BoatBanter.com - View Single Post

(Steven Shelikoff) wrote in message ...
On 24 Nov 2003 04:52:55 -0800, (basskisser) wrote:

(Steven Shelikoff) wrote in message ...
On Sun, 23 Nov 2003 15:42:52 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:

Don White wrote:
I just spent part of the afternoon trying to get a large snag branch down
from a big old ash tree on my front lawn.
This was damage left over from hurricane Juan.
What a struggle. It was hooked up well.
Since I don't own a chainsaw anymore, I had to use my tree limber with it's
foot long curved blade on the end of the pole.
After cutting through a number of medium sized branches, the snag came
crashing down, narrowly missing the wife and
mini-van. D'oh!

I've not owned a chain saw for many years, but I'm considering the
possibility. We lost some trees during the last big storm here;
fortunately they fell where they do no harm. Plus I have some scraggly
stuff at the edge of the woods I'd like to cut down.

If it's for occasional use near your house and you are only going to cut
stuff less than around 8"-10" diameter, consider getting an electric
chain saw. They're cheaper, much more convenient and very capable.

But I absolutely hate sharpening chain saw chains.

Again, if it's for occasional use, you can go years without sharpening
the blades.

Funny, that goes against what most chain saw manufacturers suggest,
and that is to sharpen the chain before each use. Once you learn how,
it only takes a few minutes to do.

Of course manufacturers are going to suggest that, mostly for liability
reasons. That way, if someone gets hurt with a chain saw (as they very
frequently do because it's probably the most dangerous tool most people
ever use) the manufacturer can claim in court that they weren't
following the instructions because they didn't sharpen the blades before
every use (which almost no one I know does).

Most people only sharpen the blades when they need sharpening. And just
getting down one snag branch by cutting a few medium sized branches that
could also be done with a tree limber shouldn't dull the blades enough
to require sharpening next time.

Steve

Again, if you know what you are doing, it only takes a few minutes to
brighten up a chain. Now, mind you, I'm not talking about a chain that
hasn't been sharpened in a long time, that takes time to regrind into
decent shape. I was taught early in life that if you file your chain
often, it doesn't take but a few minutes, and makes cutting SO much
easier. If you let it get dull, then it takes a long time to file
sharp.