Recommend me a chain saw!

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

[ophic]

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

[Luckypants]

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/...AL-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.

[embee]

If you want it to last, Stihl. Not the cheapest, just the best.

Or.............. this

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]

Originally Posted by embee

If you want it to last, Stihl. Not the cheapest, just the best.

+1

[Spanner Man]

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.

Stihl.. and only stihl

Originally Posted by Spanner Man

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.