Small chainsaw - Husqvarna, Stihl or Makita ?

[shtu]

You'll find it comes down to Stihl\Husky devotees, each claiming that one's better than the other. I have a small Husky which has been 100% reliable over the 8 years I've owned it, so I'm happy with that.

What I would say though, is get the full safety kit - Gloves, trousers and helmet are a bare minmum really, and OK if you are logging firewood. If you are doing any forestry work, add boots and a jacket.

[bigdom]

When I was after one, a neighbour (tree surgeon) who provides the majority of my logs , advised this was fine for my needs, which appear similar to what you're after. They are owned by Husqvarna. Works well, it's been through everything I've chucked at is so far with ease, including 3 feet across sections of oak.

http://www.worldofpower.co.uk/mcculloch-cs360t-36c...

[RedLeicester]

currybum said:

shtu said:

What I would say though, is get the full safety kit - Gloves, trousers and helmet are a bare minmum really, and OK if you are logging firewood. If you are doing any forestry work, add boots and a jacket.

This 100%...you can't really have a small accident with a chain saw. Budget the same again for safety gear.

This a few more percent.

Beyond that, neither Stihl nor Husq will let you down, and Makita are not a shabby third either.

[Tonsko]

When I was buying our saws, it was a toss up between Husq and Stihl. The fellow in the shop said it's basically a power difference, as to where in the rev range the engine develops it. The Husqs are better at cutting at high revs, whereas the Stihls tend to have power lower down the rev range. More BHP vs more torque, if you like. Personal preference, really. If you do go for stihl, advise getting one without the easy start and the easy tensioner. Old school recoil and spanner tensioner will last longer. The casing is a little smaller too.

I bought a stihl from the semi-pro range.

Edited by Tonsko on Tuesday 5th August 10:11

[Muncher]

If you run out of wood to chop at yours I know of just the place where you can play with it more

[schmalex]

I have a Stihl 12" bar. It is a great little piece of kit and is easily able to fell fairly large diameter trees. The chain needs sharpening quite often, though.

However, I am quite terrified of chainsaws and nearly cut my head off with it last year while trimming a tree

[Tonsko]

schmalex said:

I have a Stihl 12" bar. It is a great little piece of kit and is easily able to fell fairly large diameter trees. The chain needs sharpening quite often, though.

However, I am quite terrified of chainsaws and nearly cut my head off with it last year while trimming a tree

Were you cutting above shoulder height and did it kick back?

[schmalex]

Tonsko said:

schmalex said:

I have a Stihl 12" bar. It is a great little piece of kit and is easily able to fell fairly large diameter trees. The chain needs sharpening quite often, though.

However, I am quite terrified of chainsaws and nearly cut my head off with it last year while trimming a tree

Were you cutting above shoulder height and did it kick back?

Yes. I managed to catch the kick about 6" from my neck. Very stupid really in hindsight.

[Tonsko]

Very lucky too! Been told on a few occasions by various folks to not cut above shoulder height, however tempting it may be. A tree surgeon was telling me that one of his colleagues nearly did that a few weeks ago, so you're not alone!

[Chilledbud]

I've used both makes in many different saws, by now I'm more of a Husky lover but that's a lot to do with the Stihl no selling over the internet without picking up policy.

It makes my blood boil that some won't even sell you oil if it's a Stihl branded one over the internet. Since I don't have a good dealer local, it's Husky all the way for me.

[xstian]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

This is one of the things that appealed to me about Stihl. They won't allow retailers to sell there product's unless they have been filled with oil, fuel, started and then the customer is shown how to use it. It's good to see a company is still thinking about customer service, rather than some faceless company sending you a broken chainsaw in the post.

[Chilledbud]

xstian said:

This is one of the things that appealed to me about Stihl. They won't allow retailers to sell there product's unless they have been filled with oil, fuel, started and then the customer is shown how to use it. It's good to see a company is still thinking about customer service, rather than some faceless company sending you a broken chainsaw in the post.

That's nothing a local store or a good online supplier won't do as standard, what ever make they sell. Having purchased form FR Jones a few times, they do ask if I'd like to pop down to the store to go through and check the product before purchase.

What I don't like is having to find a store that's local to me, with a RRP and no deal to be had. Having purchased a few in my time, and use local stores for when in need of a serivce, I used to have a really good understanding with the shop.

Now, having moved and having a terrible local store, I can't think of a worse scenario than purchaisng a chainsaw, or any other garden machinery from them. Hence, Stihl have lost a customer. I've no intention of driving 30 miles to a store, when Husky provie an equal product, that I can purcshased online at a competative price, and then for the cost of £10 delivery there and back, have FR Jones do all the servicing on her.

[shimmey69]

I would personally go for the stihl 181
I have a 171 and although it deals with things well having the bigger engine mean less stress on it so will last longer.

[Renovation]

You want the Husky 135

I have one and my FIL has the stihl - back to back testing and the Husky cuts faster.

My dealer sells both and he recommended the 135 over the Stihl - he had sold out of the Husky and had the Stihl in stock so it wasn't to get a sale.

[McWigglebum4th]

While stihl and husky are both excellent


I'd choose a B&Q crap with a brand new sharp chain over either any day of the week


Look after the chain for safety and efficiency

They cost very little to send off to get them sharpened like a razor

[Andy RV]

I'll take the stihl or husky with a sharp chain over any B&Q crap any day..... I've got the 181 and it's a good little saw, I think the 181 is the lowest stihl model that's actually made in Germany, the 171 is from the Far East.

You won't go wrong with stihl or husky, I'm not that familiar with the models but I have a feeling that you get more power for your money with the huskies.

Get some chainsaw trousers, groves and a hat with face shield and ear muffs.

[Andy RV]

Missed the bit where you bought it all! Have fun!

[xstian]

Chilledbud said:

xstian said:

This is one of the things that appealed to me about Stihl. They won't allow retailers to sell there product's unless they have been filled with oil, fuel, started and then the customer is shown how to use it. It's good to see a company is still thinking about customer service, rather than some faceless company sending you a broken chainsaw in the post.

That's nothing a local store or a good online supplier won't do as standard, what ever make they sell. Having purchased form FR Jones a few times, they do ask if I'd like to pop down to the store to go through and check the product before purchase.

What I don't like is having to find a store that's local to me, with a RRP and no deal to be had. Having purchased a few in my time, and use local stores for when in need of a serivce, I used to have a really good understanding with the shop.

Now, having moved and having a terrible local store, I can't think of a worse scenario than purchaisng a chainsaw, or any other garden machinery from them. Hence, Stihl have lost a customer. I've no intention of driving 30 miles to a store, when Husky provie an equal product, that I can purcshased online at a competative price, and then for the cost of £10 delivery there and back, have FR Jones do all the servicing on her.

I can't imagine many online supplier's putting the saw together filling with fuel, running it up, draining the fuel and dismantling and repacking for postage. Most online suppliers don't even handle most of the products they sell. I bought a saw from ernest dowes, the price they gave me was within £10 of the cheapest I had seen it else where.

I think Sthil don't want to lower there product, through poor customer service. At the end of the day you bought a Husky because your local store wouldn't do you a deal. If you bought a Sthil online and it wouldn't run, you would be say Sthil are rubbish.

[shtu]

xstian said:

I can't imagine many online supplier's putting the saw together filling with fuel, running it up, draining the fuel and dismantling and repacking for postage.

In general you're right, but here's the outfit I bought mine from - they clearly did tweak the thing up before posting, it's always run beautifully.

http://chainsawspecialists.co.uk/acatalog/Peters_P...

[RichB]

McWigglebum4th said:

While stihl and husky are both excellent I'd choose a B&Q crap with a brand new sharp chain over either any day of the week. Look after the chain for safety and efficiency. They cost very little to send off to get them sharpened like a razor

I wouldn't. I bought a cheap B&Q one and it's a bugger to start. When ever I want to use it I wind up spending half an hour dismantling the carb before it will go! Chain's sharp though because I hardly ever use it!