In message , Nigel M
writes
Some men just came to trim a tree below an overhead power cable. They
had what looked like an electric carving knife, a one handed chainsaw.

so was it like a chainsaw or like a carving knife?

Assuming the latter some sort of reciprocating saw. It was probably
something like a Dewalt alligator saw or Bosch Tyrannosaw -these have
two opposing blades that move against each other - cutting better in
heavier duty materials than a single bladed reciprocating saw.

http://www.tooled-up.com/MicroCategory.asp?CID=4&SCID=20&MCID=585

For examples (not necessarily cheapest, just the first good link I
found)
--
Chris French and Helen Johnson, Leeds
urg Suppliers and References FAQ:
http://www.familyfrench.co.uk/garden/urgfaq/index.html

"Nigel M" wrote in message
...
Some men just came to trim a tree below an overhead power cable.
They
had what looked like an electric carving knife, a one handed
chainsaw.

I find it impossible to visualise a *chain* saw which looks like an
electric *carving knife*, since I have never seen a carving knife
with a chain.

Do you perhaps mean an ordinary electric reciprocating saw? That can
be used with one hand.

Franz

In article ,
Nigel M writes:
| In uk.rec.gardening, Franz Heymann wrote:
|
| I find it impossible to visualise a *chain* saw which looks like an
| electric *carving knife*, since I have never seen a carving knife
| with a chain.
|
| I don't know is this was meant to be serious or not. Imagine a large
| electric carving knife, with a 10" blade. The handle is on the top at
| the rear. Now replace the blades with a chain bar.

Look up the term "alligator saw".


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

"Nigel M" wrote in message
...
Some men just came to trim a tree below an overhead power cable. They
had what looked like an electric carving knife, a one handed chainsaw.

Apparently these are not available to the general public. I have no
desire to end up "one handed", but it looks much safer than trying to
use a standard chainsaw for the same task.

Does anyone know where they can be bought?


--
Nigel Mercier


It is listed on the site as a tree care saw. Maybe you could contact them
direct for a supplier. http://international.husqvarna.com/

Saffy.

On Sun, 05 Sep 2004 22:50:35 GMT, Nigel M wrote:

Some men just came to trim a tree below an overhead power cable. They
had what looked like an electric carving knife, a one handed chainsaw.

Apparently these are not available to the general public. I have no
desire to end up "one handed", but it looks much safer than trying to
use a standard chainsaw for the same task.

Does anyone know where they can be bought?

Was it electric? Possibly one of these but with a shorter handle?

http://www.stihl.de/katalog/produktg...70/default.htm




--
Tim C.

....or how about this one?

http://www.makita.com/Tools_Item_View.asp?id=365


--
Tim C.

"Nigel M" wrote in message
...
In uk.rec.gardening, Franz Heymann wrote:

I find it impossible to visualise a *chain* saw which looks like an
electric *carving knife*, since I have never seen a carving knife
with a chain.

I don't know is this was meant to be serious or not.

I was being quite serious.

Imagine a large
electric carving knife, with a 10" blade. The handle is on the top
at
the rear. Now replace the blades with a chain bar.

Elactric carving knives do not usually have handles at the top of the
rear, and they don't have "blades". They have a solitary blade.

Why don't you just describe it as a mini chain saw with a transverse
handle?

I used to have a small, light chain saw. The chain had a habit of
coming off in use. When the damn thing came flying past my ear and
nicked a piece off it, I decided that it was perhaps not a good thing
to go on using it, so I threw it away.

Franz.

On Mon, 06 Sep 2004 14:06:05 GMT, Nigel M wrote:

In uk.rec.gardening, Franz Heymann wrote:

Elactric carving knives do not usually have handles at the top of the
rear, and they don't have "blades". They have a solitary blade.

Going OT here, but all the electric knives I've used have been as I
described. And they *all* have two reciprocating blades.

Why don't you just describe it as a mini chain saw with a transverse
handle?

Because it isn't. The handle was in line with the blade.

How was it powered? Electric? A small chainsaw with a petrol motor would be
pretty hard work after a while, hence they all seem to be 2-handed
machines. Apart from the pole-saw I can't seem to find anything like your
description on The Web. Any idea what make it was? Colour even?

--
Tim C.

How was it powered? Electric? A small chainsaw with a petrol motor would be
pretty hard work after a while, hence they all seem to be 2-handed
machines. Apart from the pole-saw I can't seem to find anything like your
description on The Web. Any idea what make it was? Colour even?

Sorry, I just read your other post to Chris French and Helen Johnson.

--
Tim C.

On Mon, 06 Sep 2004 12:36:50 GMT, Nigel M wrote:

In uk.rec.gardening, Nick Maclaren wrote:

Look up the term "alligator saw".

No! It is not an alligator saw. It is a top handled chainsaw. The public
can't normally buy them, but I wondered if anyone knew a stockist.

I think I'm wasting my (and your) time in this group, sorry.

I could name a few but you're wasting your time, no one will sell you
one unless they know you've been properly trained to use them.

=================================================

Rod

Weed my email address to reply.
http://website.lineone.net/~rodcraddock/index.html

Rod wrote in
:

On Mon, 06 Sep 2004 12:36:50 GMT, Nigel M wrote:


No! It is not an alligator saw. It is a top handled chainsaw. The public
can't normally buy them, but I wondered if anyone knew a stockist.

I think I'm wasting my (and your) time in this group, sorry.

I could name a few but you're wasting your time, no one will sell you
one unless they know you've been properly trained to use them.


I'm intrigued now. Why is this one handed chainsaw so much more dangerous
than an ordinary one?

Nigel's original question was prompted by thinking the tool looked *safer*
than a standard chainsaw, and those seem to be widely available to the
general public - I'm now wondering what this one does differently.

(I have not forgotten your short lecture on 'Why You Should Always Wear
Chainmail Trousers (with special attention to Things That Could Happen When
The Chain Comes Off)'!)

Victoria Clare

Try this

http://www.chainsawspecialists.co.uk/picture_338xpt.htm

One handed chainsaw for Super Pro's only!


"Nigel M" wrote in message
...
In uk.rec.gardening, Tim Challenger wrote:

http://www.makita.com/Tools_Item_View.asp?id=365

For those who are having trouble visualising what I was trying to
describe, this is pretty close. Differences are, it was 2-stroke, and
the blade was about twice as long.


--
Nigel Mercier

This sounds either like a reciprical saw or a top handled chainsaw.
Both are very dangerous in the hands of untrained people and can be
fatal. Top handled chainsaws are intended for use only by
arboriculturalists after training and then only when up in the tree,
not on the ground. There is a code of practice for there use issued
by the HSE.
Alan.

Chris French and Helen Johnson wrote in message ...
In message , Nigel M
writes
Some men just came to trim a tree below an overhead power cable. They
had what looked like an electric carving knife, a one handed chainsaw.

so was it like a chainsaw or like a carving knife?

Assuming the latter some sort of reciprocating saw. It was probably
something like a Dewalt alligator saw or Bosch Tyrannosaw -these have
two opposing blades that move against each other - cutting better in
heavier duty materials than a single bladed reciprocating saw.

http://www.tooled-up.com/MicroCategory.asp?CID=4&SCID=20&MCID=585

For examples (not necessarily cheapest, just the first good link I
found)

On Mon, 06 Sep 2004 23:23:17 +0100, Victoria Clare
wrote:


I'm intrigued now. Why is this one handed chainsaw so much more dangerous
than an ordinary one?

Dunno really, except if you're waving the thing about with one hand
it's perhaps more likely that various bits of your anatomy could get
in the way. Also with one hand you don't have the same degree of
control if for example you catch something with the tip of the guide
bar causing it to kick back.
None of us here is trained to use them but from time to time we work
with contractors who are using them. They only use them up trees, they
are not supposed to use them on the ground. Quite apart from the
competence angle, the physical demands are significant, you should see
the muscles on the arms of these guys.

=================================================

Rod

Weed my email address to reply.
http://website.lineone.net/~rodcraddock/index.html

In article ,
Rod wrote:
On Mon, 06 Sep 2004 23:23:17 +0100, Victoria Clare
wrote:

I'm intrigued now. Why is this one handed chainsaw so much more dangerous
than an ordinary one?

Dunno really, except if you're waving the thing about with one hand
it's perhaps more likely that various bits of your anatomy could get
in the way. Also with one hand you don't have the same degree of
control if for example you catch something with the tip of the guide
bar causing it to kick back.

Quite. And the various bits don't just include minor and optional
ones, but whole legs. How long is you have to reach the operating
table after severing a femoral artery? 5 minutes or thereabouts,
isn't it?

Actually, there are other issues. Using any power tool single-handed
is a LOT more tiring than using it double-handed, because you have to
hold it harder (think leverage). And the vibration of a power tool
held hard can cause you to weaken and lose your grip - often with
little warning. I gave up using a hedge trimmer after that happened
once too often.

None of us here is trained to use them but from time to time we work
with contractors who are using them. They only use them up trees, they
are not supposed to use them on the ground. Quite apart from the
competence angle, the physical demands are significant, you should see
the muscles on the arms of these guys.

Which reminds me of the FAQ: I am not strong enough to use a bowsaw
any longer; what type of chainsaw should I buy?


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.