Hi,
I’m in need of some retaining wall material and it just so happens there are a couple telephone poles laying on the ground in my neighborhood. Assuming I can legally use them, what would be the best way to get two flat sides? I have a 14″ chainsaw. I’m sure one of those Alaska Saw Mills would work, but I didn’t want to purchase too much for a one time job. I suppose I could freehand it, but a pole is quite long.
Any Ideas?
Thanks.
Jon
Replies
Me and my dad built a log cabin playhouse years ago for me and my sister and we used a beam machine to square three sides of the logs and left the round side out for a log cabin look. Beware though telephone poles are hard on chainsaws. You can burn out your saw if it is not heavy enough. Also you may want to look at a rip chain.
Check the link below
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.asp?SID=&ccurrency=1&page=20126&category=1,41131,41139
Scott C. Frankland
Newfoundland Wood Worker
Based on what I've read here in other threads, a rip chain is probably essential. If the telephone poles seem like too much hassle, you might want to check under "Salvage" in the yellow pages. Our local salvage guys regularly have long (and I mean long) treated square timbers available. 'course then you'll have to find a trailer to haul 'em with!
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Edited 5/25/2002 11:46:21 PM ET by forest_girl
That looks like a viable option. How does the rip chain work on nails, I'm sure to encounter them. Thanks.
Jon
a couple of questions .....are these old poles? if so watch out for nails, spikes, and any other strange object you can think of......are these poles treated with cresote? that #### is TOXIC, ask forest girl how long they've been cleaning up the cresote plant/superfund site on her island, they don't call it "braindamage" for nothing.
Just because something is free, don't make it right. I hope you can find a safer alternative.
putting the "BIG" in BIG DADDY
Where would these poles go otherwise? I don't want to put in new PT lumber for the sake of recycling and PT isn't exactly non-toxic. I also don't want to pour concrete for this wall. My first choice would be dry stack stone, but we don't have the $$ at the moment.
Thanks.
Jon
To get an idea of what's available, check out http://www.baileysonline.com. They've got milling stuff for chainsaws.
Scott
Sorry but this sounds like a ridiculous idea.
Nails in the piece could kill you.
The power company routinely stores replacement poles along the easements to have on hand for emergencies so if these are unused it would be theft, in addition to making it hard for you and your neighbors to have power restored after a storm or accident.
You can buy lumber cheaper than the labor to rework these but if you had to do it a hand adze is the easiest way to get it done.
There is a book out called the "art of modular post and Beam construction". It has a cheap but effective method of milling logs. Good luck!
Mitt
The proper tool to use is a broad axe.
The proper wood to use is anything other than a malodorus phone pole.
Frank
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