Recent content by Catbuster

All I can say as an operator is that OE is a better running, lighter and more maneuverable saw than the X-TORQ. The OE was maybe the best all-round chainsaw ever, definitely of its day. The XT is a fine saw and should last a long time, but it weighs a much as a 572 or 46 series Stihl while...

I try to cut firewood at least two years in advance. Summers here are oppressive, especially this last one. Of course, this summer was both hot and dry, which kind of puts a damper on being out in the woods. It’s never been quite inland PNW/northern Rockies dry here, but it does get hot and dry...

How old is that? I’ve only ever seen the bladder bags. It looks like it would be a lot more comfortable.

I make it round-ish. I used to just go straight down when I had a mill to work with. Now I just use a die grinder & kinda do what I think will work best. You’ll break a twist drill trying to drill it out.

Beaver Tooth is my preferred handle. They’re a better priced handle than Whiskey River and make a wider variety. House Handle is another one that is highly recommended. Buying through Beaver Tooth’s website you have to wait what seems like forever, but they also sell at an eBay seller called...

These rewinds are one of the worst designed things Stihl has ever come up with. That’s maybe the most important part about fixing these things. If the rewind spring isn’t tight enough both the pawl will not come out, nor will the rope rewind after pulling out. Don’t worry, it took me 2 hours...

I fight this all the time with the ES Light, and new ES bars. I can’t even get a piece of 1/16” TIG wire through. I’ve opened all of mine up to around 3/32” drilled straight in and they’re much easier to keep clean, and flow more oil. My Cannon & GB bars, on the other hand, have a larger hole...

Frank’s Fire Commander. Nicks quality has kinda gone downhill under its current management. Frank Petrilli used to run Nicks boots and has his own shop now building boots the way Nicks did 10 years ago.

It is what it is, don’t worry about it. This is a logger boot… And it’s a overbuilt example at 10” tall with an inch thick sole. These are my main fire boots for doing engine/hand crew work. But, in general, a logger boot is: -Lace up -Over 8” tall -Has an aggressive lug sole -A defined...

I’m headed out west in a week, and man, my bag is lighter without nomex or a chainsaw.

The stock 462 filter works really well, and it’s certainly not worth oiling and cleaning a foam filter. Especially if you’re not cutting in really dusty or nasty conditions. Air filters are air filters, IMO. For my saws, Stihl runs the same air filter from the 044 to the MS880 so I figure the...

It’s funny you say that, I’ve gone away from the high heel and arch support as the years go by. I think part of it comes from them being caught or rebar mats doing bridge work, another part being easier to run equipment in, and the last being that with an 8” boot the shaft not being stiff enough...

I like it the best out of the box, but to me RSK is a better chain by the time I file it a few times. The baby C goes away over time. I think RSK holds a little bit better edge, and I like Stihl’s chain having a little bit shorter cutter.

You joke, but… Explosives work.

That’s interesting. I hate those types of trees. Falling abover the union seems to always be just high enough to be uncomfortable and have sawdust and ships flying right at your face. If you’re not going to have access to something stable that will get you up in the air, do it this way. Cut...