Dan, I only buy one brand of cordless tool because of the batteries. I bought my first Makita tool before the new hardware store took over the old one. They handle Milwaukee. If I knew that was coming, I would have bought Milwaukee.
I considered three brands, Milwaukee, Dewalt and Makita. I realy like Dewalt’s corded tools and was going to buy their cordless tools until I figured out that they lie about the voltage. They say 20 volts were others are state 18v. I have no tolerance for lies - walk a way from lies. It was disappointing to learn that Milwaukee was no longer made in the USofA, would of paid a premium for that. For the most part they are about the same quality, so pick a brand and stick to the same battery.
I can no longer work all day in the woods. The Husky gets the best of me fast, now a days. So for good sized trees I fell with the Husky and limb with the cordless. That allows me to work for a bit under two hours in the woods before fatigue gets the best of me. I have to start at sun rise to avoid the 90 degrees and high humidity. I charge the batteries at home, so there is no reason to charge them in the woods. Even if I could I would not bother. I can adapt to the tools I have and don’t expect them to do what they can not do. I just make adjustments on my end. The log hauler will generate electric, so it would be possible to charge in the woods, however I see no reason to. It is much easier to cut firewood in log length in the woods. Then cut the logs/poles into cord wood at the home. So much less battery needed in the woods.
A few days ago I got the flue shoot in my left arm. About three hours later I got nailed in the right arm by a bee. Right were a flue shoot would be injected. Three weeks before that I was stung in the face and that swelled up down to my neck. Isn’t summer fun…
Sorry about your health issues that doesn’t sound like much fun.
I tend to cut my wood from dead stuff around my fields. It is just as easy for me to take a tractor with the wood splitter directly to the trees and split them into the back of my pickup then unload it into my shed. I did have a logger do a cut on the back lot a few years ago and he dropped off log length wood at the farm for me stuff that needed to be trimmed out of the stand anyway. It was great cutting my fire wood off a log pile but that is all burned now.
As to Dewalt I agree with you about the new batteries and the voltage I wasnt impressed by that when I bought the adaptors to use my old tools with the newer batteries as my old batteries where long since junk. But since I have had the same cordless tools from the 90s I just upgraded and accepted that the marketing department is running the show now. Sucks but it is life I wasn’t going to get rid of the tools I already own. Oh and for what it is worth the information on those batteries online is favorable. I read several things about taking the packs apart and replacing the batteries as I do have one with a bad cell it was a knockoff aftermarket I bought. Basically the stuff I read said they sell the packs cheaper then the cells individually can be bought for so you are better off to just get a new battery unless you have two packs that have issues in which case you can make one good one by opening them up. But it is still hard to get them back together successful.
Anyway all that to say yes if I was doing it over I might go a different way. IIRC the dewalt electric chainsaws also have a trigger design that only really works for right handed people because of the placement of the safety switch. It is either theirs or Stihl because those where the two I looked at.
Well I am now in day 5 after my knee replacement surgery and I am now off opioids and on straight Tylenol for pain. They say that day 2 through day 5 is the worst and I think they were right. They used the robotic surgical arm method which is supposed to be less invasive with quicker healing and better range of motion results. No driving for 6 weeks (that they know of) so you won’t see “DOW Driving Habits” from me anytime soon.
Right, you’re starting to make sense again
I work mate of mine did both his knees 10 years ago. He said he felt 20 years younger and he lost 50 pounds in a couple years. Downsides were new wife, new car and other expenses, which made him unable to retire until 69
Happy recovery (or whatever you’re supposed to say)
Don you are in my thoughts and prayers. Praying for a great recovery. My bro-in-law had one and it turned out great. Seems everyday he wonders why he put up with the pain for so long. TomC.
The knees are more painful than hip replacement, my hip is in for 4 years doing very well. My Dr. told me both work better, and last longer if you keep the weight down. I cut carbs out to keep mine down.
My doctor said I have to keep my weight down . . . so I lay down every chance I get I did lose 25 pounds before surgery though. I used that new “taste” diet. If it tastes good - spit it out.
Wayne, can you take several hay harvests on the same field this year?
Do you find it difficult to dry the hay when there is so much?
I was bored in the rain today, so I made some fuel for the car, I do not know how to get it dry.
How are you doing in all of the ground level wildfire smokes OregonCarl?
I have relatives and friends now giving their home generators work outs in their fire/wind grid power-outs.
One, my sister Wendy (coastal mountains outside of Florence) it is public power shut off as a precaution.
S.U.
postscript edit.
we just went level 1 notification here for us.
Level 2 is just four mile to the north.
Level 3 mandatory evacuation zone is just 8 miles NE over two drainages. Seeing the loaded pickups and SUVs caravanning into our town now.
Sucks.
Pray for early September rains to come.
Sunny and windy today. Hurry spred the chunks out and let them breathe.
Another rain will be arriving during the weekend. Hurry cover them up.
How to get around this?
When I lit up yesterday I recognized some square chunks. Santa made them for me for Chistmas.
Einstein talked a lot about space and time. Don’t know if he had chunk storing in mind, but both factors help.
(Bathroom thinking chair brainstorming)
We have evacuated our place. We are staying with friends in town. There was a car that caught on fire two nights ago about a mile and half away from us. It was an RV hauling a jeep, and something was dragging and throwing sparks. They pulled off the road and it instantly burst into flames. The fire burned 10 acres and 2 houses in a very short time. At that time the wind was blowing at 10 or 15 mph. We could see the light from the flames, and ash came down on our place. At that point it felt like it was time to go. We were able to get back down there during the days, and I have been trying to clean up all fuels around my buildings, and stash stuff in my more fire proof structures. The big threat though is a couple of 100,000 plus acre fires that are merging, and threatening to sweep down into the valley. Its pretty crazy, I think like half of the county is now on level 3 evacuation. The news just said 670,000 acres are burning in Oregon right now.
We are all safe, though, so thats whats important. I am starting to day-dream about a ferro-cement house with steel shutters for the windows…
Glad to hear you are safe. I think I heard this morning that it was over 2 million acres on fire on the west cost all together. The photos of the red sky out there are just downright scary. It drives home the scale of it when you see those photos across such a large area.
Keep safe property can be replaced humans can’t.
I am pretty sure I would be dreaming about a below ground home…
I have an air quality meter; it gave a reading of 700 micrograms/meter cubed. My math says that is an AQI of nearly 550. I was wearing a p100 half face respirator, and my throat still feels raw. In town the air is a lot cleaner because fresh air is still coming down the gorge. We brought our air purifier; the smoke will probably linger for quite a while.
Glad to hear your safe Carl. When the tall timber on the West side starts burning there is really nothing but a strong rain that can stop it.
So far all we have had is some thin smoke.
Recently they have caught 3 idiots/terrorists lighting brush fires in separate incidents inlocal rural towns. The fires started along roads are probably from smokers.
Mr. Michael G.,
Noticed a very early post. Night watchman? We are all praying for you western folks, like @SteveUnruh said, Praying for gentle / soaking rains for you.
God Bless You All!
TomC.
I did lose 25 pounds before surgery though. I used that new “taste” diet. If it tastes good - spit it out.
