 011AV, 015, 020, 020, 024, 025, 026, 028 WB(2), 028AV, 028 Super, 029 Super(2), 039, 041, 192TC, 200T, 250, 260, 390, 440, 441

 

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