Leaderboard

I used hydrogen peroxide in a spay bottle...it breaks down the blood proteins and you can wipe the bugs off in 5 minutes or so.....better than anything I've found.

Two weeks ago I bought a Kobalt 80 volt chainsaw. In the background of the photo is the wood I’ve cut and split so far. In the foreground are a few pieces with a 40” diameter red oak I cut with the saw, but hadn’t split yet. It took many battery charges and a few sharpened chains to get through all of it. Run time is fine. Not bad for a plastic battery operated saw. I’m happy with it. It’d break down into a pretty small package if you took off the bar and chain. When I’m in the back country and need to clear a path for our Land Cruiser, I’ve found that my Kobalt 24v battery powered Sawsall with a long, coarse toothed blade has been plenty the two times I’ve needed it. It takes up less space than a chain saw and can be used for other things too with an assortment of blades.

I put the saw on the bench with a bright light and set up the jig according to the video. No issues other than while I was getting used to the feel of the carbide as it cuts, I removed too much metal from one side or set of teeth. The saw cuts a crooked kerf if both sets of teeth aren’t even. Now that I know what to look for I can sharpen both sets of teeth evenly and the saw always cuts straight. I threw one chain away as I was learning because I couldn’t get it to cut straight again. Watch the instruction/promotion videos, read the FAQ, read the directions, and get in a little bit of practice. That’s pretty much it. It does what it says it will. No real tricks other than paying attention to how the taper on the carbide enters the tooth. Keep it’s engagement point with the dull teeth consistent and the sharpened teeth will come out consistent. Ken

I think if you held down the trigger, put the chain to wood, and never let up, you’d probably get 10-15 minutes. If you’re cutting, repositioning, moving, it seems more like 30-40 minutes. The battery that comes with the chainsaw is 80V peak, 72V nominal, 2 Ah. Charge time is 30-40 minutes depending on how hard you worked the battery and how much it needs to cool down before accepting a charge. There are battery sizes ranging from 2.0 Ah for $129 to 6.0 Ah for $359. Not inexpensive, but powerful. I’ve been sharpening the chain on the bar without flipping it. When I replace the chain I’ll flip the bar. This is the sharpener I’ve been using. Very nice. https://www.timberlinesharpener.com/ Wood cutting is something I only do when wood falls in my lap. It’s good exercise. Though there are several pieces of property in the family where I could cut as much as I want, I don’t go out of my way looking for it. It just appears. People hear you burn wood and they call to get rid of a yard tree that is already cut up or to get rid of a stack of split wood because they converted their fireplace to gas. It’s nice to have friends. Ken

Great feedback and suggestion. Thanks

Landrover, We dealt with love bugs and no see’ums when we lived in Kingsland, Georgia. We used a mix of hydrogen peroxide and water to help remove love bugs off the paint as soon as possible. They sure can make a mess. We called the no see’ums flying set of teeth with wings..brutal. -Patriot

Love bugs are something I do not miss. I had good luck with P21s wiper washer booster getting them off though - still use it in all my cars even though lovebugs aren't a problem where we are now. Otherwise, I was going to get tear-offs to keep them coming. Wonder what would protect the gelcoat well -- they turn acidic and actually etch paint if left on.

That's a nice saw for sure. All I could recommend is a HD contractors garbage bag to put it in. Not too glamorous I know.... For those without a generator (like me), I would highly recommend a Silky Katanaboy 500 or 650. I have the 650 and it is razor sharp and cuts very quickly, almost as fast as a traditional 2-man bucksaw. Get some pocket wedges and you're good to go. Enjoy your Makita though...know your binds and be careful! Dave