My dad had a 6 foot long two person saw. We sharpened it up & tested it against a 20 inch Makita electric chainsaw which was really good. Built like a tank, weighed a ton. It was a good saw.
We were very surprised just how quick a two person saw would cut, even with two very inexperienced workers. The key was to get into a really good rhythm, rather than getting exhausted, let the saw do the work. Nevertheless we were still tired.
The timber was 600mm diameter trunk, still green. The chainsaw was a bit short but factoring in this issue, there wasn't a lot in it between the two saws.
Bicyclecamper said
03:39 PM Apr 19, 2022
I donated a 8 foot as new saw, that had been bought used once, then it went up into the barn roof, until 5 years ago, when I cleaned it up and donated to our families property( Cousins of same name) At Invergowrie Homestead Museum Tool Shed Near Armidale NSW as well as all of my Great Grand Fathers Carpentry Tools from the 1870's. The tools in the museum are still being used today, as occasionally I borrow them back for the odd job or the Museum's Master Craftsman uses them as well.. I prefer to use them over the electrical tools of today.
Cupie said
09:09 AM Apr 20, 2022
I have a family heirloom two person crosscut saw hanging over my BBQ along with other stuff, like a rabbit trap & a reaping hook that got lots of work pre motor mowers in my youth.
From about the age of 10 I was required to get on the end of the saw with my Father to cut up old Telephone poles to provide firewood blocks for us & the bloody neighbours! I think that my Father was paid in long necks (bottled beer), but no soft drink or pocket money for me.
Many years later I needed to trim some old Power poles to construct a retaining wall at my first house in Ferny Grove. No chains saws available, so out came the old crosscut. No sharpening, just new handles from a broom stick and straight into the job solo. Fantastic! Did the job with ease, hadn't been sharpened (or used) for almost 20 years!
It would have been a different case with one of those giant saws, standing on a plank up the base of the forest giant, using wedges to stop it from jamming. Highly skilled, dangerous & hard work.
It wasn?t only America that had massive trees cut down using hand saws. This photo shows a tree stump at Gippsland. The logs would have been cut up and them removed probably using ox teams.
Do the weights and measures on this beauty..........
My dad had a 6 foot long two person saw. We sharpened it up & tested it against a 20 inch Makita electric chainsaw which was really good. Built like a tank, weighed a ton. It was a good saw.
We were very surprised just how quick a two person saw would cut, even with two very inexperienced workers. The key was to get into a really good rhythm, rather than getting exhausted, let the saw do the work. Nevertheless we were still tired.
The timber was 600mm diameter trunk, still green. The chainsaw was a bit short but factoring in this issue, there wasn't a lot in it between the two saws.
I have a family heirloom two person crosscut saw hanging over my BBQ along with other stuff, like a rabbit trap & a reaping hook that got lots of work pre motor mowers in my youth.
From about the age of 10 I was required to get on the end of the saw with my Father to cut up old Telephone poles to provide firewood blocks for us & the bloody neighbours! I think that my Father was paid in long necks (bottled beer), but no soft drink or pocket money for me.
Many years later I needed to trim some old Power poles to construct a retaining wall at my first house in Ferny Grove. No chains saws available, so out came the old crosscut. No sharpening, just new handles from a broom stick and straight into the job solo. Fantastic! Did the job with ease, hadn't been sharpened (or used) for almost 20 years!
It would have been a different case with one of those giant saws, standing on a plank up the base of the forest giant, using wedges to stop it from jamming. Highly skilled, dangerous & hard work.
Some big trees at Bendoc
It must have been awe inspiring to see a forest of those trees before most of them were cut down.