Chainsaw Hack: Outdoor Vice For Saw Sharpening

I wrote a post about getting a razor sharp chainsaw, sharing the video instructions put together by Swedish Homestead, who also did one about this cool little chainsaw sharpening hack.

Timberrrrrrr!

Oh yeah, there's a lot of people out there with chainsaws and a perception that they know how to cut down a tree properly and safely. Riiiiiight!

I can tell you that I've felled a lot of trees and have been pretty successful, but there's been a few that gave me pause for thought and made me change my approach somewhat. The adjustment might be something simple, like parking your truck in a safer spot or dragging that storage box out of the way, and sometimes it's more complicated, like when you have to hook on to a trailer that's nearby and move it out of the way. Why take unnecessary chances?




We even had a few trees that were so big and so twisted that there was no way to guarantee they'd fall where I wanted, meaning we had to call in a pro with a feller/buncher. A bit of an added cost but he made short work of a lot of hard to handle trees and they were guided right to where we wanted them to fall, so no damage!

A feller/buncher in action

Regardless of how I am approaching the job of knocking down a tree, I always notify everyone on the property about the task and ensure our family and friends are in a safe place and stay there until after the tree gets dropped. I also park a vehicle across our access road, just to ensure no-one drives up while in the process of felling a tree, particularly if I'm aiming to have the tree land on the road. 

It's sure easier to limb and buck a tree when you have clear access, and you'll be all the more confident with your process and procedures if you consider the safety aspects and approach your tree felling with a "better safe than sorry" attitude! 

Fear

As posted on the marquee at NVRLND.

“Sometimes what you’re most afraid of doing is the very thing that will set you free.” 
― Robert Tew

Razor Sharp Chainsaw

I'm a chainsaw toting, wood cutting and splitting kind of guy and do sharpen my own chains, usually every time I fill up the chain lube chamber. There's nothing worse than struggling to get some work done because your saw has a dull chain, so check out this helpful video from our northern bretheran at Swedish Homestead.

Of course, I always have a spare chain in my chainsaw case too, just in case. When bucking deadfall, the use of a woodchchuck timberjack helps roll the log out of the dirt and grass but even the smallest amount of gravel and grit can dull a chain pretty quick and sometimes it's just as easy to switch out your chain and sharpen the dull one later.

Blue Monday

January 21st is known as "Blue Monday", a day shortly after the Christmas and New Year's holidays where people feel particularly gloomy and sad.

It's the big let down after all of the holiday festivities, combined with having to go back to work, and followed by the arrival of the credit card bills associated with all of the Christmas spending.

The month of February is looming and the real weight of a few months of Winter weather and very short days are bearing down on you, including the drudgery of dealing with cold, snow and all of the related issues for the past few months. You're just getting a bit tired of it all, bundling up to go outside, shovelling snow, and scraping windshields. It's becoming tedious and your thoughts are mostly about how much longer it will be until Spring arrives and/or where you can escape to a nice vacation in a warm sunny spot.

The February Blahs are quite common with everyone and most people deal with it fairly well but to help you cope you may need some ideas.

5 Tips To Help Beat The Blahs

• Get outside and get some sunlight!
  
  It may be difficult to be outdoors when it's cold or if you have to be at work and there are limited hours of daylight, but having some sunshine is good for you. If you can't get natural daylight, try some simulated sunshine, like that which you can get from a 'light box'.


• Exercise!
  
  Getting your body moving and create a bit of perspiration, getting your heart rate up and stimulating your body and mind.


• Watch your diet!
  
  Eating properly and avoiding junk food can help with overall health and wellness. As mentioned, lack of sunshine is tough on the body so try some liquid Vitamin D as a supplement.


• Get busy!
  
  Pick a hobby or volunteer somewhere and keep yourself busy and your mind occupied with something positive.


• Play music!
  
  Shut off the t.v. and play some tunes instead. Something that can be done as you work on that new hobby or craft.

Of course, there are more serious ramifications for some people and this can actually be classified as a medical condition which may include depression or Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.).

Some common signs of depression.

• An inability to function normally in everyday life


• An inability to enjoy activities you once loved


• Lethargy, fatigue and the feeling that doing things takes a lot of energy


• Persistent sadness, including fits of crying uncontrollably or easily, and the feeling of emptiness and anxiety


• Feeling blue or sad for extended periods of time


• Feelings of worthlessness, self blame or lack of self esteem


• Sleeping more than usual or not sleeping at all


• Unusual weight loss or gain, excessive eating or appetite loss


• Difficulty concentrating


• Pessimism and feelings of hopelessness


• Body pains, aches, cramps, headaches and digestive problems


• Irritability and restlessness


• Suicidal thoughts, thoughts of dying or attempting suicide

If you're experiencing any of these types of symptoms or notice these in a family member or friend, please seek immediate professional help.

The Canadain Mental Health Association has some serious advice and can help direct you to the right people in your area to get you started on a path to wellness.

Also check out the Calgary Health Region for additional advice and services.

Depression can be treated and there is no need for anyone to suffer or feel alone, so please reach out and seek professional help.

2018 Motorcycle Ride For Dad Report

The most successful way to beat prostate cancer is to catch it in its' early stages, when the disease is most treatable, but the problem is that too many men do not make regular doctor visits a priority, unaware that a simple PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) blood test can aid in early detection and potentially help save their lives. 

The lack of awareness and education is the primary reason the Calgary Prostate Cancer Centre created the MAN VAN, Canada’s only mobile PSA blood testing program.

With support from community partners such as the Calgary Ride For Dad, the MAN VAN has been able to travel throughout Calgary and surrounding area, spreading the word about the importance of early detection and men’s health.

The Calgary Motorcycle Ride For Dad has supported the MAN VAN program since 2012, and in 2018 they helped 438 men get a baseline PSA test. Additionally, 70 men participated in our Know Your Numbers men’s health clinic, receiving blood pressure, blood sugar, and waist circumference measurements.

The Prostate Cancer Centre and Man-Van successes are made possible with the help of a hard working group of volunteers who make up the Calgary Motorcycle Ride For Dad, as well as key sponsors such as Telus, Litwiniuk & Company, and of course, the fantastic folks at BlueCircle Insurance.

Together we are saving lives – one man at a time.

While You're Outside, Building A Snowman....

Whether you're outside building a snowman, or Winter camping in the woods , keeping your feet warm and dry is the key to enjoying your time outdoors. 

12 ways to keep your feet warm

• Avoid cotton, as this fabric gets wet easily and does not hold heat when it is wet.


• Look for merino wool footwear as the best fabric, since it naturally regulates heat and moisture wicking, is itch free, and will keep your feet warm even if it does get damp.


• Wool socks, in general, are the best choice as they both attract and repel water at the same time. This means that when your foot perspires, the sock will pull away the water vapour before it turns to moisture, then allow it to evaporate into the air. You can double down and wear a sweat wicking polypropylene sock under a wool sock.


• Wear proper sized socks and sock combinations for your footwear, avoiding socks or layers of socks which are too tight and may cut off circulation to your toes.


• If you're wearing big boots, opt for thinner socks.


• If you're wearing a shoe, opt for thicker socks.


• Put a foot bed ( insole) in your boot or shoe, to act as an insulating layer between your foot and the ground.


• If you have room in your boot, a mesh insole under your insole will help venitlate your boot with some air flow, which in turn helps keep your insoles and boot liners dry. You can also wrap some newspaper or paper towel around your toes, for added insulation that can be recycled later.


• Always remove your liners and insoles at night, to let them and the boots dry properly.


• If your boots are really wet inside, when you dry them at night, soak up some of the moisture with crumpled newspaper. Don't forget to take out the newspaper after a few hours, to allow some air flow into the boot and help finish the drying process.


• Carry extra socks with you, so you can change in to them if necessary.


• Avoid, coffee, tea and tobacco products, which all constrict blood vessels and may lead to cold extremeties. 

One thing not mentioned yet, but is a proven foot warming tool, are the self adhering and air activated  'Toe Warmers". These handy items start to work once the package is open and will last for several hours, which could be the difference between being uncomfortable or enjoying your time outdoors!