NCD (New Chainsaw Day!)

[Opsimath]

Finally! Skittles is here!

I got the biggest battery operated chainsaw Lowes had. It's a 56v Ego with an 18" bar. I looked at the other chainsaws but the smaller bars looked a bit wimpy next to the Ego, and with all the stuff that needs to be cut on this farm I figured the extra reach just might come in handy. It's a little heavy-ish to me, but not too bad. I'm not planning on holding it at arms's length and definitely not overhead, so I'm hoping it won't be too heavy.

Husband does not know I have it yet. Why? Because when he sees it I expect his face to light up and for him to abscond with my new chainsaw. You guys have to sneak guitars into your house but I have to sneak my chainsaw in. For now she's hiding in the back of my truck. I told her to stay low and keep quiet.

I'm really looking forward to getting those blasted bush/tree things cut down so I can have some light in the garden spot, and get some vegetables growing.

I know, pictures or it never happened. Maybe when it's safe for Skittles to come out of hiding we can snap a couple, probably next week.

I hope I like lumberjacking - time will tell!

 

[GAD]

Be careful; chainsaws can hurt you in horrifically bad ways. Get some chainsaw chaps, always wear gloves, consider a safety helmet (like a hard hat), know how it works inside and out and always beware the kick.

Have fun!

 

[dreadnut]

I love my electric chainsaw!

 

[Opsimath]

I saw the chainsaw chaps, but didn't get them. What exactly do they do? I figured they just keep the sawdust and wood chips off the jeans. I did get safety glasses - I wanted goggles but Lowes didn't have any - and Husqvarna gloves from the chainsaw accessories rack (where the chaps were hanging). Maybe I could wear my husband's rodeo bullrider chaps. I don't believe he has any bullriding plans afloat. But, they have fringe so maybe not. I don't have the hardhat yet but will probably get one of those, too.

I appreciate your concern. The kick? When does that happen? I plan to start very small, probably 3 or 4 inch diameter trunk, and work up once I get a feel for how this all works. And yes, I'll definitely read the manual. And watch some videos. Not to worry, I'm very very careful. If I have any doubts at all I'll be handing the chainsaw over to my husband and pointing at what needs to come down. But I want to try it myself first!

 

[FNG]

How Chainsaw Safety Chaps Keep You From Sawing Your Leg Off

Chainsaws are no joke, but your jeans are.

www.popularmechanics.com

Also figure out how to sharpen the chain.

 

[adorshki]

If I have any doubts at all I'll be handing the chainsaw over to my husband and pointing at what needs to come down. But I want to try it myself first!

That's an impressive marriage bond you got there. Lotta guys I know wouldn't feel real secure around a chainsaw toting wife.

 

[dreadnut]

Make sure it always has plenty of chain oil. And it cuts much better closer to the body of the saw than it does out at the tip!

 

[Nuuska]

Finally! Skittles is here!

. . .

I hope I like lumberjacking - time will tell!

 

[GAD]

I saw the chainsaw chaps, but didn't get them. What exactly do they do? I figured they just keep the sawdust and wood chips off the jeans. I did get safety glasses - I wanted goggles but Lowes didn't have any - and Husqvarna gloves from the chainsaw accessories rack (where the chaps were hanging). Maybe I could wear my husband's rodeo bullrider chaps. I don't believe he has any bullriding plans afloat. But, they have fringe so maybe not. I don't have the hardhat yet but will probably get one of those, too.

I appreciate your concern. The kick? When does that happen? I plan to start very small, probably 3 or 4 inch diameter trunk, and work up once I get a feel for how this all works. And yes, I'll definitely read the manual. And watch some videos. Not to worry, I'm very very careful. If I have any doubts at all I'll be handing the chainsaw over to my husband and pointing at what needs to come down. But I want to try it myself first!

Chainsaw chaps are like armor. If you slip and the bar hits your leg, the chainsaw will tear your flesh right to the bone. Chainsaw chaps prevent that.

Chainsaws kick when you hit the tip against something. The spinning chain grabs whatever it hits, thus propelling the bar up at your face. A friend's father tore his neck open with a chainsaw. Modern chainsaws should all have a "kick arrestor" that when the angle of the saw becomes severe, the guard hits your wrist and brakes the chain so that you get hit with a stopped chain and not a running chainsaw.

I grew up on a farm so I have lots of chainsaw experience from the days before safety features. I once ripped the glove off of my dad's hand with a chainsaw when I got too close to where he was holding the wood. He calmly stood up, said, "That's enough for today" and walked back to the house. Another 1/2 inch and I would have removed one or more fingers. Getting your chainsaw stuck in a tree is fun, too.

Chainsaws are super-useful and very powerful tools. Treat it like a gun: respect it, understand it, and remember safety above all and you'll be fine.

 

[amnicon]

Sharpen it! A sharp chain is a safe(er) chain.

 

[HeyMikey]

What GAD said x 1000. I’ve taken down probably a hundred large trees on my property. I’m super careful - always chaps, gloves, helmet with ear and eye protection, heavy rope, wedges, etc. The only time a saw kicked and bit me badly in the leg was clearing some little 1-2 inch sprouts and I didn’t think I should bother with the chaps. Won’t make that mistake again.

Also had a sizable (dead) branch break free and crash down on my helmet as a tree was being cut. Always check for widow (or widower) makers.

Oh, and never let a chainsaw anywhere near your Guilds. Goes without saying I guess.

 

[adorshki]

Oh, and never let a chainsaw anywhere near your Guilds. Goes without saying I guess.

Right. Injured Guilds should only be put down with bandsaws, like they did in Westerly.

 

[richardp69]

Please report how it works for you/your Hubby. I really want one but have heard they can only last a short time before they need to be recharged. I don't do a lot of chain saw work anymore but if it could go 30 minutes or so before charges I'd likely be just fine with that.

 

[sailingshoes72]

... a good pair of work boots is essential, too, preferably with steel toes! No tennis shoes!

 

[Opsimath]

As usual with this group, lots of good information here. Thank you to each and every one.

Chainsaw chaps are now on the must-have shopping list. I'll get the helmet, too while I'm there. We have earplugs so I suppose those will work. I'm not sure how loud a battery operated chainsaw is but I'll find out, perhaps next week. (Still have to charge the battery, read the manual, get chaps, steel toed boots, rope, etc. ....)

Question. We have rain coming every 2 or 3 days for the next week, same as last week. Everything is wet. The barnyard is a complete slop. Do wet trees and dry trees cut any differently? Not as in dead and dry, just dried off from a few days of sunshine versus wet from two weeks of on and off rain.

I have a plan. I'm going to start with the smaller growth around the pecan trees. I used to keep that back with my loppers. I can almost lumberjack with those; if I can get a bite into the trunk it's coming down. May take a while to work my way around and chew all the way through but it's coming down. Then there was some elbow tendinitis. Cutting down trees with loppers probably explains that, so I've not been lopping lately and the things came up around the pecan trees. But they're small, 2 to 3 inch diameter trunks. When I cut those I can learn which way things tend to fall, and there's nothing for them to fall onto and damage. I'll be EXTREMELY careful not to let the tip of the saw touch anything, especially not the pecan trees, and will cut close to the body of the saw. Thank you guys for those bits of advice.

I appreciate all the input and tips.

 

[walrus]

Good luck and be careful!

walrus

 

[Opsimath]

Please report how it works for you/your Hubby. I really want one but have heard they can only last a short time before they need to be recharged. I don't do a lot of chain saw work anymore but if it could go 30 minutes or so before charges I'd likely be just fine with that.

I will be sure to let you know how it goes. I was leaning toward the Ego before I ever got to the store because my friend and her husband got one and she recommended it. Her husband's words were, "You won't be disappointed". I think she's in her mid 50's and he's maybe late 60's (I don't ask). She says the battery in the Ego has outlasted them every time they've used it, although she hasn't told me how long they (husband and wife) are good for. I'll let you know how this one does.

 

[richardp69]

I will be sure to let you know how it goes. I was leaning toward the Ego before I ever got to the store because my friend and her husband got one and she recommended it. Her husband's words were, "You won't be disappointed". I think she's in her mid 50's and he's maybe late 60's (I don't ask). She says the battery in the Ego has outlasted them every time they've used it, although she hasn't told me how long they (husband and wife) are good for. I'll let you know how this one does.

Thanks Cynthia!!! I much appreciate that.

Richard

 

[Guildedagain]

Actually, you should start wearing a hard hat, shin and knee guard from the moment you wake up ;]

Big believer in the Dewalt 20V 12" and 40V 16" line of saws, have one of each. Amazing, both of them, why I have probably 6 gas saws I don't know, and they're probably spoiling...

Also run ours purely on Canola oil, $6 a gal for bar oil ain't bad and neither is the oil for the environment.

My wife can do more daily damage to the chain than Canola ever will, lol...

Dewalt also has the 60V Flex. Any of their 16" saws will outlast your ability to cut wood unless you're downing sizable trees that have to be bucked up.

I've still got a Stihl 056 Super Mag II that's ported that will cut a 30" conifer log in 15 seconds with a 32" bar, Stihl skip chain only. I hope to never carry that saw ever again.

Reason I had that saw was backup for an 056 set-up on an Alaskan Mill.

 

[Opsimath]

Actually, you should start wearing a hard hat, shin and knee guard from the moment you wake up ;]

Big believer in the Dewalt 20V 12" and 40V 16" line of saws, have one of each. Amazing, both of them, why I have probably 6 gas saws I don't know, and they're probably spoiling...

Also run ours purely on Canola oil, $6 a gal for bar oil ain't bad and neither is the oil for the environment.

My wife can do more daily damage to the chain than Canola ever will, lol...

Dewalt also has the 60V Flex. Any of their 16" saws will outlast your ability to cut wood unless you're downing sizable trees that have to be bucked up.

I've still got a Stihl 056 Super Mag II that's ported that will cut a 30" conifer log in 15 seconds with a 32" bar, Stihl skip chain only. I hope to never carry that saw ever again.

Reason I had that saw was backup for an 056 set-up on an Alaskan Mill.

Man, you are serious about your chainsaws! A few years ago our neighbor across the road got some kind of setup that makes his chainsaw into a sawmill and he can make his own lumber. I've wanted one ever since. I'd bet your Super Mag would convert into one fine sawmill!