Your favorite money spending tips

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by HLJ

TM - regarding chainsaws, how often do you have to sharpen them? I bought one several years ago and I think I probably need to sharpen it, but this is my first chainsaw experience. I've cut down, and cut up, about 8 or 10 Ponderosa Pines, each about 40 feet tall and 18 to 24 inches in diameter.

When you're throwing sawdust instead of shavings, the chain is dull.

[Cloud]

I, too, swear by CR. I would never buy anything major, like a car, without checking them out first. And I do subscribe to the magazine, although you can buy it in stores.

they have an online subscription, too, which I'm considering. Only thing is, they automatically re-subscribe you annually using your credit card number, and I don't like that idea.

CR had a small reputation-bobble last year regarding car seats (right when I was looking to buy one), but otherwise they are pretty reliable.

[busterb]

I bought a Husky, no I can't spell it. About ten years ago. I think about $350. I only use it for fire wood. I've spent about $45 bucks on it. Because I left gas over the winter.
Sharpening a chainsaw. I've bought every gadget know to man, and still can't get it right. I try to keep it out of dirt and hit it a lick with a file. Then buy a new chain. Once I went about 20 miles away to cut fire wood and the damn chain came apart. So trip back to town to have fixed. Now I keep a spare chain in tool box.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Husquavarna?

[busterb]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Husquavarna?

Yep. Thanks. It's not an every day word for rednecks.

[Beestie]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Husquavarna?

That, I believe, is a Swiss brand and is top 'o the line. Home Depot doesn't sell them but Lowe's does.

I stupidly bought a Poulan - well its not that bad but its a little toyish.

My wife and I and a helper from our neighbor to the South just cut and hauled eight and one half tons of fallen trees from our back yard. They weighed the truck at the landfill every trip ($32.00 per ton in Fairfax County).


The Poulan did admirably for a while but living out here - I need a real chain saw. I think I'll be stopping by Lowe's on the way home tomorrow. There's at least 5 more trees I need to drop. The ones we hauled off - they dropped all by themselves.

Oh... I was cutting up a small dead tree that had been down for who knows how long and I smelled the unmistakable scent of cedar. Turns out we have several downed cedar trees (±6" diameter) which I promptly moved into the garage to dry.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by Beestie

That, I believe, is a Swiss brand and is top 'o the line.

Sweden, I think.

[Beestie]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Sweden, I think.

Correct. I keep confusing chain saws with chocolate. I've found that between the two I can solve just about any problem that comes along.

[Flint]

I came to rely on Milwaukee tools when I was working in the construction field; most notably the Sawzall and the Hole-Hawg.

[busterb]

I have a few Milwaukee tools. A port-a- band saw, couple of drills and I drink old Milwaukee light, ice cold

[Flint]

Maybe this is a good place to ask this...

I have a 1950s era Black & Decker electric hedge trimmer. What do I lubricate the blades with...should I have to lubricate the blades?

It sounds like it's binding, but could that be something like when an electric starter goes bad on a car and fails to make good contact? Could binding blades cause the electric bits to do that...could it hurt them permanently?

I just used the thing one time, and it started making an occasional high-pitched noise near the end, like when an electric hair trimmer binds up.

[BigV]

Originally Posted by Flint

Maybe this is a good place to ask this...

I have a 1950s era Black & Decker electric hedge trimmer. What do I lubricate the blades with...should I have to lubricate the blades?

It sounds like it's binding, but could that be something like when an electric starter goes bad on a car and fails to make good contact? Could binding blades cause the electric bits to do that...could it hurt them permanently?

I just used the thing one time, and it started making an occasional high-pitched noise near the end, like when an electric hair trimmer binds up.

The scissoring blades are not the only moving parts that can make that awful sound. For the blades, just some motor oil will be fine. Be generous, but not so much that it sprays everywhere. And the oil will be a dust magnet too so be aware and clean it. Your goal will to have the surfaces smooth so they glide over each other without binding. A rusty surface will hold more oil, and more dirt and crap, until it's shined up through use. Then a very light coating of oil will be sufficient to keep it going well, and be a much smaller crud magnet.

As to the other parts that might be making the noise and need attention, the commutator brushes on the motor might need some lube / replacement. Also the motor bearings might need some tlc too. If you've cleaned up the blades, and you know it, and it still screeches and groans while running in the air, I would look to the motor parts.

[Thesilkmeister]

Everyone seems to be in agreement that paying good $ for power tools is the way to go - DeWalt is my personal fave.

i also don't like to skimp on nice dress shoes or T.V.'s and computers.

Had a few shitbox t.v.'s and pc's that have died in the arse on me as i have tried to save a few bucks.

Dress shoes - don't get me started. I ended up biting the bullet and paying AUD 300 bucks to get a pair of Batsanis dress shoes for my wedding and have been happily wearing them every day to work for at least a year with no trouble. Prior to that I would spend 200 on a shite brand and have to get a new pair every 5-7 months

[lumberjim]

chain oil. for chain saws.....or high viscosity motor oil

yes, you should lubricate it.

[Flint]

I picked up some 3-In-One oil. Will try that. It did sound like a missing starter though.