May Need a New Chainsaw - Any Suggestions?

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May Need a New Chainsaw - Any Suggestions?
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Mr O

Joined: 13 Feb 2005
Posts: 5512
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 11 10:40 pm Post subject:
I have 3 saws, Stihl MS 170, great for cutting up wood and felling up to 14 inches, very light weight. Husky 349 Great for felling bigger trees and for chainsaw milling, but a bit heavy. Poulan 33cc cheap crappy saw, more likely to cut me than a tree.

vegplot

Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 11 10:53 pm Post subject:
Stihl. Very reliable, easy to start & maintain, and spares easy to come by. Quite good prices can be had if you hunt around. I have an MS 170 and even though it's small it can handle all the jobs I need included felling trees up to 18" diameter.

JohnB

Joined: 09 Jul 2005
Posts: 685
Location: Beautiful sunny West Wales!

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 11 11:39 pm Post subject:
From what I've seen on the web, you can't buy Stihl online any more.

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15464
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 11 11:49 pm Post subject:

Brownbear wrote:

If it was me I'd go for either the Stihl MS 290 if money was tight, and the Stihl MS 391 if I could afford it. The 391 is more powerful and therefore less likely to get the chain jammed.

I forget which saw is which, but they sound bigger than he needs. If you need to you can fell a 35" tree with a 14" bar.
OTOH, a bigger saw will cut quicker and more easily, so may be less effort overall.
I would suggest you go down the shop and have a feel of them. See which weight you are comfortable with.

Stihl and Husqvarna are the market leaders, but I have heard that Echo are not bad, and are substantially cheaper.

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15464
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 11 11:55 pm Post subject:

JohnB wrote:

From what I've seen on the web, you can't buy Stihl online any more.

Oh yes. There is that.
Go to your local dealer and haggle. As I said, it gives you a chance to feel the weight.

Consider as well getting a smaller bar.-it is surprising how much less heavy they seem to be with only a couple of inches less.

JohnB

Joined: 09 Jul 2005
Posts: 685
Location: Beautiful sunny West Wales!

Posted: Mon Jan 31, 11 12:55 am Post subject:

Hairyloon wrote:

Go to your local dealer and haggle. As I said, it gives you a chance to feel the weight.

Looks like a trip to the big city is needed. The nearest place with both Stihl and Husqgvarna dealers is Carmarthen.

gil
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18420

Posted: Mon Jan 31, 11 9:54 am Post subject:

JohnB wrote:

Hairyloon wrote:

Go to your local dealer and haggle. As I said, it gives you a chance to feel the weight.

Looks like a trip to the big city is needed. The nearest place with both Stihl and Husqgvarna dealers is Carmarthen.

Best start making a list of all the other things you need or would like to do or get while you're there ! Is how I make city journeys more worthwhile.
That said, I wouldn't want to buy a chainsaw or similar item without handling it and discussing face to face.

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15464
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Mon Jan 31, 11 10:10 am Post subject:

JohnB wrote:

Hairyloon wrote:

Go to your local dealer and haggle. As I said, it gives you a chance to feel the weight.

Looks like a trip to the big city is needed. The nearest place with both Stihl and Husqgvarna dealers is Carmarthen.

Is there anywhere closer that does either?
If you don't have a personal preference between them, then it is largely down to choosing which model, rather than which brand.

vegplot

Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd

Posted: Mon Jan 31, 11 10:44 am Post subject:
I'll echo the notes made about small bar chain saws. Don't be macho about it, you don't need a big bar to take on big jobs. 14" is often more than enough.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 43773
Location: yes

Posted: Mon Jan 31, 11 12:34 pm Post subject:
husquvarna dont cut out as much due to position than stihl when in use but are a bit harder to strip but easier to mend than stihl cheap ones are not as safe or long lasting as either 01704896246 are a good retail and advice lead ,i got my kit off them ,good advice and a good price

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 43773
Location: yes

Posted: Mon Jan 31, 11 12:36 pm Post subject:

vegplot wrote:

I'll echo the notes made about small bar chain saws. Don't be macho about it, you don't need a big bar to take on big jobs. 14" is often more than enough.

get two sizes of bar to fit the new machine ,14 and 20" are useful sizes

camaro

Joined: 31 Mar 2010
Posts: 178
Location: N. Ireland

Posted: Mon Jan 31, 11 12:58 pm Post subject:
Dolmar are made by Makita, and are a good "budget but still good" brand. Having said that, I have 9 saws, and they're all Stihl!

JohnB

Joined: 09 Jul 2005
Posts: 685
Location: Beautiful sunny West Wales!

Posted: Mon Jan 31, 11 5:22 pm Post subject:
I think the panic may be over. We've got it working, and it seems ok. I'll know soon, if the rain holds off long enough to go coppicing! Thanks for all the suggestions. They'll help if I do need to get one quickly. The coppicing needs to be done ASAP, but the dead trees can be done gradually throughout the year.

gz

Joined: 23 Jan 2009
Posts: 9020
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland

Posted: Mon Jan 31, 11 5:43 pm Post subject:
Advice from my friend is Makita, and you don't need more than 15" Also, if you happen to be going to France, get tools there as they are cheaper They go regularly to Brittany and return with tools and Real Coffee!!!

SheepShed

Joined: 08 Nov 2006
Posts: 332
Location: In the middle of a Welsh forest

Posted: Tue Feb 01, 11 10:09 am Post subject:

dpack wrote:

vegplot wrote:

I'll echo the notes made about small bar chain saws. Don't be macho about it, you don't need a big bar to take on big jobs. 14" is often more than enough.

get two sizes of bar to fit the new machine ,14 and 20" are useful sizes

I'd have said even smaller - 12" and 16".
20" is pretty big and if you're tackling something that needs a 20" bar then you definitely need to know what you're doing. For every day use cutting up logs for firewood 12" is fine and less tiring to use.
Myrddin Garden Machinery in Carmarthen (opposite the station) sell the full range of Stihls and do parts and repairs as well.

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