Went over to help my FIL trim some trees today. Since he had called me earlier that week to ask my advice on what kind of saw to get, he brings out a brand new Stihl MS 170. He tells me to start it up and give it a work out on trimming some apple trees and a crabapple tree. Happy to try a new saw I jumped at the chance. Getting done I grab the branches and offer to take them out to the tree dump for him. When we get back he says that the Stihl is mine. Say what?! I tried to tell him he shouldn't give to me but to keep it and I would borrow it if I ever need it. He had none of it and told me to take it and packs up the saw, bar oil and two stroke oil in my truck. When I get home with the new chainsaw I see in the mail, a package from my brother. Opening it up I find that he sent a Dremel style chainsaw chain sharpener. It was like a lumberjack Christmas!! ...and here I was just happy to get a chance to use the saw and take home a few sticks of apple wood! I believe my next move is to go buy a lottery ticket, as apparently it's my lucky day!
Save all that apple/crabapple (there's no difference between them) for the bbq grill and/or smoker...
Thanks guys. You are right...about having great family that is. LOL. Heading out this morning to give the saw a work out at a local park. The little town where my mother has a house relies on volunteer labor to maintain the park so I've taken it on myself over the years to help trim out the dead limbs. May come home with some small locust branches to boot.
Took a large load of branches off a Locust tree. Branches were hanging low over the sidewalk and monkey bars. The last thing I wanted ....er some kid wanted was to get hit by some branches while swinging from the monkey bars. Doug helped me out with the work. Odd dog, when I start up the chainsaw and he sits right near me, but if a paper were to fall from the kitchen table he would jump a hundred feet.
It's got to be defective labs, my black lab will go down cellar when I'm yelling at the tv when the Patriots are on! She comes up at halftime but quickly goes to another room when it comes back on, lets just say she spent a lot of time down cellar today!!!
That 170 has plenty of ooomph behind it. Its a great saw. Keep the chain sharp and it will eat just about anything.
I agree with the sentiments about good family above.....nothing like having a close family. My family is like that, and when someone needs a hand, people are pushing each other out of the way to help each other here.... Good score, sounds like you had a better day than I did. We did a big, technical Norway maple removal today in a very tight backyard.....had to piece the entire tree down. Bad thing was, my DP muffler BROKE OFF of my 041AV Super, and I hit something metal in the tree which smoked the 28" chain! No biggie though, it's all "in the game" as they say.......
Brother called this morning - had a favor to ask me - Wanted to buy a load of wood for his fireplace. He's got a 3yr old Poulan 42cc w/ 18" bar.Same brother who gave me in March his non-running early '90's Mac 32cc top handle that spent the past decade sitting in his garage.Anyway.... he said his saw has some "issues" now - the oiler isn't working,the bar might be twisted & the sprocket nose is bluish He bought some parts recently to fix the oiler,but still having problems.Said he checked the local farm supply store & they wanted $50 for new bar/chain.He's got a bit of medium-large deadfall old Mulberry & a little old dead Black Ash on his 5 acre spread,that's it though.Other than a big old partly hollow Silver Maple snag in front yard that I'll be getting to soon as I can.... (10 yrs older than me but he knows not to tackle something like that with very little experience).Wanted to get back to cleaning it up soon. I said "Hmm we got a problem here - Your money's no good here You don't need to PAY for the wood,but meet me at Mom & Dad's acreage out in the sticks this Saturday morning (He,wife & stepdaughters live about 7 miles from them) & I'll load ya up!!" Last time I took him wood,it was Fall 2011 right before he had his back surgery.One sis said last week they could use some,so I told "Have Ed stop here in town with his truck & I'll take care of you guys!" I don't burn a lot - just 3-4 cord max per season for supplemental heat,but I have limited storage space in town & need to move some out anyway. Don't make sense for them to buy it,even though its a small amount they burn over the season.
Must feel pretty good being able to help someone out like that. Especially when they weren't expecting it.
My lab is the same way. Not afraid of anything with a motor or gunshots, but gets spooked by just about anything inside the house. He'll go hide in the farthest corner of the house if I hammer a nail to put up a picture.
