Guide to Servicing your ChainsawWritten by Keith Kingston
Chainsaws provide many years of service for very little upkeep. Taking time to service your chainsaw will help ensure that your equipment will not let you down. For safety reasons, make sure you only service your chainsaw when it is fully cooled, with spark plug disconnected. If you are working with an electric chainsaw make sure it is unplugged first of all. You should also wear gloves and protection for your eyes. For safe and effective operation having correct chain tension is necessary. As chain wears, significant stretching will occur. After five to ten cuts a new chain may need to be readjusted. Separation from guide bar or binding into wood can occur if chain is loose. Premature chain and guide bar wear will be caused by a tight chain. A chain that is well adjusted will move easily and smoothly when pulled by a gloved hand. Binding or sagging by chain should not occur. The chain tension should be checked and adjusted if needed before every use. A manual or automatic chain oiling system is used in most chainsaws. Friction and heat builds between chain and guide bar without oil. The oil also helps individual links in chain operate smoothly at high speeds. Check oiling system prior to every use. Tighten all of screws and fasteners. This process should be done before every use. Before using your chainsaw each time you need to inspect fuel system.
| | Winter GardeningWritten by Candee Stark
Ok, title might be a tad bit misleading. I am not suggesting that you actually garden during winter but you should be using this time to plan your upcoming garden.As you look out at your yard and garden area during cold months of winter, let your thoughts run wild and you will be amazed at what images you can conjure up. You might even want to try some of your new found ideas this spring! 1. Pour through garden catalogs, flip pages and fold down corner anytime you find something you like. Go back to it often until you decide what new plants and flowers you would like to try this spring. 2. Purchase a gardening book or magazine. Look at what other people are trying in their gardens and see if their ideas inspire you to try something new. 3. Look out your windows and try to visualize how you would like your yard and garden to look like. Study sun....notice shady spots. 4. Make a list of what is important to you, in other words, what do you want from your yard and garden? Do you want to create a patio area for entertaining, a vegetable garden so you grow all of your own vegetables, a quiet area for relaxing, or maybe an area that will attract wildlife. Anything is possible but it is important to recognize what you want before you actually start any gardening project. Ultimately, knowing what you want will save time and money!
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