Crosscut Saws

PNWGATOR

WKR
Joined
Oct 14, 2014
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Hoping someone would be willing to give crosscut saw 101. Heading into the wilderness and the need for clearing blow downs is more than my Oregon saddle saw can handle.
 
Joined
Apr 9, 2012
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1,847
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Fishhook, Alaska
Been a long time since I spent any serious time with one, but as I recall SHARP is the key. Also you don't want to force or fight the saw at all. Smooth strokes and a sharp saw will cut amazingly fast.

Good axe to help deal with limbs and pinched blades is also key.

Used to know more than that, it it's been too long!


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mntnguide

WKR
Joined
Apr 27, 2012
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427
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WY
Oh man...the joys of crosscut! Ive spent to many hours to count on them after 9 years guiding in wilderness areas. . A good pair using a crosscut can make it Sing and its really not Physically hard if you are in rhythm with each other. Big thing is DO NOT PUSH. Using a 2 man crosscut if you start pushing you cause a bend in the saw and it creates friction. Its a pull pull relationship. And yes, a SHARP crosscut will make life incredibly easier than a old dull one. But crosscuts are not easy to sharpen just on your own. It takes special tools to set the rakers to certain degrees and sharpen etc...We used to send our saws to the one guy in the area who knew how to do it after each season. He would set some better for trail clearing, and others more for bucking up wood for camp etc. Having a couple axes and maybe a wedge will be beneficial into not getting the saw in a bind. Its definitely an art, but its not rocket science. just lots of sweat and some cuss words! Also depends on what type of crosscut you use. We mainly used 6 foot M tooth 2 mans, but you can also get 4 foot single/double that are easier to pack and can have an extra handle to make it a 2 man saw. The 6 footers obviously cant be run alone and work much better at getting work done
 
Joined
Dec 27, 2012
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4,807
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Colorado
I'd rather use a crosscut than a chainsaw any day. It might take longer, but I find it more satisfying. I've got a 6' felling saw and a 6' bucking saw for work. We also have a 6' bucking saw that broke in half and can be used in two 3' sections by one person.
 
Joined
Apr 1, 2016
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733
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Eastern Washington
Cutting trails I'll usually use a single man saw with something like a 36" blade. A true crosscut you'll need two guys to run, while the bigger single man saws can be setup for 1 or 2 people to use.
 
Joined
Sep 9, 2016
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85
Location
Texas
There's reason they nickname it, The Misery Whip. I had my experience of using one at guide school in Montana.
 
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PNWGATOR

WKR
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Oct 14, 2014
Messages
2,612
Location
USA
Appreciate all of the information guys, thank you.

Jason, really appreciate the offer!
 

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