How easy are these to use? Someone has lent us one but we are afraid to
touch it. We are thinking of trying to dismantle a couple of trees with
them.
Hayley

H Ryder decided to add:

How easy are these to use? Someone has lent us one but we are afraid to
touch it. We are thinking of trying to dismantle a couple of trees with
them.
Hayley

Not too hard if you follow a few simple rules...
but I would suggest that if you are afraid of it you should not even open
the box!

http://forestry.about.com/od/forestr.../byw_saw_6.htm

The message
from "H Ryder" contains these words:

How easy are these to use? Someone has lent us one but we are afraid to
touch it. We are thinking of trying to dismantle a couple of trees with
them.

Well, there are chainsaws and power saws.

Chainsaws break down into two types, remote, and operated with cords
(difficult), and hand, (fairly easy).

However, I expect you mean power saws. These can be quite easy,
especially the electric ones, but the petrol driven ones can be very
idiosyncratic.

Most of them have excellent safety features these days, so assuming that
it isn't too heavy for you to use comfortably, go for it.

A few rules:

Correct CUT
________________________________/ /
| Free end, weight _||_
________________________ ___________ \ /
\ \ \/

--------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------

Wrong CUT
________________________________/ /
Free end, weight _||_
_______________|________ ___________ \ /
\ \ \/

--------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------

Correct CUT (Upwards)
______________________________/ /
| |
|________________|_______________|
/ \ / \
| | | |
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

--------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------

Wrong CUT
______________________________/ /
| | |
|________________________________|
/ \ / \
| | | |
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
(cut will tighten on the blade)

--------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------

| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| Fall | | Fall | | FALL |
| --- | | --- | | --- |
| | | | | Even |
| OK | |BETTER| |BETTER|
|___ | |\ | Second |\ |
| | | \ | cut | \ __| First cut
| | | \| | |
| | | | | |

But the angle of the downward cuts is a lot less steep

--
Rusty
Emus to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co full-stop uk
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

"H Ryder" wrote in message
...
How easy are these to use? Someone has lent us one but we are afraid to
touch it. We are thinking of trying to dismantle a couple of trees with
them.
Hayley

Its certainly worth being wary of them, without training I would advise
against working up the tree or a ladder. but on the ground they are not so
bad and can speed things up. good idea to wear eye protection, not good to
get sawdust or bits in your eye while wielding a live chain saw.
--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collection of Clematis viticella (cvs)

"H Ryder" wrote in message
...
How easy are these to use? Someone has lent us one but we are afraid to
touch it. We are thinking of trying to dismantle a couple of trees with
them.
Hayley


I used on recently with no problem.
Then I cut my hand whilst cleaning it after use. Doh!!

"H Ryder" wrote in message
...
How easy are these to use? Someone has lent us one but we are afraid to
touch it. We are thinking of trying to dismantle a couple of trees with
them.
Hayley
_________________
I have owned and worked with chainsaws, regularly, since they were a
two man machine with one at each end. I take few precautions and find them
easy to use. HOWEVER many like minded have lost lives or limbs. Few are as
stupid as I, these days.
A chainsaw is exceptionally dangerous~~ the most simple, and easy to use,
being the worst. More so than a loaded gun!
One major problem you will have to overcome is the sharpening of the
chain~~~ it requires great expertise and lasts for only about an hour.
Special clothes are also a must.
Electric saws are of little use other than heavy duty pruning and still
need sharpening.
In your position I would advise great caution and would suggest that a
Swedish bladed bow- saw would be your best option. They are very effective
but still need horse-hide gloves~~ if you are inexperienced.
Take care.
Best Wishes Brian.

In article ,
bigjon wrote:
H Ryder decided to add:

How easy are these to use? Someone has lent us one but we are afraid to
touch it. We are thinking of trying to dismantle a couple of trees with
them.

Not too hard if you follow a few simple rules...
but I would suggest that if you are afraid of it you should not even open
the box!

http://forestry.about.com/od/forestr.../byw_saw_6.htm

Cutting up logs on a horse is relatively easy; cutting down trees
is a LOT trickier. My fater-in-law gave us one, which we thanked
him kindly for, gave it garage space and will transfer direct to
the tip.

I have cut down and cut up trees of 1' in diameter in less than a
day with a bowsaw - and I am neither an expert nor do it regularly.
Get a 30-36" bowsaw with a decent blade and leave the chainsaw in
the box.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

The message
from (Nick Maclaren) contains these words:

Cutting up logs on a horse is relatively easy; cutting down trees
is a LOT trickier. My fater-in-law gave us one, which we thanked
him kindly for, gave it garage space and will transfer direct to
the tip.

Don't do that! I'd give it a loving home...

I have cut down and cut up trees of 1' in diameter in less than a
day with a bowsaw - and I am neither an expert nor do it regularly.
Get a 30-36" bowsaw with a decent blade and leave the chainsaw in
the box.

I think I would agree with that. (I've been using power (chain) saws on
and off since 1956, and still do from time to time.)

--
Tony http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

The only way to tell when a Finn is in love with you
is that they look at your feet instead of their own.

"Janet Baraclough" wrote in message
...
The message
from "H Ryder" contains these words:

How easy are these to use? Someone has lent us one but we are
afraid to
touch it.

Very sensible. Chainsaw maintenance requires sensible precautions
by
their owners (having the right chain fitted correctly and kept
sharp).
For our OWN safety, let alone anyone else's, we would never lend
ours to
an unsupervised novice. An owner who would lend it to you with no
instruction, strongly suggests to me that his attitude to chainsaw
safety and maintenance is very casual, so it may not be safe to
use.

My employer has just told us all we now have to do a 'refresher'
course every 2 years, even though we are all experienced and frequent
users of many years standing and who have held NPTC certificates since
they became obligatory for people who use chainsaws at work.
This is following a case where a county council was fined £200,000
when one of their countryside wardens was killed when he dropped a not
particularly big tree on himself.
You really do need to know what you're doing - many of us elder
brethren taught ourselves to use chainsaws, but only after years of
doing what Janet suggests - that is learning pruning and felling
slowly by hand first.


--
Rod

My real address is rodtheweedygardeneratmyweedyisp
Just remove the weedy bits
and transplant the appropriate symbol at.

Rod wrote after...
Janet replied to Hayley:

How easy are these to use? Someone has lent us one but we are afraid to
touch it.

Very sensible. Chainsaw maintenance requires sensible precautions by
their owners (having the right chain fitted correctly and kept sharp).
For our OWN safety, let alone anyone else's, we would never lend ours to
an unsupervised novice. An owner who would lend it to you with no
instruction, strongly suggests to me that his attitude to chainsaw
safety and maintenance is very casual, so it may not be safe to use.

My employer has just told us all we now have to do a 'refresher' course
every 2 years, even though we are all experienced and frequent users of
many years standing and who have held NPTC certificates since they became
obligatory for people who use chainsaws at work.
This is following a case where a county council was fined £200,000 when
one of their countryside wardens was killed when he dropped a not
particularly big tree on himself.
You really do need to know what you're doing - many of us elder brethren
taught ourselves to use chainsaws, but only after years of doing what
Janet suggests - that is learning pruning and felling slowly by hand
first.

Certainly don't use one without the proper protective trousers ( they jam
the blade if cut), gloves, face mask and steel toecap boots. If your friend
didn't lend those to you too then I would certainly worry. I would never use
a chainsaw without being properly dressed for the part. Oh, and never whilst
up a ladder.
Best use a handsaw which can cause enough damage in the wrong hands. :-)
If it's clean and sharp it will cut surprising easily.

--
Regards
Bob
In Runnymede, 17 miles West of London

...

Pay a professional to do it! Make sure that they produce up-to-date certification. If they can’t they are not insured, if they are not insured and something goes wrong they will sue you – so relivant certs are a must.

If you are going to be silly and DIY, don’t even think about using a chainsaw without the right clothing and instructions for safe usage. One mistake and you will spend the rest of your life regretting being a tightwade.

Oh and make sure that you get all the roots out or you’ll end up doing the same thing every few years.

Rich

In article ,
Anthony Anson writes:
| The message
| from (Nick Maclaren) contains these words:
|
| Cutting up logs on a horse is relatively easy; cutting down trees
| is a LOT trickier. My fater-in-law gave us one, which we thanked
| him kindly for, gave it garage space and will transfer direct to
| the tip.
|
| Don't do that! I'd give it a loving home...

You haven't seen it - it probably doesn't even work reliably. If
you live near me, you may collect, but I disclaim all responsibility.
And, no, I will NOT take payment ....


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

I have cut down and cut up trees of 1' in diameter in less than a
day with a bowsaw

do you mean 1 inch? We also have a bow saw and have been wondering about
using it instead.
Hayley

In article ,
"H Ryder" writes:
|
| I have cut down and cut up trees of 1' in diameter in less than a
| day with a bowsaw
|
| do you mean 1 inch? We also have a bow saw and have been wondering about
| using it instead.

!!!!! No. One foot. I have cut down and cut up trees of 1"
diameter in less than a minute :-)

Make sure that your bow saw is big enough and has a decent blade.
Buy a new one unless the blade feels VERY sharp.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

H Ryder wrote:
I have cut down and cut up trees of 1' in diameter in less than a
day with a bowsaw

do you mean 1 inch? We also have a bow saw and have been wondering about
using it instead.

1" is one inch, 1' is one foot.

FWIW I use a chainsaw for felling trees and I'm basically self taught.

HOWEVER (!) I used the chainsaw for many years for simply cutting logs
before I tried felling a tree and I also looked at various places on
the web and in books to get information about how to safely fell
trees.

I wouldn't really recommend taking a 'new' chainsaw out of the box and
immediately trying to fell a tree with it.

--
Chris Green