Sorry, so sorry. What woodburner chainsaw?

Any recommendations for a chainsaw for light duties- up to maybe 15 or 20cm diameter wood for my woodburner?

I’m not interested either…

Cheers IHN

Small Husqvarna or Stihl, plus safety gear.

In true STW style, I’ll recommend what I’ve got, a Husqvarna 135, had it 18 months and in that time it hasn’t missed a beat, despite some abuse, ijust keep it sharp and a mate tuned it up a bit once for me.

Cuts anything up to it’s bar length with ease, so easy to start and never fails. Under £200.

Once you’ve figured out what you want buy in euros. I got a great deal on a saw from amazon.de the other week.

for lightweight stuff the MS170 is a proven bit of kit

http://www.stihl.co.uk/STIHL-Products/Chainsaws-and-Telescopic-Pole-Pruners/Petrol-chainsaws-for-property-maintenance/22264-110/MS-170.aspx

It doesnt come under EU emission regs because of size, so it uses old tech. Stihl have them banged out in China for cheap prices. Spares and parts are v cheap.

The micro chain is very good for low stress cutting, but dont use it on anything but simple cross cut.

An alternative option is a decent battery or 240v unit, but I dont have any experience.

I had an MS170 as well as larger saws. My 170 was stolen from my garage. I miss it, it was light, easy to use, and I could transfer my Stihl spare parts. I will probably get another (or two actually, as back up at the wood)

Many threads on this but I’d go Stihl ms181.
Pokey little saw for the money. Uses a slightly bigger chain than the 170 and will sit happily with a 14″ bar.

if in a residential area then i suggest a good quality electric unit as they are much quieter and much less pierecing noise than a 2stk.

chainsaw use is intermittant and nothing more annoying than intermittant noise – its not like cutting the grass or strimming where the noise is constant.

i ended up with a makita and it does fire wood just grand.

chainsaw use is intermittant and nothing more annoying than intermittant noise

especially a saw with a blunt chain…

If your not wandering off in the woods and its going to be back garden jobbie…. Go electric. Oregon or Bosch … Aldi sell them occasionally.

Probably more convenient than petrol unless your out and away from a mains supply…

Im my possesion I have a Stihl MS210 & a Makita UC4030 electric. The Stihl has a full chisel chain, cuts quickly & is easy to maintain. The only downside is it’s slightly noisy for use close to neighbours.

The Makita saw was the biggest surprise for me. I honestly wasn’t expecting much in terms of cutting performance. It’s been faultless, the chain stays sharper for longer & it’s fairly quick. It’s quiet & if I was to choose between the two for use cutting logs close to the house it would be the Makita.

D.

thats the one ive got too dave.

i wasnt expecting anywhere near the performance it gave us – ive been using stihl since i was a teenager.

The titan one from screwfix for £45 is excellent and has a two year guarantee, check the reviews.

How many logs do you need cutting?

Though the Americans seems to have trouble with the Metric Second 😉

As has been said, if you can use electric then do so. Quieter, more reliable, lighter and easier to use and no worries about running out of fuel.

Got nothing to compare it to but my Bosch has been faultless.

I have a couple of Stihls (including a 023 I may be selling soon), and a Bosch electric one. I can honestly say the electric one will cut everybit as good as the petrol ones and is quiet and, best of all, when you put it down it is off. Silent. Safe. If you are only going to cut logs where you have 240V nearby then get an electric saw. Your neighbours will thank you.

Lidl is selling an electric chainsaw at the moment.

I’ve got one of these, similar cutting performance to my dad’s 455.

Wonder how much those batteries are…?

I’m selling a Husqvarna 14″ bar petrol chain saw. 435e. It’s had very little use foe same purpose your looking at. Cutting logs for the wood burner. A move to city with no log burner means it’s got to go. Let me know if your interested. Possibly a bit over spec for lite duties but great saw.
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granny_ring – Member

Wonder how much those batteries are…?

From about £80.

i’ve got the titan one from screwfix – linky

i paid £70 for mine around xmas time and v happy with it – £45 is a bargain! cut everything up to a massive stump about 50cm diameter with it, and its quiet enough not to annoy the neighbours. budget about £50 for decent safety gear

I like my Bosch 40cm electric jobbie.
Not very portable though….

Sycamore Tree kit by brf[/url], on Flickr

So, STW chainsawists, if I bought an electric chainsaw to cut logs at home, and purchased gloves/gauntlets, leg protection, boots and a helmet, assuming I am a reasonably competent member of the public with no prior knowledge of chainsaws (other than horror films!) would it be recommended that I take a chainsaw handling course?

Unless you plan to climb trees while using it then no. Just watch a few how to videos on youtube.

real men use a bow saw

would it be recommended that I take a chainsaw handling course?

I survived without one.

Might be worth watching a few intro vids. The main things I learnt is that the chainsaw will pull into the log or pull the log towards it, so you need to engage the spikes first then push the blade down onto the log, so that the log doesn’t move / chainsaw surge forward.

Google chainsaw kick back, then decide. [edit]
For £100 and a day of your life I’d do the course unless you have a mate that knows what they are doing and will give you the safety pointers.

bigjim – Member
real men use a bow saw

Demonstrating why I’m looking for a chainsaw. I’m a soft southern pansy.

(Actually, got a bowsaw but it’s no good on the bigger stuff).

timbur – Member
Google chainsaw kick back, then decide. [edit]
For £100 and a day of your life I’d do the course unless you have a mate that knows what they are doing and will give you the safety pointers.

Frankly, I get the willies using a hedge trimmer, hence my question (and see previous post above).

I can justify the cost of the saw, and protective gear, but another couple of hundred quid on top sort of stops it being the economical choice.

Before I get lambasted, please don’t take that to mean I would prize money over my wellbeing – rather, that if it’s going to cost around £500 all in it’s not worth me spending the money in the first place.

Real men use tools suitable to the task 😀
My Silky gets used loads on tree work as it’s easier and quicker than a chainsaw however there’s a time and a place for macho nonsense.
Bow saws are rubbish anyway, it’s all about the Silky!

😆

Where are you based? If down near Brighton/Lewes I’d happily give you some pointers to keep you safe.

Circular ? https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=B3HBfj423cc

If you’re not confident with a hedge trimmer, I don’t fancy your chances with a chainsaw.
If you do, something domestic will have a pointier tip to reduce the kick back area and the chain will have more risers/less teeth to reduce the aggressiveness.

Just got the Lidl electric one having destroyed two Black and Decker Alligators. But I have the gloves, trousers, shoes and glasses which cost £100+.
Sharpening file is therapeutic.

timber – Member
If you’re not confident with a hedge trimmer, I don’t fancy your chances with a chainsaw.

I was perhaps overstating the point for dramatic effect, but I’m quite conscious of the potential for injury!

timbur – Member
Where are you based? If down near Brighton/Lewes I’d happily give you some pointers to keep you safe

V kind, but West Country I’m afraid.

Jakester

I was perhaps overstating the point for dramatic effect, but I’m quite conscious of the potential for injury!

I grew up around chainsaws and all sorts but have a very healthy fear/respect of them especially witnessing my uncle almost disembowel 3 or 4 people after a freak kickback. The problem with chainsaws though is you can’t fanny about with them, you have to be confident. The other problem is there is almost no safe way to practice with them, which is why a supervised course is good – it’s the closest you’ll get to a controlled environment with the saws but even then they are still chainsaws.

If you don’t do a course I would definitely seek out someone who is a professional or experienced saw user to show you how to hold the saw and where (and where not) to position your body as these things may not translate well in pictures or video.

Following a booze filled ride, I’ve just ordered the screwfix titan chainsaw.
I hope it arrives before I sober up… I’m in the cuttin’ mood…

DrP

Alcohol and chainsaws, what could possibly get cut off…