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!

Harry Krause wrote in message
...
Spent the last few hours at the marina, unloading all the loose stuff
off of Yo Ho, and having her plopped onto her trailer for the long trip
(:} to the dealer's for winterizing, washdown and shrinkwrapping.

I was going to head out on the Bay today, and take advantage of the nice
weather, but good sense prevailed. Well, maybe not. Still, I have a
couple of friends with boats still in the water here, so there is hope
for another outing before the snow starts falling.

And Miami in February, hopefully.

--
Email sent to is never read.

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.

But I absolutely hate sharpening chain saw chains.



--
Email sent to is never read.

There is an art to it.
I had owned two different devices that were supposed to make it easy and
used them them with mixed results. When I tried to file down the little
guides, in addition to the teeth, I usually ran into trouble.
I do have a dealer within walking distance if I ever get the itch to own one
again and would probably pay them to sharpen.


Harry Krause wrote in message
...
snip
But I absolutely hate sharpening chain saw chains.



--
Email sent to is never read.

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.

Steve

(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.

Steve

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.

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

(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.

On 24 Nov 2003 10:50:00 -0800, (basskisser) wrote:

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.

I have to agree with the above. For years I'd use a chain until it
was dull, then just buy another one for $20. I'm now in the habbit,
when I use my chainsaw, of sharpening the chain, cleaning the whole
rig, and putting it back in it's plastic carrying case. It's sure is
nice, when I need it, to find it clean, sharp and ready to go. Damn,
I'm turning into my grandfather.

bb

On 24 Nov 2003 10:50:00 -0800, (basskisser) wrote:

(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.

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.

I don't let it get dull, but I also don't sharpen it every time I use
it. There are many times where I only have to make maybe 2 or 3 cuts
into a 2" or less branch. After that, I'm not going to sharpen it.
Doing so would be just unnecessary wear. I may do a job like that quite
a few times before I bother to sharpen it. But before I use it for a
larger job, like pruning a tree and cutting up the branches for
firewood, I'll take a sharpening stone to the blades. I don't use a
file.

I've had the same electric chain saw for maybe 20 years with the same
chain and have done plenty of small jobs with it. About 10 years ago I
used it to cut the branches of several large felled trees into about 2
cords of wood, a pretty big job for an electric. In the past 2 years
I've cut up and burned another couple of cords of firewood for heat,
also with the electric. The blades are still in fine shape and it still
does a good job. But I'm about to replace the chain because the
adjustment is almost to the stops.

Steve