Cutting up a log

[Tiger]

I've just spent an hour and a bit cutting up a camphor laurel log. The log is about 15 inches in diameter and 12 inches in length. My 1800 watt electric chainsaw struggled (cutting lengthwise) badly even after a sharpening. My bandsaw has a capacity of 8 inches so I couldn't run it through there until I broke the log down.

The log was a few years old not sure how old but wasn't by any means green and so I expected a bit of a struggle. Am wondering what manual means I could use to cut down logs or is it a matter of getting a more powerful chainsaw?

[mkypenturner]

bigger chainsaw about a 16-18 " bar should do anything you will ever need
troy

[funkychicken]

Camphor is soft stuff, get yourself a decent chainsaw (Stihl or Husky)

[BobL]

Seen this? https://www.woodworkforums.com/f132/redneck-re-sawing-97921

Seriously, even an 1800W CS should be able to rip through CL, my guess is your chain is not properly sharpened.
Most turner's chainsaws I see are poorly maintained and very poorly sharpened.
What raker depth are you using?
Post a close up side on picture of a cutter and I'll give you a diagnosis.

[joe greiner]

What Bob said. (except for the explosives).

And a spare new chain is always handy.

Cheers,
Joe

[rsser]

If it's straight grained just split it with an axe or splitter.

[Timber stacker]

I'd say get a better chainsaw, my kettle has 400 more watts than your chainsaw.

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

Ripping 12"x15"dia? What Ern said!

For that, a chainsaw is overkill.

[turnerted]

I assume you are laying the log on it's side when cutting it or are you standing it on end and cutting down . If you are , it will always be a hard job .

Ted

[thefixer]

Cheers
Shorty

[Sawdust Maker]

I'm not sure black powder would be that popular in the suburbs - but what fun - would wake the neighbours chooks up

[Tiger]

Thanks for the guidance. Ted, you've got it right, I was cutting the log in the garage because it was raining outside (for once) so I stood it upright, it was a bit easier lying down.

Ern/Skew, what type of splitter is adequate, tried an axe but it might have been too light, what poundage should I look at and can will one from Bunnies do?

[rsser]

You may not get much choice in Bunnings and that's fine; my local one supplies one with a quite oblique angled head: 35 degrees included angle. Sometimes you'll see them with a more acute angle a little more like an axe and I'd avoid these as the head tends to get buried in softer woods.

To get an accurate split down the middle you can rest the point on the end grain and start it with a few hammer blows.

Good luck.

[Texian]

What Ern said. Two steel wedges and a sledge hammer. Works on oak. Dunno about those southern hemispherical woods (oops, timbers).

[bobsreturn2003]

my electric saw does logs in camphor in a few minutes it can cut hardwood too .get a new chain or learn to sharpen properly, or get it done at a sharpening shop ,easy to sharpen when you know how. have petrol saws to 95cc but for small stuff the electric is fine . cheers bob