[Greenbuilding] [BULK] Re: Sawdust for Composters

[Lawrence Lile]

Hurrah for electric chainsaws!  Stihl used to make a 220v version for
log yards.  But any electric chainsaw has the following advantages:  

1.  You can cut a big pile of wood while the gas saw owner is still
cussing and pulling on the rope.

2.  Probably half the pollution, even if your electricity comes from
coal, than from a 2-cycle engine.  If you buy wind power, then zero
carbon.  

3.  Less noise  

4. No spilled gas

5. Super low-speed torque, won't bog down like a gas saw

6. Way less maintenance

7. Way less cost

I used to cut wood with a friend of mine who had a 2000 watt inverter
(he needed that because he had two solar electric panels running his
house, and any power tool use involved a 2000 watt inverter and a
charged battery.  He bought the inverter at a truck stop, they aren't
high quality but they are pretty cheap there.) 

He would bring his electric saw and the inverter. We'd power it from the
pickup or the tractor, which was always around anyway.   My Stihl (there
are two kinds of chainsaws: Stihl, and all the others) could out-cut the
electric but he'd make up the difference while I was messing around with
the saw.  Usually I'd work on the big end of the log, and he'd work on
the little end where the slower cutting speed didn't make so much
difference.  

I use an electric at home a lot, and I miss having the 2000 watt
inverter around or I'd be using it out in the woods, too.  Right now, my
Stihl is in the shop (how's that for irony).  

Set the drag right on the chain - you can sharpen the cutting teeth all
day but if the drag isn't set right, you'll just make powder.  A sharp
chainsaw will make chips, not dust, and pour them out the back so fast
you can bury your boot.  

Lawrence Lile, PE, LEED AP
Project Solutions Engineering

-----Original Message-----
From: greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org
[mailto:greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org] On Behalf Of Keith
Winston
Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2007 10:03 AM
To: Greenbuilder list
Subject: [BULK] Re: [Greenbuilding] Sawdust for Composters
Importance: Low

I know a Stihl owner might scoff, but I've had good luck for years with 
electric chainsaws, especially if the logs aren't bigger than 12-14". 
It's hard to get a quality electric saw, but they last pretty well, they

are MUCH quieter, MUCH more efficient, no point-source pollution, no gas

mixing... oh, and MUCH cheaper. They only work where you have power of 
course (duh).

It ALL comes down to how sharp your blade is. With a sharp blade, they 
go through wood like butta.

I actually took down most of an old oak, including sections about 24" in

diameter, with a 16" electric chainsaw. Some of that was tedious.

Keith