As a chainsaw carver with (ahem) *some* years experience, people often ask me about the tools I use. From time to time I review tools in a blog. For example, THIS ONE about the Stihl MS300i. You might also have seen my MS200 review or the blogs I wrote on my favourite Saburrtooth burrs or Manpa cutting tools. However, my full kit has MUCH more in it than power tools!
As a Stihl ambassador, the Stihl catalogue is often my go-to for my PPE and all the ‘extras’ I need such as oil, maintenance kits etc so I thought that for today’s blog I’d share five useful items on my Stihl shopping list.
STIHL FELLING LEVER
The first item on my Stihl shopping list may seem surprising. Why would I need this Felling Lever when I use chainsaws?!
Turns out, it’s not just useful for felling and it helps me to remove large chunks of wood from a sculpture when I can get my fingers around the edges. For instance, when cutting a large slab from the side of a log, rather than cut all the way down to the ground level, you can leave a short section and use the felling lever to break the rest of the cut.
STIHL VARIOCLEAN
The next of the useful items on my Stihl shopping list is VarioClean.
Varioclean is basically like an oven cleaner for chainsaws – it will shift the oily sawdust residue that hardens over time. It’s an important product for me because keeping chainsaws clean isn’t just for looks. Dried on dirt can affect things like air flow and oil flow if left to build up. If you’re looking for an efficient cleaning product to help with your maintenance and maximise the efficieny of your saws, get your hands on this!
ECO MARKER SPRAY
The next item on my list is eco marker spray, an environmentally-friendly permanent marker. It’s frost-proof so it can be used in cold and damp environments (like carving outdoors in winter), and it’s great for marking out cuts on a large piece. The bright colours mean the markings are clearly visible from a distance so I can step back and assess whether my planned cuts will work.
It’s also helpful if you have put temporary metal fixings in a log, whether that’s to hold it in place or fix an addition on. Marking where the fixings are while you carve the rest of the piece is a great way of reminding you not to accidentally hit them with the chainsaw!
MARKING CHALK
More precise than the EcoSpray, Stihl’s Marking Chalk is the next item on my list, and is great for marking more precise cuts when you get below the bark. It’s weather and fade-resistant and can be used on both dry and damp wood. You can spot me using it on the Stihl video below…
2-IN-1 EASYFILE
The final item on my Stihl shopping list that I’m sharing today is the Easyfile. It’s the one I was using in the video above, and remains one of the pieces of kit I rely on. It includes a flat file for reducing the depth gauges, and the round file for sharpening the cutters. If you use the traditional sharpening method, you do those separately, whereas this does it in the same pass.
I’m actually thinking of writing a blog on sharpening saws as it’s really big topic. What do you think? Would that be helpful?
WHAT’S ON YOUR LIST?
Obviously, there are many, many other things on my shopping list! However, I hope you’ve found this a useful, brief insight into some of the kit that people don’t necessarily think about or that don’t get as much airtime on my socials as my saws. It goes without saying too that I do use brands other than Stihl, but honestly, if you’re looking for quality and function at a great price, you can’t go wrong with their products.
Are there sepcific products you’d like me to review or blog about? And what about you? What ‘sundries’ are on your chainsaw carving shopping lists?
To commission a sculpture and kick these products in action, please fill out the form at www.treecarving.co.uk/contact.