Construction saw

[HUSKYMAN]

Any builders out there carry one of these in their toolbelts? The construction comment alone scares me away from this one

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2349053183&category=20538

 

[jokers]

Hi Huskyman
Chainsaws are actually quite common on building sites, especially for framing change order work or roofs with bastard hips, ie: non-45° intersections, requiring either a swing table circular saw or chainsaw to cut them effectively. Top handle saws are also popular with pole builders and fence builders in some areas for knocking the tops off posts that extend above their desired height.

Russ

 

[oakman]

hello huskyman, i have been a carpenter for over 30 years. i realised the versatility of a small chainsaw early on in my career. i started using a mini mac 30 back in the early '80s, mainly using it for large beams, glue-lams, posts and the like, but as time went by i began cutting sheeting, 2x, and just about every kind of building material that can be cut with a circular saw. it saves hours of time. if you need to rip say 10 sheets of ply for say the last row of sheathing on the roof, you stack em up straight, tack a spike to hold 'em, and cut 'em all in 30 seconds. lots of guys use a sawzall to cut out doors and windows on a new build. i used to use a large router, but a chainsaw will do the whole house in the time it takes to do a couple windows with a bayonet saw. many times i have had to cut a whole lift of studs. i leave 'em banded, square up the ends with a hammer and t- square, draw lines and cut the whole lift in minutes. i still have my old mini mac, but nowadays i use an echo 3000 with a 12 inch bar. what i do is change the leading edge angle on the teeth from 30 degrees to 15, and i file the teeth back till i get around 20 thou on the rakers. this makes the chain cut much smoother and not so aggressively. when i'm ripping plyboard, i only use the top of the bar so you can see the line. here's me in '98 out in phoenix az. this entire building including the rough sawn fir facia, which all has to be mitered, and the vigas out front, was built using an echo 3000 and a paslode impulse gun. the pic is a bit rough, but you get the idea. the older i get, the more i like it. at the end of the day i just put the gun in its case, grab the saw and i'm on my way home. no cords, no hoses, no compressor. god i'm gettin lazy!

 

[glens]

I don't use a chainsaw on construction material myself, but have seen them used on log buildings.  I get most everything sawn with my 8-¼" B&D Super Sawcat or my Milwaukee Super Sawzall.  I've got both corded and cordless Paslode nailers.  The cordless trim nailer really shines and about the only negative I have for the cordless framing nailer is that the magazine capacity is too small.  It's coming up on ten years I think since I got the framing nailer, the trim gun is older.  Those Paslode cordless nail guns are neat, but they can be a little loud.

I guess there has been a time or two that I've used a little Homelite XL to cut material, come to think of it.  Seems there was this retrofit round-top window once...

Glen

 

[oakman]

glen, i know what you mean. i'm using the impulse trimaster angled finish gun also. it is a sweetheart. so light sometimes you forget you got it hooked on your belt. but in the closet hanging base, it is too loud, and will definately deafen ya. of course, any really good carpenter should have one of these in his bag of tricks! course, it's way too loud too. but at least it's got a chainsaw motor............................

 

[HUSKYMAN]

Oakman that is a cool saw. I have never seen one of those.

We have used saws on pole barns to lop off 4x4's and such, but certainly not a $400 335. Maybe $150 Echo 3000 sure, but how many guys buy an MS200 and use it to cut through nails ?

 

[TREETX]

In Germany, a chainsaw seems to be part of a construction crew. Common to see framers using them as well with remodeling or even small jobs.

.02

Nice cordless!!

 

[dozerdan]

Super Saw

oakman
Is the Super Saw still in production? I am sure that I can sell them to the local Amish tribe.
Later
Dan

 

[Tree Machine]

Construction uses of a chainsaw

Here's the start on a custom treehouse I did last Spring. Imagine how I would have done that without a chainsaw ... I think I was using a 394, though. -TM-

 

[racereric]

When the heating and air crew installed the ductwork in my house they cut the openings in the subfloor for the registers with a stihl 018. My 2 cents Eric.

 

[oakman]

Huskyman, i don't think it matters how much the saw is worth, you catch one nail and it ain't cuttin no more till you grind or file it. nails must be avoided at all costs. i would have no qualms about running a 335 on a build site. cutting lumber is easier on a saw than workin out in the bush. 400 bucks for a well performing tool ain't a lot of money these days, as i'm sure you know already!

Dan, sorry, that SuperSaw was made only a couple years in the early 80s by a company in chandler arizona, i forget the name. power products or something. then they were aquired or changed their name to the ryan co. who made weed whackers and such, who was then aquired by the ryobi co. i'll bet the amish would like it, too! i actually still use it on occasion, it has surprising power, and it does draw a crowd.

 

[cbfarmall]

My friend and I used his little Homelight when were building a ramp for his porch. When he got tired of messing with that saw I pulled out my 031, finished in no time. He told me that before his dad gave me the 045, he used in inside his living room for replacing floor joists back when some idiots let the chimney tumble through the floor.

I use my 031 for cutting two-by stuff all the time, and even the occasional ripping.

Chris B.

 

[stihltech]

old remodel

In my old house, the 009 cut out all the rough window openings. I have seen many people use small soaws on old house remodels. The old lumber sometimes resembles a tree more than lumber.

 

[ranger]

Back when I lived in Michigan we used chainsaws quite often for cutting timbers building seawalls or breakwalls. We made seawalls out of steel, oak 4x6's, or sometimes whole trees where jetted down into the ground. The trees were mostly ash or oak. I think we used 028 stihls, decent saws for that work but the sand all over the wood sure was rough on the chain! The timbers were always getting wet so they would get really sandy. Here in Alaska people use chainsaws all the time building logs cabins or timber frame homes. Chainsaws are great for more than just cutting trees.

Matt

 

[Tree Machine]

Treehouse

Here's a shot of the chainsaw treehouse, just before the cedar shakes went on. Mortise and tenon joinery, and big, fat dadoes. 346 XP and a 394 XP. -TM-

 

[rahtreelimbs]

I tore down a shed last spring. Used an old saw to cut it up. cutting thru shingles makes for some nice sparks and a dull chain!

 

[Marky Mark]

As promised here are some pics of my tree house I built at my place in VT this baby has it all.

 

[Marky Mark]

Here's the steps on the way up.

 

[Marky Mark]

Cann't forget a tree inside.

 

[Marky Mark]

Here's the heat for those cold nights.