What Chainsaw??

[rich_vw]

Afternoon all,

Finally getting a wood burner installed the end of this month so need to get my act together and collect timber, process and store ready for the winter.

So been trying to look in to what chainsaw to get for this use, have narrowed down (unless someone can give good alternative) to the Husqvarna 236 or Sthil MS181. Due to price I'm currently favouring the Husqvarna.

Has any one expereince with either or any useful input to aid me in the decission?

Cheers,

Rich

[zcacogp]

Stihl. You get what you pay for, and won't find loggers worth their salt using anything less.

ETA: The husqvarna is probably OK for occasional use, which is what you are looking for. It's like asking whether snap-on spanners are better than halfords, for an amateur to use. Snap-on are better and anyone who uses tools to make their living will buy the snap-ons. But for occasional weekend use, halfords kit is fine.

Replace halfords with husq and snap-on with stihl and the same applies.


Oli.

[cerbfan]

I bought a 445e Husquie last year to cut down around 15 decent size pine trees biggest maybe 24" dia. I would not have wanted to go for anything less powerfull than this as it did struggle occasionally but a really brilliant chainsaw. Depends on what size logs you are planning to cut with it I guess, that 236 would probably be perfectly ok up to 12" diamater. One tip I would give is to get yourself an electric chainsaw sharpener, saves a lot of money in sharpening costs and produces far better results than I could ever get with a hand file and nice and quick.

[cerbfan]

zcacogp said:

Stihl. You get what you pay for, and won't find loggers worth their salt using anything less.

ETA: The husqvarna is probably OK for occasional use, which is what you are looking for. It's like asking whether snap-on spanners are better than halfords, for an amateur to use. Snap-on are better and anyone who uses tools to make their living will buy the snap-ons. But for occasional weekend use, halfords kit is fine.

Replace halfords with husq and snap-on with stihl and the same applies.


Oli.

I would not say that was the case at all, when I was researching Husq and Stihl came out very similar with some people on tree surgery/logging forums favouring the Husq over the Stihl and vice versa. The 2 series Husq chainsaws are the DIY end of the market though but should still be adequate.

[PugwasHDJ80]

Bought a Stihl MS211 from F R Jones and Son for a bargain price. Has a 16" bar and has cut through literally tonnes of wood this year without any problems. If you really are cutting a lot i suggest you get one of the clever L shaped log holders, a 211 and a log splitting axe which are amazing things compared to felling axes!

[shtu]

Have a look at the package on offer here for £323.99

http://www.chainsawspecialists.co.uk/

I'd add a pair of chainsaw trousers to that.

[PugwasHDJ80]

here's log holder i mentioned:

http://www.greenandeasy.co.uk/product/smart-log-ho...

cannot recommend enough how much better these are then a normal saw horse- you move the log just once, and its stable and easy to use- far better than the previous saw horses i had.

[foz01]

I am in a similar predicament at the moment, what struck me was how loud they are, about 114db

[cerbfan]

They are seriously loud and not really neighbour friendly but good fun.

[PugwasHDJ80]

The more modern you buy the quieter they are- its the big old stuff that was really bad- my little stihl isn't that loud- you could run it for a bit without headphones- its about 99db but the exhaust is o the far side which helps.

did find that you chop through the stuff bloody quickly- i went through over 4 tonnes of wood (about 10cubic metres or so, in around 4 hours of continuous cutting- plus a sharpening break, and lots of little breaks for fule and oil). Oh you'll get through oil much quicker than you expect- my 10cubm took about 2 litres in the end!

[eldar]

Another vote for Sthil here, my elderly one works like new after 15 years of steady use.

[dirty boy]

I bought a McCulloch, made by Husqvarna, was a shade over £150 and I spent my first (whole) day logging and it impressed me. What was surprising was how much more economical mine was with petrol over my neighbour with his Stihl (same size and cc), both working at same rate, both of us got through the same amount of chain oil though ..ie Loads!!! - do not underestimate how quickly you will get through chain oil, very important.

Only time will tell whether it will stand the test of time, but like anything, look after your tools, and they'll look after you.

Certainly suggest you consider one.

[Kneetrembler]

I have a Stihl MS 240 and it is a fantastic saw,never a problem, as has been said before STIHL has a great name and I don't know anyone who has had any problems with them.

Most professionals use Stihl, all their products are excellent.

[clarkey]

I have a Stihl MS261, it's excellent. Buy cheap, buy twice, etc, etc.

[Christoph]

shtu said:

Have a look at the package on offer here for £323.99

http://www.chainsawspecialists.co.uk/

I'd add a pair of chainsaw trousers to that.

I would definitely recommend these guys, I'm a tree surgeon and buy all my saws, chains etc from them. I use Stihl top handled saws for in the trees but use Husqvarna for the ground saws.

[RedLeicester]

cerbfan said:

zcacogp said:

Stihl. You get what you pay for, and won't find loggers worth their salt using anything less.

ETA: The husqvarna is probably OK for occasional use, which is what you are looking for. It's like asking whether snap-on spanners are better than halfords, for an amateur to use. Snap-on are better and anyone who uses tools to make their living will buy the snap-ons. But for occasional weekend use, halfords kit is fine.

Replace halfords with husq and snap-on with stihl and the same applies.


Oli.

I would not say that was the case at all, when I was researching Husq and Stihl came out very similar with some people on tree surgery/logging forums favouring the Husq over the Stihl and vice versa. The 2 series Husq chainsaws are the DIY end of the market though but should still be adequate.

Agreed. Can't go wrong with either Stihl or Husq, I have two of the former, but only by dint of local dealer, would be happy with Husq. Makita good too, though not quite in the same league.

This all assumes hard and regular use... if it's for "felling" one small bush a year, then any cheap tat from Argos will do.


Oh, and what was said earlier - trousers. And hat. And gloves.

SAFETYSAFETYSAFETYSAFETYSAFETYSAFETYSAFETYSAFETYSAFETY.

Do NOT fk with a chainsaw.

[smifffymoto]

I have a Husqvarna 365,good piece of kit.
Best advice I can give is buy Stihl moto-mix or similar,saves faffing about with 2 stroke and the fumes won't give you a headache after half a days use,machine starts when hot etc....

One more thing.

Don't underestimate how fking dangerous they are!

[Russ T Bolt]

zcacogp said:

Stihl. You get what you pay for, and won't find loggers worth their salt using anything less.

ETA: The husqvarna is probably OK for occasional use, which is what you are looking for. It's like asking whether snap-on spanners are better than halfords, for an amateur to use. Snap-on are better and anyone who uses tools to make their living will buy the snap-ons. But for occasional weekend use, halfords kit is fine.

Replace halfords with husq and snap-on with stihl and the same applies.


Oli.

My brother in law is a forester in NZ, he said all the people he works with use Husqvarna.

[thinfourth2]

zcacogp said:

Stihl. You get what you pay for, and won't find loggers worth their salt using anything less.

ETA: The husqvarna is probably OK for occasional use, which is what you are looking for. It's like asking whether snap-on spanners are better than halfords, for an amateur to use. Snap-on are better and anyone who uses tools to make their living will buy the snap-ons. But for occasional weekend use, halfords kit is fine.

Replace halfords with husq and snap-on with stihl and the same applies.


Oli.

Frankly bks

Stihl and husqvarna and are both utterly excellent

I have a husqvarna that must be over 20 years old which my father bought brand new and sold on to me and its is faultless

[Condi]

zcacogp said:

Stihl. You get what you pay for, and won't find loggers worth their salt using anything less.

ETA: The husqvarna is probably OK for occasional use, which is what you are looking for. It's like asking whether snap-on spanners are better than halfords, for an amateur to use. Snap-on are better and anyone who uses tools to make their living will buy the snap-ons. But for occasional weekend use, halfords kit is fine.

Replace halfords with husq and snap-on with stihl and the same applies.


Oli.

Maybe so with the older Huskys. I know plenty of older Stihl's in the back of sheds still used often enough.

For buying new, either will do a great job and should last a long time. Stihl are still pricing their saws from when they had no competition. Husky's are perfectly good and used by plenty of the forestry boys.