A chat with an old forester made me stop using my climbing saw for everything

I was helping clear a trail in the state park last weekend and got talking to this retired forester named Carl. He watched me pull out my small climbing saw for a 10 inch dead limb and just said, 'That's a scalpel, son. You're trying to chop firewood with it.' He explained that using the wrong tool for the job, even if it works, wears out your good gear way faster and tires you out. I realized I'd been doing that for years, just grabbing what was on my harness. Now I'm making a point to walk back to the truck for the proper bow saw or pole saw if the cut's over 6 inches. Anyone else have a simple tool rule they broke for too long?

2 comments

2 Comments

jamie_clark16d ago

Wait, you were using a climbing saw on a ten inch limb? That's wild, man (no wonder Carl said something). Those little saws are for tight spots up in a tree, not for serious cutting on the ground. It must have taken you forever and just wrecked your blade. I've seen guys try to use a pocket knife as a screwdriver and it's the same kind of thing, just killing your good tools for no reason. Walking back to the truck is the move, even if it feels like a hassle at the time.

quinnbailey16d ago

So what was the worst case you ever saw of someone just wrecking a good tool because it was the closest thing to hand? Like, did Carl have any horror stories about that?