One piece of gear that has not been mentioned, that IMHO, is very important to have is "Bee Bopper" . Get a saw stuck is bad, but not as bad as having to abandon it. I have also left my tractor in a hurry.

Now that I've got time to phrase a proper reply - Thanks. I suspected your first comment based on informal queries of new neighbors. I'm familiar with the Carthage shop (I at least know where to find them) and they're a lot closer than the Sanford, Fayetteville, and Hope Mills shops I have used. The Ashboro shop sounds like somebody I could check out on a Saturday trip to visit the gunsmith. They're enroute and, depending on their policies, l don't mind leaving it until I can get back up there. The problem will most likely be the Poulan Weedeater; it was a little too "pedestrian" for the shops I took my saw to. Unfortunately, many of the shops I've encountered tend to be brand specific. They usually turned their noses up at somebody else's product and launched into a sales pitch. I'm sure this audience can imagine how much that tactic "annoys" me. Like most of us, I have what I have because it was the best I could afford when I "acquired" it, and I'm not interested in somebody else's irrelevant opinions. Whatever happened to the generalist who would fix whatever you brought him and, other than friendly or professional advice, keep his opinions to himself?

Meet & Greet for the Chainsaw folks
 

I'd like to give an open invite to PS.COM folks to a chainsaw meet, 4-18-09 at Amick's (1611 N Fayetteville St, Asheboro NC 27203 - 220 to Vision Drive exit, turn N on bus 220, parking 2d block NW, listen for the noise 0830+ to ?)

There will be a bunch of saws there to try out, watch, learn etc. I doubt there will be much advanced sawing skills taught (mostly harmless redneck goons slicing chunks off logs with others equip... like an open range day) but if some want to come out and try some saws in a family friendly/low stress environment... come on up! I have clean/unused PPE to share, unless you are a gargantuan.

It's a little far flung for the FBNC folks... but for the greater Pineland folks, come on up!

don't try this cutting technique at home
 

Not really about chainsaws or chainsaw equipment, but since this thread did delve into cutting techniques and chainsaw safety I thought this would be the place to post this.

Terrible tragedy and I can't imagine living with myself if I was the guy driving the saw but... I'm sure there was more than one violation of good common sense principles before this accident took place...

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,519737,00.html

Man Accidentally Kills Wife With Chain Saw
Monday, May 11, 2009


Print OTSEGO, Mich. — Michigan authorities say a man working in his yard accidentally killed his wife with a chain saw.

The Otsego couple were trying to cut a tree Sunday when the man hit his wife in the neck with the chain saw.

She died at the scene of the accident, about 35 miles south of Grand Rapids.

Sheriff's Deputy David Labonde lives nearby. He tells WOOD-TV he heard a cry for help and did what he could to help.

The sheriff's department says it's withholding the couple's names until other relatives are notified. The TV station says they're in their 40s.

abc 123,
Sad stuff.
Has happened to loggers too when saw kicked back.

Two trees
 

Not being a logger or chain saw expert I'm a little over careful when using a chain saw.

Every cut gets a quick think on where the feet are, stress on the downed treet, cut and will it pinch, where the tip is and who's around me.

Get a little slack cutting the small branches. Would be easy to swing up, miss and have the blade drop down onto the leg.

Man, I need a good Peavey.

Happening to self is one thing.

Having another adult place their neck within range of a running chainsaw and then the guy with the chainsaw cutting anyway.:eek: I wonder if he had insurance on her.;)

Great thread with loads of useful info. Thank you all for your input. I'm recommending that some of our other sawyers at work take a peak at this. Granted my experience comes mostly from the last couple years cutting for the Forest Service on a few fire lines, we have recently found ourselves overwhelmed with a bark beetle epidemic and 10-12 hours of cutting on a typical day in developed sites (campgrounds, trailheads, etc) just to remove potential hazard trees. We like to refer to them as the "Northern Colorado Red Pine".

In response to BMT's question using a bow saw. While some of our other non fire personnel use them for small jobs I did have the opportunity to work with a 12 foot crosscut saw in a section of wilderness in northern Colorado. Carrying that bad boy for 8 days on a trail making room for pack strings to haul in lumber was an amazing experience. If anyone knows what I'm referring to, we managed to get the saw to "sing" consistently on about the 3rd day.

Again thanks to everyone for a great thread.