Chainsaw advice please

[Ilovejapcrap]

Pistom said:

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?

a lot of the maintenance is in the chain itself to be honest and that's the same electric or not, plus when you use it again say halfway up a tree you'll wish you had no wire

[Pistom]

Ilovejapcrap said:

a lot of the maintenance is in the chain itself to be honest and that's the same electric or not, plus when you use it again say halfway up a tree you'll wish you had no wire

A good point but I have a shoulder injury which makes using a pull start on a petrol a little difficult.

The trees I'd be cutting are already felled so no danger of me being up a tree with one.

We had a tree feller out the other year felling an 80 foot tree in our garden by dismantling and he was climbing about with his cordless chain saw. It was great watching him work. Really skilled.

[LeadFarmer]

The Lidl/Aldi electric £60 chainsaws really are very good.

Whilst I have a Husqvarna petrol chainsaw for when away from home, when I've got the logs home sometimes I need to cut them down further in the garden. Thats when I use my Lidl Forabest electric chainsaw. Its quieter for the neighbours, and has almost instant stop when releasing the trigger.

As for safety, I always wear chainsaw chaps, chainsaw helmet with steel mesh face guard, chainsaw boots and chainsaw gloves. Cutting with a chainsaw it pretty common sense. Dont cut with the kickback area of the bar, which is the area under the tip of the bar, and keep your face/head out of line of the bar when cutting incase it does kick back. Think where your legs, feet and body is incase something happens.

Ensure the log/tree is stable for cutting, and that it will remain stable once you've cut your bit off. A tree trunk laying on the floor under tension will move violently when the tension releases. Have someone with you, or your mobile phone handy just in case.

Know your limits, I would never cut above shoulder height, or off a ladder. Think before and during each cut. Natural fear is your friend.

[LeadFarmer]

I use a Makita Smart Log Holder for thinner logs/branches. It really is very good..

[C0ffin D0dger]

crankedup said:

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

As above, total boll*cks, the only thing that really differs between an electric and petrol is the drive to the chain. The Titan / Screwfix saw comes with an Oregon chain and bar.

[tribalsurfer]

Got this one in April for slicing and dicing a felled conifer, it was and still is very very good (when you put the chain on the right way )

https://www.screwfix.com/p/titan-ttb355chn-40-5cm-...

[kambites]

I've got a petrol one and if I was going to get another for DIY use, it would be electric. Probably a Makita LXT battery one since I already have the batteries and charger; I've used mains ones and despite being careful I've still come close to cutting the cable.

[sgtBerbatov]

C0ffin D0dger said:

crankedup said:

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

As above, total boll*cks, the only thing that really differs between an electric and petrol is the drive to the chain. The Titan / Screwfix saw comes with an Oregon chain and bar.

I thought that it was crap too, but I've never owned/used them before so I wasn't going to tell him he was wrong without other people's views.

I'll probably get the Titan one, just based on how good the drill and hedge trimmer have been.

[andy43]

hucumber said:

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

I did have a cheapo B&Q petrol for years, with an oregon bar and chain, using Stihl chain oil and decent 2 stroke mix. Never missed a beat.
Now have an Aldi corded mains powered saw for chopping for firewood close to the house, and a Stihl cordless for everywhere else.
The Stihl is very very good - batteries are expensive but you get what you pay for in terms of running time. I wouldn't go back to petrol!