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Lethal, Useful and ... Read on!Feb 03 '01 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line Bigger means more money. Bigger does not always mean better.
What is a chain saw? It’s a gas or electric powered device that propels a sharpened chain around an oval shaped guide-bar. It is used to cut wood and occasionally legs or necks. The gas models go vroom, vroom. If you didn’t already know this please read no further. Let’s instead talk about the selection and use of a chain saw. With wood heat becoming a re-emerging option for many, we’ll assume you’re generating your own firewood. Wood can be purchased by the bundle (never cost-effective) or by the cord. A cord is 4’ X 4’ X 8’ or 128 cubic feet. Get (or cut) hardwood such as oak or maple. Age it preferably a year to maximize heat output and minimize creosote formation. Saw Selection: First let’s dispose of the electric versus gas question. Most electric models are designed for very light duty. Get one for your rose bushes but not for the log-length wood (that often costs far less than the cut-and-split stuff). I disemboweled a “dead” electric a few years ago. The drive gears were plastic and had been reduced to dust. I have recently seen, not tried, some sturdy looking electrics but am still most skeptical. Every so-called expert who has written on this topic states, “Get the biggest and most powerful saw that you can afford”. I totally disagree unless you will be cutting wood commercially or “doing” ten or more cord per year. The big saws weigh a lot and cut so rapidly that the danger of “kick back” (when the saw hits an obstruction and tries to cleave the operator’s head) is magnified. My current saws are in the 2.5 cubic inch range (40 cc’s). They do a fine job for the 5-6 cords/year that I annually process. Common bar lengths are 14”, 16” and 18”. This sort of equates to the diameter of logs that will be cut. I sort of like eighteen, but if you happen to have a large girth log, cut from one side then the other. You can purchase multiple bar/chain combinations for any given saw if you are a purist. Husqvarna, Stihl, Jonsered and Poulan are respected Scandinavian manufacturers. Homelite is still US made I think. All are respected saws. I’ve been personally pleased with Sears’ Craftsman saws. Saw Usage and Maintenance: All gas saws are two cycle (you mix oil and gas). If you have ever wondered why, try running your car or four-cycle mower upside down or sideways. Lubrication becomes a terminal problem. Use your manufacturer’s suggested oil/gas ratio. The fuel supply will last in the fifteen-minute range between fillings. Always refill the oil reservoir when adding fuel. The chain-oil lubricates the bar-to-chain friction and is very important. The chain tension is adjustable by a small screw. Keep it taught. When you pull the chain from the bar, about an eighth of an inch “play” is about right. Adjust the chain before each use. The oiler’ mechanism will probably be automatic. Some chain saws also offer a manual, button-operated oiler: a nice option! Use a good quality bar and chain oil. Don’t even think about recycling your car’s old oil or you will purchase many unnecessary cutting components. It’s a good idea to buy chain-sharpening files. Get an appropriate sized rat-tail for the cutting teeth and a flat file for the spacers between the teeth (that kick out the sawdust). If your saw is spewing chips the chain is “good”. Sharpen a chain after an hours use. When you start seeing sawdust, it badly needs sharpening. Your owner’s manual will have pointers on the sharpening art. It’s not as simple as it looks, but commercial sharpening or chain replacement is not inexpensive. Always use ear and eye protection when cutting. Helmets are available that combine these with a faceguard that protects against the infrequent chips that can annoy or injure. Hold the saw with both hands and let it do the work. If you are pressing the saw into the wood you have a sharpening problem. If your cut is “smoking” you have a sharpness or lubrication problem. Always respect your saw. Maintain it as the manual says and you will have an energy asset for years.  |
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