Buying a Chainsaw
Discussion
I've been cutting down trees for my own fuel for many years. I've had several Stihls, and after one croaked around 7 years ago, I picked up a "cheap" McCullogh G40 to tide me over. It's never missed a beat, and is still cutting trees up to about 14" diam superbly.
I rate Stihl as the best, but haven't needed to replace the McC yet.
I rate Stihl as the best, but haven't needed to replace the McC yet.
I just got a £50 electric one. I ran out of trees long before it broke a sweat - lack of power wasn't a problem - mine's 1800w (about 2.4hp). It cut though 14 inch conifer trunks effortlessly.
Scary to use though, even with a chain brake etc, you don't want the sharp end to be connecting with your head anytime soon.
Scary to use though, even with a chain brake etc, you don't want the sharp end to be connecting with your head anytime soon.
dealmaker said:
Don't listen to anyone else - buy a Stihl - it will stil be growing strong when we run out of trees and oil!
Those cheap and nasty DIY shop specials are like toys in comparison.
I would tend to agree. And our local shop has the 180 at £130 ATM. Which IMHO is a bargainThose cheap and nasty DIY shop specials are like toys in comparison.
The best thing about a quality tool it that you can et all the spares for it, and local agents are able to service them for hardly any cash
I would say you don't need biger than a 3/16 chain. And buy a sharpening file and get someone to show you haow to use it
Don't forget to add to the price for:
Safety trousers
Hard hat with mesh/plexi visor. (Chips in the eye when cutting are not good!)
Safety gloves
Safety boots.
Even though I know what I'm doing, I've had a couple of close shaves. I know several people who have cut corners (no pun....) and have had VERY nasty injuries.
Safety trousers
Hard hat with mesh/plexi visor. (Chips in the eye when cutting are not good!)
Safety gloves
Safety boots.
Even though I know what I'm doing, I've had a couple of close shaves. I know several people who have cut corners (no pun....) and have had VERY nasty injuries.
ratbane said:
Don't forget to add to the price for:
Safety trousers
Hard hat with mesh/plexi visor. (Chips in the eye when cutting are not good!)
Safety gloves
Safety boots.
Even though I know what I'm doing, I've had a couple of close shaves. I know several people who have cut corners (no pun....) and have had VERY nasty injuries.
Pearls of wisdom there...........Safety trousers
Hard hat with mesh/plexi visor. (Chips in the eye when cutting are not good!)
Safety gloves
Safety boots.
Even though I know what I'm doing, I've had a couple of close shaves. I know several people who have cut corners (no pun....) and have had VERY nasty injuries.
.having had a few too many close shaves myself - I'd recommend almost spending more on safety gear than on the saw itself!
dealmaker said:
ratbane said:
Don't forget to add to the price for:
Safety trousers
Hard hat with mesh/plexi visor. (Chips in the eye when cutting are not good!)
Safety gloves
Safety boots.
Even though I know what I'm doing, I've had a couple of close shaves. I know several people who have cut corners (no pun....) and have had VERY nasty injuries.
Pearls of wisdom there...........Safety trousers
Hard hat with mesh/plexi visor. (Chips in the eye when cutting are not good!)
Safety gloves
Safety boots.
Even though I know what I'm doing, I've had a couple of close shaves. I know several people who have cut corners (no pun....) and have had VERY nasty injuries.
.having had a few too many close shaves myself - I'd recommend almost spending more on safety gear than on the saw itself!
I've had a few chainsaws over the years - some have been stolen, hence the 'few'.
Another vote for Stihl.
As already noted here - they're not killers, but you can very quickly get to see what the inside of your leg looks like if your not careful. They can remove flesh in a heartbeat - so be VERY careful.
Assuming you do buy one and don't get any training (!):
1. Get some proper leggings and boots.
2. Always cut with the bottom side of the chainsaw and close to the body of the chainsaw. NEVER cut using the tip (end) of the saw.
3. Ensure there's clear air under what you're cutting (don't cut through and into the earth for example)
4. If you're going to take a tree down, have someone show you how to do it first.
5. Don't cut anything that may have had a nail in.
There are a thousand other things to know, but those are the top ones I can think of to stop you chopping your legs off.
Another vote for Stihl.
As already noted here - they're not killers, but you can very quickly get to see what the inside of your leg looks like if your not careful. They can remove flesh in a heartbeat - so be VERY careful.
Assuming you do buy one and don't get any training (!):
1. Get some proper leggings and boots.
2. Always cut with the bottom side of the chainsaw and close to the body of the chainsaw. NEVER cut using the tip (end) of the saw.
3. Ensure there's clear air under what you're cutting (don't cut through and into the earth for example)
4. If you're going to take a tree down, have someone show you how to do it first.
5. Don't cut anything that may have had a nail in.
There are a thousand other things to know, but those are the top ones I can think of to stop you chopping your legs off.
We have a Stihl and it must be getting on form 20 year old now. Always kept in the garage and used around now most weekends to get next winters years wood so it can dry out. Serviced maybe 2/3 times since we have had it and always kept toped up with oil.
Get training and buy the correct gear.
My uncle used to work in Scotland cutting down trees and even now he wares all the gear as they can make nice work of your leg...
Get training and buy the correct gear.
My uncle used to work in Scotland cutting down trees and even now he wares all the gear as they can make nice work of your leg...
Troos.
You can get away with front protection only probably. So...........http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260355147369&cguid=4ac7120c11e0a0aad4212121fe0adb29
Other tips;
1. Always de-branch with the trunk between you and the blade.
2. Make sure chain is correctly tensioned.
3. Don't cut through onto loose faggots which you've just cut. The tip hitting such objects causes the dreaded kick back.
4. Don't cut up a ladder (within reason)
5. Don't cut above your head
6. When you tie a saw off in a tree, make sure you and the saw can't fall to the same level. You don't want to fight a saw in mid-air.
If you maintain awareness, and don't get complacent, then things should be fine.
You can get away with front protection only probably. So...........http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260355147369&cguid=4ac7120c11e0a0aad4212121fe0adb29
Other tips;
1. Always de-branch with the trunk between you and the blade.
2. Make sure chain is correctly tensioned.
3. Don't cut through onto loose faggots which you've just cut. The tip hitting such objects causes the dreaded kick back.
4. Don't cut up a ladder (within reason)
5. Don't cut above your head
6. When you tie a saw off in a tree, make sure you and the saw can't fall to the same level. You don't want to fight a saw in mid-air.
If you maintain awareness, and don't get complacent, then things should be fine.
AndrewW-G said:
I've got a Ryobi chainsaw from screwfix, it's not used frequently enough to warrant me buying something like a Sthil, but is good enough for what I wanted.
As everybody else has already said dont forget to buy all the safety kit and if possible get some training
Same here - I'm sure stihl are better, but compared to the (very) old 2nd hand Maculloch one I had before, the ryobi is worlds better. Starts easy, is lightweight, better chain brake etc etc. Plenty good enough for casual use a few times a year.As everybody else has already said dont forget to buy all the safety kit and if possible get some training
can i recommend you just hire one? i went through the process of looking for a hedge trimmer last week with a long pole for the 'hard to reach' bits. looked at all the places in the interweb, and everywhere. all going to cost about £200 - £500 depending on brand.
in the end i rented one for the weekend for £30. i figured for the amount of times i would use it a year, it made sense.... and it was a stihl that i ended up with too...
in the end i rented one for the weekend for £30. i figured for the amount of times i would use it a year, it made sense.... and it was a stihl that i ended up with too...
had a simialr dilemma - decided for the amount I'd use it was silly so borrowed one from In laws. Basically just made a lot of wood based cleaning up and not good using up a ladder!
So I got a local gardener to come and cut down the 9 conifers do the 2 fruit tree punings plus 3 x 20ft high laurel bushes and a load of other wildly overgrown shrubbery - chipped it all and cleaned up £200 and no chainsaw amputations.
Went from Jungle as I left for work to wilderness (in a good way) by the time I got home
So I got a local gardener to come and cut down the 9 conifers do the 2 fruit tree punings plus 3 x 20ft high laurel bushes and a load of other wildly overgrown shrubbery - chipped it all and cleaned up £200 and no chainsaw amputations.
Went from Jungle as I left for work to wilderness (in a good way) by the time I got home
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