Maggie's Farm

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Tuesday, July 30. 2013

2 excellent ideas from readers yesterday, regarding saws

In case you didn't read the comment thread -


- Ethanol-free gas (100% gasoline) for power tools is now available in some Home Depots


- For smaller trees and stumps, cut them to ground level with a reciprocating saw. I have a cordless Sawzall (wonderful tool), but the thought never occurred to me to do that. Chain saws can never touch dirt, but a Sawzall don't care.



Posted by Bird Dog in Gardens, Plants, etc. at 14:24 | Comments (11) | Trackbacks (0)

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Great online resource for ethanol-free gasoline:

Pure-Gas
http://pure-gas.org/
#1 DaveH (Link) on 2013-07-30 14:36 (Reply)
Amen to that. I found several stations in my area with ethanol free gas on pure-gas.org and will go out of my way to patronize them, even for my 2010 truck which will burn the E10 junk. One has all three grades ethanol free and is priced right in line with the stations selling E10. I usually keep a couple of 5 gallon cans at home for the yard tools. I put Sta-Bil or Startron in my stored gas to eliminate condensation problems.
#1.1 MikeNC on 2013-07-31 08:23 (Reply)
Didn't know you were looking for something to cut into the dirt.

I removed a tree this weekend and used a Sawzall to cut out the roots, rather than renting a stump grinder.

Stump grinders work great on larger trees. This one was about 30/40 feet tall and 6-7 inches diameter. Easier to cut it down low, then go after the roots with a Sawzall than going out and getting the stump grinder.
#2 Bulldog on 2013-07-30 15:14 (Reply)
I wish I'd known (or, more accurately perhaps, researched more or been more creative) about this two summers ago. I took out a LOT of overgrown landscaping (mostly juniper bushes and pine trees) and took the stumps out by hacking the roots with a good ol' fashioned pickaxe.

If only... I've read somewhere, long ago, that the human brain cannot "remember pain". I can remember that pain, lemme tellya.

I'll be stopping but Sears this weekend to pick up some of those pruning blades for the reciprocating saw.
#2.1 Knucklehead (Link) on 2013-07-31 10:49 (Reply)
Sawzalls are the BOMB

It made quick work of cutting up an old wood swingset and I used it regularly for limbing larger tree branches...beats the heck out of the old swede saw.
#3 phil g on 2013-07-30 15:22 (Reply)
point of correction, I still 'use' it...
#3.1 phil g on 2013-07-30 17:11 (Reply)
--you dug into the dirt with your chain saw?

Stroll over to your 5 gallon plastic bucketful of soapy water, and dip the bar into it, taking care to keep the nose off bottom. Run it up for a few seconds (enjoy the pretty plume of water you kept to the side of).

Proceed as normal; your bar oiler will re-lube in no time, and your running parts will be sparkling clean.

You can scissor off the dome of a gallon milk jug, or anything plastic that will let you submerge the bar a few inches. Run 'er up fast, so the water resistance on the dirt is working for you. Soapy is optional, plain water will de-grit almost as well, just run it a little longer, & quit by visual check.
#4 buddy larsen on 2013-07-30 15:41 (Reply)
PS, if you do this right before putting the saw away, be sure and run it first, until the chain is oiled back up to normal --otherwise you'll rust up chain, sprocket, clutch, etc.
#4.1 buddy larsen on 2013-07-30 15:47 (Reply)
I bought a reciprocating saw to use on automobile exhaust systems. It makes quick work of those rusty nuts, bolts and pipes. It's almost as good as a cutting torch and a heck of a lot cheaper. I never thought of using it on trees but I am going to try it.
#5 Ray on 2013-07-30 16:11 (Reply)
I don't hesitate to put my rented chainsaws into the dirt. The rental price includes the chain.

Once I got my Sawzall, I quit renting chain saws. That Sawzall is one of the best tool purchases I've ever made.
#6 Mike (Link) on 2013-07-30 18:53 (Reply)
If you can't find ethanol-free gas, add STARTRON. Works great for me.
#7 Kauf Buch on 2013-07-31 06:00 (Reply)

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