Sunday, June 10, 2007

Coloring Your Field Tools

I forget them all the time and waste time and energy looking for them. Now I have found a great paint. In my favorite local 'dollar store' I got spray cans of Rustoleum "Grip & Guard Textured Rubber Coating." It comes in high visibility colors of yellow (my choice) and embarrassing "neon" red, green, and blue. A few thin coats on the handles and you get sticky color AND a pretty non-slip surface. A dollar a can! 

Sunday, June 10, 2007

A Neat Saw

I have spent many happy hours cutting brush and branches but avoided the trees and wood thicker than about 2" because my clippers won't reach around these. I have now found a perfect solution for wood up to 8" thick.

No, not a chain saw, although I do have one. Not a bow saw because it takes up so much room I can't get to a lot of what I want to cut and the teeth are too big for my strength. Not a typical hand saw as it flexes too much and is hard to start or use in different positions other than downward. Not an electric as I am in the field. Not a battery operated saw as I do too much cutting.

The Vaughn Bear Saw is a wonderful tool. Viz:
- it cuts on the pull not the push. All Asian saws do this. Much easier on me and easy to start the cut.
- the blade is much thinner as it does not have to resist push flexing. A thinner blade means a narrower kerf and less wood to be removed by the teeth. Easier becomes faster.
- teeth with three cutting edges do a lot of damage with each pull. Fast.
- cost is less than $17.50 at Lowes.

I bought the equivalent at Home Depot, with a blue and gray wraparound handle and wide blade but it is not satisfactory:
- it dulled pretty quickly
- the blade is thicker and so needs more effort
- the wide blade prevents access to tight spaces like between branches.
- the blade snaps into place and can snap out when you accidentally push on the too "convenient" button.
- flexing of the saw's blade separated the halves of the plastic handle holding the blade and the handle's grip on the blade can't be retightened (as it can on the Bear Saw).
- it does not have a decent blade guard for storage, only a narrow strip of plastic to (riskily) slide onto the teeth. The Bear Saw has a pretty durable clear plastic case for the blade.

The Bear Saw is fast. I did not time myself but I think it took only about 60 seconds to cut a 4" tree flush to the ground. It is quiet, of course (except for my panting), and does not scare off the wildlife or disturb neighbors. It  uses a renewable energy source (me).  It is light and small - about 25" long and perhaps 3" wide so it fits in a tool carrier box.

My only complaint is that the saw is shiny and the grip gray and black so it is not so easy to find in the grass and leaves. I suppose blue is a good choice for field tools but boring.