Here’s the reason I chose to build a Shindaiwa.
Growing up, we had a small firewood business. As far back as I can remember, I was tagging along with my dad back to the woods. He had a nice landing beneath towering hickory and beech trees, and would skid the logs with a small Case Dozer. Once his skids were full, he’d buck everything to length in the shade, or sun, depending on the season. Seems it was rather well thought.
We pulled our homemade wood trailer, splitter in tow, back to the landing with an International 460. I rode on the trailer with the dog and our equipment. I’m sure I started out as more of a nuisance and concern than any form of helper – my dad on high alert of my whereabouts and working slower than desired because of it. He’d saw and split around 2 cords and then we’d head home. As the years went by, the routine basically stayed the same, but I was growing big enough to start helping. I started out stacking on the trailer. I would stack the perimeter, and my dad would pitch splits into the middle. When my dad was confident my attention span was sufficient to not amputate his fingers, I started running the splitter lever. His productivity increased. So much so, I am convinced, it offset the time I cost him when I was younger. I would stack the perimeter of the trailer while my dad loaded another round on the splitter.
We’d head home when we were full. My favorite was when the path was muddy in the woods – either from fall rain or spring thaw – and we had to carry enough momentum through the bad spots to avoid getting stuck; tires throwing football sized hunks of clay like Joe Montana.
Over the years, we upgraded to a Massey 265 tractor. The splitter got several new engines. Yet my dad never upgraded saws. He ran a pair of Shindaiwas – a 550 with an 18” bar, and a 350 with 14” bar. He put countless hours on those saws with nary a problem; routine maintenance and care was all that was required to keep those saws in top shape.
When I bought my house, he sent the 350 with me. It finally needed an oil pump drive gear, another new bar, and another new chain. He upgraded to a 360. He is a meticulous researcher, so his choice of equipment speaks to his character and values.
Shindaiwa saws kept food in my belly, clothes on my back and a roof over my head. Shindaiwa saws continue to provide warmth and yuletide memories for my family as I still cut most of my firewood, and our annual Christmas tree with these great machines. So, this Christmas gift will be personal.