Model Agency 411

There is a common message among professional chainsaw users… Make sure the chain is performing at maximum efficiency.

It’s amazing but many inexperienced chainsaw operators tend to overlook this very important aspect.

So what can you do to ensure your chain is performing 100%? There are several guidelines to adhere to. For example.. When is it time to sharpen the chain? There are obvious giveaways such as the saw doesn’t cut in a straight line; or the chain rattles and jumps; or fine dust is produced instead of saw chips. That’s just for starters.

There are simple preventative measures that can prolong chain use. While it may be tempting, and remember, chainsaws are not indestructible; avoid cutting into rock and any abrasive material.

Never allow the chain to loosen. Check the tension often. This is a reasonably straight forward procedure.

Some operators might be tempted to “go the extra yard” with their machine and get an extra cut. Not recommended. Experienced chainsaw users will tell you.. “Never force a cut with a dull chain.” You will not only do damage to the chainsaw itself but you’ll also run the risk of suffering serious injury.

While an under performing chainsaw may be obvious by feel, visible wear and damage should also be quite noticeable. The signs should be obvious without going into great detail.

Another commonsense preventative measure is to make sure the chain is always well lubricated. To check, hold the chainsaw with the bar and nose pointed towards a light colored background. Run the engine at half throttle and look for an increasing trickle of oil.

Finally, on the score of safety, always wear gloves when handling a chain.

These are just a few measures to ensure a chain is spot on and the old adage of “prevention is better than cure” certainly applies here. Look after you chain and by following some simple, commonsense steps, it should give you plenty of service in the long run and not to mention, looking after you hip pocket as well.

Dean Caporella is a professional Journalist and Sportscaster who takes an interest in a wide variety of topics. Dean grew up in farm country so chainsaws were part of the furniture. “They can be misused and without proper maintenance, dangerous. I hope to provide users with basic information in their application.” Visit http://www.chainsawlife.com.

Starting a lawn from scratch can be an intimidating prospect for the average homeowner. But if you take the time to do it right, it will pay you back many times over with a lawn that is much easier to care for then it would be if you cut corners along the way. Of course, the very first place to start is with the soil that you plan to use for your new lawn.

If you’re creating a lawn for a newly constructed home, you may want to pay particular attention to the kind of soil that has been left behind after construction is finished. Sometimes the topsoil has almost been completely removed, and in that case you’ll need to bring in a good layer of topsoil for the entire yard first.

For most homeowners though, you’ll be using the same soil that you’ve had for a while. So the very first thing that you want to do is to test that soil. There are a couple of ways to go here, one being that you can buy soil testing kits at your local lawn and garden store to test the soil yourself. Another alternative is that many nurseries and garden stores will test your soil for free or for a very small fee, and often that solution will provide the overall best results.

One of the most important soil tests is the PH level of your soil. If your soil turns out to be too acidic, then you need to add lime, and on the other hand, if the soil is too alkaline, then you need to spread sulfur on the soil. One advantage of using a local nursery or garden shop as your soil tester is that they will often be able to tell you exactly what product you need to add, how much of it needs to be added, and then how often you need to continue to add more in order to make sure the lawn grows like it should.

Once you have your soil prepared, it’s time to decide on what kind of grass seed you’re going to use for your new yard. Often you can ask your local garden store for advice on what seems to grow best locally, or you may even wish to ask a few people you know that already has a nice lawn to see what kind of grass they use. Of course you need to keep in mind that how much sun or shade your particular yard receives will affect what kind of seed you need to choose as well.

The next consideration is when you should plant your seed. For those in warmer southern climates, you’ll probably be planting a warm season grass seed which can be put down in the spring. For those in northern climates, you’ll probably be using a cool season grass seed, and these should be planted in the fall for the best results.

Spreading the seed can be done either by hand, a broadcast spreader, or a drop spreader. If your yard is small to medium sized, perhaps the broadcast spreader will work best for you. If you have a very big yard, you may want to use the drop spreader instead. After this seed has been planted, be sure to water the yard at least a couple of times every day to help the seeds germinate quickly.

Other alternatives to seeding a lawn is to use either grass plugs or sod to start a new yard. There are some advantages to using these methods too, but keep in mind that they are usually much more expensive than grass seeding.

So in review, the steps for planting the perfect lawn are to test your soil, get the PH where it needs to be, make the choice of which seed you wish to use, spread the seed, and then water and care for the area as it germinates. If you follow these simple procedures you should wind up with a thick, beautiful new lawn that you can be proud of.

Thad Pickering writes on many consumer related topics including home improvement. You can find lawn mower reviews and lawn tractor reviews by visiting our Home Improvement website.

Chainsaw, the popular weapon of choice for many screen villains,
still remains a nightmare for humble home users. Powerful and
helpful tools, chainsaws are used around the house for a number
of purposes, including pruning trees and scrubs, cutting
firewood and even woodwork. For proper maintenance, chainsaws
require a number of accessories, including carving bars,
suitable stands and a reliable chainsaw sharpener.

With time, depending on the project, your chainsaw may become
dull, and the chain will not produce the same precise cut. You
will notice that it’s time to reach for your chainsaw sharpener
when the cut from the saw is not straight anymore or the edges
are uneven. Dull chains also produce fine sawdust when cutting,
while a sharp saw produces thicker chips of wood.

If you need to push your chainsaw harder to make a cut, it also
means that the saw needs sharpening. The chain either is too
dull or has been damaged. Newly sharpened chain will enter a cut
easily even if you apply only slight pressure.

When you fail to sharpen the chain properly, you will loose
power and momentum. As a result, you will consume more fuel.
Your chainsaw will age faster and the engine will wear more, too.

Many people refrain from using chainsaws because of the
potential dangers. Indeed, injuries caused by chainsaws are
severe. The number of chainsaw accidents that required medical
attention is getting higher every year, increasing two-fold in
five years. 85 percent of injuries to chainsaw users resulted
from a contact with a moving or improperly maintained chain.

To survive through many of your home improvement projects and to
protect you against possible accident, your chainsaw must be
kept in good condition. Keeping your chainsaw sharp will save
you fuel, effort and may even prevent you from injury.

Today chainsaw sharpeners are powerful yet safe tools suitable
for sharpening virtually all kinds of chains. To prevent
injuries the chain is safely locked and grinding wheels are
designed to adapt to all your sharpening needs. In many cases, a
chainsaw sharpener includes a tool that allows checking the
sharpness of the chain finding pitches and changes in gauge
depth.

The chainsaw sharpener should be mounted in a well-lit area with
plenty of room to work safely, away from any flammable
substances. Always wear eye protection when operating a chainsaw
sharpener and wear gloves when removing or installing the
cutting chain.

Make sure the wheel guard is in place before starting the
chainsaw sharpener. Replace the guard if it is damaged or
cracked. Use only the correct file size and gauges recommended
for specific types of chain.

Make sure your chain is tense if you sharpen it directly on the
saw. You may not do a good job when you try to file a loose
chain, and besides, you can even damage a chain. Before
sharpening the chainsaw, always cleanse the chain properly to
prevent soiling the sharpener.

Even if you are a handy do-it-yourselfer, return your chainsaw
for re-sharpening to a qualified dealer after sharpening it for
a few times yourself. Even with the correct tools, you run the
risk of filing at an incorrect depth. A dealer has the equipment
to precisely file the chain, and a professional sharpening will
make the chain last longer.

Keep your saw clean and energy-efficient by sharpening the chain
often and checking the catcher for damages. Clean the chain of
your chainsaw with mineral spirits and a soft dense cloth when
you finish working. Following these simple tips will keep your
chainsaw in top working order.