Tools of the Storm

Tools of the Storm…

By Tim Ard, Forest Applications Training, Inc.

The past two weeks on the training trail, I have been using an awesome chain saw combination for handling storm clean up tasks. The saw is the Stihl MS230. It is a quite impressive small saw. You can check out all the saw details at http://www.stihlusa.com/chainsaws/MS230CBEDURO.html . The saw came equipped with the carbide tipped Stihl Duro saw chain. It is a rugged chain and could be a loop that lasts a long, long time for the homeowner and even be a great combination for storm cleanup for government agencies.

Now for the combination I have been using. I mounted an Oregon PowerSharp system on the MS230. This is a top sharpening saw chain that is different to look at, but is really different when you put it to the wood. This stuff is smooth and cuts like crazy. You can find out more at http://www.PowerSharp.com

I ran the saw for five tanks of TruFuel50 and just began to feel the cutting speed dropping. I then clamped on the sharpening device and gave it a 3 second hit of PowerSharp. I was right back to work at full cutting capacity. This product is an unbelievable accessory to any small chain saw that uses extended pitch 3/8 saw chain.

Questions? Contact Tim at TimArd@ForestApps.com and check out the www.ForestApps.com website for chain saw operations and training.