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Post by macmex on Nov 10, 2023 8:13:30 GMT -6
We have three Stihl chainsaws. The one I consider most indispensable is the MS 250, like what Ron has. This is my go to saw for most tasks. It's light and powerful. We also have an MS 280 which we purchased around 2003. It has a 20" bar and can more easily cut larger diameter trees than the MS 250 but it is heavier. Still, it's an amazing saw. I like to have two chainsaws on hand, in case I get one stuck (bound) while cutting.
Finally, we purchased a Stihl 661 professional chainsaw, about 1 1/2 years ago. This is Jerreth's "baby." She's always dreamed of milling boards and, after researching, she wanted to get an Alaskan chainsaw milling guide and this particular chainsaw.
This is a picture of Jerreth when I surprised her with the chainsaw of her dreams.
It's way larger than most folk would ever want to use, but it is very powerful and just what one wants for milling. We treat it with utmost care, oiling, extra lubricating, cooling and adjusting, while milling lumber, which is very heavy work on a chainsaw. The 661 has such high compression that it even has a release button to push, if you want to start it after having run it. Without that release button it would be next to impossible to pull start it after it's run a bit. But with that pressure release feature it's not at all hard to start.
Interesting anecdote: Because of its very large size the Stihl 661 is not an easy chainsaw to obtain. My wife settled on wanting it because of research. She had never seen one first hand. So, when I decided to surprise her with one, I had to call around. I found a shop, an hour away, that would order me one. The proprietor commented that he had one on hand, but that it was special ordered by a client and that he'd have to order me another one. It would take maybe a week to come in. The very next day he called to tell me that I could come and get it. Turns out the client walked in, took one look at it, and decided not to purchase it. It was larger than he had expected.
I drove right over to get it and walked in looking for that saw. The fellow at the counter smiled and apparently sized me up before asking, "You're here for the Stihl 661?" He reached behind the counter and set it on top, obviously watching for my reaction. (Remember: I do not strike an imposing figure.) I didn't react, but instead began to pull out my wallet. So he said, "Do you think you're man enough for this saw?"
I was duly impressed by the 661's size but had learned years ago not to unnecessarily reveal my thoughts when buying or selling. I simply nodded and paid. They offered to carry it to the car for me (an added indication that they didn't think I could handle it). I didn't have the nerve but I kept thinking that I should have responded, "Oh, it's not for me... it's for my wife."
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Post by heavyhitterokra on Nov 10, 2023 17:02:41 GMT -6
"Oh, it's not for me... it's for my wife."
That was funny! You ought to have sent them that photo as well. Jerreth sure looks like happy camper toting that 661.
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Post by FrostyTurnip on Nov 10, 2023 18:19:38 GMT -6
I think I read this 4 times. It’s such an impressive story in a multitude of ways. I cannot believe the shop owner actually said that. I figure he’d be happy to have sold it so quickly instead of intimidating a buyer. Ha
The dude that backed out of the sale? Smart move. If he cannot comprehend the dimensions on that saw before seeing it, he definitely doesn’t need to be using it. I mean, serious red flag.
Do ya’ll have chain chaps? I hear the legs are the most common and frequent accidents, usually only ended up with a superficial cut. But still . .
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Post by heavyhitterokra on Nov 10, 2023 21:25:51 GMT -6
We used to sell firewood to make it through the winters while doing construction work for a living. Construction work is mainly seasonal. We'd get laid off nearly every year about a week before Christmas and not get hired back on until Spring, so cutting firewood to sell during the lull was a necessity.
My brother and I would cut from 20 to 60 ricks of wood per year, every winter. Neither of us ever had chaps, and neither of us ever got leg injuries. Most of our injuries were caused by bent hickory limbs knocking the fire out of our shins when unexpectedly cut loose.
My brother, Rodney got hit in the mouth so hard by one of those bent double hickory limbs that I heard his teeth pop all the way over where I was working on a separate tree.
The worst injury I ever had while operating a chainsaw was while tightening the bar after sharpening the chain. My oily wrench slipped while retightening the bar nuts and I severed a tendon in my wrist on the bucking spikes of the saw. To this day it still makes me leery every time I tighten a chain.
Good, leather work boots are must though. More than once, I've grazed a toe or a foot with a chainsaw, but never got hurt because I always had on a good pair of leather work boots. That, plus you need good footing while wading through brush. A good lace-up leather work boot can save you from having several ankle injuries over the years, caused by stepping on loose, round, pieces of wood or wobbly rocks hidden under leaves and other brush. (Not to mention the occasional snake) or wayward splitting maul, glancing axe blows, etc.
Oh, and you need a good pair of leather work gloves too. Had I been wearing gloves while tightening that saw blade, I might not have severed my tendon.
My oldest son darn near lost a pinky finger of a moving chain by not wearing his gloves while cutting wood.
Quite possibly, the most important thing you need, is good eye protection. Chainsaws are notorious for throwing good-sized hunks of wood that often end up hitting a person in the face. More than once, I've been hit hard enough by a speeding wood chip that I'd have sustained serious eye injury if not wearing good eye protection. I don't mean your reading glasses either, I'm talking real bonified safety glasses that wrap around the eye area to prevent chips from entering from the side; especially if more than one saw is running at the same time.
I never was much on wearing ear plugs though. A feller needs to be able to hear his wood cutting buddy holler at him if there's tree falling his direction or if a tree being cut begins groaning or popping, as in just about to turn loose and do someone some serious harm. You want to be able to hear those kinds of things for sure. Ear plugs tend to muffle a few dangerous and important sounds. But the other things mentioned above are very important indeed.
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Post by macmex on Nov 11, 2023 7:03:40 GMT -6
Here's a photo of the saw and mill.
Yes, protective gear is VERY important. The thing about accidents is that they are never planned nor anticipated. One moment you're happily going along, and the next... your life is forever changed. I very nearly lost the use of my left hand, back in 2003, due to a butchering accident. So, we use protective gear.
I didn't use ear protection for a long time and now I wish that I had. (Too late). Losing the ability to hear conversations really makes a person feel isolated at times.
Here's a photo of Jerreth working on a slab.
What you don't see is me. I'm taking a picture at that moment, but most of the time I'm hovering around, placing shims in the recent cut (very carefully, so as to keep my fingers) and helping lift slabs, etc. (I'm wearing protective gear, including gloves, too.) Some slabs have been so heavy that it's required a tractor to move them.
I believe it's extremely important when cutting firewood that the chain be very sharp and that the one operating the saw NOT be pushing down while cutting. Let the saw basically pull itself down. I am usually poised, expecting that it might bounce back or that the wood I'm cutting might be under tension and snap back at me. With experience one learns to anticipate these things but that doesn't mean that there aren't surprises.
A couple years ago I had dropped a large dead oak and was almost done de-limbing it. There was just one large limb left, standing up nearly vertically from the trunk, which was laying flat on the ground. That large limb had several large branches which I could easily reach, so I figured I'd be safe and start by cutting a few of them off before separating the entire limb from the trunk. Who knows which way a branched limb may fall, when the branches are heavy and splayed out in various directions? I was wearing ear protection, etc. but not the hard hat which you see Jerreth wearing above. I stepped in and cut off one large branch from that limb and stooped to cut it up. (I prefer to cut and remove debris as I go, keeping the area around where I'm standing free. This helps to prevent tripping and falling as well as enables one to move quickly when need be.)
So, I stooped to start cutting up that branch and suddenly I noticed that the entire tree trunk, laying nearby, started to rotate. I looked up just in time to see the rest of that limb moving pretty rapidly in my direction. It hit me on the head. I had the presence of mind to drop as it hit, rather than resist the blow but still, I saw stars and wondered if I hadn't cracked my skull. As the pain slowly subsided I lay on the ground and took stock. I felt like I had a scrape on the top of my head but little blood. Pretty soon I felt okay and decided to finish the job, but I had a tingling of intuition that I had better let Jerreth know what had happened. After all, what if I should unexpectedly pass out? It was a cold day, and though I could see the house from where I was, I thought, "If I should pass out, it might be a couple hours before anyone came looking for me." So, I texted Jerreth and told her something like, "I just had a large limb bop me on the head. I'm okay but if you should see me laying on the ground, come get me."
For some reason that provoked some really fast action, back at the house. Both Jerreth and our daughter Emily were out there lickity split! This was just before I started getting treatment with the Amen Memory Clinic. Not long after, looking at my brain scan, the doctors commented that I was very fragile, "One hard fall or blow to the head could send George into dementia," they had said. So now, when I cut I usually wear that Hard hat. I've actually become fond of it. When it's raining, it keeps my head dry. It's ear protection is good. When it's hot it ventilates better than my cap. The face screen saves me from small branches which sometimes whip towards me while I'm working. It's worth its price for sure. I'm not as fond of the chaps but often wear them, as ... accidents are not planned. (Side note: I suppose I'm still fragile that way, but a year after taking measures to improve my brain's health, we repeated the scan. There was a LOT of improvement.)
Out on the homestead I can't imagine wearing anything less sturdy than work boots. Oh my! The things they have saved me from! I feel that tennis shoes are for town, Sandals, well, I have no use for them. If I'm fishing, I still want something protecting the tops of my feet (from the sun). I love my boots.
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Post by rdback on Nov 11, 2023 8:40:28 GMT -6
I'm not sure what's more impressive, the chainsaw or Jerreth running it. Wow!
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Post by macmex on Nov 11, 2023 12:22:44 GMT -6
She does really really well with the Stihl MS 250 and pretty well with the larger MS 280. Neither of us has tried to use the 661 for anything other than milling, and we treat it with kid gloves, even restricting fuel to pre-mixed official Stihl fuel mix. It's just too valuable to play around with and I've had some cognitive glitches in the past, with accidentally messing up on fuel mix or where to put the oil. I think either of us could use it for cutting wood but that long bar is unnecessary and not cost effective for most chainsaw work.
She has a bad rotator cuff, so I have to help with pull cords. Well, that's all fine and good. I love to work with her in this stuff. We get a lot more done working together and she compensates for my weaknesses too.
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Post by FrostyTurnip on Nov 11, 2023 17:52:58 GMT -6
What a treat to read all these from both of you, especially your report from the doctor. I had been secretly hoping you’d have a photo of the mill for us. The one with Jerreth is priceless!
Bill enjoyed the story with the shop owner. He has a very vivid expression of fear of chainsaws, even with his keen intellect, eagle eye and him being a building of a man. So, last night I asked him. Said he knows a fellow with a scar from his forehead up to the top of his skull.
About the footwear. I went up to the thrift store to pick up another pair of 3 dollar work jeans. Saw and nabbed a pair of brand new size 7 men’s work boots for $15.00 thinking, they’ll probably do for a little while. Came home and inspected them. They’re waterproof, oil proof, steel toed and Brahma. When I went back to work out there on top of brush and debris, I immediately knew I’d never do without work boots again.
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Post by heavyhitterokra on Nov 13, 2023 18:09:17 GMT -6
Frosty,
What a deal you made on those boots! Nice! I love shopping in the thrift store. That's where the lion's share of our camping gear has come from over the years. They had some really good thrift stores in Minnesota back in the early '80s. It took a few decades for Oklahoma to catch up to the idea, but as of yet they have not caught up on the magnitude of inventory that they had up North 35-40 years ago. (Maybe someday)...
George,
Do you know the length of the bar on your 661 chainsaw?
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Post by macmex on Nov 14, 2023 8:26:05 GMT -6
Yes Frosty, congrats on a great deal on those boots! Ron, that saw has a 36" bar.
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Post by FrostyTurnip on Nov 25, 2023 13:05:57 GMT -6
I’m still cutting and clearing.
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Post by FrostyTurnip on Nov 28, 2023 4:59:56 GMT -6
I was grumbling today as little miss and I lifted a somewhat heavy small tree trunk and two rail road ties into the back of the truck to be hauled off out of the drive of the old property where the shop had been robbed. It is all clear except for the big stuff that needs a regular chain saw. I dug up the saplings so one can walk without tripping.
Bill had installed a security camera to watch that area. It notifies his phone of movement, namely me working on clearing out the tree stuff.
4:07 am this morning, he got a notification. 2 suspicious looking around in that area. Got them on camera. The light of the camera came on and they walked way. Called 911 and the place was crawling with silent woo woos. I didn’t know how to operate the history on the camera via iPad but the police officer did. Says at this time of the year in the cold weather and this time of the day, they were sus. Says he thinks he knows who they are.
Maybe they’ll get them, maybe not but I know they are not likely to come back.
I’m so proud of everyone, my daughter and son for their help, me for sticking with it, Dad for providing security and my new bff, the chain saw on a stick.
[Insert Satisfaction Meme Here]
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Post by macmex on Nov 28, 2023 7:49:58 GMT -6
Am so glad you got that camera and that it did its job. We need to get some. It's actually on the list to do today or else very soon. We have some "meth people" living nearby and they are nocturnal, using motorcycles and mopeds to run their drugs. Every once and a while they start burglarizing houses on our street. A couple weeks ago, when Jerreth was away, one of them apparently wanted to see if anyone was home and banged on my bedroom wall, right next to the only open window in the whole house. They did this twice, 1 1/2 hours apart. The first time I woke from a very sound sleep and thought, "That sounded like someone banging to be let in," but concluded that perhaps in my slumber, I had only heard black walnuts falling and hitting the carport over our tractor. The second time it was unmistakable. It really rattled me because I knew they had to have been able to hear me through the screen. I got up without turning on a light and went down the hall away from my room before calling the sheriff's department. We have a new sheriff and I have to say he's doing a bang up job. I had two or three squad cars, five officers and a canine unit in my driveway within 20 minutes. They went through all of our outbuildings before leaving, commenting that I really needed to carry a handgun (I really liked those guys). Anyway, we're going to install the same kind of cameras.
Epilogue: That night the livestock guardian dogs must have been at our neighbor's guarding there. The only one at my place was Guerrero, who is so old and deaf that he slept until the squad cars pulled in beside him. Not even dogs are fool proof.
Frosty, what exact model of camera did Bill choose?
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Post by FrostyTurnip on Nov 28, 2023 13:16:26 GMT -6
I will get you the model after He wakes up to go to work. It is way high on the tree. He had a trail cam out there before, but the thieves easily got to it and took off with it. He upgraded the camera and then used the large extension ladder to place high in the tree, inaccessible without a ladder.
Wow. That must have left you feeling extremely vulnerable. What a horrible feeling! But when they show up aggressively like that, it is like taking a dip in the cold water on a blistering hot day. And you know the perps can see those lights and think that their fishing hole has been divulged. Better find another one. Good on your new sheriff!
Sometimes when I go over to the other property, I open carry. Last night I was aiming as I was walking through and when I met up with the police, they didn’t bat an eye.
And he woke early. Here’s the camera. Note: He had to secure the charger to it because the trees blocked the sun.
ANRAN 2K Security Camera Outdoo . .
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Post by macmex on Nov 28, 2023 14:48:22 GMT -6
Thank you! It was interesting because the deputies mentioned to me three times, while they were out, that I should carry and that I had a right to blow the perp away if he did that again. I'd hate to do such a thing but do understand their frustration. They certainly can't do such a thing and they've seen some of these very characters shoot people in the head, get caught and be back on the street inside of 6 mos.
I did get my shotgun out and loaded it, all in the dark, since I didn't want to reveal my position to an intruder. By the time I got it ready I ended up setting it on the floor in the family room because I realized the deputies could be there any minute. I didn't care to complicate things by being outside with an arm in my hands, when they arrived.
A friend told me that a lot of these perps specifically try to assure that no one is home before entering to commit robbery. Apparently the consequences for robbery when the owner is present are much more severe than when they aren't. The suspicion is that they beat on the bedroom wall to see if I was in. If I had turned the light on, they probably would have left once and for all but I couldn't help but think that I'd be vulnerable if I was in the light and they were not. Like you said, the perp(s) would have noted that there was someone home when the deputies arrived.
I was so impressed. They were young, buff, well equipped, obviously well trained, courteous, efficient and thorough. What a difference from some years ago when I had to call the sheriff's office about druggies in the graveyard across the street. I had to do this a number of times and each time, the officers showed up about 2 hours later, leaving plenty of time for the perps to finish and be gone.
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