Hawkes
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Post by Hawkes on Mar 11, 2010 21:30:55 GMT -4
I've been cleaning up my lot next door, and have another 5-6 cord of wood left to cut, and the damn saw just wasn't cutting it. I took the saw down to the Stihl dealer prepared to get raped, figured he'd sell me a new bar and chain. Instead I actually learned something.
The engine actually was fine, turns up great , but would just sit there at times and not cut. When it did cut it would always cut to the right. My experience with cutting angles was that the teeth on one side were sharpened better than the other side, but I had already been very careful sharpening it, so that wasn't it.
What he showed me was the edges of the bar where the chain rides. As they get worn they flair just a touch, making the bar wider than the chain, and it gets hung up. 2 minutes with a flap wheel made the bar nice and smooth. Another thing he pointed out was the burrs after sharpening. I didn't think it was possible with a round file but each tooth had a burr, and I could feel them when I ran a flat file on top of the teeth. The saw really worked well after that.
There's lots of guys that run saws on this board, how about some things you've learned.
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90bronco
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just smitin'
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Post by 90bronco on Mar 11, 2010 21:47:14 GMT -4
Power saw boots and pants at "ALL" times ,also wear you're hat shield and muffs ! Work boots don't cut it and from someone that knows .....neither does blue jeans ! 160 odd stitches in my knee and off work for 2 months !
Chain saw tears flesh quickly , i've learned that the hard way !
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Post by theonlybull on Mar 11, 2010 21:53:32 GMT -4
Power saw boots and pants at "ALL" times ,also wear you're hat shield and muffs ! Work boots don't cut it and from someone that knows .....neither does blue jeans ! 160 odd stitches in my knee and off work for 2 months ! Chain saw tears flesh quickly , i've learned that the hard way ! yikes..... proper ppe.... don't go without it.. check your chain brake... saw off, brake off, hold the handle, and drop the tip about 24" onto a stump, or log, the brake should kick on... if your junking, you may want to file your rakers down so the saw can take a bigger "bite". in the brush, this will make it kick alot worse to see if your saw is oiling the bar, point the bar at a clean stump, and run at wot for a few seconds, it should fling a little oil off the chain and onto the stump. that's what i came up with off the top of my head lol. been a few years since i ran a saw professionally, but we do 15-20 cord a year, plus a load or two of logs
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Big G
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Post by Big G on Mar 11, 2010 22:05:48 GMT -4
I'm kind of a rookie, so here are things I've found helpful;
- a guide for your round file will help immensely for angle and depth - file the rakers down 3 or 4 strokes every 3 or 4 sharpenings - sharpening in a vise gets the best results... I bought a small one you drive into a stump with a mini maul, works quite well - a plastic wedge in your back pocket can save you lots of hastle compared to a jammed saw - the mini maul and wedge can be used to unstick your jammed saw if you didn't use it in the first place - the mini maul and wedge can fell a tree that's been notched and cut, but won't fall... if that fails using a small 4-6' length of wood to push the tree over usually finishes the job.
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Hawkes
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Post by Hawkes on Mar 11, 2010 22:07:19 GMT -4
Power saw boots and pants at "ALL" times ,also wear you're hat shield and muffs ! Work boots don't cut it and from someone that knows .....neither does blue jeans ! 160 odd stitches in my knee and off work for 2 months ! Chain saw tears flesh quickly , i've learned that the hard way ! yikes..... proper ppe.... don't go without it.. check your chain brake... saw off, brake off, hold the handle, and drop the tip about 24" onto a stump, or log, the brake should kick on... Didn't know about that one. if your junking, you may want to file your rakers down so the saw can take a bigger "bite". in the brush, this will make it kick alot worse I took them down some today, might go further. to see if your saw is oiling the bar, point the bar at a clean stump, and run at wot for a few seconds, it should fling a little oil off the chain and onto the stump. I knew this one. that's what i came up with off the top of my head lol. been a few years since i ran a saw professionally, but we do 15-20 cord a year, plus a load or two of logs Actually cut my pants last week, first time I ever did that.
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Post by theonlybull on Mar 11, 2010 22:10:47 GMT -4
i lucked out. worked about 6 month's in the woods, and only cut i got in my pants, was from a fast idleing saw, that cut about 3/4 across the knee of my saw pants... we have a tree jack. it's basically a ford bumper jack, with square tube on each end, and a point. it sets on a root, and against the tree..... i know it can push a hell of alot more then i can
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Post by mostheman on Mar 11, 2010 22:14:00 GMT -4
If your left handed, put down the saw and get an Engineering Degree. I've run saws lots, Dad's been a Silvaculture Contractor for 37 years now. Been around them since before I could walk.
All stuff hard to explain. Go get a good pair of cutting pants, not the chaps. The pants have the fleece in the back og the legs where the chaps don't.
Always plan your cuts. Approach a tree look it over from the but to the top. Lots of people been killed by widow makers (broken tops / branches fetched in the top of trees)
A felling lever make controlled felling much easier.
I sharpen my saw by hand on the tailgate, How I was taught but the guide glen mentioned helps get a nice consistent angle on the teeth.
I was junking hardwood one time when the pile shifted, the bar bound up for a second before it freed back up, the chain came off flipped up beside the saw and cut the crotch out of my cutting pants....I was wearing cutting pants, but it didn't matter as there's no padding in the crotch. Watch you feet, keep a good balance and be aware of your surroundings.
edit: rest of the story... chain missed the goods when it cut through my pants, as a result I quit for the day and bought a lottery ticket on the way home.
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Hawkes
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Post by Hawkes on Mar 11, 2010 22:33:14 GMT -4
strike 1 I know a guy that got hit by a widow maker and he walked out of the woods with a broken neck. Wore one of those frames for a long time.
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Post by itsakeeper on Mar 12, 2010 6:13:26 GMT -4
well I could spend quite some time on stories and mishaps and I had a few pairs of boots with cuts in them from near misses but the best advise I can give is never cut over your head or even over you shoulders for that matter - and wear eye protection, not so much for limbs and stuff hitting them but sawdust gets everywhere and getting a spec of dirt out of your eyes by yourself in the woods just plain sucks
also watch out for small trees caught up underneath the one you are dropping, when limbing out the tree sometimes you can get a nasty surprise by whats hidden; almost knocked out once and swore I had busted my jaw
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98TJ
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For those who understand no explanation is needed, ...For those who don't none will do
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Post by 98TJ on Mar 12, 2010 8:07:38 GMT -4
I've cut a fair amount over the last 25yrs, I always think of a quote from a friend "Nothing cuts like a new chain"
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▲▲▲▲
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Twister of the Panties
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Post by ▲▲▲▲ on Mar 12, 2010 8:17:00 GMT -4
I've cut a fair amount over the last 25yrs, I always think of a quote from a friend "Nothing cuts like a new chain" new chains don't cut that great.
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Hawkes
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Post by Hawkes on Mar 12, 2010 9:20:26 GMT -4
I've cut a fair amount over the last 25yrs, I always think of a quote from a friend "Nothing cuts like a new chain" new chains don't cut that great. The Stihl ones do, I'm just reluctant to buy one, and want to learn how to fix it after I hit something with it. If it won't cut it's out of here.
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Post by theonlybull on Mar 12, 2010 12:09:07 GMT -4
the stihl chains are a little bit harder then the oregon ones, they tend to hold thier edge a bit longer. i like to file every 3-4 tanks if i don't hit anything. file the rakers every 4-5th time i file, or when i start junking wood.
i've got a simple measure for junking, i'll post a pic of it when i start into the pile.
just spent the morning cutting a little more hardwood... all was good till dad rolled the track off the dozor..
one more safety hint or habit. when ever i'm moving more then one step, i snap the chain brake on. weather it's from tree to tree, or limbing. it only takes a second, and sure cuts the dangers when you get tangled and fall..
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Big G
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Post by Big G on Mar 12, 2010 12:23:46 GMT -4
I was gonna re-post to say get the chaps instead of the pants. LOL I grew out of my $100 pants in one season, and sweat like crazy when I was wearing them. Chaps were $100 also, but one size fits all, and much cooler.
I'm always alone so for me; Always have someone know where you are and when to expect you back & always have your cell phone on you. 1st aid kit in the heep.
I've thought of gearing up a spiked end for the High Lift for felling trees. LOL I do have a felling lever though. Good for tipping trees, as well as rolling logs for whatever reason.
Drug some loggs out the woods with the Jeep the other day. I'll have to snap some pics next time.
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Post by mrfixit on Mar 12, 2010 16:01:29 GMT -4
I've cut a fair amount over the last 25yrs, I always think of a quote from a friend "Nothing cuts like a new chain" new chains don't cut that great. Yeah I find the rakers are set too high on new chains, especially oregon. However, if you file the rakers and keep it out of the dirt, oregon is a better buy. imho.
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