Chainsaw advice please

[Pistom]

I'm looking to buy a chainsaw for cutting up felled tree trunks into manageable chunks.

I like the convenience of a mains 240v as it saves the maintenance and probably cost of a petrol powered one.

Can anyone recommend any specific models please?

[James TiT]

Take a safety course before you buy and use one.

[ATG]

James TiT said:

Take a safety course before you buy and use one.

That'd be a great place to get a recommendation for the kit you need and local suppliers.

[Lanby]

and budget for some PPE

[anonymous-user]

Battery Stihl stuff seems to be where it's at these days. I haven't made the switch yet but 100% of people I've spoken to that have absolutely love them and all say they wouldn't go back to petrol. Saves having an electric cable to worry about and the batteries last plenty long enough, if people can do whole tree reductions with them they will be fine for what you want

[ATG]

One of our local firms just switched from petrol to battery kit. The only downside is that they need to make more of an effort to warn each other that they're cutting because the saws are so much quieter. If it works for a pro, then clearly the battery kit matches two-stroke and mains. Whether it is cost-effective for occasional amateur use is another question. We've already got a Stihl battery hedge trimmer and we're thinking about getting one of their leaf blowers. Choosing models with interchangeable batteries can save a lot of money, so for us it might well make sense to opt for a battery chainsaw too.

[softtop]

just blught a petrol Stihl MH170 for just under £200, great little tool and agree with not having to have a cable, far better, not sure on the cost for a battery one.

[anonymous-user]

ATG said:

One of our local firms just switched from petrol to battery kit. The only downside is that they need to make more of an effort to warn each other that they're cutting because the saws are so much quieter. If it works for a pro, then clearly the battery kit matches two-stroke and mains. Whether it is cost-effective for occasional amateur use is another question. We've already got a Stihl battery hedge trimmer and we're thinking about getting one of their leaf blowers. Choosing models with interchangeable batteries can save a lot of money, so for us it might well make sense to opt for a battery chainsaw too.

I'd be careful with the blower, rumour has it they go through batteries far quicker than everything else

[crankedup]

I use ‘Titan’ available through screwfix,, reliable powerful bit of kit for under £100. Had mine four years now and still good after sawing up many tons of wood.

[Steelnads]

Ive had my Stihl petrol for 23 years. Never failed to start despite being utterly abused on a regular basis for all that time.

[Pistom]

James TiT said:

Take a safety course before you buy and use one.

I did one many years ago in North Wales.

It was all common sense really it's just then common sense isn't so common.

They were usin ho end pro stuff. All petrols.

[robinh73]

Having a reasonable bit of land with woods on at home, I have always had chainsaws and gone for Stihl. Recently replaced an ancient Stihl, which was about 35+ years old with a new one and it is superb. Even though it is a two stroke, the smoke is minimal, the vibration is low and it has a neat easy start pull cord. Great bit of kit and gets a lot of use. Not tried the battery/mains powered ones, so can't comment, but I would personally buy something like a Stihl if you have a fair amount of work for it. They are better built overall.

[ATG]

hucumber said:

I'd be careful with the blower, rumour has it they go through batteries far quicker than everything else

Thanks. That's interesting to hear. They certainly seem to use a lot of power. Quoted run times for some of the blowers using smaller batteries were as low as 15 mins.

[austinsmirk]

I've a cheap, screwfix branded "oregan" one. 240 V.


same as you, for chopping pallets, logs up for firewood.

works a treat and as its just for use at the back of my house, fine off the mains for light domestic use. quite like the fact you can stop/start, clear stuff and so on.

[robinh73]

ATG said:

hucumber said:

I'd be careful with the blower, rumour has it they go through batteries far quicker than everything else

Thanks. That's interesting to hear. They certainly seem to use a lot of power. Quoted run times for some of the blowers using smaller batteries were as low as 15 mins.

It wouldn't surprise me if the battery ones didn't last long. I bought a Stihl petrol leafblower, which is a similar engine size and fuel tank size to the smallest chainsaw I have. The run time on the blower is in the region of 15 minutes, whereas the chainsaw will do about 40 minutes of continuous use. It would appear that the leafblower is working a damn sight harder.

[C0ffin D0dger]

crankedup said:

I use ‘Titan’ available through screwfix,, reliable powerful bit of kit for under £100. Had mine four years now and still good after sawing up many tons of wood.

Another Titan owner, think I got mine for £60. Like a hot knife through butter and therefore quite scary!

[sgtBerbatov]

C0ffin D0dger said:

crankedup said:

I use ‘Titan’ available through screwfix,, reliable powerful bit of kit for under £100. Had mine four years now and still good after sawing up many tons of wood.

Another Titan owner, think I got mine for £60. Like a hot knife through butter and therefore quite scary!

I've got a Titan hedgetrimmer and a 18v drill, their stuff seems to be really well built and powerful. You would genuinely think they cost a lot more than they did.

I'm having to borrow a chainsaw from work to cut up firewood while I hunt for a chainsaw myself. The guy I borrowed it off warned against electric ones, said they were "st" because of of the chain? Don't know how true that is but I'd be interested to see what suggestions are made on this thread!

[Pinkie15]

Use a Bosch mains powered one, AKE 35 (I think it is). Got it about 3 years ago from B&Q for 60 or 70 quid.

Have no problem bringing down trees or removing branches. Thickest trunk I got it through was about 15 - 16 inch diameter.

Seen a fair bit of abuse in trimming back laurel next to wire chain link fence, stuff always seems to get caught in the chain, "derailing" it. Very quick to reassemble though.

One thing I have noted though, holly trees blunt the f(&&^ out of the chain in no time.

[crankedup]

sgtBerbatov said:

C0ffin D0dger said:

crankedup said:

I use ‘Titan’ available through screwfix,, reliable powerful bit of kit for under £100. Had mine four years now and still good after sawing up many tons of wood.

Another Titan owner, think I got mine for £60. Like a hot knife through butter and therefore quite scary!

I've got a Titan hedgetrimmer and a 18v drill, their stuff seems to be really well built and powerful. You would genuinely think they cost a lot more than they did.

I'm having to borrow a chainsaw from work to cut up firewood while I hunt for a chainsaw myself. The guy I borrowed it off warned against electric ones, said they were "st" because of of the chain? Don't know how true that is but I'd be interested to see what suggestions are made on this thread!

‘sh*t because of the chain’ honestly I cannot think what it is that he is suggesting or how he associates the two items, chain and power unit.
Titan has simple chain adjustment and obviously looking after the chain lube is automatic. Just make sure you keep the chain blade sharp, as you would with any chain saw
Always use oregan chain blades. they are extremely high quality and you get good life from them.

Edited by crankedup on Monday 20th November 16:57

[monkfish1]

Had a Ryobi cheapy battery one for about 18 months.

Cant fault it. If i start with a fully charged battery, ive never run out of charge on any job ive done. Ive not tried chopping a whole tree down though!