Flying Finns arm octocopter with chainsaw Any reader suffering a nasty outbreak of snowmen is directed to an entertaining solution from Finland: the "unstoppable" chainsaw-armed Killerdrone... Unfortunately, while the octocopter is particularly effective in its primary offensive role... The Killerdrone attacks a snowman ...snowmen can easily defend themselves …
Presumably these drones have some sort of maximum altitude. Can anyoine recommend somewhere to live a few thousand feet above such a limit?
Flying height for these things tends to refer to ground level, otherwise quadcopter fanatics would move to the Dead Sea area en masse.
But although 'copters (of any configuration) rely on air density for lift, more when hovering (would apply to nearly all models), less with sufficient forward speed (there are turbine-powered real life choppers that can reach FL250, or 826 double-decker buses put upright end-to-end), there's also the ground effect. So you might be safe only on the highest summits of the Himalaya and the Andes, or underwater*. And to be really safe, there's always the moon.
* of course there will be a Finn who has gotten hold of the plans for an AUV, which will then be grafted on to an UAV. With a waterproof chainsaw.
Having spent a full Saturday recently trying to get a chainsaw started and using it to remove a large broken bough that was wedged up in the top of three trees...
a) I call bullshit that he started that thing with one pull. Those sods are notorious for not starting without a lot of persuasion
b) Shut up and take my money :)
Agreed. I broke out the old Mountfield over the weekend, first time since November, in order to give some errant grass a damn good cutting. I really could have done with a can of Wynn's Start You Bastard. Eventually got it going after a lot of shouting...
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@My-Handle
It annoys me always when I see professionals start a chainsaw with the first pull, but they keep them in shape. Also they don't seem to pull but sort of drop the the chainsaw down. Old petrol will loose its "octane". I am told. and will not work and that corresponds with my experience. People have the same problem with outboard engines in the spring.
As for the "octane", somebody more into it might find a more "scientific" explanation.
It annoys me always when I see professionals start a chainsaw with the first pull, but they keep them in shape. Also they don't seem to pull but sort of drop the the chainsaw down.
Yanking the cord is hard work. Much better to keep hold of the handle of the cord and let weight of the chainsaw do the work.
Yanking the cord is hard work. Much better to keep hold of the handle of the cord and let weight of the chainsaw do the work.
But which leg do you want the saw to do the work on? Drop-starting means two things are in motion and need control. Placing the saw on the ground with your foot on the handle prevents the saw moving so it can't bite your leg(s).
"Placing the saw on the ground with your foot on the handle prevents the saw moving so it can't bite your leg(s)". My solution too. But the two guys I have used for many years keep the cord in their left had and the saw in their right hand and then they use the "Newtonian" for the force and the chain does not move and it looks damned simple. And if it doesn't start right away they look really surprised and you can see the lips forming words. I have tried it but gave up. The reason I have used those guys is that once one big tree fell in exactly the opposite direction to my plans, wasn't fun if surprising, and once a big branch broke free and landed on my head, no hard hat, not that fun either. What I burn in the summer I do my self. I am told modern petrol gets "old" in a few months and you could pimp it again buying a small bottle of something to fix it. Who knows, I don't.
Discussed this with my friend Fran (coincidentally a Viking descendent) today. Yes, drop-starting a modern saw is OK providing the chain brake is engaged. I showed Fran the saw I learnt on, a Stihl 041 (farm Boss) and it has no chain brake. Old habits die hard :-)
"Modern" petrol (hawk, spit) does go stale. I only mix up enough 2 stroke for a few weeks use. "Stale" petrol from last season gets mixed with fresh and used in the 4 stroke mower.
Falling a tree in the correct direction is an art. I recall watching my neighbours falling a tree very soon after we bought the farm. After several bites, the tree fell directly over the fence they were trying to avoid.
Difficult stuff I hire somebody. Last year I hired a professional arborist to take some limbs off a tree next to the driveway. I would have paid what he charged just for the delight of watching him in action using ropes, a chain saw and a pole-mounted pruning saw.
All of my current gear is Scandinavian and I'm absolutely in love with the Fiskars splitting axe that Mrs Git purchased for my last birthday. Wished I'd owned it decades ago, but then they cost much more than today.
>sort of drop the the chainsaw down
Professionals in any field do a lot of things I wouldn't do but as the brake should be on and the clutch won't be engaged the chain won't be rotatating. Still wouldn't do it.
>professionals start a chainsaw with the first pull
This is also a case of you get what you pay for. I'll pay enough to get a decent machine. I would expect a professional to have better equipment and, as you say, better maintaned. Nothing to get annoyed about. The "fuel evaporates in the carburettor, which gunges up the gubbins" seems a reasonable technical explanation to me. From now on I'll drain the fuel then run dry. Those small tanks seem to last forever when you don't want then to.
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That is not the correct way to use a chainsaw hanging from a helicopter. This documentary demonstrates the correct usage.
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Forget the new series of Robot Wars - now I want to see Drone Wars!
Finland, drones, chainsaws - what's not to like?
Ah, Finland...
Disclaimer: still going to vote for the Norwegian Party, though. Those of you who know what I mean will know why.
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Some years ago, the Tasmanian government in its infinite wisdom decided that you were no longer allowed to use a chainsaw outside your own property unless you were licensed. Getting the license required undergoing a short training course. The trainer on the very first training course managed to kill himself and one of the trainees.
One of my neighbours owned one of those huge machines that grab the tree, cuts it down, strips the limbs and bark, and cuts the stem into suitable lengths. One day it broke down, so Charlie grabbed an ordinary chainsaw and cut down a tree the old way. It was the last time he used a chainsaw.
I'm frequently horrified by the callous disregard that some people have for the danger when using a chainsaw. The Git loves his Jonsared, but treats it with more respect than any other tool in his possession. Maintaining the tool properly so that it does start with the minimum of fuss means you are less likely to lose your cool and consequently a leg, or your good looks.
So who trained and licensed the trainer?!? And how on earth did he manage to do this?
Wouldn't have a clue who, if anyone, trained the trainer. Licensing is by a state government department called Workplace Standards. I never bothered getting my licence as it gave me an excuse to refuse to go onto another person's property to cut down a tree as well as saving me the licence fee. Probably the less I say about this issue the better.
Our forests are mainly eucalyptus and they are notorious for dropping limbs. There's no safety helmet that's going to save you when a tonne or so of timber falls on you! Them who harvest dead trees for firewood are most at risk and the dead trees are colloquially called "widow-makers". I've lost three friends over the last 40 years.
Some years ago, nurse training became a degree course, rather than the old on-the-job training. A few years after this change, all qualified nurses were given a pay-rise by the government. This meant those who were doing the training missed out on the pay rise as they qualified before it became a degree course. So it goes...
I've seen that done live, dude juggling three (running) chainsaws... indoors no less. The ceiling of the ballroom was mirrored, which was really throwing him off of his game, made the climatic act that much more dramatic.
Odd part was, he wore logging chaps for the chainsaw juggling part. That seemed unnecessary. Like he was checking off an OSHA requirement (it's ok inspector, I've got my chaps and eye protection on, so I'm operating these three chainsaws in a safe manner).
The sound of three chainsaws in an indoor environment is impressive enough, add in the variations in exhaust tone from spinning them and you get something unbelievable.
That was quite a few years ago, I'm guessing that the performer has moved on to a new act as a one-armed paper hanger or is playing odds in the ass kicking contest circuit (20-1 on the one-legged man).
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