I needed my truck today, it had about 18 inches of settled snow on it. I was plowing snow today on the bravo. I think i am going to make a huge p-tex skid plate that go's all the way to the bumper. Another note the creeks were thin today and alot of rabbit and ptarmigan sign on the east line. Jus need -20 for a week or so :-)

Weather is going to take a crap here tommorrow. Small craft advisory pretty much everywhere.
Outside waters, (Sitka, etc.). 27' seas. Makes it tough to get out for now.

What's next, rain or -50?

First one, then the other...jeez, dont go jinxin' things, lol


Nice place you got there Takotna. I like the low eave access to the stove pipe. Wish I would have done that at my place. I feel like a flying walenda everytime I have to climb up there...

I must be living in the "Banana Belt", as it is 40 degrees out with a slight breeze.

If you look close at the picture, you'll see caribou taking a swim......

Was looking for that post on the DeWalt sawzal a while back, think it was UBob that posted it. Anyway after reading it I thought what a good idea. So out I go an blow my lunch money on a new DeWalt sawzal and two DeWalt 18V Lithium-Ion Batteries. I used it around camp one day and the battery went low after some use. Plugged the charger into the generator and it recharged in one hour.

Since then I have made a couple of horizontal marten sets and pruned a bit of brush. The second battery still has life. I do think they are short lived for heavier cutting. For the application I am using and one hour recharge it is ideal. Beats dragging out the chainsaw for light work.

Prior to the Dewalt I had bought another brand for my camp trailer, it really sucked and I returned it. The Dewalt is 300 percent better.

I am OK with my 18v DeWalt tools. Use the heck out of them on the job. I much preferred my original 9.6v Makita tools. Batteries lasted much longer and I see no advantage to the 18v. What I really dislke is the way the LION batteries stop instantly when they get low. What a pain to have that happen at the top of the ladder ! Nice to have the slow warning that you're running out of power.

On the flip side, the DeWalt cordless impact driver # DC825 is one of the best tools I've ever used. Dives long screws with no effort. Great for removing old screws that are driven crooked or below the surface. Couldn't live without it and it's paid for itself several times over.....even though it's that same 18v system

I love my Makita tools, but now is hard to find batteries locally.

Our son is trying to tell me to get one of those drivers, he swears by his. Maybe he buy me one for christmas .. LOL

x3 on the Dewalt/Makita drivers - they are exceptional. You can hang off a rafter or ladder in a contorted position and drive a long screw one handed with little effort. Great for metal roofing jobs.

the new li-ion makita 18 volt impacts are super light weight and will twist a large screw into some very tough wood.I prefer the makita battery stuff over the dewalt because of the ergonomics of the tools.

Rockwell makes some of the best cordless tools ever in my opinion. Will double the run time of a B&D. Really light and very comfortable to use. Pretty expensive, but worth it. I have their 18 volt impact drill. Would'v liked to get the whole set.

Don't know how they are compared to makita, but I'm guessing at least as good.

I agree. The balance points on the Makita tools are superior to DeWalt.

However, a light tool is subject to greater wear from vibration than a heavier tool. In 1990 I bought two Makita worm drive circular saws. By 1993 I had had both of them rebuilt. By 1997 both were junk. During that same time period I was running a Skill 77 worm drive. That saw is still running and all I have replaced is the foot or table whichever you want to call it. The skill is about a pound heavier than the Makita, which if you pick the saw up a hundred times a day really makes a difference at the end of the day. But the tool life isn't there and the Makita really jumped around from the torque and light weight of the saw. Just not as safe IMO as the Skill.

I agree. The balance points on machete is vital.
Oh Wait they don't make machete's

A little bear hunting in the morning with the son in law. Hoping for snow before daylight so we can get 'er done! I love tracking them in the snow, makes for an exciting hunt and you can get a good size estimate. No sense in shooting a boo boo bear if you can help it.

Good one Len !

Good luck Greg. Pix at 11

I built my entire house and framed the inside of my shop with basically three tools. A makita 18V drill, a makita 18v skill saw, and a paslode framing nailer. Started in 2003, still not finished

I've had to buy a fair amount of new batteries over the last 8 years. They arent cheap, but those makita tools are hands down the best investment I've ever made in tools. Light, ergonometric, durable. I've never owned a dewalt, maybe they're better, but I'll never find out unless/until my makita tools fail someday...

The paslode is awesome too.. just less awesome than the makitas..lol

I own a Paslode framing nailer and like it fine. But I also own the Hitachi which is the cadillac of nailers.

Pittu- What kind of battery life are you getting out of the skill saw before needing a recharge? Is it just me or do those things eat batteries alive....

On a good 2.6 Ah battery that is fully charged, I would say I get about 30 to 40 2x6 cross cuts before charges. If you start ripping things, it wont last as long. The beauty of the makita skill saw is that it is small, light, manueverable in tight places and on ladders, etc. It has way more horsepower pound for pound than a standard 1/2 hp corded skill saw. I own a heavy aluminum bodied Black and Decker and unless i get in a bind for makita batteries it never gets used. We're off the grid so its nice to be able to use the tools for smaller jobs without needing the gnerator running.

I love the paslode, but you do have to take the combustion chamber apart and clean them occasionally or they act up. And they dont work worth a crap when the temp get below 20F.