Introducing Oregon Forestry Bars & Chains!

You asked for it, and we answered! We now carry the Oregon line of bar & chain products. Also known as Oregon Forestry, Oregon is one of the most respected leading manufacturers of bars, chains, bar & chain combos, and sprockets. They’ve been in the business since 1947, and since their inception have constantly sought to engineer the best possible cutting methods while reducing kick-back and ensuring safety with their innovative chains and guidebars. In the past several decades, their success has been astromical; their saw chains alone are now used by approximately 90% of the world’s saw chain manufacturers! We are proud to officially become one of their online distributors.

So, What Makes Us So Excited About Oregon Products?

It would be hard to sum up what we like best about this trusted brand in a few sentences, but here are a few reasons their chains alone are stellar choices for your chainsaw:

• The cutting chain can cut through any type of timber and stays extremely durable throughout any weather and cutting conditions. Remember, the state of Oregon is known for many wonderful things, but sunshine is not one of them! From early on, this innovative company had to create a chain that could do its job rain or shine. 

• Although the cutting chain stays sharp for an impressive period of time, it is also easy to re-sharpen. 

• The chains, bars, and sprockets are all designed to be compatible with virtually any model out there. Wondering which one is right for you? Contact our experts for help. 

• Each chain is low-kick. This means it works against the natural reactive force of cutting known as kickback, keeping you safe in the process. If you hunt around for low-kick chains, the first thing you’ll notice is that the drawback to these chains are usually that they’re incredibly difficult to sharpen. The ease of sharpening Oregon chains makes them a stand-out. The lightweight, reversible, and durable guide bars also help with kick-back.

Maximize Your Chainsaw Performance Now!

Just like everything we sell, we do not supply a product unless our experts are 100% convinced that it is the most durable, powerful, and safe item available and will truly maximize your chainsaw’s potential. That’s why we’re very proud to be a distributor for this wonderful company and we invite you to browse our full line of Oregon parts today!

Here are some things to consider before sharpening a chainsaw with a round file.

Outdoor DIY Projects to Welcome the Spring

Spring is the perfect time to complete those DIY projects you’ve been dreaming about all winter. Whether you’re looking to spruce up your patio, bring your backyard back to life, or complete some projects for the kids, spring projects allow you to both save money and better appreciate your new amenities when completed – not to mention soak in some of that welcome sunshine! To help get you started, we’ve come up with a few fun outdoor project ideas:

Create Stylish Outdoor Seating from Recycled Pallets

Is your patio missing some seating? With just two wooden shipping pallets, some cedar planks, and miscellaneous building items, you can create your very own cheap, yet stylish and comfortable, outdoor bench. You can usually easily find discarded shipping pallets at a local store or warehouse, and any replacement tool parts you need online. When you’re ready to go with your circular saw, screws and nails, follow these DIY instructions and you’re on your way to owning a new, homemade bench!

Build a See-Saw for the Kids

It seems these days, parks are simply not as prevalent as they used to be. Luckily, we’ve found a fairly easy DIY project that can spark some nostalgia in you while giving your kids something to enjoy outdoors. Before you go all out on a playhouse or full backyard playground, start by constructing a backyard seesaw. With just one weekend, some lumber and a few tools, your kids will be see-sawing in no time with a sibling or friend and loving it. Just make sure they’re safe!

Create a Hanging Bar for Outdoor Entertaining

Another DIY project based around shipping pallets, this hanging outdoor bar is sure to delight and help you entertain both family and friends who come to visit. This project requires 8-10 wooden pallets, so start your hunt for discarded pallets before you decide to start building. The finished project is quite heavy (in order for it to be solid enough to hold bottles and glasses), so have someone help you with the final steps of lifting and attaching the bar when it’s complete. After it’s attached, the real fun begins! Load up your outdoor bar with whatever you desire and enjoy!

Build a Potting Bench

Love spending time in the garden? A DIY potting bench will make your time outdoors more efficient and enjoyable than ever! Building a pottery bench takes almost no know-how and can be completed with basic carpentry tools. Whether you want a potting bench with shelves or you’re thinking about a potting bench with wire mesh backing, building your own potting bench allows you to save money and create the perfect-sized bench for your backyard.

Bring Your Lawn Back to Life

Maintaining your own yard can be both rewarding and, with the right plan and tools, even fun! Spring is the ideal time to get back into the habit of regularly caring for you lawn and garden. Whether you need to mow, edge, trim, plant, or all of the above, it’s important to use quality tools. Sharp tools help you work faster and are better for the health of your yard. Remember, just because your equipment is old, it doesn’t necessarily need to be replaced. Buying replacement parts for your lawn equipment allows you to save money and keep working with the same tools for longer.

When working on DIY projects, remember: stay safe, use common sense, and have fun!

Fun, Starter Woodworking Projects for You and Your Kids

Woodworking is a hobby that is great for all ages and skill sets – you don’t have to be a carpenter to be able to create beautiful furnishings and crafts! A lot of projects aren’t as difficult as you might think, and can be made simpler so that even a child could do it (only under your expert supervision, of course). Woodworking with your child is a great opportunity to help them learn a new and valuable skill while bonding every step of the way. Give your child the experience of working with wood with these fun and easy ideas!

Bird house

A summer camp staple, building a bird house is a great woodworking project for beginners everywhere. A traditional birdhouse is easy to build and assemble, since it doesn’t require a lot of pieces. Cut out the proper sizes of the base, roof, walls and entrance hole with a basic band saw before letting your child get started (or just purchase a pre-cut kit). This project is great for kids since it’s simple to put together and usually just requires a hammer and nails. After your child builds the wooden house, he or she can decorate it to hang in a tree. Painting and personalizing is half the fun!

Boxes and Crates

Another fun beginner project for a child is creating crates and boxes. Build anything from a toy chest to the tiniest of boxes that your child can keep their prized possessions in. Boxes are very easy to make, with just six wooden boards needed for the entire structure. Let your child get familiar with tools like measuring tapes, levels and hammers. They’ll enjoy helping you put the box together. Show them how to hinge together the top to allow for an easy open and close. Like the birdhouse, decorating the box will be just as much fun as building it for your child. They’ll love having something in their space that they helped make.

Toy Race Car

One of the most classic woodworking projects is making a wooden car. This craft is a Boy Scouts of America staple with their annual Pine Wood Derby. Start off with a basic rectangular block of wood with at least a 1-3/4” of width. From there, let your child’s imagination run wild by letting him or her sketch their car design on the block. With your help, carefully carve the shape of the design into the block. Remember to drill a small hole so you can add the wheels in later. Let your child sand the car as you go, and then paint the finished product. Continue the fun by elevating a wooden board to make a ramp and hosting a car race at your home!

Tree House

As you and your child work on more wood projects and increase your skill level, you will be able to move on to more challenging projects. If you’re looking for a project that you can work on for longer than a few days, an outdoor tree house would be a great option for those sunny spring days that are either just on the horizon or already here, depending on where you live. A lot of treehouses aren’t as complex to build as they seem – but they do require careful adherence to safety and stability instructions. Let your kids build the platform and do the woodworking that is on the ground. They can also do things like building steps to climb up the tree and work on the interior once you suspend the structure. It’s a project that takes time and dedication, but results in a memory that will last your child a lifetime.

As you help your child with these projects, be sure to take precautions and keep any dangerous or sharp objects out of their reach. Leave the sawing and chainsaw usage to you, please! With the right guidance, your child will be a seasoned woodsmith someday.