Hand-powered chainsaw -- for emergency use
When we boondock, we sometimes come upon fallen logs blocking the forest roads (especially in the wake of the bark beetle epidemic), and I usually use a bow saw to cut them (if we can't just move them...
Forum Discussion
Dan,
Like you, we sometimes encounter downed trees when driving on back roads. Most of the time, unless they are huge pines etc,they can be pulled out of the way with a long chain and a good 4x4 truck with out any cutting.
Because much of our camping/ back packing over the years has been in cool/cold northern mountainous areas, having a daily fire was more than just ambiance. I always carried a Coghlans folding alumium saw that could cut up 6" snags quickly for fire wood. Most of the wood for fires is from softwoods but the saw also cuts through dense desert hard woods but it is slower work. This is a light, back pack saw that is extremely sharp if you replace blades every year depending on usage but it cannot cut large diameter rounds as well as a full sized bow saw.
I know you said that you already have a bow saw for emergencies but like another poster mentioned, the wider the kerf, the tougher the work. A chainsaw blade is wide compared to the blade for my foldable saw and I think it will prove to be a lot of work unless it is used just for the odd times in an emergency. If you have the time, go for it.
Dave
Like you, we sometimes encounter downed trees when driving on back roads. Most of the time, unless they are huge pines etc,they can be pulled out of the way with a long chain and a good 4x4 truck with out any cutting.
Because much of our camping/ back packing over the years has been in cool/cold northern mountainous areas, having a daily fire was more than just ambiance. I always carried a Coghlans folding alumium saw that could cut up 6" snags quickly for fire wood. Most of the wood for fires is from softwoods but the saw also cuts through dense desert hard woods but it is slower work. This is a light, back pack saw that is extremely sharp if you replace blades every year depending on usage but it cannot cut large diameter rounds as well as a full sized bow saw.
I know you said that you already have a bow saw for emergencies but like another poster mentioned, the wider the kerf, the tougher the work. A chainsaw blade is wide compared to the blade for my foldable saw and I think it will prove to be a lot of work unless it is used just for the odd times in an emergency. If you have the time, go for it.
Dave
