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View Full Version : Lumberjack tools of the 1800s


1nomi1
Nov 27, 2006, 07:51 PM
:confused: How were trees cut down in the 1800s and what type of tools did the men use to achieve this??

wolfboy
Nov 28, 2006, 03:11 AM
Single man saws and double man saws.
Single bit axes and double bit axes.
It was a lot of hard work and very dangerous

newaukumdon
Dec 13, 2006, 08:28 PM
When logging on the west coast new methods where developed due to the shear size of the tree and underbrush in the old growth forest. They would notch the tree at about 5 foot and put a board in it to stand on. This was called a spring board. The purpose was to get to a point where they had the ability to use a two man crosscut with out interference.

The double bit axe was invented due to the size of the timber on the west coast verses east coast trees.

The steam donkey was a winch that allowed them to pull the timber to an area for loading on a rail.

Amazing the amount of timber harvested during this period with so little to work with.

I still enjoy seeing an old growth stump with a "notch" in it for a spring board. I believe at some point they will have residential landscape value.

The first chainsaws where introduced in the late 30's and earlier 40's I believe Mercury (outboard fame) was one of the first.

codyt.
Nov 15, 2011, 12:29 PM
Some tools were the "misery whip" Or otherwise known as the cross-cut saw. They also used double bit hand axes. The steel wedge was used to split wood and was then cut using a saw. Try going to Google and looking at lumberjack tools in the 1800's.