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The Good Woodcutter's Guide

Chain Saws, Portable Sawmills, and Woodlots

by Dave Johnson

Introduction

THE WOODLAND OWNER WHO DOES at least part of his own work with a chain saw is the person for whom this book will probably have the greatest appeal. This is more or less inevitable, because that is who I am. Still, there is much here for the professional cutter and novice alike. Note: I will be using masculine pronouns almost exclusively though I know that many of my readers will be women.

I live on my land and do all my own woods work. Like almost everyone who lives in a rural area and tries to make a living, I've had to "do what comes my way." This has included sawmilling, kiln-drying, logging, pulpwood cutting, tree planting, and firewood production.

For the professional or experienced woods worker, there is a good chance that some of the information contained in this book will be new to you and will lead you to a reevaluation of some work techniques. This can be important since, in repetitive work such as logging, a single small improvement can pay off handsomely over time.

For the novice cutter, the book can act as a guide as you gain expertise. Even after years of woods work, I find that whenever I read back over my source material I discover things I either previously overlooked, forgot, or was unable to fully grasp the first time I read them.

Finally, even though parts of the book may not seem relevant to you, I urge you to read it all the way through. Then, concentrate on those parts that apply directly to your work. The philosophy of work remains the same throughout the book, and perhaps seeing something written in a different way will bring home a particular concept to you and make it relevant to your own situation or circumstances.