05-05-2022,
What Happens If I Put Raw Gas in a Chainsaw?
Chainsaw engines require a premixed fuel to keep them running at the proper temperatures. The oil that's added to the fuel lubricates the piston and crankshaft, but it also keeps the engine cool enough to keep running. Without this oil in the gasoline, the piston will seize and the engine will be ruined.
With the regular mixed fuel, the oil keeps the piston lubricated inside the cylinder. The piston moves up and down at incredibly high rates of speed. The crankshaft also turns at these same speeds. This high rate of speed causes enormous friction to build and heat up these engine parts. The oil, however, keeps these parts just cool enough to keep running. If no oil is present in the gas, the fuel will still ignite and power the piston and crankcase. However, the fuel will burn at higher temperatures, resulting in piston failure.
Without the oil to keep the fuel from burning at a high temperature, the piston will seize up. The metal on the cylinder and the piston will heat and expand to the point where the piston no longer fluidly moves up and down inside the cylinder. This will cause friction inside the cylinder, eventually causing the piston to freeze up or stop moving completely. This will also cause the crankcase to stop turning underneath the piston. When the crankcase stops moving, all other systems shut down instantly.
Most often, if straight gas is burned inside the engine, the engine is ruined. Little, if nothing, can be done to fix this error. The seized piston can't move, and the crankcase can't turn. While the piston and cylinder may be able to be removed and replaced, it is usually unlikely, as the metal will have heated up and burned out all other parts within the piston and crankcase. These systems are difficult to reach and costly to fix. Often, a new chainsaw will cost less than trying to fix the seized piston, which may not even guarantee it will work again.
If you've put straight gas in the fuel tank, don't start the engine. If straight gas is used, it can damage and ruin the piston and crankcase within a minute, as the gas doesn't take long to burn out these sensitive parts. Drain the tank immediately into a separate fuel container. Pour approximately 1 tsp. of clean water into the tank, swirl it around and dump it out. Change the fuel lines and, if possible, remove the carburetor and clean it to prevent any unmixed gas from entering the cylinder.
The Best Mini Chainsaws for Landscaping and Lawn Care
Mini chainsaws are great for powering through light-duty lumberjacking projects, like pruning branches and cutting small logs. Their rugged design and powerful motors pack a serious amount of cutting power into a small package, and offer a durability that users typically won’t find in other power saws. They’re not great for precision cuts, but if you’re looking for a tool to quickly and effectively chew through wood, one of these tools will have you covered. Chainsaws—regardless of their size—require substantial control by the user to be operated safely, so if this is your first chainsaw, take the time to thoroughly review the instruction manual.
When choosing a mini chainsaw, take the time to consider what you’ll be using it for. Most importantly, are you going to be pruning trees or bushes that would otherwise require you to get on a ladder to reach? In that case, we would definitely recommend opting for one of the options that include a pole attachment, allowing you to reach high branches while remaining safely on the ground. If you don’t want to worry about wrangling extension cords or hunting for outlets while you work, you’ll probably want to opt for a battery-powered option. If you’re short on storage space, you may want to go for an extra-compact, one-handed model.
We have years of experience using a variety of chainsaws, large and small, through our time spent as a landscaper as well as for at-home projects. This experience, combined with extensive online research, helped us curate this list of mini chainsaw options. Most users will probably only need their chainsaw for occasional projects, but for those who plan on using their saw more frequently, and for heavier-duty jobs, we made sure to include a commercial-grade option as well. We also did our best to include a range of styles and sizes, from tiny 4-inch blades, to larger 10-inch options.
Can You Efficiently Strim (and Cut) Wet Grass and Should You Be Doing it at All?
The rain keeps pouring seemingly without end and your lawn is now soaked. For the first time in days, however, the sun makes its way through the crowd of clouds. This is your opportunity – you’re about to mow the tall neglected grass in your yard… But should you?
So, if you:
Need to mow your lawn during or right after a rainy period;
Are wondering if it’s safe;
Want to know how to do it properly,
Then read on! This article will help you.
Strimming after rain may become tricky because of the soggy grass, so you start asking yourself questions. Will the damp lawn be kind to your string trimmer? What about mower blades, will they be as efficient this time around? Is it safe to cut the grass when wet at all if you own electrical equipment? Let us explain.
When the grass is wet, it will become heavy and sticky. The blades (or lines) of your tool of choice should either be freshly sharpened or brand new. Otherwise, they will have troubles with cutting an even lawn level. There are a few situations when you can (and should) strim wet grass:
Only strim a wet lawn if the rainy weather doesn’t allow it to completely dry out. When working, frequently check if the tool is clogged. There’s a chance that your strimmer will chew up, knock over or even miss the taller wet grass blades altogether. When the ground dries out afterwards, the bent over sod will straighten up. To avoid an uneven lawn cut trim repeatedly.
Consider this: You will lose the benefit of evenly spread fresh grass mulch. Wet clippings will stick together forming clumps. These clumps, if not raked, may damage some of the grass patches by suffocating them and depriving them of sunlight.
What is the difference between a hedge trimmer and a hedge cutter?
Well-rounded gardeners should be familiar with both hedge trimmers and hedge cutters. If your space has any kind of hedge-type plant, you’ll be using one of those tools to keep them tamed and manicured. However, a lot of people are unaware of the distinction between the two.
Most people, even many gardeners, think that hedge trimmers and cutters are one and the same. While they may seem like they can do similar tasks, trimmers and cutters have their own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to maintaining the look that you want for your hedges.
Whether you’ve already got a green thumb or you’re just getting into gardening, it’s handy to know this type of thing. If you didn’t know there was a difference between hedge cutters and trimmers before and want to get informed on what separates the two, you’ve come to the right place.
What Is A Hedge?
Hedges can be used for many things, such as plant art, as perfectly-coiffed sentries marking a path or as a sort of plant-fence. Hedges are a perfect way to mark off the edges of your space without ruining the aura of your garden with an ugly wooden fence. Not to mention that hedges help to keep little critters out of your precious plot.
Different Types Of Hedge Trimmers And Cutters
While hedge cutters and trimmers are two different tools, they do share some things in common. Both cutters and trimmers can come with a variety of power sources. The three most common are described in detail below:
Electric – These kinds of trimmers and cutters are a great way to ease up the tension on your shear-wielding hand. You will have to do a lot less work than if you were going manual but they can usually only cut through quarter- to half-inch thick hedges. While they’re much lighter than gas cutters which makes them easier to work with, their lack of power also means that they don’t bother with as many safety features either.
Gas – Cutters and trimmers powered by gas are much more powerful than their electric-powered counterparts. Most gas-powered cutters can cut through three-quarter-inch thick hedges, and sometimes even branches that are a full inch thick. They also offer more strokes per minute and they have much better blade gaps that allow you to get the job done faster and more efficiently. If you’ve got a hefty amount of work to do on a large property, gas-powered cutters are usually the smart bet. While they are heavier and more powerful than electric cutters, which makes them a bit more dangerous, they also often come with a tip guard. The tip guard protects the tip of the saw from touching any body parts, greatly reducing the injury risk.
Cordless (Battery-powered) – These are probably the overall safest type of hedge cutter and trimmer but they’re usually not a whole lot better than going at it manually. These are often the cheaper option and they give you the added bonus of avoiding all the wiring that comes with the other two options. They simply take longer to do the job and they require full charges before doing any significant work.
Chainsaw engines require a premixed fuel to keep them running at the proper temperatures. The oil that's added to the fuel lubricates the piston and crankshaft, but it also keeps the engine cool enough to keep running. Without this oil in the gasoline, the piston will seize and the engine will be ruined.
With the regular mixed fuel, the oil keeps the piston lubricated inside the cylinder. The piston moves up and down at incredibly high rates of speed. The crankshaft also turns at these same speeds. This high rate of speed causes enormous friction to build and heat up these engine parts. The oil, however, keeps these parts just cool enough to keep running. If no oil is present in the gas, the fuel will still ignite and power the piston and crankcase. However, the fuel will burn at higher temperatures, resulting in piston failure.
Without the oil to keep the fuel from burning at a high temperature, the piston will seize up. The metal on the cylinder and the piston will heat and expand to the point where the piston no longer fluidly moves up and down inside the cylinder. This will cause friction inside the cylinder, eventually causing the piston to freeze up or stop moving completely. This will also cause the crankcase to stop turning underneath the piston. When the crankcase stops moving, all other systems shut down instantly.
Most often, if straight gas is burned inside the engine, the engine is ruined. Little, if nothing, can be done to fix this error. The seized piston can't move, and the crankcase can't turn. While the piston and cylinder may be able to be removed and replaced, it is usually unlikely, as the metal will have heated up and burned out all other parts within the piston and crankcase. These systems are difficult to reach and costly to fix. Often, a new chainsaw will cost less than trying to fix the seized piston, which may not even guarantee it will work again.
If you've put straight gas in the fuel tank, don't start the engine. If straight gas is used, it can damage and ruin the piston and crankcase within a minute, as the gas doesn't take long to burn out these sensitive parts. Drain the tank immediately into a separate fuel container. Pour approximately 1 tsp. of clean water into the tank, swirl it around and dump it out. Change the fuel lines and, if possible, remove the carburetor and clean it to prevent any unmixed gas from entering the cylinder.
The Best Mini Chainsaws for Landscaping and Lawn Care
Mini chainsaws are great for powering through light-duty lumberjacking projects, like pruning branches and cutting small logs. Their rugged design and powerful motors pack a serious amount of cutting power into a small package, and offer a durability that users typically won’t find in other power saws. They’re not great for precision cuts, but if you’re looking for a tool to quickly and effectively chew through wood, one of these tools will have you covered. Chainsaws—regardless of their size—require substantial control by the user to be operated safely, so if this is your first chainsaw, take the time to thoroughly review the instruction manual.
When choosing a mini chainsaw, take the time to consider what you’ll be using it for. Most importantly, are you going to be pruning trees or bushes that would otherwise require you to get on a ladder to reach? In that case, we would definitely recommend opting for one of the options that include a pole attachment, allowing you to reach high branches while remaining safely on the ground. If you don’t want to worry about wrangling extension cords or hunting for outlets while you work, you’ll probably want to opt for a battery-powered option. If you’re short on storage space, you may want to go for an extra-compact, one-handed model.
We have years of experience using a variety of chainsaws, large and small, through our time spent as a landscaper as well as for at-home projects. This experience, combined with extensive online research, helped us curate this list of mini chainsaw options. Most users will probably only need their chainsaw for occasional projects, but for those who plan on using their saw more frequently, and for heavier-duty jobs, we made sure to include a commercial-grade option as well. We also did our best to include a range of styles and sizes, from tiny 4-inch blades, to larger 10-inch options.
Can You Efficiently Strim (and Cut) Wet Grass and Should You Be Doing it at All?
The rain keeps pouring seemingly without end and your lawn is now soaked. For the first time in days, however, the sun makes its way through the crowd of clouds. This is your opportunity – you’re about to mow the tall neglected grass in your yard… But should you?
So, if you:
Need to mow your lawn during or right after a rainy period;
Are wondering if it’s safe;
Want to know how to do it properly,
Then read on! This article will help you.
Strimming after rain may become tricky because of the soggy grass, so you start asking yourself questions. Will the damp lawn be kind to your string trimmer? What about mower blades, will they be as efficient this time around? Is it safe to cut the grass when wet at all if you own electrical equipment? Let us explain.
When the grass is wet, it will become heavy and sticky. The blades (or lines) of your tool of choice should either be freshly sharpened or brand new. Otherwise, they will have troubles with cutting an even lawn level. There are a few situations when you can (and should) strim wet grass:
Only strim a wet lawn if the rainy weather doesn’t allow it to completely dry out. When working, frequently check if the tool is clogged. There’s a chance that your strimmer will chew up, knock over or even miss the taller wet grass blades altogether. When the ground dries out afterwards, the bent over sod will straighten up. To avoid an uneven lawn cut trim repeatedly.
Consider this: You will lose the benefit of evenly spread fresh grass mulch. Wet clippings will stick together forming clumps. These clumps, if not raked, may damage some of the grass patches by suffocating them and depriving them of sunlight.
What is the difference between a hedge trimmer and a hedge cutter?
Well-rounded gardeners should be familiar with both hedge trimmers and hedge cutters. If your space has any kind of hedge-type plant, you’ll be using one of those tools to keep them tamed and manicured. However, a lot of people are unaware of the distinction between the two.
Most people, even many gardeners, think that hedge trimmers and cutters are one and the same. While they may seem like they can do similar tasks, trimmers and cutters have their own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to maintaining the look that you want for your hedges.
Whether you’ve already got a green thumb or you’re just getting into gardening, it’s handy to know this type of thing. If you didn’t know there was a difference between hedge cutters and trimmers before and want to get informed on what separates the two, you’ve come to the right place.
What Is A Hedge?
Hedges can be used for many things, such as plant art, as perfectly-coiffed sentries marking a path or as a sort of plant-fence. Hedges are a perfect way to mark off the edges of your space without ruining the aura of your garden with an ugly wooden fence. Not to mention that hedges help to keep little critters out of your precious plot.
Different Types Of Hedge Trimmers And Cutters
While hedge cutters and trimmers are two different tools, they do share some things in common. Both cutters and trimmers can come with a variety of power sources. The three most common are described in detail below:
Electric – These kinds of trimmers and cutters are a great way to ease up the tension on your shear-wielding hand. You will have to do a lot less work than if you were going manual but they can usually only cut through quarter- to half-inch thick hedges. While they’re much lighter than gas cutters which makes them easier to work with, their lack of power also means that they don’t bother with as many safety features either.
Gas – Cutters and trimmers powered by gas are much more powerful than their electric-powered counterparts. Most gas-powered cutters can cut through three-quarter-inch thick hedges, and sometimes even branches that are a full inch thick. They also offer more strokes per minute and they have much better blade gaps that allow you to get the job done faster and more efficiently. If you’ve got a hefty amount of work to do on a large property, gas-powered cutters are usually the smart bet. While they are heavier and more powerful than electric cutters, which makes them a bit more dangerous, they also often come with a tip guard. The tip guard protects the tip of the saw from touching any body parts, greatly reducing the injury risk.
Cordless (Battery-powered) – These are probably the overall safest type of hedge cutter and trimmer but they’re usually not a whole lot better than going at it manually. These are often the cheaper option and they give you the added bonus of avoiding all the wiring that comes with the other two options. They simply take longer to do the job and they require full charges before doing any significant work.