Coldest temp you've ever started a saw in?

I was just wondering if anyone has ever been in temps so cold their saw wouldn't start. It's 3 in the morning and I can't sleep because that's what I'm thinking about.

I have started mine at -30, but it sas more like starting a diesel with a pull cord. The oil film in the engine was so stiff, it would barely spin. After a few pulls it got easier, but it was still a pain.

What's the coldest saw you've ever started?

 

I don't start my saws in extreme cold for a couple reasons. I'm not sure how well the bar is going to oil and it has to be hard on the engine. But the biggest reason I don't is that I'm not going to be doing chainsaw work when I'm freezing my butt off.

 

Maybe 20 or 25 degrees. Anything colder and Im not going to be outside too long.

 

Some years back, before I was a serious hoarder, and the stepson and myself both needed some wood, we went out in some subzero temperature one day. Don’t recall exactly being I think it was around 3-5 below zero.
Don’t plan on doing that again.
Just another benefit of being ahead, although I’m not sure I’m on the 3 year plan yet

 

Coldest i recall cutting in was the teens with a good wind chill. I normally wouldnt cut in weather like that but it was a nice black locust score. I layered up and the saw(s) ran without issue.

The 20's is usually my cut off temp (no pun intended)

 

Around Christmas time last year we had an intense cold snap come through and it was -7 when I got up one morning. My saws are stored in a garage space, which at that time was probably right around freezing. I bundled up for the occasion and did about a half hour of cutting before going back in to huddle around the stove.

 

This gets my vote. I do my work so when it’s cold I can enjoy what has been done. Cut, split and stack before it’s cold out.

 

It was close to -30 for me. It may have been colder/warmer where I was cutting but don't know for sure. I had the chainsaw on the floor with the heater in the truck blowing on it to help out before I started it.

Never again!


But, I did find a great place with lots of left overs. Once the snow melted and roads were dried up, I got back in there and got enough firewood for myself and my Mom for a winter's worth of heating and a little extra!

 

49 below according to my little thermometer on my coat. That was in 94, and the only place for my saw to stay warm was in my mummy bag with me. It was only suppose to get down to 20 below, which is ok. I remember well having no choice but to get up and get warm.

I don't like sleeping in a bag any longer. My bed is a good friend of mine.

 

I run a saw beaver trapping, but I like to put the head under the four wheeler exhaust, or kind of prop it under the sled hood to warm up first. I never carry a saw bigger than 4 cube though for trapping.

 

If it’s much below freezing I don’t bother. Staying 3-5 years ahead allows me to pick and choose when I hoard. Best I can remember was cutting apple trees in the orchard with lots of snow on the ground. Guarantee if it was below 30 I wouldn’t have gone. So I’m in the 30-85 range. Outside of that, I don’t c/s/s.

 

About -15 - -20 and it was a disaster!
Tree fell on friends driveway and we just wanted to clear a path.
Couldn't even pull the rope unless it was placed in the running truck to warn up.
Then as it was warming up it pizzed gas on the floor.
Fun times it wasn't!

 

Around zero give or take a little. That's about as cold as it gets around here. Wouldn't want to work in much colder temps but would if I had to. I personally like working in extremes just to say, "ha mother nature, what else you got?"

 

Having the saw warm from being in the cabin or truck cab helps with starting. I have chainsawed in temps at and below zero. On a sunny windless day I actually had my jacket off, wearing insulated boots and bib pants with steam rising from my flannel shirt. As soon as I stopped working I cooled right off and had to get the jacket back on. Winter is the only time I can get into some areas of our land running an ATV and small trailer through the swamp. I like it best around 20 so I can dress for the weather, work hard and not sweat to death.

 

I think I was out once under 20 degrees last winter. I am a user of winter bar oil.

 

-15 to -2o range if a blizzard blows through and driveway needs to be opened. It is what it is.. winter bar oil, old Jonsered had heated handles

 

Probably been 10 years ago went after some real nice sugar maple at about 0 with snow flurries blowing around. I remember it well, I started at first light and had it cut and a truck full on a Sunday morning. Was at church by 10.

 

Do you still snuggle with the saw???

 

I remember my father putting saws in the truck when he logged. I don't have to cut when it's that cold.