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Hey Mark, I appreciate your thoughts – not in the least argumentative. I was an avid rock/ice climber in my “youth” and ski racer (maybe too avid) and I have more aches and pains than I care to admit at 40. Farming and logging is very physical and without a sound body I can’t make a living. Therefore, I am very conscious about the efficiency with which I accomplish physical tasks (i.e. output per unit input). After going through the range of saws I mentioned earlier, I am convinced I spend considerably less energy lugging around 4 extra pounds of a 70 cc saw compared with a smaller saw. I can cut so much more wood in less time with less vibration on those joints with a larger saw that the energy expended on cutting a cord of wood is much less compared with a smaller saw. I think the best way to answer this question is to borrow a larger saw and cut with it for a day, then make your decision.

George

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Russel:

I think I might have mentioned in a different post that I spent a month hitchhiking around South Africa in 1990. During that month, I never spent a night in a hostel or outside (other than some mountaineering I was doing in the Drakensburg mountains). Folks who picked me up invited me to stay in their homes and fed me, every day without exception! The hospitality and friendliness was uncanny. South Africa is also one of the most beautiful countries I have visited. You have mountains, wildlife, beautiful coastline etc.

The downside while I was there was apartheid. I had been living in Zimbabwe for 5 months before I went to SA. I spoke passable Shona and was used to living and interacting with the “black” population. When I got to SA, black South Africans were very stand-offish presumably b/c of apartheid. Many of the whites would try to convince me why apartheid was useful/important – hard to swallow. Then there were the societal divisions not only between black and white but between the English and Afrikaners.

Overall my sense of your country at the time was conflicted. On a personal level the people were the most friendly I have ever encountered, but this was against the backdrop of lots of strife. I don’t know enough about today’s South Africa to give an opinion.

George

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@Tim Harrigan 24778 wrote:

I suspect if you are in the woods everyday and pay 3x the cost for the xp but are able to cut 10x the wood as with a landowner grade saw you will think of that as a pretty good business decision.

Regarding price, I spent around $850 for a 372xpg. That included a 20″ bar, a new chain, and oil (part of the deal, worth around $70). For $400, I imagine you are getting a 40-50cc saw? So we are talking about double the price, but we are also comparing apples and oranges. With that doubling of price you are doubling the horse power plus getting all the professional componentry. Something to consider if you are buying a new saw. Finally, if the numbers don’t sway, see if you can try out a larger professional saw.

I cut pretty intensively in the fall and winter and then not so much (mainly blocking wood) in the summer as other farm activities pick up. Still I find the extra money well worth while.

George

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Turns out it was a bad carb, not an air leak. Maybe that will solve my hard starting problems.

I started cutting wood with a 50cc Jonsered and it was a decent saw. I borrowed a friend’s 272 and it was a whole new world. I couldn’t afford the 372 at the time and bought the 365. Again a nice saw, but not the same as the 372. Like Carl mentioned, the extra weight is well worth the superior performance of a pro-level saw (i.e. XP).

George

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Hi Donn,

I haven’t had experience with the thyroid medications. I did have 2 horses show up with a low thyroid when I was trying to figure out other issues but I didn’t address it with the meds, I decided to focus on other improvements first.

As a cheap carrier I use beet pulp, about a cup with soak up a lot of water and swell to a sizeable volume, and it has good fiber, not a lot of sugar and is inexpensive.

I was slipping down the supplement slope recently trying to figure out some health issues and decided to take an online horse nutrition course recommended by Pete Ramey. It is offered by Eleanor Kellon who is the insulin resistant guru apparently but I can say for the $200 I learned a tremendous amount and feel a little more empowered. the most important thing I got out of this is the mineral balancing. It did require getting a good hay sample taken but since you are using the same fields year after year the mineral composition probably wont change. What I found out is that, in the winter at least my horses are quite low on Mg, Zn, and Cu and Iodine. for $100 I bought a lifetime supply of these and am mixing the proportions I need and adding to their beet pulp.

the course certainly isn’t a neccessity either, especially for someone used to looking at feed analysis and rations, but it did convince me of the importance of not slighting our animals on any of these. Correct thyroid function as well as good solid hooves (and just about everything else) is dependent on good protein and minerals.

There were many convincing student testimonials, but I was impressed with a woman who chimed in during the course with some great video of her horse that completed 8 endurance races this year completely barefoot (no boots), the year before she wasn’t sure her horse would ever be sound because he was plagued with hoof abscesses.

anyway, I am pleased with the plan because it is logical, based on something, and inexpensive. The horse supplement industry is daunting and they will throw anything at ya!

Kristan

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Hi Ed, why not just get rid of the pad? Do you get sore shoulders without the pad? On one horse that I was having trouble with fitting a collar, I replaced the hame strap with a longer one and was able to get a decent fit. Another option is going with a thinner, syntheic pad (presuming that is what you are not using.

A side note: I haven’t heard of the 4 finger rule. That seems like a lot of space especially fitting a collar on a cold horse. If it is 4 fingers on a cold horse, I could fit 5 or even 6 on my horses when they are lathered. I probably can fit 2 fingers on my collars and have never had a problem with cutting off their wind. Am I cutting it too close?

George

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I had an air leak in my 372xp, so it has been in the shop. I have been cutting with my 365 and it cuts considerably slower. If your debating between those 2 saws, consdier spending the extra $100 and get the 372.

George

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Mitch, I like the facia detail on your sugar house. Forget mitering! – simple and attractive. I think I will copy it for the barn I am building this winter.

Here’s a picture of what’s in store for us this (and every spring). We are expecting over 100 goat kids in a 10 day period starting in about a week. Feeding three time/day and then we have oodles of milk to process into cheese from all the fresh goats. Winter vacation is almost over………..:eek:

George

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J-L, sounds like a great set-up you have there. I have to break the trend and say I love winter. We are only milking 15 odd goats (as opposed to 55) and things slow down considerably. I am outside all day, most every day – chores, logging, plowing snow, skiing, sledding with the kids, etc. I dress warmly and don’t stop moving and tend to stay warm except on the coldest days.

George

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Donn:

Mark answered you follow-up questions to my post more eloquently than I could have. Good luck.

George

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Donn:

I don’t adjust the rear side strap except to get it right (in regards to the britchen tension) and leave it. I do loosen the front side strap on 1 horse when I attach to the pole. I get the traces as tight as possible and then tighten the FSS. L Barden told me you should get the FSS tight enough so you can clip it to the where the lazy strap attaches to your harness (more or less).

George

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Mark:

I am a fan of those big wheels on my arch…except in these conditions. Another winter like this and you may make me a convert.

George

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I am going to run my arch over my trails today to try to pack things down. It is above freezing now, so I think it should pack nicely. I have to get next year’s firewood out in the next 10 days before our goats freshen.

Scott, what do you average for annual snowfall where you are? I imagine considerably more than we get here.

George

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@Carl Russell 24554 wrote:

Gaiters George…. They work great. Boots and pants are dry and warmer.

Carl

I hear you on the gaiters. I have been through several pairs that don’t hold up and gave up in frustration. I’ll try again. Just got another foot of snow – much wetter this time:eek:.

George

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Rod, so sorry to hear about the barn. I am glad no one was hurt. I guess I should go shovel off my barn (I have one just like yours).

George

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