Going green

[Radar67]

James. there is a way to use that used catfish oil......got any diesel engines on the farm?

[John Mc]

fishpharmer -

If you want to check it out, the certifying organization is Vermont Family Forests. You can find out some background on the programs by following links off that site, and particularly at http://www.familyforests.org/ecoforestry/. For the management principles, follow some of the links from that page.

The economic end of it is tough. What it provides now is access to some markets - in our area, there are some places you just will not sell unless it's "certified". For example, a college a few miles away from me built a new library a few years ago, almost all of the interior wood was from area forests, and certified that it was sustainably harvested. VFF also has started some research projects to sell hardwood flooring made from wood from the forests they certify. From what I understand, it's too soon to know how this will work out financially, but the plan is that the forest owner will share in the premium this flooring gets (by harvesting, processing and selling more or less locally, a lot of the middlemen and transportation costs are eliminated, leaving a bigger slice for the landowner, forester, logger and processor to share).

This model may not work everywhere. We've got a high proportion of "granola heads" in Vermont, so there is a bit of a market for something like this.

What part of MS are you from? Over the years, I've spent some time in Brookhaven (south of Jackson). Saw a lot of the damage a few weeks after Katrina when I made a wrong turn due to some missing road signs and ended up with a three hour tour -- blacked out towns, forests flattened, etc.

[DonT]

Downside to veg-oil is that on a cold still day all you can smell is cooking fries and you spend most of the day feeling hungry

[Radar67]

You only get the smell if the oil is used. I used new oil in my experiment.

[bandmiller2]

You know you have class when you use extra virgin olive oil in your saw.What about animal based oils are they harmful to the envourment??I know whale oil would work but its hard to find.what about Joy dish soap??probibly anything slippery that won't freeze would work.Frank C.

[metalspinner]

Whale oil?!?

I thought that's what we were trying to save? :D :D

[timber tramp]

  How many gallons would you get from a whale? GPW? ;D        :)TT

[DonT]

The husky brand of oil is actually called "veg-oil"I started to use it when blocking  some of my wood at the pile at home.I use about 5 gallns a year in the same spot and started to wonder about residual and its effect if any on groundwater.It seems to be a small point but most of my customers seem to appreciate it use on there properties.It is all I use now on urban work.It really does add a unique smell to the woodlot on a cold day,it has been my obsevation that the husky oil is far more stinky than the the stihl oil.Mybe it is just me but I also notice a differance in smell between my regular mix oil and the semi-synthetic stuff.Does anybody else notice a differance?

[SwampDonkey]

As far as synthetic like Amzoil, I have never smelled a difference between that and Stihl mix. One guy tried to convince me there was a difference in odor, actually saying there was no odor from Amzoil mixed fuel. :  I guess my nose is more sensitive than his because it just smelled like burnt gas when it came out the exhaust. :D

[DonT]

I notice a differance in smell with snowmobiles.Could not figure out what stunk on my sled last year,was not a burning smell just differant,turns out it was the sled I was following,he was running amsoil.

[chep]

I am going to look past the envionmental benefits of using biodegradable bar oil (where does every gallon of bar oil end up. oh on the ground, period.)  If you want to be selfish about the subject then think of yourself. The lungs in particular.  You, the operator of a chainsaw are breathing in oil droplets the entire time your saw is running. Think of how many times you have spit out chips from the cut...  Would you rather breathe in canola oil (non toxic) or breathe in a nasty petroleum that eventually builds up. Seem simple to me.  Good topic. Seems like a small price to pay for your health. I bought a case of stihl bar oil the last time I purchased. Once I am done spitting the last jug onto the ground I will forever be smelling french fries in my saws.

[bandmiller2]

What about pure mineral oil??we used to use it around the dough dividers at the bakery where i worked.Frank C.

[hornett22]

We have a farmers Co-op here.  It is an old fashion hardware store and they are our larger Stihl and Husky dealer. They carry feed and farm supplies, etc.

Here is the Stihl link...

http://www.stihlusa.com/accessories/barchainoil.html

That Co-Op is great.they sell Husky and Stihl.i miss that place. i hope to be back in Maryville some day.