James grew up on an Ozarks farm where tools like axes and picks were still used in the daily routine and the blades of stockman's pocketknives served their original functions. Receiving his first pocketknife at age four he got it open by himself nearly a year later and spent his formative years wandering the woods with a succession of ever larger knives, a book of matches and a rifle.
A veteran of Vietnam, James also served in Alaska during a stint in the Army, receiving his first intensive culinary training by setting a record for extra KP at Ft. Richardson.
Settling in the Pacific Northwest after his discharge, James crewed on sailing yachts in local races, backpacked hundreds of miles of mountain trails in search of good trout fishing, and occasionally attended college.
His first serious job as a civilian resulted from answering a Seattle Post Intelligencer want ad requesting someone who could lift 120 pounds repeatedly and wasn't afraid of fire. James apprenticed to John Frazier -- the most knowledgeable traditional foundryman in North America at that time -- for the next six years.
Returning to the Ozarks James made his living by growing ginseng on a hand-terraced wooded hillside and selling handmade wood turnery, furniture, sculpture and architectural carvings. James harvested trees from his own land, processing logs into posts and beams and turnery billets with saws, axes, froes and planes. Since many tools he needed were no longer available, James built his own forge from a barbeque grill, a vacuum cleaner and a 55 gallon steel drum, found a chunk of railroad track for his first anvil, and taught himself blacksmithing -- creating his own knives and tools from scrap steel and sweat.
Changing economic pressures eventually forced James back to the restaurant industry in Branson, Missouri, and later to even more success as a maintenance engineer for one of Branson's largest condominium resorts. Finally escaping to Indiana, James now makes his living telling true stories as a freelance writer.
Poulan Electric Chainsaw, Tree Cutting | Arborist Gardening Pro 400E 18
59 sec read
For occasional tree trimming close to home, an electric chain saw like the Poulan Pro 400E is versatile, efficient, and quiet — but in this economical saw, you won’t get the rugged construction of a good gasoline-powered machine. For jobs within its limits, the Poulan Pro works well. With a hundred-foot extension cord, a 120V wall outlet, and oil for the bar and chain, this machine can quickly clean up storm damage and other occasional heavy cutting jobs around the yard. The absence of the usual roar and smoke of a gasoline saw can be a huge benefit if neighbors aren’t far away.
The 18-inch bar of the Poulan Pro 400E does not indicate the maximum width of cut for this machine. Many companies rate the real capacity of a small chainsaw at half the bar length, meaning a nine-inch log would be at the upper limit for the Poulan Pro 400E. When the chain begins to dull and the load on the engine increases, that limit drops. Without overload protection for its 4HP electric motor, the Poulan Pro 400E could be damaged by overly optimistic use.
Chainsaws were meant to run briefly and then idle and cool off, and the electric 400E is no exception to that rule. With plenty of power and the look of a rugged machine, it’s easy to push this light duty machine too hard. Poulan Pro warrants the 400E against defects in parts and workmanship for one year after purchase, but abuse voids the guarantee.
James grew up on an Ozarks farm where tools like axes and picks were still used in the daily routine and the blades of stockman's pocketknives served their original functions. Receiving his first pocketknife at age four he got it open by himself nearly a year later and spent his formative years wandering the woods with a succession of ever larger knives, a book of matches and a rifle.
A veteran of Vietnam, James also served in Alaska during a stint in the Army, receiving his first intensive culinary training by setting a record for extra KP at Ft. Richardson.
Settling in the Pacific Northwest after his discharge, James crewed on sailing yachts in local races, backpacked hundreds of miles of mountain trails in search of good trout fishing, and occasionally attended college.
His first serious job as a civilian resulted from answering a Seattle Post Intelligencer want ad requesting someone who could lift 120 pounds repeatedly and wasn't afraid of fire. James apprenticed to John Frazier -- the most knowledgeable traditional foundryman in North America at that time -- for the next six years.
Returning to the Ozarks James made his living by growing ginseng on a hand-terraced wooded hillside and selling handmade wood turnery, furniture, sculpture and architectural carvings. James harvested trees from his own land, processing logs into posts and beams and turnery billets with saws, axes, froes and planes. Since many tools he needed were no longer available, James built his own forge from a barbeque grill, a vacuum cleaner and a 55 gallon steel drum, found a chunk of railroad track for his first anvil, and taught himself blacksmithing -- creating his own knives and tools from scrap steel and sweat.
Changing economic pressures eventually forced James back to the restaurant industry in Branson, Missouri, and later to even more success as a maintenance engineer for one of Branson's largest condominium resorts. Finally escaping to Indiana, James now makes his living telling true stories as a freelance writer.
For occasional tree trimming close to home, an electric chain saw like the Poulan Pro 400E is versatile, efficient, and quiet — but in this economical saw, you won’t get the rugged construction of a good gasoline-powered machine. For jobs within its limits, the Poulan Pro works well. With a hundred-foot extension cord, a 120V wall outlet, and oil for the bar and chain, this machine can quickly clean up storm damage and other occasional heavy cutting jobs around the yard. The absence of the usual roar and smoke of a gasoline saw can be a huge benefit if neighbors aren’t far away.
