Tried a top-handle chainsaw on that big Norway maple yesterday and nearly lost control on the back lean.

The kickback guard caught it before I did, but I learned the hard way that a 16 inch bar on a light saw is way too snappy for limb walks, has anyone else had close calls switching to a lighter saw in bad lean situations?

3 comments

3 Comments

benclark29d ago

That Norway maple sounds like a handful. Got a similar scare a few years back with a top handle on a big old oak that was leaning hard over my buddy's shed. Ended up switching to a smaller 12 inch bar for limb walks since then, and it's way less snappy but you gotta be more careful on the cut angle. The lighter saw just doesn't have the mass to hold its line through a tough lean, so you end up fighting it more than cutting. My neighbor swears by those little battery saws for limbing, says they're easier to control, but I've never tried one myself.

susan13029d ago

Oh man, that reminds me of a time I tried using my neighbor's old gas saw for some light trimming and nearly took out their mailbox! I'm with you on the bar size thing, @benclark - I switched to a 14 inch myself after a weird kickback incident, and it's way less intimidating. But yeah, your point about losing mass is spot on; I find I have to let the saw do the work instead of muscling it, which feels awkward at first. Have you ever tried one of those mini pole saws for the leaners? I swear by mine for awkward angles, though it's a pain to sharpen.

reese_nelson28d ago

Bet your neighbor's never tried to limb a leaning oak in a windstorm with that battery saw either.