Here's A Bucking Method You Should Practice

I learned the motions for this bucking method many years ago, and I practice it once in a while, but it isn't something I use much in cutting firewood.  It is most useful when you are bucking logs that are bigger than your bar, when you want your upper and lower cuts to match, and for those times when the log is on the ground and you must cut from the bottom.

When making bucking cuts you normally want to cut on the compressed side of the log first, and finish on the tensioned side.  Logs on the ground are sometimes hard to dope out, and you should have a wedge and hammer handy for those times when you get it wrong.  Start your bucking cut on the top, then rotate the saw over the top to cut the far side.  After you have the off side cut, bring your saw back to your side and draw the bar out most of the way, then cut downward.  Next you punch the bar through the lower side of the log, then continue down until you feel the saw take out the bark.  The bark will also throw chips of a different color, but you will feel it if you are paying attention.  You then have to decide if you want to cut upward to finish, or go back to the top and cut down.  Guess wrong, and the worst that can happen is you have to free your bar with a wedge. 

If you are bucking to make lumber out of your logs, you should keep the cuts 90 degrees to the center line of the log, but if you are making firewood, clearing fire breaks, and etc., you make your work easier by angling a bit.  The angles allow the chunks to roll free, which will be greatly appreciated by your swampers that have to move them after you cut them.