New tools you've bought recently?

[Shran]

My TIG machine is a Miller Diversion 165 - really nice mid level unit, I haven't used anything else but it has a Start/Stop button on the torch and a thumb wheel voltage control. I use the foot pedal sometimes but have gotten so used to the torch controls that I use those most of the time.

I find myself using it a lot for mild steel. Way more than I thought I would. It is really nice to be able to do detail work without a lot of cleanup or mess that the MIG welder would create.

 

[Blmpkn]

Picked this up today...

View attachment 127172 View attachment 127173

Yes, it's a Harbor Freight, but it does pretty much everything (MIG, Stick, TIG or flux-core . Son-in-law got it from a friend used once. $250.

Now all I have to do is learn how to use it

I LOVE mine, my buddy does too.. swears it does better than his fancy pants Hobart unit. Certainly can't beat what you paid either. MIG is simple enough a monkey can do it

It melts things nicely.. have fun

 

[pjtoledo]

finally, I can do calipers on Citroens, Renaults, Opels, Alfa Romeos and of course Fords.
push bars are right & left threads.
.

 

[Blmpkn]

Ready for tomorrow..

 

[rumblecloud]

Not exactly a tool but...

 

[Curious Hound]

Not exactly a tool but...
View attachment 127615

That is very definitely a tool. A very important one.

 

[Shran]

Not really a new tool per se but I bought a new 24" bar & chain for my Husqvarna 372XP and got to put it to work yesterday. Tree guys came and cut down five great big cottonwood trees that were hanging over my driveway and dropping branches... I have lost a hood, a windshield and almost my life to those bastards so it was time for them to go. I rotated out that saw, my little Stihl MS180 and one of the Homelite Super XL's throughout the day, both I and the tree guys were struggling with fuel boiling and saws running like garbage.

I gotta say, that saw is frickin impressive. I built it out of used parts and some stuff from Farmertec years ago which included a big bore kit. Those who said it needed some time to break in and a major carb readjustment after a few tanks of fuel were not kidding. I have probably 7 tanks of fuel through it now and it REALLY woke up. Initially I had to have the low jet set really rich for it to even idle, I was able to lean it out by something like 4 turns.

My back is not impressed with me today though.

 

[Blmpkn]

Not really a new tool per se but I bought a new 24" bar & chain for my Husqvarna 372XP and got to put it to work yesterday. Tree guys came and cut down five great big cottonwood trees that were hanging over my driveway and dropping branches... I have lost a hood, a windshield and almost my life to those bastards so it was time for them to go. I rotated out that saw, my little Stihl MS180 and one of the Homelite Super XL's throughout the day, both I and the tree guys were struggling with fuel boiling and saws running like garbage.

I gotta say, that saw is frickin impressive. I built it out of used parts and some stuff from Farmertec years ago which included a big bore kit. Those who said it needed some time to break in and a major carb readjustment after a few tanks of fuel were not kidding. I have probably 7 tanks of fuel through it now and it REALLY woke up. Initially I had to have the low jet set really rich for it to even idle, I was able to lean it out by something like 4 turns.

My back is not impressed with me today though.

Have you considered some sort of 12 step program for this whole saw thing you got going on?


Mabey you're some sorta Paul Bunyan reincarnate..

 

[Shran]

Have you considered some sort of 12 step program for this whole saw thing you got going on?


Mabey you're some sorta Paul Bunyan reincarnate..

I think running big saws just makes me way more aware of all the things I'm missing when I'm at my office job.

What man doesn't like a big fawking chainsaw? It's bad ass.

Or heat stroke, sun burn and a back ache... my soft body is not cut out for that work at this moment. But I still like a big fawking saw.

 

[sgtsandman]

I think running big saws just makes me way more aware of all the things I'm missing when I'm at my office job.

What man doesn't like a big fawking chainsaw? It's bad ass.

Or heat stroke, sun burn and a back ache... my soft body is not cut out for that work at this moment. But I still like a big fawking saw.

I stopped at a 20" bar because of my back. Around here, that is usually all we ever need. Now for those in the PNW, they need to go bigger. They don't have a choice.

I have read that the bigger saws do offer options for lighter bars. Not cheap, but it might be worth looking at to take some of load off of your back.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I’ve thought about a 24” bar saw, especially after getting to run a new Stihl with a 24” bar. But I don’t really need that beast, my Craftsman with a 20” bar and full chisel chain does well enough. I actually prefer my little Stihl MS170 for my primary saw anymore. It’s a 16”, but light. Wish there was more chain options for it, but it does well enough with some tweaks. Great little limbing saw and will handle anything normal for a 16” bar

 

[Shran]

My little MS180 would probably do 99% of the cutting I need to do. I got an Alaskan mill for slabbing up boards a while back so I was keeping the 372XP around for that and it came in real handy for this cottonwood project but it's just heavy.

I stopped at a 20" bar because of my back. Around here, that is usually all we ever need. Now for those in the PNW, they need to go bigger. They don't have a choice.

I have read that the bigger saws do offer options for lighter bars. Not cheap, but it might be worth looking at to take some of load off of your back.

The argument for a longer bar is that you can cut up stuff on the ground without leaning over. I had a 20" bar on this saw before and the 24" didn't really change the weight at all but it did change the balance and certainly I don't have to bend over as much. A 28" might be the ultimate ticket.

I’ve thought about a 24” bar saw, especially after getting to run a new Stihl with a 24” bar. But I don’t really need that beast, my Craftsman with a 20” bar and full chisel chain does well enough. I actually prefer my little Stihl MS170 for my primary saw anymore. It’s a 16”, but light. Wish there was more chain options for it, but it does well enough with some tweaks. Great little limbing saw and will handle anything normal for a 16” bar

IIRC there is a way to put a 0.050 gauge bar on the 170 and 180 so that you can run normal chain on it instead of that tiny picco micro Stihl only chain. I may do that someday if I run out of chains but I'm actually pretty happy with it as-is, I am thinking that aside from the quick adjust chain tension problem, going to 0.050 chain will cut a wider kerf and load up the engine more... I dunno, maybe that part is just in my head.

I am just running semi chisel standard chain on the 372, everything I have heard and read indicates that full chisel cuts just a hair faster but it gets dull faster too. I bucked probably 1-1/2 cords of wood on this latest project and the chain was still reasonably sharp so I am happy.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

@Shran , yeah, there is a conversion bar and chain for the MS170 to run standard chains. I’ve thought about it but I’m not sure it’s needed for how I use the saw. I tweaked the saw some, put metal dog spikes on it, did some intake work and a side adjustment conversion for bar tension. It runs really well and despite the micro chain and bar, it cuts well. I was helping a local family with winching pine trees out of their pond (storm damage) and cutting them up. Homeowner had a Husky 18” saw and a Stihl 24” bar. My little MS170 out worked the Husky and my Craftsman kept up with the big saw.

I ended up with a cheap full chisel chain because it was all that was on the shelf local, it does seem to dull kind of fast but that could also be the quality. I’m looking at getting an Oregon full chisel chain or an Oregon Speedcut and see how that holds up. I did discover that the full chisel chain I got will sharpen nicely with a quick swipe because when I went to fill it with gas and oil, I took a minute to give each tooth a couple swipes and it was like brand new. I use the Stihl sharpening gizmo that files the raker tooth too.

 

[Shran]

My last couple chain purchases were from 8Ten, they worked out to about $20/chain and so far I am pretty happy with the quality. Only slightly cheaper than Oregon or Husky chain but much cheaper than Stihl.

A while back I bought a nice MS180 from a yard sale for like $40, the carb was all plugged up but it came with 4 new chains plus the one that was on it. New carb, sent it out the door for a big profit, kept the chains for my saw. That was a really good buy.

 

[Curious Hound]

Getting ready to try welding aluminum. Couldn't afford the spool gun from Miller. Hopefully, this one from Yes Welder will do OK for hobby use.