Electric chainsaw

[bigegg]

I have a pile of privet and elder logs from where I removed a hedge from the back of my gardenI- they're anything up to 8in diameter.
I'm thinking of buying a cheap electric chainsaw - probably a 2000w titan model from screwfix to convert them to logs for firewood.
Is there anything I need to know?
PPE?
Face guard, hardhat?
Do I *need* arm + leg armour (1)

I also have a couple of hardwood logs : about 9-12 inches diameter, 3ft long that I would like to slab into planks.
They are the remains of a fruit tree with sentimental value that I would like to make into a keepsake box + urn
Will an electric chainsaw be powerful enough to use as a "chainsaw mill"?
Or am I better off splitting manually until they'll fit my bandaw?







[1]I have a feeling the answer is gonna be "do I *need* my arms and legs"

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I have one which I was given for free and have used it very occasionally. Having used a petrol one in the past with just gloves, a mesh visor and ear protection against ALL the advice available [I know, I know....] I'm in no position to advise, but you know the saying........

As for using it as a mill, did you propose making some sort of rig to hold it? I think it'd certainly be up to the job of slicing your logs [nearly typed 'legs' there ] if you give it time.

 

[GKQ]

It's still an chainsaw treat it with the respect it deserves. More torque than petrol so less likely to stop at the bone ! Just because its quiet does not mean it's safe. I used a b&decker electric for years really good hassle free starts first time, but just as dangerous. Having been to hospital with someone who tried to chop their hand off with one, I can say sticking the hand back on it never works as well as the original.

Graham

 

[rtbcomp]

I bought an electric chainsaw from B&Q a while back. It's got instant stop when you release the trigger and automatic chain oiler. I bought a combined hard hat, mesh visor and ear defenders.

 

[bigegg]

Just been shopping round.
For the £60 for a chainsaw and £30 for ppe, I can buy a couple of jumbo bags of seasoned hardwood logs.
So privet is going to tip, and I'll buy some ready cut firewood.

 

[TomCGB]

If you still want to make the box out of the hardwood, milling with a chainsaw actually requires a ripping chain. Its is possible with a standard chain, but it will be slow, of poor finish and will blunt the chain remarkably fast. A ripping chain usually uses a shallower rake angle than a standard chain, compared to an electric saw which generally uses a chain with a larger rake angle than a standard chain.

If you cant do it with your bandsaw, you could 'noodle' it with the electric chainsaw. Instead of cutting along the grain from the end (ripping), lie the timber on its side, line the chainsaw bar up with the grain and cut from the round face. If that doesn't make sense, try it out on your softwood logs first. cross cutting should produce a chip of around an inch long, ripping with a normal chain just produces dust, noodling, as the name suggests, produces very long stands sometimes up to 5 inches long. Noodling doesn't blunt the chain like ripping does and you can do it with a normal chain.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I've got a cheap petrol chainsaw that was bought 50:50 with a mate. I need to cut down an overgrown conifer that the trunk is too big for sabre saw and will borrow an electric version off another friend as lot less hassle than a petrol version. Just my opinion.

 

[Maker]

I've used an electric Bosch a few times and found it very good, the blade stops the instant you release the trigger so it reasonably safe to me.

 

[fizzy]

Having cut up 44 tons of logs - some very large indeed - I would say the electric chainsaws are great. Quieter and just as powerful as the petrol ones but the chain speed is slower. For versatility though petrol is better.

 

[MCKDAVID]

no such thing as a reasonably safe chainsaw. petrol or electric. Don't necessarily be scared of it, but definitely treat it with the utmost respect.

too easy to get complacent, been using one for many years, basically all winter, and still take no chances with it.

Seen the results of an incident first hand, BIL nearly lost his lower leg because of one, and he works around the forest / farm so definitely knew what he was doing, a simple slip... all it took.. he was extremely lucky..

 

[gaz1]

nip over to mine and you can borrow the chainsaw bigegg if you want to do

 

[brightspark]

I've used an electric Bosch a few times and found it very good, the blade stops the instant you release the trigger so it reasonably safe to me.

I have a bosch electric far better than a petrol one for instant use no fannying on

 

[Robotstar5]

I've got a petrol chainsaw and probably used it 3-4 times in 10 years, I've found anything I can't use a bowsaw on I tend to let the professionals deal with.

Note to self: dig out chainsaw and stick it on eblag

 

[gaz1]

i prefer using a normal wood saw the cheapish ones at 7.00 are perfectly fine to go through most things including a 20" tree trunk

i have 2 bow saws and still head for the normal woodsaw

 

[rcx132]

I have one which I was given for free and have used it very occasionally. Having used a petrol one in the past with just gloves, a mesh visor and ear protection against ALL the advice available [I know, I know....] I'm in no position to advise, but you know the saying........

Isn't that all the equipment you need? Or did you have a visor without the head gear? The head gear is important because the rim stops the blade hitting your head.

I think electric chainsaws are neat hassle free solutions. But I still own a 21" Husqvarna because .... purely to make me feel like a man

 

[Pete.]

I also have a couple of hardwood logs : about 9-12 inches diameter, 3ft long that I would like to slab into planks.
They are the remains of a fruit tree with sentimental value that I would like to make into a keepsake box + urn
Will an electric chainsaw be powerful enough to use as a "chainsaw mill"?
Or am I better off splitting manually until they'll fit my bandaw?

Take your logs down to the local wood mill and get them to saw it for you. Then buy this and you're all set to make nice stuff from it

 

[bigegg]

Take your logs down to the local wood mill and get them to saw it for you. Then buy this and you're all set to make nice stuff from it

I've got a nice big planer thicknesser - usually used for turning scaffold boards into shavings (and the odd bit of furniture).
I do have an old pit saw I could use, I suppose...

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Isn't that all the equipment you need?

I should have had the proper trousers too, at a minimum. And yes, the visor was on a hat.

 

[gaz1]

something like this

 

[bigegg]

something like this

Dats da potato