Saw Repair

A few weeks ago I broke the pull cord on my chain saw. It is probably something I should learn to fix myself, but I needed the chain sharpened, too, so I took it to the local small engine repair shop. The proprietor took care of both problems for about forty dollars, and had the saw ready for me in a couple days. When I went to pick it up, he pointed out some wear and tear on the bar, as well as some flattening of the links on the chain. He told me that it was caused by pressing down too hard on the saw during the cut. The saw should pull itself through the kerf, you shouldn’t have to force it, he said. He warned me that I would have to replace the bar if I weren’t more careful. He said that I should just bring it in for sharpening more often—instead of hand filing it myself—and then I wouldn’t feel the need to push on it. He also reminded me that it needed bar oil each time I used it. I listened politely to his scolding, thanked him, and hustled out of there before he could turn me in for saw abuse.

As I pulled away from the shop with Valerie in the car, I started laughing. If that guy knew how hard I really worked that saw, he would have me arrested. First of all, I’m not going to bring it to him every time the chain loses its edge. He charges $15 to sharpen the chain. A new chain costs $22. At that rate, I’d be better off throwing it away after one sharpening. No way. I can make a chain last for a couple years with some hand filing. Second, I have heated my home for six years with that saw and I have never replaced the bar. If he had any idea how many cords of wood that bar has cut, he would be praising my light touch rather than scolding my heavy hand.

The saw is a Stihl MS250 with a 16 inch bar that I bought in 2004. It is an admittedly small and underpowered saw that I have used like a workhorse for more than six years. And, I am not above taking advice from a small engine repairman. But, I have to laugh when he scolds me for actually using the saw and warns me that I might need a new bar. After keeping my family warm for six years, if that saw needs a new bar, it is well deserved, and I will have no regrets about buying it.

Before and After, Part II

Last March, I did a before and after for our living room. Now it is time for the dining room. Patching and painting just one room each year seems like a slow way to go. But, we've also cut, split, and burned five or six cords of wood; developed a 600 square foot garden; and done some major patching on the roof. It is currently time to finish the pruning in the orchard, so the interior improvements may be on hold for a while. Next winter . . . the kitchen.

Trailer Loading Lessons

Since I had to move our household to Parowan last winter, I got to be pretty good at loading a trailer and a truck. The better you are at loading, the fewer trips you have to make. Most Parowan residents are pretty good at trailer loading, too. From hay bales to appliances, locals are prepared to move it themselves. I think all of us, however, could take a lesson from this guy. I wasted all that fuel last winter driving the car to Parowan when I could have just put it on top of the load.