Not Yanking Your Chain

We raise a leather-gloved hand in salute to Black & Decker. The company  has rolled out a battery-operated chainsaw and a line of electric tools, joining other manufacturers trying to trim pollution from yard work.

Perhaps one day the quieter electric saw will topple the gas-powered chainsaw, that ripsnorting icon so familiar to gardeners, lumberjacks, and fans of horror movies. The gas version has been filling the air with gray smoke--not to mention curses at failed pull chains--since it was invented in 1927.

While this 18-volt rechargeable chainsaw warms the planet less than its predecessor, recall that before all this "low-emissions" and "earth-friendly" buzz, there was an even simpler
solution.

Ah yes, the handsaw. Quiet. Zero emissions too, except for your panting breath, and sure to burn more calories than anything powered by a battery or fuel can. Along with the whine of electric tools, we hope to hear the voom-pah, voom-pah of the plain ol' saw every Saturday this summer.

Photo courtesy of Black & Decker; used with permission