Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Heavy Job

 


16 comments:

  1. This picture always kinda sparks my curiosity. Those redwoods (probably up near the sequoias or somesuch) really splinter when you cut em with an axe. I assume that given the neatness of the 2 cuts, they were done with the big saw hanging down you can see, cause if they had used the double bit axes, they would be covered in blood from all the splinters flying at them.

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    1. That's a Douglas Fir.
      They used axes for the undercut, crosscut saws for the back cut.
      A perfectly clean undercut face is important in that it's what determines the tree landing exactly where they're 'gunning' (aiming) for.

      This photo was taken near Portland, circa 1915. I'm guessing it was taken by Darius Kinsey or his brother Clark.

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    2. I love knowing that Elmo knows exactly what he’s talking about, and that i know it because of having read his many comments on the logging industry here on CW’s blog these recent years(?).

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  2. Saw don’t leave marks like that.
    Embiggen it.

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  3. That was back when men were men and half the women were too! I've used double bit axes and I had a big cross cut saw like the hanger there, but I'm rather enamored to Huskies and Stihls.

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  4. Maybe it's just me, but I would think that their shoulders would be as broad as a house after swinging an ax or drawing the saw across some of those giant trees every day and all day long. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure these men are as fit as they come, but it just surprises me that they aren't bigger. Although, the one of the right has hands the size of a large bear paw.

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    1. We confuse gym fit lookie me bodies with real work fit bodies. They are not the same.

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    2. I'll bet if you really swang that axe for an hour a day you would have giant muscles.
      These guys are using their muscles as-is, not pushing them. Much like a marathon runner, who has slender legs, compared to Beyonce, with dat thicc booty.

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  5. @Anon 2:17

    As a commenter already pointed out, that is a fur. Moreover, on the topside of the cut you can see round-ish marking. Those are axe marks. You will see similar marks on hewn beams - that is indented marks from the chop during the initial sizing and lengthwise marks from the broad axe during the clean.

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  6. Imagine keeping your balance on that beam as you swing your ax, again and again, all the live-long day.

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    1. Those were known as 'springboards'.

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    2. Practice.. all the live-long day as you pointed out.. they were tough!

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  7. Where's the big pile of wood chips?

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  8. If that tree is on the side of a mountain the chips are 10-20 ft below them. Speaking of tough. Those two fellas are as tough as you'll ever see with the strongest core muscles (back, stomach) since that job went by the wayside. One of the most demanding jobs I ever experienced. Digging ditches was easier.

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