Recomend me a good chainsaw

[sardine]

I've a Powercraft and JCB one (don't worry, I didn't pay for them) and they may or may not run and operate but that won't happen due to the appalling design of the starting system. Who thinks it's OK to have just a sprag clutch with plastic teeth rather than the usual recoil starter that isn't wearing out every second the machine runs?
Talk about built in obsolescence.

I'm a Husky fan but Stihl are equally as good. Makita aren't terrible (like the Powercraft kind) but I wouldn't recommend one, pretty naff compared to the two good ones.

That is exactly what i found, the entire pull start is made of plasic, both the pawls and the spindle, which resembles a chewed dog toy after a few starts.

 

[fixerupper]

Yep ,I'm a convert to chainsaw trousers ..I bought the stihl trousers ... a bit spendy infact they are the most expensive trousers I have ever bought ...but good to work in and you only get one pair of legs ....

 

[Bill Edwards]

That is exactly what i found, the entire pull start is made of plasic, both the pawls and the spindle, which resembles a chewed dog toy after a few starts.

Yes but it doesn't even require a few starts, because it's always ratcheting just having the saw running wears it out! I struggled for words when I saw the design combined with material choice.

 

[blenkie1]

I work in forestry on harvesters and they nearly all use Husqvarna's but I've been told its a bit of a North/South divide with Sthil more popular in the south, but both good makes. Who is your nearest dealer?

 

[macandmoss]

definatley a stihl , nice reliable saws and parts are so easy to come by and cheap ,prefer the slightly older models no the new c range

 

[pedrobedro]

I use husky but be aware both the top brands are frequently faked

Nobody fakes the little ones. Husqvarna 3120 and Stihl MS880 are prime fake targets.

I'm a Husky fan but Stihl are equally as good. Makita aren't terrible (like the Powercraft kind) but I wouldn't recommend one, pretty naff compared to the two good ones.

Makita are made by Dolmar, good saws as are Echo, Husqvarna and Stihl. How much you want to spend is the question. To run a 16" bar full depth you want to be looking at 50cc at least and that's going to cost you.

 

[Swift&Bold]

Stihl are used by the rescue services and Husky by the forces, I can't really think of a better endorsement.

 

[macandmoss]

I had a Makita for sale a while ago very powerful machine and better oiling system ,also had a jonsered chainsaw in which is really a Husqvarna saw but can be picked up a little cheaper

 

[xmetal]

I have a Stihl 026 that I've had for a number of years. It hasn't seen much use but it's a great machine. Easy to start and powerful.

 

[mike os]

As already said stihl, husky and don't forger makita and echo.... all are decent or so,I am told

 

[arther dailey]

Yup, I have three stihls, husky are equally as good, depends what your local dealer is a stockist of between these two I would say.use ppe and take all precautions.Arther

 

[Bill Edwards]

Makita works and there's far, far worse but it's not in the same league as Husky. I use one at work and have to allow for it being less powerful than my Husky but the fact it isn't not quite so nice to hold and it's given more issues within a couple of years - albeit minor ones but still enough to leave us stuck - than my Husky has in what must now be a good decade. Husky needed a new fuel pipe once...

Had an Echo once. Bloomin' thing was nothing but trouble, fix one fault, use it and put it away because it now has another one. I may have got a tired, end of its life abused one of course, but with that I can only go so far as to say average like Makita. Not a patch on the good ones.

 

[Kent]

Don't read too much into durability from the time someone has owned a saw
My husky is about six now. It's been repaired a few times- it's also done a massive amount of work! The guy who comes to do my climbing etc.? Will change his saw regular because he can't be waiting around for new parts so it's cheaper to swap them out regular
The guy with little work for his saw might have a rubbish one from China etc and could well have owned it many years without issue

 

[Paul99]

The old echo that we've used and abused on firewood for the last 10 years has been absolutely faultless with absolutely nothing (apart from bars and chains) spent on it.

If you are intending buying brand new and are lucky enough to have an Echo or Dolmar / Makita dealer near you then I'd not even be considering either of the two default brands who from what I've been told by tree surgeon friends have really lost their way with their newer models - you can read similar for yourself on several arborist forums. Sadly the competitors just don't have the dealer network in place yet to make a dent in sales of the big two.

 

[pedrobedro]

I just bought a husqvarna 435 (15" .325) but will take a 16" bar. Lovely saw very easy to use, super light and the vibration dampening is excellent. (£245)

The 135 is the same saw with a hair less power and a few less features such as fuel sight glass etc and a smaller bar (14" 3/8) but it's obviously a bit cheaper. (£200)

I would have probably bought the Stihl ms181 for the tool less chain tensioning but stihl won't sell bladed tools over the internet and local dealers were over £100 more than online.

So I'm a husqvarna convert from here on out.

www.worldofpower.com were the cheapest online and great to deal with.

I have a 135 from world of power and it's a good saw. It runs a 3/8 chain as mentioned. I wouldn't go for toolless tensioning if you are ok with spanners as it slackens off in use. MS 181 is available without toolless.

 

[Migmac]

You don't have to wear gloves now a days but the rest is a must

 

[Dieselman 63]

Chainsaw chaps all the way, faceguard too. I once saw a guy get hit in the face with an angle grinder, no faceguard, nasty but survivable. Chainsaw kickback with no safety gear hits you and it's goodnight

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

@Dieselkid 63
I agree. I was taking out some roots, no the blade was not eating dirt. When the blade let go.
I was dressed in the correct gear and the blade chewed up the left leg of the safety trousers.
Needles to say, we packed up and went to the pub.

 

[gaz1]

from a newbie point of view

ive used one recently but i do have respect for them and understand how much damage it can do however, i unlike most other people handle other heavy machines or grinders compared to some and have respect for those machines and know how to handle them its the ones that dont handle this type of machines

my nephew dosnt like the big grinder and I have warned about the wolf drill he didnt want to use it

not saying these machines arnt dangerous

ive been watching this thread with interest as im needing to get one for myself to shop a tree down and cut it up for a wood burner and maybe some others are needing to be done as well
so for now im looking at a cheapie one

 

[grim_d]

A mcculoch would be the cheapest one i would go, they are built to a price but far from the worst.