I want a chainsaw

[twocorgis]

Cordless reciprocating saws are remarkably effective, and have done a great job of clearing everything in the yard to this point, short of calling the guy. I use a Dewalt 20V cordless because I have the batteries for everything else, but a Ryobi might do your job just fine for less money. Sawzalls are amazing for their level of destructiveness, and they might not handle everything, but you can go through a lot.

 

[Stuball48]

What size bushes/trees you cutting? If it's thick grown up bushes and diameter is size of a nickel or smaller and you have a gas powered weedeater, they make a blade that will do a number on those. Sure they make a steel blade for whatever brand you have. Blade $25--$30 and bet they would install it for you.
If larger, I agree with "FNG" getting out the roots will make you a patient person or develop a new vocabulary.

 

[steve488]

While I feel your pain I am also very concerned from the safety standpoint (we may have never met, but I still consider you all friends ....... and I like my friends fully intact and functional!). I have used chainsaws large & small since I was a teenager and they are brutal if not handled correctly. Cutting green wood will gum up the blade faster then you will believe and in order to cut smoothly the blade must be sharp and clean. The first time it jams in the wood it will rip the saw out of your hands most likely. Good gloves, long pants, long but not loose sleeves and heavy shoes are used by the experienced. Handling the saw is another thing to learn. Cutting lengths like firewood where you can stand vertically and cut vertically provides the best control. Cutting horizontally requires you to twist over and will not only put your back to the test but reduce both range of motion and control (ie risk of injury goes up!). Trying to cut horizontally at or near the ground should only be tried once you are sure you have the hang of things. Personally I am with those that recommend getting some young kid or even a landscaper (more $$$ but licensed, bonded & insured). Fingers, toes and even legs can disappear in a flash to chainsaw teeth.

 

[dreadnut]

My wife recently wanted to tear out our old landscaping. She said, but it's going to be so much digging! I said, "Stand back." I wrapped my truck tow chain around each bush/tree one at a time, hooked the other end to my 4WD pickup, and yanked those puppies right out. Sometimes brute force is the best way to go.

 

[Nuuska]

I used to have Mercedes G300D convertible at the time we bought this house - garden was very different of what it is now. Too many berry-bushes like they used to have in old days - we kept some - the others had same fate as yours - chain around them - connected to trailor hitch - 4-wheel-drive and low gear selector both ON - then slowly but surely. One by one they were done - rest was fairly easy with rake and spade.

 

[jp]

If you can borrow a hi-lift jack from anyone, you can safely pull out the stumps relatively easily.

 

[DThomasC]

I've pulled many bushes and saplings from the ground using a truck or tractor. I'll provide a tip: Attach the chain as low on the bush as you can, then push a small section of log under the chain right up against the bush so the chain goes up and over the log. When you pull with your truck or tractor (or Mercedes ) it will pull the bush up instead of horizontally. I have also used a car wheel (without the tire.) Maybe a little more convenient than a log, but maybe not.

 

[geoguy]

Cynthia,

My favorite 95 year-old lady friend occasionally used a Ryobi One battery-powered chainsaw until about two years ago.

Yes, it still requires bar oil. Yes, the teeth need to be dressed occasionally with a file. Yes, you need to be careful (you should wear gloves, safety glasses, & possibly Kevlar chainsaw chaps), and understand why a chainsaw can kick back (and how to minimize that risk)..

But you can do it if you are determined.

This lady made me LOL one day when I visited her yard. She had scheduled a plumber to blow out her garden's irrigation lines for the upcoming winter, and realized shortly before his arrival that one place the plumber would need to visit was obstructed by a bunch of large pine branches that had fallen from an adjacent tree.

So she did what seemed to her the logical thing . . . got our her chainsaw, & cut the branches up into foot-long bits that she neatly stacked off to the side, for me to remove at a later date!

She is awesome. (And unfortunately near the end of her run for reasons not related to her chainsaw usage.)

By the way, you might be able to kill those invasive trees right down to the root by spraying some Round Up on a freshly-cut stump.

 

[Nuuska]

Cynthia,

My favorite 95 year-old lady friend . . .

Sounds just like my mother-in-law - Iron Lady with great sence of humour ( she worked in restaurants . . .)
I asked her : "What's common with a bottle of beer and mother-in-law?"
She laughed when she heard the answer : "Both are at their best, when cold - open - on the table . . ."

 

[ruedi]

If you can borrow a hi-lift jack from anyone, you can safely pull out the stumps relatively easily.

If you can borrow a Stump Boss from anyone, you can safely grind the stumps relatively easily

 

[dreadnut]

Hi Cynthia:

Another consideration: will you have a need for a chainsaw after this project is done? If not, consider other options. We have a 2 acres with lots of trees so my need for a chainsaw is an ongoing proposition.

 

[FNG]

Of course you could go totally organic...a nice double bladed axe and a good pruning saw. Good for the chicken wings!

 

[FNG]

My wife recently wanted to tear out our old landscaping. She said, but it's going to be so much digging! I said, "Stand back." I wrapped my truck tow chain around each bush/tree one at a time, hooked the other end to my 4WD pickup, and yanked those puppies right out. Sometimes brute force is the best way to go.

Around here they say "Hold my beer".

 

[gjmalcyon]

By the way, you might be able to kill those invasive trees right down to the root by spraying some Round Up on a freshly-cut stump.

Love your bad-a** 95 year-old lady friend.

Not meaning to sound preachy here, but Round-Up (and other glyphosate herbicides) are really tough on amphibians. You can accomplish the same thing by drilling holes in the stump and filling them with Epsom salts.

 

[mike1100]

Chainsaws you say? Yea, we got them. Aisle nine. Shop smart, Shop S-Mart.

 

[mike1100]

For the record......like you, I would seek advice and do a lot of research to determine if "the juice is worth the squeeze". I'd also evaluate my desire to do all of the investments needed to operate safely.

Please be safe. I have ZERO experience with operating chainsaws. I do have a fair amount of experience with high risk environments and activities.

 

[richardp69]

Cynthia...you're not 19 any more...healing from injury is a lot more difficult...have you considered hiring a pro to do the garden area and you and your son can watch and learn and perhaps handle the rest of the farm afterwards? Really just concerned about you...and who will care for your horses if you get hurt?

A big + one on this suggestion. In fact, I liked your 1st post even better. Get a strong, hard working young guy or girl and pay them fairly to do the job. Maybe that's just the old man in me talking but that seems to be my solution to anything involving hard, manual labor these days.

 

[DThomasC]

Just for balance, I'll say this: Cynthia, I have no idea how old you are, but it really doesn't matter. If you believe you can handle it, then I support you.

 

[jp]

If you can borrow a Stump Boss from anyone, you can safely grind the stumps relatively easily

Well, I guess it depends on where you live. They're pretty common here in the PNW US.

And just for the record, my wife uses a small, gas-powered chainsaw frequently. She just asks me to start if for her occasionally, when it gets stubborn. :C)

 

[Opsimath]

Of course you could go totally organic...a nice double bladed axe and a good pruning saw. Good for the chicken wings!

I dunno. Last year I tried to chop one down with a hatchet. I quickly learned what a glancing blow is. Fortunately no broken skin, only a bruised shin. I shelved the do it by hand method although I did get a chunk out of the thing (the tree, not the shin) before I quit and now it leans precariously to one side. It will likely be the first one I take out when Skittles gets here.

I have read the input from everyone, and for those concerned for my safety I appreciate it, and am very touched. I have also watched the videos and have now added a Stump Buster to my list of things I want to get. Well, not really, but goodness how that thing can mulch and till all at the same time. I like it! No doubt, though, it's more expensive than a chainsaw.

Fortunately I have a high sense of self preservation and will be very cautious. Yes, I'm the read the directions before you begin type and will likely do some YouTube watching on technique and such.

So here's the plan as it is at present.

I still want a chainsaw.

I'll go back to the store and see if they have battery operated chainsaws in stock that I can hold, and hopefully pick one out. I will also purchase heavy duty leather work gloves, safety goggles (not glasses), and a construction hard hat (See, no one even mentioned a hard hat - I'm ahead of you guys!!) for both myself and my helper(s).

I am expecting that when I get Skittles home husband will take great interest. He generally absconds with most of my outside toys. As he is chainsaw savvy he may take a few moments to direct me in technique. If he doesn't have time I can solicit my stepson, named Jason. I will purchase Jason a hockey mask. Jason has chainsaw experience including a trip to the ER to have his frenulum reattached when he took a chainsaw to the mouth. Minimal worries. It was not running at the time; it smacked him in the mouth when he was trying to pull the rope to start it and luckily it didn't start. A very good reason why I do not want the gas powered kind - I'm no good at pulling those starter ropes.

There will be much work for Skittles after the garden spot is devoid of invasive vegetation. We have about 72 acres, I think it is, and those blasted things are everywhere. So far they have killed the chestnut tree, two plum trees, the catawba tree, two fig trees and are working on the third, and at present have the kumquat trees surrounded and are at the base of all the pecan trees. Time to call in the cavalry.

Thank you guys for advice on pulling up stumps as I really wasn't sure what I was going to do about those. Digging in 100+ degrees was not sounding too appealing. Fortunately my Navigator is 4WD (wouldn't have any truck that wasn't) and pulling them out of the ground could be great fun. And if I don't want to use the Nav, I guess I could learn how to use the Massey Ferguson. Husband has tried to teach me but I find it a bit intimidating. I was able to run the old Ford tractor a little but it crossed over many years ago. Every tractor since then has just gotten more complicated. Besides, I like to use my stuff, not his.

Great story about the 95 year old lady. I'm sorry to hear she's not doing well but now we all know a bit of her history and most likely the info you shared will stick with us. Bless her sweet spirit, and thank you for sharing the story.

Thank you everyone! I'll keep you updated as the project progresses. This coming week: Chainsaw shopping.