Chainsaw Long Range Tank System

Vonz said:

Hi Oldman. Well you would be surprised if you knew how people really work. Most people actually don't really know what they want, especially unless they have tried something or have seen someone dear to them using something. It comes down to some sort of psychology, users behaviors are a bit all over the place to be honest.
I think this mobility tank thing really can be a good idea, I mean, no one really have tried it on and unless this happens we will all be just assuming its bad because it is a new "thing". This is called natural rigidity of market.

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I think you did kinda misstep here. Dismissing the thoughts of people who aren't excited about your idea, on the basis of abstract concepts like market rigidity and unsupported claims that particular commenters don't know 'how people really work,' makes no logical sense and seems out of place in a good-faith discussion. You asked what people thought. Do you really want to know, or not?

Good luck - but not interested here, at all.

Beyond the personal preference input - I don't think it is a workable concept, either. Very little time is spent standing in one spot, as someone else alluded to - and the rest of the time is spent with operator & saw moving around a lot, with the space between them ever changing in size & directional relationship, with things of widely varying size & shape often coming between them. I.e. stuff will get snagged, tangled, & caught up - it will be a safety hazard and PITA. Even just having something else strapped on to your body somewhere, like a backpack, is a PITA that snags branches etc., let alone what connects the two. Plus something else to drag to the woods.

I could see more capacity being quite helpful in a milling application, partly because a tank of fuel runs out faster and partly because it's a bit more difficult to refuel when it does run out - but that's a pretty small market, I think.

Thinking the backpack gas tank saw would be a bust . . . but never fear . . . I have some ideas for ya . . .

1) A super quiet, but long lasting battery powered saw that is just as powerful as a gas powered saw . . . for use when you need to be a stealthy ninja woodcutter (i.e. you found a free stash, but don't want to wake up the neighbors since it is 4 in the morning or you don't want to alert all of the other wood burners in the neighborhood who are just waiting to hear the tell tale sound of a buzzing saw so they can come in and poach the wood.)

2) A chainsaw that uses a Jedi light saber instead of a chain . . . no more sharpening a chain . . . instead . . . just one thwack and the wood is neatly cut up.

3) Chaps that are more fashionable than the current ones . . . perhaps instead of the standard green or orange chaps we can get camo chaps, pink chaps or chaps that have words emblazoned on them such as "Woody", "Paul" or "Juicy." You know . .. in hindsight . . . you may want to scrap this idea.

I hope you're not discouraged Vonz . . . I think it's never a bad idea to have someone look at things from a a different angle and explore options.

Well at least there's always the "Juicy" chap idea . . .

I've commercially logged for 25+ years and never once thought ,, "maannn ,,,,this 066 needs a bigger tank so I can work longer." Refueling breaks keep your wits about you.
As per the safety aspect in the middle of a crucial cut. That's what wedges are for.
As per the getting dirty part. I've never seen anyone cut wood in a tux.
My GF's boy has a saying about getting dirty. "Don't be a sissy la-la ."
My grand dad always said , " If you ain't getting dirty or breakin' chit,,,, you ain't working!"

Oldman47 said:

Keep trying Vonz. I am sure you will eventually come up with something that people really want. This does not appear to be one of those.

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Oldman47...


I thought I recognized your pic. I am a VOG member as well. Small world!

Vonz said:

Well I know now, unless you have something to add to all what have been said...

Dismissing was not really the goal there, however trying to tackle the problems is kind of my job

This thread fed my hunger to know what the guys says at 100%.

Now I hope I have helped also you guys to know a little more about what innovation is about.

Thanks to all who have participated and sorry again if some have felt I was dismissing.

Cheers

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Vonz. I think there is quite a bit of merit to your system... But not as a extended run tank attached to the saw at all times, but as a quick refill system.

It would be great if I could have something hanging on the truck when I'm working with QD's that I could hook up for a fill up. I'd want it fool proof so it never overflows and I can clearly see when it is full. Furthermore, it needs to handle the grime and dirt with out contamination. If done properly, I think you can have a huge win-win here.

Also, this may be a good intermediate step for the market to see the value in your fuel tank idea. Maybe 3-4 years down the road it seems like the next great thing... But right now I don't think the market is ready for it.

I do know quite a bit about innovation myself as I'm a project manager (engineering background) for a $1.3 billion company. If anyone really wants to know how innovation works check out the attached link.

The product idea at issue seems useless to me. A solution in search of a problem. I already carry fuel and wedges and gear with me into the woods in a bag with a shoulder strap, and wear tools and wedges on my belt. Carrying a fuel backpack, too? No thanks.

Checking fuel level before getting into felling or high-risk cutting is just part of the responsibilities of the job. It is no bother to pause and top off the tanks from time to time, and with experience you should know when it's fuel time.

Badger said:

Vonz. I think there is quite a bit of merit to your system... But not as a extended run tank attached to the saw at all times, but as a quick refill system.

It would be great if I could have something hanging on the truck when I'm working with QD's that I could hook up for a fill up. I'd want it fool proof so it never overflows and I can clearly see when it is full. Furthermore, it needs to handle the grime and dirt with out contamination. If done properly, I think you can have a huge win-win here.

Also, this may be a good intermediate step for the market to see the value in your fuel tank idea. Maybe 3-4 years down the road it seems like the next great thing... But right now I don't think the market is ready for it.

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Good point. A quick refill type thing could very easily be done with QD fittings on the gas/oil caps.

Just pop the fitting on, squeeze a pump-bulb 10 times or so and the fuel is replenished without ever removing the cap. No spills, no dirt getting in the tank etc... Same thing for oil (this is the frustrating one for me because my Dolkita has an odd shaped tank that always causes me to over-flow it because the last 10% fills VERY fast)...

How bout a back pack power unit, connected via cable drive to hand held cutting unit?

Vonz, I don't know how much more fuel you want but maybe another route would be to remove the gas and oil tanks from the saw and measure them 3D, then you would then be able to design new tanks that would have increased capacity and have prototypes printed for pretty cheap.

also if you working in a wood lot or something simular you can remove the engine all together (from your hands) and run a hydraulic saw. more power, lighter package and the power plant could be 10's of feet away with only 3 small hydraulic lines.

Maybe I am odd.. but I set my saws down quite often, since I am almost always by myself.

I know that I am odd! And I do set mine down as well.

Outside of the fire concern of the gas (big issue in itself), I'd think that a cold day cutting would cause a saw being starved of bar oil situation. The bar oil flows on cold days better once the saw has warmed that onboard tank up a bit. You could combat that with some sort of pressure system, but then do you really want a bomb that is also under pressure on your backside?

I say fuel up before hand and use some wedges.