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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Apr 18, 2014 - 12:59am PT
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Knew a guy who decapitated himself in front of his wife. He was holding it
up at shoulder level. He didn't notice the tree had grown around some barbed
wire and with the saw so high he couldn't handle the kickback.
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Ken M
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
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Apr 18, 2014 - 02:51am PT
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There is a lot of experience in this thread, and a lot of good advice.
I'm a (among other things) saw instructor for the USFS, and spend a lot of my summers cutting and falling trees.
I agree with many, that Stihl and Husky are the professional level saws, all that I use (I use agency saws for the most part).
However, I'm going to take issue with the concept that this is the right way to go, for what the OP posted.
Chainsaws are AWESOME machines, and they are SERIOUSLY dangerous.
They REQUIRE regular and knowledgeable MAINTENANCE, all the time, every time.
If you don't take care of them, they are miserable to use.
They REQUIRE personal protective gear, unless you like to gamble with your limbs.
You better know what you are doing, because things can get away from you very quickly.
Can they be used safely, sure. But if you are using one only once in a while, it is easy to lose the skills, forget things, or never develop the right habits. If you are using one all the time, it bears learning how to use one correctly from someone who knows.
But I don't want to be just a downer, because there is an alternative for the use mentioned by the OP: arborist HAND saws.
On my trail crews, we no longer use chainsaws to deal with trees/logs a foot or less thick. The saw that seems to be preferred by the USFS is a 16" saw made by Silky, costs about $100. My preference for most things is a 13" saw made by Samurai, costs about $20.
My favorite vendor is the Bishop company:
http://www.bishco.com/shop/Bishop/en_US/bishop-sales/product/C330LH?categoryId=10518&krypto=jx%2FH9OTNXAi3bLE75M15oXMejt5r%2FZqWyKmyW09LmhbUxWttwd9hyELGYDH%2B3eAz0rU7LLMeWu9N%0D%0Apjp0UPXaqcSGuuSVyuSINgPNgpbXNZk74Oq5SUGq3hlTK8onklKH
Far as know, they are the only company that sells arborist gear that has a full showroom in Ca with all the products in their catalog. Fun place to spend a couple hours.
when you take into account all the stuff you have to carry with a chainsaw...fuel, oil, chain oil, extra chain and parts, the saw...which is a hell of a lot if you have to go aways. the 13" handsaw weighs nothing, and it always works. I've hiked a saw in a few miles, only to have it not work. ALWAYS test-start it at the trailhead!
OR there is the Silky Katanaboy: the human powered chainsaw.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbLTspqAV_4
Can cut up to 24"
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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Apr 18, 2014 - 02:10pm PT
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Every once in a while, something like this happens:
And I need to saw my way out:
I have a couple of chainsaws that get used pretty often. Both Echos. A CS-3000 series arborist top-handle one with a 16" bar, and a CS-5000 one with a 20" bar. I'm trying to find an excuse to get a Husqy, but these two just won't quit. So I can't justify a new one now.
Ken M has it right about those Japanese Silky hand saws.
This one has a sharp-as-hell 14" blade, and a handle I can get two hands on. I doubt I paid $100 for it. Maybe 50 or 60 bucks, I don't remember. Cuts almost as fast as a chainsaw, probably faster if you figure in fueling time, sharpening time, and making two trips carrying tools when I could have made just one carrying this and everything else.
Quiet, too. I can hear The Oldies station playing while using these.
My best arborist investment is probably the pole-saw.
With it, I can stand on the ground, and get at limbs 25' up. If I can get the blade on the limb, it's coming down.
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speelyei
Trad climber
Mohave County Arizona
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Apr 18, 2014 - 02:24pm PT
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A word of caution on the top handle and arborist saws...
The rear and top handles are positioned extremely close together, which gives much less control and leverage in the event of a kickback. The short bar, light saw, and handle designs can create a bad combination for the unwary. Also, ANSI standards require two hands on the saw at all times, but from an ergonomic perspective, arborist saws are obviously designed to be used with one hand. Also, arborist and top handled models really lend themselves to drop-starting, a practice discouraged by every tree care and logging company I've ever worked for.
Also, the "dogs", or bucking spikes, are usually made of plastic and of minimal effectiveness on some models. This encourages novices to use the front half and tip of the bar, increasing the likelihood of a kickback.
If you can find a decent used Stihl 021, I have found that to be a very useful, versatile, inexpensive saw. It will pull a 16" bar/chain, and with a full comp chain (not the reduced kickback garbage) it cuts really well.
Stihl saws from a few years ago start with a 0 designation (038, 044, etc), and in my opinion were much more durable, powerful saws than their newer MS equivalents.
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Dickbob
climber
Westminster Colorado
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Apr 18, 2014 - 04:23pm PT
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This is from a chain saw. Amazing what a good surgeon can do.
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Norwegian
Trad climber
dancin on the tip of god's middle finger
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May 16, 2014 - 09:26am PT
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im loving my job,
i passed my state contractor's license test yesterday
im calling it the paul, friend and chuck show.
chuck: owner / climber
friend: ground foreman / saw and chain maintenance
paul: climber / director of safety and training
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Flip Flop
Trad climber
Truckee, CA
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May 16, 2014 - 10:04am PT
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Norwegian,
Not sure whether to congratulate you or cry for you.
Now you are subject to grumpy contractor spray.
The following is an important reminder;
What is the most money that you can make on a $15,000 job?
What is the most money that you can lose on a $15,000 job?
( no limit.)
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Norwegian
Trad climber
dancin on the tip of god's middle finger
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May 16, 2014 - 10:11am PT
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oh it's great, flip flop.
we're a special lot.
the paul friend and chuck show.
clients throw money at us
and then buy us lunch.
i can make 3-4 hundred by 2 pm
then go climbing into the
soft and fluffy evening.
i hear your consideration, though.
it's a wreckless pursuit,
but that is exactly where
i thrive.
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