BANGOR – For two decades, scores of chain saws have sat idle in Maine sheds, no longer needed after the oil shortages of the 1970s and early 1980s gave way to relatively economical oil heat.

That’s not to say a lot of Maine people didn’t burn wood, but many did give it up and used their chain saws only occasionally to put up an emergency firewood supply or to clean up a tree blown down by the wind.

Thanks to Hurricane Katrina, turmoil in the Mideast and a nervous futures market, oil prices have soared – and out came the chain saws. Local dealers and repairers will tell you so.

Calvin McGraw of R.D. Faulkner in Brewer said the chain saw sales and service business is up about 40 percent this year.

“Many people are digging out saws they haven’t used in a long time,” McGraw said. “Most are pretty much useable” with some maintenance.

At Faulkner’s, where Solo and Dolmar saws are sold, a typical new saw costs a little more than $300.

Bradstreet Lawn and Garden, also in Brewer, always does a lot of chain saw business, said Reggie Sherburne, but it is seeing more this year.

Some people are giving up on their older saws because the new models are lighter and more powerful, Sherburne said. He said new saws typically weigh about 10 pounds, and those a generation old were as heavy as a “boat anchor.”

The older saws were equipped with engines that produced 7,000 to 8,000 rpm, while the new ones have 12,500 rpm, Sherburne said.

He also warned that some older saws he has seen weren’t equipped with chain breaks, or a device that flips the handle forward, stopping the chain, in case the saw kicks back toward its user. Obviously, this can be a life-saving feature and one Sherburne said everyone should have.

The chain saw business has increased 25 percent to 30 percent at Jim’s Small Engine in Orrington. Jim Williamson said parts are no longer available for some of the older saws. For example, 25 years ago McCulloch chain saws were popular, but are no longer made. In some cases, parts can be hard to find. Williamson said he purchased the inventory of a closed saw operation so he did have some of the older parts.

At Dorr’s Equipment in Hermon, Dale Pineo said he was doing a brisk business. Dorr’s deals a lot with both homeowners and professionals, and Pineo said the price of saws sold there varies from $159 to $1,500.

Pineo said he also has sold helmets, many with face guards, and chaps to protect legs. The chaps sell for $75 to $100. Some of the helmets come with ear muffs.

Caution: Wet Wood

Pineo expects to hear about a lot of chimney fires this winter, as many people seem destined to burn wood that isn’t dry.

McGraw agrees, saying most of the dry wood has already been spoken for in most areas.

Wood has also gotten more expensive with the heavy demand this fall. Split, stove-sized wood is selling for $200 a cord, or more.