NCD (New Chainsaw Day!)

[Guildedagain]

With the Super Mag II with dual exhaust, you wouldn't have any ears left after a day of milling. At least the other 056 is not as obnoxiously loud. To mill, it has a 28" bar with special milling chain, a lot like skip but still has an upright tooth with the top ground off as a chip mover every other tooth.

The chain is narrow, and the drive sprocket is reduced to a 7 tooth instead of 8 teeth for torque instead of speed.

It's like doing a ten minute pushup but we were milling a foot a minute on big logs, making 2" slabs. 16' log = 16 minute cut at wide open rpm if you're lucky enough to have a motor that will do it without bogging down.

The ultimate milling saws are 090's.

 

[Herbert R.]

With top-rated picks from STIHL, Makita, and Husqvarna, you’ll be spoilt for choice when choosing one of the best chainsaws. These tools can deal with both smaller trunks and mature trees, too, so you know you have a capable machine for your backyard. Chainsaws come in various sizes, from small electric models to hefty gas-powered models intended for heavier work. They’re also bursting with safety features to keep everything ticking along nicely, including hold-down safety buttons and built-in brakes to keep you on the right path. Some chainsaws even have innovative self-sharpening systems to save you a job and allow you to keep your chain on your device for longer without changing it.
I suggest you buy a https://powertoolsadvisor.com/makita/xcu03pt1-review Makita xcu03pt1.

 

[Opsimath]

Welcome to LTG! And thank you for the information.

My projects sometimes, okay - maybe most times, take a while to get off the ground. I got a chainsaw earlier this year, but at the urging of members here wanted to get safety stuff before trying to cut anything down. I just recently completed the collection of helmet, gloves - both hands (why would anyone buy just one??!), and chaps so pretty much ready to go except that I have decided to hire a "chainsaw instructor", someone with chainsaw experience to help me get started, and I can get tips from him. Should be fun!

 

[MartyG]

Step one: I recommend looking for a class. I took one locally through an Ag extension program and it was well worth the time. A full day of both classroom and outdoor cutting. I had done some chainsaw work before, but learned so much - mostly about how to stay out of trouble. A sharp blade is an absolute must, and I keep a couple on hand to swap in when needed. Depending on the wood, they can dull quickly, making the cutting even more dangerous. Blade tension is critical too, and knowing how to check and adjust that is one of the keys. I use a gas unit - a Stihl, and it has taken care of a lot of cleanup - maybe the biggest being a 14" oak that fell over the driveway. Anything bigger, or to fell larger trees I leave to the pros. +1 on chaps - and helmet with face shield, eyewear, gloves and steel toe shoes.

Please be careful!

Marty

 

[Nuuska]

Cynthia - just don't put your family into this situation

 

[Canard]

 

[chazmo]

I think we need pictures, Cynthia!!! Preferably with you operating the chainsaw!!!!!!

 

[chazmo]

Oh, and in all seriousness, make sure you've got the best eye protection even if you don't need ear pro anymore.

These are a good deal; I use RE Ranger XLW gear for everything.. Will stop a shotgun blast (god forbid)... https://www.reranger.com/products/bf-xlw-kit

 

[Nuuska]

Whaddya mean "uncut" ?

 

[Canard]

Whaddya mean "uncut" ?

Yeah. And I am not surprised ferrets attack more people than grizzly bears. People are a lot smaller, they are less able to defend themselves, and they can't runs as fast. Grizzlies can out run a horse over short distances.

 

[fronobulax]

Whereas I am still parsing "ferrets attack more people than grizzly bears".

Does it mean:

• The number of people attacked by ferrets is greater than the number of people attacked by grizzly bears.
• The number of people attacked by ferrets is greater than the number of grizzly bears attacked by ferrets.

When you had to write and/or grade word problems included in a mathematics exam unambiguous language becomes important.

 

[Canard]

Whereas I am still parsing "ferrets attack more people than grizzly bears".

Does it mean:

• The number of people attacked by ferrets is greater than the number of people attacked by grizzly bears.
• The number of people attacked by ferrets is greater than the number of grizzly bears attacked by ferrets.

When you had to write and/or grade word problems included in a mathematics exam unambiguous language becomes important.

And should there be a comma somewhere? And if so where?

 

[beecee]

You didn't say if you had operated one prior....so if you have just take the following as a refresher.

Agree with everything said before.....Skittles ain't a toy as you know.

Assuming you're right handed keep your left arm straight and locked...helps against kick back. Please wear eye protection and scout out an escape route before you start..especially if felling.....(cutting down a standing tree).

You tube is your friend...watch all the how to's

But eye protection is key!

May want to call it Hannibal vs. Skittles in the back of your mind when you pick it up....both have similar taste in main courses.

Be smart, be slow, think it through and when you start to feel real confident stop and re run the basics in your head again....you'll be fine.

In spite of years of experience I whacked my leg a couple years ago. Only my world class athletic reflexes, rapier whit and charming good looks saved my humble self from a major injury vs a minor chomp...ruined a good pair of 501's tho....(see Chaps).

Heymikey..I need to reaseach that canola oil idea.

EDIT: Blipped right over your most recent post!!! Good idea on getting instructions.

 

[Guildedagain]

"I saw the chainsaw chaps, but didn't get them. What exactly do they do? "

The most common chainsaw injuries are to the legs/thighs, a chainsaw salesman will even tell you the average number of stitches to sew it up, if you live.

They aslo keep flying bar oil off your pants ;]

 

[Canard]

Seriously folks ...

I inherited a small Stihl gas 2-cycle chainsaw from my father. It is old but like new. The model still seems to be in production, so I was able to find a PDF copy of the manual. The document isn't all that well written/organised and is a bit confusing - it is always hard for technical writers to put themselves in the mindset of someone who knows nothing. The saw would not run after sitting for so long, so I took it apart, cleaned it up, and fed it a good quality 2-cycle pre-mix. It starts and runs fine now. I am reluctant to use it, though, because I don't really know what I am doing despite having read the confusing manual - the one very clear thing stated in the manual was "do not use this saw if you don't know what you are doing" -- seems to be good advice. And for most small jobs around the property, my heavy-duty reciprocal saw fitted with a pruning blade works fine and with less fuss, noise, and mess. I should learn how to use it.

 

[Opsimath]

"Do not use this saw if you don't know what you are doing."

How do you learn what you are doing without using the saw?

 

[Nuuska]

Once you have the tree laying on the ground - instead on top of your house, car etc - and start cutting the branches off it - stay on opposite side of the trunk - then move over to other side of the trunk to cut the rest.

 

[Canard]

"Do not use this saw if you don't know what you are doing."

How do you learn what you are doing without using the saw?

An excellent question!

The advice of the chainsaw manual is in part to forestall litigious injury lawyers, a CYA clause. I have a small aluminium step ladder which has a safety warning on each and every of its relatively few steps - the warning more or less translates as Don't use this ladder if you are an idiot. The warning is there for the protection of the manufacturer and not the protection of the users/purchasers of the ladder. The advice of the chainsaw manual is similar, I think.

So how do you learn?

Persist with the confusing manual.

Watch Youtube videos. Here is one of many, many such videos available:




Here is another:




Take a day/morning/afternoon course (as has been recommended above). In the past, I have seen such courses being conducted in a Home Depot parking lot. Ask dealerships if they offer or can direct you towards such courses.

 

[GAD]

A chainsaw manual doesn’t teach you how to cut trees just like a car manual doesn’t teach you how to drive. It’s a manual for how to understand the device’s operation.

 

[dreadnut]

my co-worker removed the guard from his skill saw the proceeded to cut into his calf! Not pretty. Basic lesson" you need to be smarter than the saw!