Chainsaws

[dobbslc]

I'm after a small petrol chainsaw for pruning, chopping up logs and taking down a couple of small trees about 4" diameter max, I don't know much about them so what do I need? I've seen a Husqvarna saw on ebay/Amazon for £130
Husqvarna 236

Or at a very local lawnmower garden machinery shop a Hitachi for £200



Any recommendations? Are either of the above ok for occasional chopping?

Edit: I'm also a lefty so are these things ok to hold the right way round for me ie left hand on trigger with the blade by my right leg....

 

[brightspark]

get an electric one. cheaper and lighter and brill. easy stop start and quick I'm left handed and easy to hold mines a bosch 85 quid

 

[dobbslc]

Gardens a bit long for an electric one and I like two strokes!

 

[brightspark]

use the generator up my garden or the 50 meter extension lead

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Out of the two I'd go for the Husqvarna as dealer support is excellent*, I've no knowledge of that particular model though, might be worth browsing the Arbtalk Forum for reviews.

*I rarely need to visit a dealer for my two Husqvarnas but I did need to replace the on/off switch on my 27 year old Husqvarna 40, they didn't have it on the shelf but they had it in for the following day, the cost... £8.

 

[8ob]

For occasional use I keep a battery saw in the truck or machines, dont need a smelly can of fuel and just keep a litre of chain oil handy. One charge will last a few hours with light use, they dont go out of tune, they are light and to be honest worth considering.

http://hsslawnandgarden.co.uk/stihl-msa120c-bq-1230cm-compact-li-ion-chainsaw-1-battery-99-p.asp

Bob

 

[gaz1]

go for Husqvarna more than the hitachi one also note ive done bigger with my 14" chainsaw and thats handy for pruning trees down

 

[CornishPete]

Get a proper make like stihl, Husqvarna, echo, jonsered etc. All make decent chainsaws. You'll probably be looking at a 35cc 12-14" saw for about £200. £130 for the Husqvarna seems very very cheap for a new saw to me. Check its legit first!

 

[brightspark]

No.

Never.

A kick back will ram the bar and chain straight into your face instead of harmlessly over your right shoulder due to the way arms react to those type of forces. Even if the chain brake works as it should it'll still hurt like a bitch, remove lumps of face and possibly worse.

Can you really not squeeze a trigger with your right hand?

If you can't hold them the way they are designed then you've really got three choices:

Learn.

Pay someone else to cut wood.

Buy an axe/bowsaw.

I'm left handed and always hold the saw to my right hand side trigger in left hand never have any bother and its kicked back a few times and stopped

 

[brightspark]

I'm left handed and always hold the saw to my right hand side trigger in left hand never have any bother and its kicked back a few times and stopped

the only saw that's a pain for me is a hand held circular saw and that's not nice

 

[brightspark]

You've never had a proper kickback then.

isn't that a kickback when it brakes then jeesus ive had the blade over me shoulder before

 

[brightspark]

dunno how I've managed for the last 40 years and ive felled a fair few trees and cut a lot of logs up. its incredible

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Another vote for the husky, reasonable quality saws in that price band, and plenty of spares backup

 

[angellonewolf]

go for the Husqvarna good quality make for years unless its a china copy

 

[brightspark]

Yeah, but you clean your teeth by blasting them with kiln dried sand and have creosote and asbestos sandwiches made with lead painted cutlery washed down with a pint of old formula nitromors.

You're obviously a special case

and don't forget I work on a lot of live cables and do cable jointing without safe isolation including 3 phase just for good measures

 

[Rannsachair]

I have had a husky for about 10 years, great wee saw, never had a problem with it and we have a local dealer for spares.

The one you list is their cheapest saw, really a home/diy saw -gets good reviews though.

I decided to pay a bit more and go for the cheaper semi/professional saw - suppose depends on how much you use it and how long you want it to last

 

[Migmac]

Go for the Husky

All the safety features are designed for right handers, using them left handed is seriously putting yourself at risk. Kickback is one danger and the chain coming off and catching you is another. Both are unpleasant. When your snedding you will also have the bar next to your leg, not good. I would try and use it right handed.

 

[grim_d]

I've a husky 435.

Absolutely brilliant. Now I also have a husky hedge trimmer. If it wasnt for each attachment costing near £100 id get tneir garden multi tool too.

If it wasn't for my incessant need to buy more/bigger than I need I would have got a smallee one like shown.

 

[brightspark]

there's a few experts who seem to know about left handed people and safety that are right handed

 

[addjunkie]

I have a husquavana and a sthil. The sthil I use most as its lighter its an m181, you get what you payfor in chain saws....and when you buy learn to keep the chain in good nick