Hobbes ([info]kitling) wrote,
@ 2009-06-15 15:08:00
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State Library is pretty and has useful things, I need to start spending at least one day a week there for the next little while.

Today is nice weather outside, walking around the in the sun makes me very very happy.

I need to prune my garden, and remove a tree we don't want. We had hydraulic powered secateurs growing up on the farm, sometimes normal secateurs don't cut it.

But Nigel seemed to think buying a chain saw wasn't a good idea, he said no to a circular saw as well. So how should I fix my garden?


Poll #1415928 Chainsaw
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 29

Should Nigel buy me a chainsaw?

View Answers

Yes, Of Course!
15 (53.6%)

Maybe....
5 (17.9%)

No, Certainly Not!
8 (28.6%)

If you said no, how should I 'prune' the trees in my garden?



EDIT: I should mention that I did have a set of long secateurs and saw blade given to me by the lovely Penny, but I broke them trying to prune said problematic tree. Plus, you know power tools are cooler, and useful in case of zombie invasion.

(28 comments) - (Post a new comment)


[info]teknohippi
2009-06-15 05:15 am UTC (link)
You can hire chainsaws.....
Poison and then removal may work also

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]kitling
2009-06-15 07:12 am UTC (link)
I refuse to use poison with the cats in the garden, but if you could send over one of your cute ground crew guys with a sunshine I promise I'd be nice to him :)

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]irishmark
2009-06-15 05:16 am UTC (link)
I don't see how the question of how to prune your trees and whether Nigel should buy you a chainsaw are related.
If he doesn't what will you do during the Zombie Apocalypse?

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re: ZA
[info]delwyn
2009-06-15 05:24 am UTC (link)
Axes are more reliable than chainsaws, since chainsaws have an annoying tendency to run out of fuel (or power cord if you happen to be accepting of the electric chainsaw)

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
Re: ZA
[info]irishmark
2009-06-15 05:33 am UTC (link)
Ah. The environmentally friendly solution. Should have thought of that.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
Re: ZA
[info]delwyn
2009-06-15 05:38 am UTC (link)
heh I think saving the environment might become the least of concerns in those circumstances

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
Re: ZA
[info]infonerd
2009-06-15 06:49 am UTC (link)
Do zombies compost well?

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
Re: ZA
[info]delwyn
2009-06-15 07:03 am UTC (link)
I don't see why not, most dead things seem to compost well :)

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
Re: ZA
[info]infonerd
2009-06-15 07:10 am UTC (link)
Only once they're actually in the ground, which zombies seem somewhat reluctant about...

(Reply to this) (Parent)
Re: ZA
[info]kitling
2009-06-15 07:18 am UTC (link)
The problem with zombies is they don't seem to like staying in the one place long enough to compost.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
Re: ZA
[info]kitling
2009-06-15 07:14 am UTC (link)
Chainsaws are infinitely cooler, but yes, I'll add an axe to the shopping list for emergencies.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]jetspeaks
2009-06-15 06:06 am UTC (link)
Cricket bat. Duh. :)

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]thorfinn
2009-06-15 06:09 am UTC (link)
Herring!

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]kitling
2009-06-15 07:13 am UTC (link)
Cricket bat won't protect me from zombie invasion!

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]jetspeaks
2009-06-15 08:20 am UTC (link)
Aim for the head. you'll be fine. :)

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]kitling
2009-06-15 07:12 am UTC (link)
See, its a dual purpose tool!

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]murphus
2009-06-15 06:09 am UTC (link)
Sometimes the smaller shears, that have blades like secateurs but shorter handles (ie the whole thing is only 20-25 cm long), are easier for thick branches since you get more force with the shorter handle. Something about the distance of the force from the fulcrum, or torque, or other physics stuff may explain that better than I can, but yeah - that's my alternative to a chainsaw :)

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]thorfinn
2009-06-15 06:10 am UTC (link)
We have some long handled secateurs, they're good. :-)

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]kitling
2009-06-15 07:11 am UTC (link)
I broke my set.... Trying to prune said trees.

People are missing the point, everything is better with power tools!

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]tyggerjai
2009-06-15 06:29 am UTC (link)
*blink*
The physics says that the longer the handle (or rather, the further from the fulcrum the force is applied), the greater the resulting force. Work == force * distance!

With a lever long enough, you can notoriously move the world. However, the further you get from the fulcrum, the further you have to move the handle to move the blades the same distance - nothing is free.

So, I dunno :) Your short ones may be double-lever to compensate for the shorter handle?

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]murphus
2009-06-15 06:39 am UTC (link)
Thank you, that's one of those key equations I could not summon for the life of me :)

Still not sure why these short handled shears work better for me though. I certainly don't have the knowledge from physics classes past to back me up here but.. I know I can exert greater force by clenching the shorter handles in my hand than I would be able to from greater distance using both hands to clench the longer handles together. Although as [info]thorfinn suggests, the long-handled ones clearly work for some!

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]tyggerjai
2009-06-15 08:59 am UTC (link)
Could be grip strength vs. arm strength - depending on positioning, there are a lot of ways to approach long-handled shears that are not optimised for force. Cutting cable, we quite often put one handle on the ground and stand on the other, or get full body weight on it. Holding your hand 2 feet apart and trying to close them through your chest? Not a lot of force, normally.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]thorfinn
2009-06-16 02:59 am UTC (link)
It's almost certainly to do with technique, as [info]tyggerjai suggests. Grip strength is pretty obvious, everyone uses hand grip every day, just to hold ordinary things like cups and telephones. So no trouble using grip on short shears, and in addition, it's really not possible to do it wrong, given the design of hand shears.

Long handled shears, you really want to hold one arm steady and locked (usually the "flat" blade should be still), and apply force with the other arm. There's a lot to do with arranging it so you're actually generating the moving force with your body, not the muscles in your arm. Most people don't have strong arm muscles, and especially not strong arm muscles if you're trying to operate both of them to close together.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]bunnikins
2009-06-15 12:12 pm UTC (link)
Lightsaber! Good for gardening *and* zombies!!

(Reply to this)


[info]iki_maska
2009-06-15 12:20 pm UTC (link)
A small axe and a bowsaw with a good blade should be plenty. Used just that to drop a big tree in Alistair's yard. Much easier to keep and more generally useful too (they live under the seat of my car). Much cheaper.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]longi
2009-06-15 10:19 pm UTC (link)
I concur. Bowsaws are awesome. They'll hack down the biggest of trees and are light enough to use one-handed.

Cheap too.

No petrol needed either.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]tomble
2009-06-15 01:18 pm UTC (link)
A chainsaw has only a limited application in a zombie apocalypse - unless you're using a saw specifically designed for meat cutting (usually pneumatic) then you're only going to get through a few limbs before the whole thing starts to clog with fat and sinew.

For garden pruning though, too many power tools aren't even close to enough.

I have a pair of long handled pruning shear things which can cut through quite thick branches, the power I can put into them though the long handles is amazing.

(Reply to this)


[info]iki_maska
2009-06-15 01:52 pm UTC (link)
Pruning shears are only good for fingers and toes. Once you're talking limbs, axe and saw are the only way to go.

(Reply to this)

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