View Full Version : Recommend me a chain saw!
phil24_7
25-01-10, 11:35 PM
No, Kate doesn't need disposing of!
I want a chain saw to chop down/trim some trees, as well as for chopping wood/logs for my fire.
It needs to be a decent budget/cheep pro one that will last, and be capable of a lot of use to start with (big garden and lots of trees), followed by regular winter use.
So come on, what do you recommend. Are there any makes I should steer clear of and any that stand out as good makes?
How much should I be looking at spending?
Cheers in advance
Your neighbours are so going to love you. As soon as they hear a chainsaw they'll be on the phone to the Council. I bet you'll get a visit from the tree man:lol:
I bought a cheap electric one and used it to cut down several large pine trees in the garden. It does the job. I think it cost about £60. Of course Aldi had one in the week after for £45 :mad:
Luckypants
25-01-10, 11:51 PM
Do not buy a cheap Husqvarna, plastic engine cases do split. My local place recommended Oleo-Mac to me, and I replaced my Husqvarna with one of these..
http://www.mowdirect.co.uk/acatalog/OLEO-MAC-940C-MULTI-PURPOSE-PETROL-CHAINSAW---16---GUIDE-BAR--SPECIAL-PROMOTIONAL-OFFER-.html
Does everything I want cutting logs, although the bar is a little short for very large trees.
Whatever saw you get, buy some proper chain saw trousers and helmet/visor. Wear steel toed boots. Get some training from someone who knows how to handle a chain saw.
If you want it to last, Stihl. Not the cheapest, just the best.
Or.............. this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60Tamp2fHhg) :smt119
Dad sells garden machinery, have worked with him in the shop for years.
Looking to Spend maybe £250-£350, depending on workload.
Oleo mac is a reasonably build quite good value saw.
£228 seems on the expensive side for an Oleo Mac, if I remember right, which is questionable.
Could get a smaller but much better built Echo or a Stihl for that.
A 30-40cc engine with around a 15 "or 16" bar.
Don't buy a low cc/power engine, and fit a massive 18" bar, just not going to work.
The build quality of Husqvarna has went downhill as of late, they were taken over by Stihl I think. (my memory is poor)
Depending on the size of material you are cutting, the type of saw you need is different.
What about going to a local garden machinery centre and asking about second hand saws?
It's a seasonal business, so they will be grateful for custom at this time of year, try and haggle something off the price.
And buy decent 2 stroke oil. Get decent Oregon oil which mixes 25:1, not the cheap sh!te which mixes 30:1 or 50:1.
Clean petrol and maybe buy a fuel filter too? Dirty petrol causes alot of problems.
HTH.
*disclaimer* my memory may serve me badly, so sorry for any wrong/bad/hazy advice.
Sally.
BanannaMan
26-01-10, 04:43 AM
If you want it to last, Stihl. Not the cheapest, just the best.
+1
Spanner Man
26-01-10, 07:27 AM
Good morning all.
I bought a 14 inch Stihl over 13 years ago, & despite me chopping down trees far bigger than which it was intended for, it Stihl (pun intentional) works perfectly.
In short, it pays to buy the best. If you look after them, they seem to hold their value too.
Do get yourself some proper chainsaw clothing, they bite!
Cheers.
454697819
26-01-10, 08:25 AM
Stihl.. and only stihl
454697819
26-01-10, 08:27 AM
Good morning all.
I bought a 14 inch Stihl over 13 years ago, & despite me chopping down trees far bigger than which it was intended for, it Stihl (pun intentional) works perfectly.
In short, it pays to buy the best. If you look after them, they seem to hold their value too.
Do get yourself some proper chainsaw clothing, they bite!
Cheers.
good advice, my dad as a tree man for many years always wore his gaters etc, laughed at by others in the height of summer but he still has his skin.
kwak zzr
26-01-10, 08:36 AM
i got a bosch electric chain saw that seems to do the job ok, was about £70 me thinks.
ThEGr33k
26-01-10, 08:44 AM
Get two little ones like the mental fella off of texas chain saw massacre 2... Dual wield that way!!!
phil24_7
26-01-10, 01:02 PM
Cheers for the help people, Stihl seems to be the most recommended, so where's best to get them? Anywhere got any good deals on?
Regards
Local Garden Machinery shop?
How happy are are setting them up?
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/54809/worlds_largest_chainsaw/
LOL
Caddy2000
26-01-10, 01:27 PM
I've got a Husqy 357XP with an 18" bar for felling, coppicing and cross cutting, and a Stihl 020T for ariel work.
I have also got well over £3000 work of training to use one........
To be honest for what you're going to do, it's the chain you've got to worry about, not the saw. Keep it sharpened correctly and it'll be perfect. Treat it badly or sharpen it the wrong way it'll kill you.....
maviczap
26-01-10, 01:44 PM
Why don't you hire one? Is it a one off job or continual upkeep ?
tinpants
26-01-10, 02:03 PM
I've got a Husqy 357XP with an 18" bar for felling, coppicing and cross cutting, and a Stihl 020T for ariel work.
I have also got well over £3000 work of training to use one........
To be honest for what you're going to do, it's the chain you've got to worry about, not the saw. Keep it sharpened correctly and it'll be perfect. Treat it badly or sharpen it the wrong way it'll kill you.....
I also had a 357xp until I blew it up. I've now got a Stihl MS390 with a 20" bar for felling etc and a Stihl MS170 with a 14" bar for the smaller stuff. It all depends how much you want to spend - the MS390 will set you back about £550 -600 and the MS170 / 171 will be about £170. Personally, and I use these things on a regular basis - ie more than 3 times a week - I would go for a Stihl MS 171 (newer version of the 170) with a 14" guide bar and a hobby chain. These chains are designed for use by the DIYer and have safety features to reduce the risk of kickback.
Although a certain amount of safety kit is advisable the sheer cost of it would be prohibitive to any other than those with money to burn or those that do it for a living. If you are only going to cut some trees down in your back garden and then not use it again then I would advise you not to waste your money on a saw or kit but to get someone in to do it for you. Just so that you know, a good pair of chainsaw boots will set you back £150, trousers (front protection) £80, gloves £15 ish and a helmet with visor and ear protection £30 ish. So, if you buy a new saw and all the kit it is likely to cost you somewhere in the region of £450. An NPTC course to teach you how to maintain the saw and use it safely would be something like £250 - 350. As with Caddy2000, I've spent a lot of time and money getting qualified for my job. Its not something you can pick up in 5 minutes.
If you don't fancy that sort of outlay I would consider getting someone in to do it for you.
DO NOT, whatever you do, consider buying an electric saw for felling. They are most definitely NOT designed for it regardless of what it says on the box or what the guy in the shop says. They are designed to cut round timber into logs. End of.
I'm not that far from Plymouth...pm me if you want
Kate Moss
26-01-10, 02:28 PM
I'm scared!
Anywhere got any good deals on?
Regards
I'm sure you'll know this place over Liskeard:
http://www.trago.co.uk/center/liskeard.html
Caddy2000
26-01-10, 03:13 PM
I hate the fact that chainsaws are available to anyone.
It's also illegal to hire saws to the general public, as suggested earlier.
It's also illegal to hire saws to the general public, as suggested earlier.
I beg to differ
http://www.hss.com/g/3705/Chainsaw-15-2-Stroke.html
might be different in Scotland. But it makes no sense to restrict hire when you can freely purchase them.
From what I've seen, Stihl have put a bit of a dampener on internet sales, though I'm sure there are sources.
Agree with all the other care advice. Personally I don't like the things, treat them with the utmost respect and only with suitable protection. They are designed to cut off limbs, and will.
the_lone_wolf
26-01-10, 05:50 PM
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/54809/worlds_largest_chainsaw/
LOL
With all respect, F**K THAT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6uaDaS3usc
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/54809/worlds_largest_chainsaw/
LOL
With all respect, F**K THAT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6uaDaS3usc
Come on - a V twin chain saw and a V8 chainsaw... that's not bad google foo!
the_lone_wolf
26-01-10, 06:07 PM
Come on - a V twin chain saw and a V8 chainsaw... that's not bad google foo!Not bad...
But the head attachment on the logging machine scans the diameter and length of the trunk as it whips up and down stripping the branches and automatically cuts it into the right lengths
And, well... JUST LOOK AT IT!!!
http://www.coolgadgetconcept.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/logging-spider.jpg
the_lone_wolf
26-01-10, 06:20 PM
Wait wait wait...
I have a better one!!!
http://davidszondy.com/future/Thunderbirds/crablogger.jpg
:mrgreen:
phil24_7
26-01-10, 07:45 PM
Local Garden Machinery shop?
How happy are are setting them up?
I have no idea where any local garden machinery shops are!
Not sure what the second bit was meant to say!
phil24_7
26-01-10, 07:50 PM
I've got a Husqy 357XP with an 18" bar for felling, coppicing and cross cutting, and a Stihl 020T for ariel work.
I have also got well over £3000 work of training to use one........
To be honest for what you're going to do, it's the chain you've got to worry about, not the saw. Keep it sharpened correctly and it'll be perfect. Treat it badly or sharpen it the wrong way it'll kill you.....
I have no training, but great life insurance! lol I know a few people that are very proficient with a chain saw, in fact I probably know a few people that are very proficient in their chainsaw skills for all the wrong reasons! :D
Chains are not my strong point, just ask my bike! I will however have it regularly looked at by a mate of mine, and will learn what I need to use and look after it safely.
phil24_7
26-01-10, 07:59 PM
MS170 / 171 will be about £170 - I would go for a Stihl MS 171 (newer version of the 170) with a 14" guide bar and a hobby chain. These chains are designed for use by the DIYer and have safety features to reduce the risk of kickback.
Just so that you know, a good pair of chainsaw boots will set you back £150, trousers (front protection) £80, gloves £15 ish and a helmet with visor and ear protection £30 ish.
I'm not that far from Plymouth...pm me if you want
I will be using it regularly, for chopping up large logs, as well as for chopping back, and chopping down the trees in my garden (of which there are a fair few), so I want my own. The safety gear isn't an issue, as I'll be able to get that at a greatly reduced price.
Cheers for the offer Nick, but I have people in Plymouth that also do it for a living, that will be able to come and give me help and advice, as and when I need it. I just haven't had a chance to ask them about chainsaws yet, so thought I'd ask the org.
tinpants
26-01-10, 08:24 PM
I will be using it regularly, for chopping up large logs, as well as for chopping back, and chopping down the trees in my garden (of which there are a fair few), so I want my own. The safety gear isn't an issue, as I'll be able to get that at a greatly reduced price.
Cheers for the offer Nick, but I have people in Plymouth that also do it for a living, that will be able to come and give me help and advice, as and when I need it. I just haven't had a chance to ask them about chainsaws yet, so thought I'd ask the org.
Bugger!! Was hoping for a night on the pi55 in Plymouth!!!!! Oh well. Never mind!!
phil24_7
26-01-10, 08:56 PM
Mate, when the weather has settled a bit, you are more than welcome.
Get your sorry ass down to Trago!!!
phil24_7
26-01-10, 11:23 PM
I wont be buying a chainsaw from Trago Ed. I don't want to claim on my life insurance if I can help it!
It would be Kate claiming, not you;)
phil24_7
26-01-10, 11:26 PM
Ha ha, true! :D
BanannaMan
27-01-10, 05:34 AM
Sawing logs one thing.
Felling trees is something else altogether.
Perhaps you already know this but just in case....
Get some advice or do some research before attempting to fell a tree, even a small one.
There is a proper way to cut (notch) the tree, etc.
Do it wrong and you could get the saw stuck, ruin the chain or the worse have a tree kickback, which can be deadly.
I do think my latest Stihl came with some brief tips about avoiding kickback in the instructions.
I generally use a quadbike (a few friends will work as well) and a long length of rope to help the tree fall where I'd like and decrease the chance of kicking back.
Notch side and angle you want to fall, pull rope and cut opposite side. When you hear it start cracking, get away!
Be careful!!!!
Felling a tree is extremely dangerous!
Lots more than most people would imagine.
Caddy2000
27-01-10, 06:27 AM
Very scary man above!
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