Not owning one simplifies that concern.?ÿ If I were to buy one today it would be the little battery-powered variety.?ÿ I would buy 10 chains and never sharpen one after using it to the point it clearly needs sharpened.?ÿ Can you tell I hate sharpening chains.
Serious chain saw work is something I will gladly pay someone else to do.?ÿ Getting small limbs out of the way while surveying is handled by a large set of loppers.
I cut between 2-5 cords of oak a year for personal use. Nothing worse than cutting with a dull chain. I am VERY careful to never let the moving chain touch the ground, but stuff happens. I always have files with me and stop to sharpen as needed. No big deal.
@fairbanksls When I was in the field I worked out of a van; so having a saw & fuel in there with me was unpleasant.?ÿ Instead I had my boss buy me a Gr??nsfors Bruk American Felling Axe.
Bought a Stihl 029 25 years ago when I got married. Marriage lasted less than a year. Just had that Stihl saw overhauled and she runs like champ bucking up 6-10 chord of birch every fall. It would appear that I have better luck with chainsaws than battle axes. Couple minutes with the drummel tool and chain is sharp as new. A tank of gas goes a lot further with a sharp chain.?ÿ
Just because I'm paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get me.
I bought an electric saw after the hurricanes left tons of fallen trees and branches in the woods. It worked great but I don't need it much now that a lot of it is rotting away.?ÿ ?ÿ
Many years ago I was cutting centerlines for the fairways of a proposed golf course on Cape Cod. Late in the day I was exhausted and the saw dropped down to cut my bluejeans, long johns and a little scratch on my leg. I kept those jeans for years to wear when using a saw to remind myself.?ÿ
I am a huge fan of cutting implements, apparently.?ÿ Love the Gr??nsfors Bruk, love a good razor sharp HEAVY 24" machete, and chainsaws.?ÿ Don't care to use any of them nearly as much as I once did, but still very much enjoy a little bit of all.?ÿ Especially when extremely sharp!?ÿ Once bought a $9 fixed blade hunting knife made in China, and I think got more good out of it dollar for dollar than all the other cutting implements of any size or cost because I used it constantly for years.?ÿ Still have it, but don't use it much...
Dad was a logger, I still have all his saws.?ÿ They're not only sharp, but because I have three, I have one chain filed to take a big bite that I use for softwood, one filed a bit flatter for hardwood and the heavy old yard saw has a chain filed somewhere in between.?ÿ
Dad didn't like angle guides or jigs or anything like that for sharpening because they become a crutch.?ÿ Repetition is a wonderful teacher.
My brother borrowed the money from mom, and bought a McCullough ProMac 610. About 1980 or so. He was trying to get to work, and go straight, he said. He returned the saw. Took the money, and ran off to California. He was 17.?ÿ Then, he did alot of things, and the law started to get hot on his case. He bought a 1977 black trans am, with blue pin stripes. Returned to Arkansas. That saw financed his escape from mom and dad. He eventually did get a survey license. But, he was work shy. That's not a good recipe for a young surveyor.
He's been gone since Christmas of 2003. Tell them kids you love them often. It's easy for them to think that they are unloved.
Sometimes a chainsaw would come in real handy but my boss doesn't want the insurance/liability concerns so we don't have any. I keep my own personal Stihl trimmer in the truck with heavy duty plastic blades for cutting thick weeds when I need line of sight. Has come in handy multiple times.?ÿ
Loved these Sandvik cutters in Alaska.?ÿ ?ÿI bought one in Florida but it's not a good fit here.?ÿ ?ÿA machete works better in the jungle.?ÿ?ÿ
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One summer the PNW USFS outfit I worked for decided machetes were too dangerous and replaced them with Sandviks.?ÿ It was good for medium sized stuff, the heft and handle length made for an easy swing and the replaceable blade meant it was always sharp.?ÿ But it was slow in thick brush and useless?ÿ above a certain tree diameter.?ÿ So we recovered our machetes from the scrap yard and hid them at the worksite trailhead, switched to them when they were appropriate (most of the time).
BTW I looked it up and those blades are $13 each!?ÿ We probably went through a couple hundred bucks worth that summer.?ÿ Funny how if you're not paying for it cost doesn't matter.
@mike-marks?ÿ exactly!?ÿ ?ÿthat's why they aren't great here in SW Florida.?ÿ ?ÿAnd i recall the blades popping out if you hit it wrong, so that was always an issue.
