Too much time on my hands...

I've been laid up due to shoulder surgery since December 4th. This has allowed me a LOT of time to do whatever I want as long as it doesn't involve the use or movement of my left shoulder. Needless to say this doesn't leave much although I am, thankfully, right-handed. So, I've spent copious amounts of time on chainsaw forums, eBay and Craigslist. I flip saws to make money that goes into my personal saw collection which means I'm always on the lookout for a 'business opportunity'. Add up my current handicap, the amount of time I have available, my desire to make more 'saw money', and a great big healthy dose of CAD and you have a guy with a small garage/shop quickly filling up with saws that he can't even run or work on for a couple more months! My (wonderfully patient & understanding) wife just shakes her head at me since every time another one shows up I have to ask her to put it in the shop since I can't lift them - little does she know most of them haven't even arrived yet. My CAD is getting worse and I keep telling myself to unplug for a few days . . . but I can't . . . not yet . . . just one more quick search...

So far from the forums, eBay, and Craigslist I've purchased the following:

• Truck bed full of junk that included 6 parts saws, several trimmers, and a concrete saw
• Stihl MS200 rear handle, needs seals . . . I think [Not sure yet if this is a flipper or keeper]
• Stihl MS460, stripped plug threads [flipper]
• Stihl MS460, runner [flipper]
• Stihl 064 ported, runner [keeper]
• Stihl MS310, scored [flipper]
• Stihl 070, runner [keeper]
• Stihl MS661C-MR, new [keeper . . . for a little bit at least]
• Four NIB Stihl chains (2@25" & 2@28")

I keep meticulous records (excel spreadsheet) of every saw I buy, any repairs done, how much I put into it, and what I sold it for (if sold versus a keeper). This allows me to know exactly how much I've spent and how much I've taken in. I only spend money on chainsaws that was made through chainsaws, and knowing I was going to be out of commission for awhile I did a good job of catching up on projects and selling them to clear out the shop and stash some cash. I've now managed, in just three short weeks, to spend all of my chainsaw money. Thankfully I'm very good about stopping the bleeding once my accumulated funds have run out, but I can't seem to stop looking, so I'm fearful of running across a great deal and putting my spreadsheet in the red!

Anyway, I'm just bored so I figured I would share my shenanigans from the past few weeks which would keep me away from the buying venues for awhile...

 

Yeah, I'm an engineer (i.e. geek) by trade, so I'm big on documentation in my personal life. Lots of Excel spreadsheets and Word documents to keep my life straight! I also keep a specific word file tracking of all of the Stihl chainsaw models I've owned. I've even bought & sold a few at little-to-no profit just to have owned that model. I'm a sick man . . . but at least I'm in good company!

 

Other than being laid up with a bum left shoulder....I don't see a problem.
Well, there's the boredom thing, but we know you've got that figured out.
As Dex said, room full of enablers here.

 

Gotta spend money to make money. You have a proven business model, safer than the stock market if you ask me.

 

I'm old school. I just write that chit down in several spiral notebooks. Mainly for insurance records with dozens of photographs.

Amongst other things I have documented literally EVERY antique tool in my inventory acquired since leaving high school in 1981.Basic description,condition,price paid,location/date where purchased. From the smallest watchmakers/machinist pin vise to the largest wooden or iron plane & 108lb anvil/heavy blacksmiths post drill/leg vise.



Plus every thing new in the woodshop since the early 80's,except for things that are considered ''expendable" such as abrasive paper/belts/discs,grinding wheels/discs,band saw/jigsaw/sawzall blades,small twist drills up to 1/4" that are normally broken/reground & shortened in every day use.Also catalogued are chainsaws,parts,literature,advertising,owners/shop manuals & any related stuff.I don't include chains cause they're disposable also.

Plus all projects no matter size or description I've sold & any tools/wood sold are on a separate list.Every few months I go through inventory,try to sell any duplicate or more common antique tools,along with random wood to get extra cash for future acquisions....

 

yup... So hiding them in boxes scattered throughout the garage makes it all better... just have a couple in one spot so it doesn't look bad to the wifey... LMAO...

These are just the runners all brought on by the same issues you have... Its amazing before I found the internet I had two saws that cut my wood and firewood for a business for 4 years.. I wonder how that was even possible... I haven't bought any saws in a couple of years, well wait there was that one 365 a month or two ago, a top handle 3-4 months ago and there was the 036 I fixed up for a buddy for xmas, and then there is that 555 on craigslist just screaming my name.. hmm, what can I sell to get it? I seriously hope you didn't come here for "help".... It never ends, but having a budget and spreadsheet is a good idea as well as a chainsaw only pot to grab from... Oh wait, and I really want to try a 390xp over this 064 project I have..too.


These were all my runners in my prime of CAD a few years ago...



I've dwindled it down to....



Now I just have to get rid of the project saws in hiding..... good thing they are hiding because if I started back up, I'd likely dive in again... lol

 

Ha! Same here - spreadsheet with $ paid and $ received for each saw for the past 3 years. Had enough cash saved from saws/parts sales to buy all the new equipment in my new woodshop (table saw, band saw, drill press, etc., etc.). Even if you do go in the red for a great deal, if you know you'll make money, why not? A good saw at a good price is money in the bank. Cheers!

 

Thanks guys! I'm feeling better all the time (in the head, not the shoulder)....

It all started for me in August of 2012 when I needed a replacement chainsaw for the crappy one I had. Since as I tell my wife,'I can fix anything', I responded to a CL ad simply titled, "Chainsaw in a box - $15". It was about half of an early Stihl 064. It was missing the entire case & engine assembly, so I sold the rest of the parts off and netted $118. I thought that was pretty easy, so I started buying carcasses and parting them out to try to learn the various model assemblies. That quickly morphed into buying toasted saw and repairing them. Now, just 28 months later my records tell me:

• I've purchased 223 chainsaws (not including dozens of string trimmers, concrete saws, blowers, etc.)
• I've sold 182 chainsaws (and all of the other misc. stuff)
• I have 21 'personal' saws (3 that I can justify, 13 that are my collection, and 5 simply because I wanted them)
• I have 20 saws that are either waiting to be sold or repaired

Here is one pic I took quite awhile back when my shop (i.e. small detached garage) got a bit overwhelming and I had to pull everything out and reorganize...

 

WOW! That's a stash! Cheers!

 

I really don't want to know how much I lose on my saw deals. It's depressing.

 

If you decide to dump that 064 project let me know. I love me some 064!

 

So many awesome stihls

 

shoot me an offer. Its one of the nicer looking 064's you'll find with an HD setup. I think it was a later production. I bought it as a "running saw" was out of town for work, didn't have a t27 with me. it had compression but wouldn't fire. took it apart months later and the p/c were scored. cylinder wass trashed, nikasil broke through on intake side. was going to do a 066 topend on it. I don't have the cylinder anymore. Once the nikasil is wore through, I pitch cylinders. I do have a brand new meteor piston for an 064 though. lol.

 

I have a nice jug for an 064.

 

hmm how much?..... that's all i need to put it together

 

WOW!!! You guys are weird.

 

Remember the old anti-drug commercial that used to be on TV when the kid looked at his dad and said, "I learned it from watching YOU!". Nuff said.

 

I remember that. O by the way I found you another 090