Doug

Totally securing a job site is a nearly impossible task, but as stated in the previous comments you gotta do it right and cover your butt just in case the unfortunate happens. Few have stated much about securing your own safety, trust me.... never rely on just sticking out a few cones if working on a road. Get the biggest damn logs (or brush heap) OR even your truck you can find and stick e'm in the road between your work area and the cones. I have seen over the years many site injuries caused by outside forces coming "into" the work zone, I guess there is not a lot you can do about that. Back in the day's when every climber had his own personal "ropeman" I recall a traffic collision way up the road with the out of control vehicle eventualy taking out the ropeman and a groundie. In another incident I recall I was dropping out some big heavy lumps into the road, both ends had the traffic stopped, I got the OK, and just as the lump of trunk left the cut I saw this old land-rover doing about 50mph. run by the stop control. I swear I saw that 6foot x 20inch beech log meeting right at his windshield, well I guess he must have been doing 52mph co'z it got him right on the tow ball..... that land-rover done a wheel'y for 30feet. Working on a road is more dangerous than treework without a doubt, you are just not in control.

Bit of a cheat here as I found them while browsing around, but neat none the less. I am sure they have been doctored a bit but the basis must have been there to start with. I love the first one.

BigRedDog, Now that is nice work in a style I love, built to last. Not sure what the visable five little black holes are.... I hope they are not screw holes? I allso love your work area, I am sure we will be talking down the road a bit as I have made many tables and benches over the years in a similar fashion. Never can get enough money for the work and material involved, but it is rewarding and fun. O'h and Plippy, do you have a 2000x2000pixel image of your profile pic avail??

Well thank you.... A legend for what is up for debate, and to return the compliment I have been following your posts, it seems we speak the same or at least similar lingo. As for photo's ye'p gotta few but but one must remember the old digi camera that is part of today's required gear ain't been around to long and most of my wild juicy stuff was back when carrying a camera was unheard of. Over the coming months I will try and post a few as the situation arises, now had you asked for memories and stories, those I have, just give me a little time to get established on here. I would very much like to come back home and try the lecture circuit before my numbers up.

robo 110, Sorry, I wish I did, I have spent several hours on the internet trying to find any info at all to no avail. I got them from an old logger who ran a rinky dink sawmill up in the mountains back in the late 50's, I know that the second photo is called a "J" chain, the first is a 3/4" pitch possibly made by Oregon. Here they are in the raw state.

Tree Man Tom, I am new here and do not wish to upset or offend anyone, so let me rephrase it: It is not the guy that "P's" me off it is the technique, if you have a really blunt chain due to hitting a piece of hidden metal etc, there is no way you are going to get that edge back with only one hand on the end of the file. You sharpen with your ear..... a straight smooth consistant pressure throughout the stroke, with one hand you will not and do not have that consistant even pressure as your hand moves toward the chain. BUT.... if your happy with the results that's good enough.The worst thing to do is to change what your familiar with especially if it produces the results you desire.

Very good guy's and I hate to burst your bangers, but we are only second to the mexicans. They really go to town, I don't have any pics right now but will keep my eye out. We done a little community job once, I had to hire on some extra labor two of which were mexicans who done catering on the side, deep fried cornish hens with all the trimmings etc. Ended up closing the road with a street party until 8:30pm. Cost me dearly though.

Personal preference... whatever feels good in your hand that get's e'r done (SHARP). Trust me over 44years I have watched many guy's sharpen saws, and I have seen it all. From squatting with a leg over the engine with bar on shoulder to the guy who uses a magnifying lamp out on the job site..... the one handed file guy's "P" me off though. My first few years in this game was spent making tea, moving camp, tobacco runner and watching the old timers sharpen their tools (axes & crosscuts). O'h O'h... I'm on a roll here... One of the first things I ask any newbie is to sit down and sharpen a saw for me, then show me your hands & gear, now go price a job for me. All these courses, classes, certifications etc. are missing the basics and concentrating on teaching the new guy's how to climb & rope like spiderman and look pretty with a rainbow of anodized gear. H'mmm I think I'm gettin off topic!

Thank's Mark, I'm collecting "Wow's"

Big cutter link OR small hand? A few of the recent posts talked about nice new shiny thing's so how about these, I believe it to be 3/4" pitch, I grind the links off and get them gold-plated. My local saw shop has been good to me over the years, so hacked off a 6" length got it cleaned & gold-plated then mounted it on a nice unusual piece of manzanita and presented it to him. Unfortunatly 10 day's later he past away and it dissapeared.

Sorry about this guy's, but I am sure I done it right, try this direct link: http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/members/doug-albums-misc-picture2476-stagg-tree.jpg O'h I did "center" it when I did not need to but that should not make a difference.

The Stagg Tree 7th. largest tree (by volume), North of Kernville, Ca. This tree is hidden in the forest well away from the everyday tourist who are only interested in the Sherman & Grant. In my opinion this is the most impressive due to it's enormous base. <center></center>