Battery vs Corded Chainsaws: Which Is Right for You? If you’re shopping for an electric chainsaw and you’ve landed on the battery vs corded chainsaws question, you’re already ahead of the curve. You’ve already ruled out the gas-powered option — smart move for a lot of homeowners. But now you’re stuck choosing between the freedom…
Full Chisel vs Semi Chisel Chainsaw Chain: What’s the Difference? If you’ve ever stood in the hardware store staring at chainsaw chains wondering what the difference actually is between full chisel and semi chisel, you’re not alone. I’ve been running chainsaws on my Montana ranch for over 20 years, and I still see experienced guys…
Chainsaw Kickback Explained: What Causes It and How to Avoid It Chainsaw kickback is the single most dangerous thing that can happen when you’re running a saw. I’ve been cutting timber on my Montana ranch for over 20 years, and I can tell you firsthand — kickback doesn’t warn you. It doesn’t give you a…
Chainsaw PPE Checklist: What You Actually Need Every year I talk to homeowners who just bought their first chainsaw and want to know what gear they actually need before firing it up. Some of them have been told they need a full professional logging kit. Others have been told a pair of jeans and steel-toed…
When to Replace a Chainsaw Chain: 5 Signs It’s Time I’ve sharpened a lot of chainsaw chains over the past two decades on my Montana ranch. Most of the time, a good filing session is all it takes to get a dull chain cutting like new again. But there’s a point — and experienced sawyers…
How Long Does Firewood Take to Season? Every fall I talk to at least a handful of neighbors who made the same mistake I made when I first started heating with wood — they cut in October and tried to burn in November. The result is a smoky, hissing, frustrating fire that barely puts out…
Is a 6-Ton Log Splitter Enough? Here’s How to Tell Every fall, I watch neighbors haul home a cord of mixed hardwood, then spend a weekend cursing at a log splitter that can’t quite finish the job. Usually, the problem isn’t the machine — it’s a mismatch between what they bought and what they’re actually…
Should Firewood Be Covered? The Right Way to Protect Your Stack Every fall I see the same mistake on ranches and homesteads across Montana: somebody drags a tarp over their entire woodpile, cinches it down tight, and congratulates themselves on a job well done. Come spring, they’re burning firewood that hisses, spits, and throws half…
Can You Burn Pine in a Fire Pit? What You Should Know If you live anywhere near a pine forest — or you just split a cord of it and wonder what to do with the stuff — you’ve probably asked yourself whether pine is safe to throw in the fire pit. I get this…
Firewood Rack vs Firewood Shed: Which Do You Need? Every fall I watch the same debate play out — homeowners trying to figure out whether to grab a simple metal rack from the hardware store or build something more permanent for their wood supply. The firewood rack vs firewood shed question comes up a lot,…
