Every weekend do it yourselfer would be well advised to include a chainsaw in their arsenal of useful tools. This clever device has a panoply of uses, some of which you may not have thought about. These days, there are very powerful and servicable electric chainsaws which eliminate some of the inconveniences of gas chainsaws encountered when only occasional cutting is required. Under any circumstances, chainsaw safety should be uppermost in any users mind, as is discussed below.
The Versatile Chainsaw
Chainsaws are one of the most versatile and useful pieces of garden equipment you can own. Whether it be to prune the trees in your garden, gathering firewood or commercially felling trees - a good dependable chainsaw can handle the job. Chainsaws are power tools and despite safety improvements, can be dangerous, and injuries can and do happen from improper use. Therefore, operators should be properly instructed and wear all the necessary safety gear while executing the job.
Chainsaws can be labor saving devices, but they also have great potential for causing severe injury and death if not used properly. Chainsaws are heavy and awkwardly balanced so if you're working on unstable ground, be aware of that and wear solid, dependable shoes.
Chainsaws are highly portable, relatively cheap to buy, very efficient, and can be used by a single man to fell, crosscut and mill a large tree in a relatively short period of time. When you think about it, that fact alone is really amazing. If you have ever looked at old logging pictures you realize how labor intensive cutting down and preparing just one single tree can be.
Once considered the primary tool of professional loggers, ranchers and farmers, chainsaws became a popular homeowner tool. Chainsaws are still used for harvesting smaller trees in smaller parcels or large valuable hardwoods. Improvements mean that chainsaws are far safer than they once were but they are still potentially very dangerous tools in the wrong hands. Essentially they are a power tool that is both effective and yet dangerous; put it this way, basically they are the grunt workers among the world's power tools.
Chainsaws can make quick work of cutting firewood, cleaning up fallen limbs and trees, cutting framing timbers or carving wood. Gas chainsaws continue to take the lion's share of the market, but as recent reviews demonstrate, electric chainsaws keep winning converts.
On a personal note, I have found that chainsaws never start the first time I pull the starter chord. Maybe it's just me but I always have that happen. In addition they are very LOUD and are hard on the back when using in a wooded cutting situation. Other than that, they sure make short work of bringing down and cleaning up trees and firewood. Improvements mean that chainsaws are far safer than they once were.
Finally, gas chainsaws are also more powerful than electric chainsaws but also heavier, require more maintenance and upkeep and are more expensive. A true loggers chainsaw is too large, heavy and expensive for most people.
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July 30 2010 | chainsaws | No Comments »
If you need to use a log splitter, you need to think foremost about safety. While these are nifty, albeit expensive, tools, they are hardly a plaything. Below are listed eleven important safety tips that you should follow and keep in mind. By the way, did you know that you can actually use some log splitters to make furniture? Read on for more detailed information.
How to Properly Use a Log Splitter
If you are a person that is always cutting trees for firewood, then you will want to think about getting a log splitter. Log splitters are a very expensive machine that is often purchased when there is a lot of wood that needs to be cut. Wood splitters are most commonly used for firewood or logs for furniture making. In fact, you can buy one wherever equipment for logging is sold; as well as on the internet.
One of the best selling log splitters is a hydraulic log splitter. In fact, there are many benefits of hydraulic splitters over any other ones. Some of the benefits of wood splitters are that they are very easy to use; they have either a gasoline or diesel engine; which is what makes the machine fire up.
When it comes to the features of a hydraulic wood splitter, there are many to look for. In fact, one of the biggest features that people look at is the engine size; which ranges from 5-8 horsepower. Generally, any home wood splitter has a small engine that is commercially used. In most cases, it will have 10-25 tons of force when splitting wood as well as have a 2 stage oil pump.
For most people, the only purpose they have a log splitter is for cutting logs into firewood; however, the tree must first be cut down and de-limbed by a chainsaw. In fact, the process of making firewood with a splitter is much easier and faster than doing it by physical labor; as it would take hours and even days to complete the job.
One of the biggest things to think about when using a splitter is safety. In fact, there are many tips that should be followed; and those are:
1. Children should never be allowed to operate the machinery.
2. Always make sure there are no children present, as there can always be debris flying.
3. Always wear protective gear (steel-toe boots and safety glasses) as well as no loose clothing; as it could get tangled in the machinery.
4. Before using it, read all the directions and owner's manual.
5. Make sure there is a safe perimeter around the machinery.
6. Don't ever make any adjustments while the machine is running.
7. Never operate the machine during the evening or night; always during daylight.
8. Never be impaired when operation the machine; no drugs or alcohol.
9. Always use on a dry surface.
10. Do not put anything else in the cutter except for wood.
11. Always make sure the guards are in place.
On some occasions people have purchased wood splitters for the purpose of furniture making; which is possible. In fact, many splitters can be set up for log furniture making; however, a chainsaw will still be necessary among other tools. Some of the other tools you will need for making log furniture are different sized clamps, instructional videos and books, larger sized chisels, mallet, wood guides of various sizes and a tenon among other things.
Ken Morris repeatedly publishes detailed reports on ideas associated to log splitter hydraulic system. You can come across his contributions on hydraulic log splitter and log splitter hydraulic system here.
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July 20 2010 | Log Splitters | No Comments »