A sharp properly tensioned chain is the most important part of the saw as with any other cutting tool. It is designed to cut clean wood only, not dirt, nails, brick, wire, the driveway or anything else.

I worked with group of 25 crews logging in southeast 36 years a chainsaw will cut 5 hours with one sharpen pine are hardwood size makes no difference wood are saw lunch time need a resharpening 3 stokes eat tooth. chain guide tool is needed some guides don't cut away aneff metal away to get long saw dust chip hardwood 1 1/2 to 3 inches pine 3 to 4 inches in chip pile from saw not all just some. You use the back thumb nail check point on chisel sharpnest if trys cut into nail its sharp if slides its dull. All new chains come with poor sharpening there sharpen with rocks files are best.

Once you take down the stem and even the branches, try to clean off any dirt that might have gotten lodged in the bark. It's nice if you have a hose around for this. Otherwise look for a clean section to cut.

If you do enough cutting on larger pieces think about getting a cant hook. A peavey is a cant hook with a pointed spear tip. I understand the peavey to be useful for loggers moving wood in water.

They do make a tool similar to a cant hook called a "timberjack". A hand timberjack is used to lift a log up out of the dirt for cutting.

Very good advice IMO, Only thing I can add is even if you don't touch dirt you saw should never be put up without a few strokes with the file on the teeth and cleaning out the bar for good oiling. No oil equals hot chain, hot chain is a smoking dull chain. IMO they go hand in hand. This especially applies to the home owner saws. They IMO are not going to cut till noon like the pro's saws do before they need attention. IMO you can tell if the chain is sharp by the way it cuts and leave chips.

Cheapest tool I ever made was a bar groove cleaner from a wood clothes pin. Couple of cuts with a pocket knife and you're in business.

A peavey is useful for moving logs anytime that you need to seperate the logs from others, that is what the point is for. A cant hook is more aptly used on a sawmill, where cants are made and handled. I know that many people use the cant hook in place of a peavey but they are only making their work harder.

BTW, it should be understood that hosing down logs that have been dragged is only going to be marginally effective as dirt will be embedded in the bark and will not wash off. Sometimes it is more practical to remove really dirty bark but it`s always a good idea to cut with the chain pushing or pulling the dirt away from the wood rather than cutting so the dirt is dragged all the way through the cut.

Hey barbedwire,

I have never used either a cant or a peavey. Is there any difference other than the spear point? I can't see how the point would be useful if I were only working on the ground and not with floaters. It seems like the spear would get in the way of rolling on the ground. I am pretty sure you have to roll toward the spear. Very curious because I will probably need to pick one up this year. I was thinking 36", maybe 48".

I agree about the washing of the dirt off. In typically only works with loamy type soil. Forget about getting clay off. Great point about not pulling the dirt through the cut.

Hey masiman,

No the point doesn`t get in the way when rolling a log. Approach the log with the handle of the peavey between 45° and parallel to the ground with the hook hanging down and shove the handle forward as you contact the log so engage the hook, now push up using mostly your legs and the log rolls. You do roll towards the point for log rolling. The point is essential for getting between tightly jammed logs.

I know that some guys prefer a cant hook to a peavey for log rolling but I expect that is probably due to never using a peavey, or log hook. I`ve used and own both and I prefer the peavey for the reasons stated.

When buying a hook get the longest that is comfortable and handy for your average work. This is usually somewhere between 48" to 60". The relatively new LogRite brand tools are quite nice but then there is nothing wrong with the wooden handled ones if you don`t leave them out in the weather for extended periods.