Chainsaws

[Old Dog]

Husqvarna 135 14" is a newer and slightly larger engine saw. The 236 is a closer match for the Stihl MS 170/180/171/181 saws. A 14" bar is big enough for most log cutting for fire wood and light enough for some one that is not used to cutting for long periods. Well done on getting the safety gear (the gloves are horrible to wear) You will also need 2 stroke oil, chain oil, cheap paint brushes to clean the saw when filling with fuel/chain oil. WD 40 and a paint brush is good for cleaning the sap off the saw. And a set of chain files and learn how to sharpen a chain. Teach yourself to ALWAYS KNOCK THE CHAIN BRAKE ON WHEN NOT CUTTING, it will save an accident at some point. Happy cutting!!!

 

[Migmac]

Husky 135 looks a good wee saw, with a 14 inch bar and chain you"ll cut most stuff. Get a file guide,this will help you keep the correct angles when sharpening

 

[CornishPete]

you should be able to get a Husqvarna 435 or stihl ms211 for about the same money, about 270-300. Don't know about Husqvarna but you'll definitely struggle getting a new stihl on mail order as they have a collect in person policy so the the guy behind the counter at the garden centre who may never have used a chainsaw before can give you a "safety" demonstration. It also prevents you shopping around for the best price mail order like you would for everything else you buy, and therefore keeps prices higher! Can you tell I'm a little skeptical!
either saw is a good choice and you'll be happy whatever you choose.

 

[mike os]

14 bar is plenty,

 

[pedrobedro]

My 135 is a great little saw. I only had it a couple of years and it was a bit hard to start when warm but now it's run in and the carb set up again it is perfect. You need a splined tool for the mixture screws unless you take it to the dealer to get it done. It's about the same saw as the 435 with a few less niceties but for the price it's good value.

 

[pedrobedro]

Brake handle?

Not all of my saws have a brake...

They must be antiques if they don't have inertia brake kickback protection. I've not used one without a brake for years but they still had a cover to stop you going forward onto the chain.

 

[steviec_lj]

Noticed these in "The Range".



Made by Husky, seemed very plastic-y, probably wouldn't stand up to much abuse though.

Found an Husky 435, on that auction site for £300 delivered, but I'm going to get over to RBM in Brigg to see what deals I can walk away with - they supply 90% of the kit we use on the farm..

A nite on the electric saws mentioned previously, I've used one before, and its probably still at my dads somewhere needing repair, they're nice, but sadly of little use in a field haha

 

[mike os]

Mculloch. ... fragile ime

 

[pedrobedro]

Look at a proper sales place rather than farm supplier for a chainsaw. Somewhere like F R Jones they have 135 for under £200 and 435 for £316

 

[TechnicAl]

Mculloch. ... fragile ime

I bought one. My first. I got it home and read the instructions which I never do. First 10 were 10 different ways it could kill you...........I took it back and paid a contarctor to cut down these massive conifers.

Some time later when I was high on confidence I bought another......a second hand husqvarna but I prefer my electric Bosch

 

[brightspark]

I bought one. My first. I got it home and read the instructions which I never do. First 10 were 10 different ways it could kill you...........I took it back and paid a contarctor to cut down these massive conifers.

Some time later when I was high on confidence I bought another......a second hand husqvarna but I prefer my electric Bosch

I have an electric bosch chainsaw its brill

 

[Barking Mat]

stihl ms180 c (I'm sat next to it), 2004, changed the oil pump a few years back, never had a problem apart from that. My boss has a couple of McCullochs, maybe an Echo as well, all on the bench awaiting repair. I also have an old 031av awaiting repair with a huge bar, too big for me.

 

[tinman123]

the only time i strayed away from a stihl or honda in small tools was for a mc cullagh strimmer type unit.
it was a type where you carried the engine like a ruck sack and all you had to hold was the arm of it, the power was transferred through a flexi drive.
on the outside it looked well made and wasnt cheap either, a lot better looking than the new stuff you see today but alas the buck stopped there.
i honestly think if they had of made it out of ply wood it would of lasted longer.
it was just my experience but i personally wouldnt buy anything from then ever again.

 

[pedrobedro]

stihl ms180 c (I'm sat next to it), 2004, changed the oil pump a few years back, never had a problem apart from that. My boss has a couple of McCullochs, maybe an Echo as well, all on the bench awaiting repair. I also have an old 031av awaiting repair with a huge bar, too big for me.

031 av is not big enough to pull a huge bar, probably why it needs repairing. My 036 is on an 18" bar but I would only go up to a 20" and that is a 60cc saw.

 

[Turbo]

If anyone is considering an electric saw please avoid the Florabest ones in Lidl. A guy I know has 3 of them and there is usually one of them in my workshop needing repair! In my opinion they are 'soft' and not made to take any serious use. They have a silly system of levers & safety switches which causes problems and is very difficult to assemble. He also has a florabest petrol saw which is another pos.

After a lot of pressure from me he has bought a stihl petrol saw which has been 100% reliable but when working around home he still prefers the electric saw.

One problem which affects all petrol saws is the current petrol we use. It has a very short shelf life and will go off in as little as a month! Modern saws have very little tolerance of bad petrol so the first thing to try if a saw isn't starting is fresh fuel mix.

 

[mike os]

Big bars on small saws are a waste of time, 14 to 15 inch is enough to take down a 40 inch diameter tree.......

Big bar = slow cutting and wear on the motor

 

[pedrobedro]

The Titan electric saw from Screwfix that a friend of mine uses is a good machine with instant chain brake and it's quite powerful. At £50 it's not bad price either.

 

[Migmac]

If I was to use a electric saw I would need one hell of a long extension lead

 

[steviec_lj]

Big bars on small saws are a waste of time, 14 to 15 inch is enough to take down a 40 inch diameter tree.......

Big bar = slow cutting and wear on the motor

What do you class as a small saw though? If Husky are putting the 435 on the market with a 16" bar, it must be efficient, if Stihl put a 14" bar on a 181c, it must be efficient.

Electric, unfortunately, is no use in the middle of a field or wooded area, where must of my work will be done.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I have an electric bosch chainsaw its brill

I was given a Bosch saw by a chap who had sold his house and was moving back 'dan saarf', it only needed a clean up [looks new now ] and the chain sharpened. I don't have much need for one but have used it on a fencing job where it coped admirably. This is the one

I have also in the past used a Jonsered cutting trees on a golf course - it was an old model with no brake and lots of potential, I wouldn't use it now......I must be gathering sense.