TRAINING & EDUCA
TRAINING & EDUCATION
A close-up of chain saw teeth. Note the depth gauges in front of the cutter teeth, which set up the amount of "bite" the tooth takes. Also note the way the cutter teeth slant down and back, illustrating the need to adjust the depth gauge height to its particular cutter tooth.
SHARPENING Chain Saw Photo by Michael "House" Tain
By Michael "House" Tain F
ew tree care professionals would disagree that one of the most frustrating experiences in their daily work life can be oiling and fueling a chain saw, have it start readily and run well, yet once the chain touches the wood it appears to be
removing wood at the pace of a tired elderly carpenter ant with poorly fitting dentures. Obviously, poorly sharpened chain saws are an efficiency issue
on a professional tree crew —creating lost time in wood cut either far too slowly or in interesting shapes — but they are also a safety issue. Beyond the simple fact that irritated chain saw operators are
12 Arbor Age / September 2011
probably not focusing on what they should be — the cutting they are doing with the chain saw itself — poorly sharpened saws take a toll on the operator's body, creating muscle fatigue and other physical issues that could easily result in the operator not having the strength, reaction time, or remaining energy reserves to react or deal with an unexpected occurrence. Additionally, a dull chain that takes longer to complete a cut or an
improperly sharpened chain that makes it difficult to line up cuts pre- cisely can both lead to an operator being in a dangerous position or situation for too long — resulting in tragic consequences.The most ready solution to this problem is properly sharpened and maintained
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