Thread: Chainsaws

I have a Husqvarna and can't recommend it highly enogh. I realise this is a more expensive brand than Talon etc. but they are very reliable.
No doubt Stihl will get amention too. IMHO they ain't what they used to be. I fear they have gone down the build at a price not a quality road, and expect the brand name will carry them. Let the flames commence.

I have been using a Jonsered for about 20 years. The reason I bought it was because it was lighter to use than a lot of the other brands. I use it pretty extensively during the winter to gather firewood. I have worn out six chains and on my second bar and it is still going strong.

G'day All.
At work, we use 3 Husky chainsaws in the logyard. They run all day every day.
I bought a small husky after seeing how good they were at work.
Remember...nothing runs like a Husky

Hooroo.
Regards, Trevor
Grafton

In smaller saws I can definitely recommend the Huskys. In larger saws go Stihl. I have used both extensively. My father had a small Echo which lasted forever too.

Andrew

Daryl,

If you go for a Stihl get an even numbered unit, get as large as you can possibly afford in any unit.

That said the husky is probably better in the smaller range, (coming from a stihl owner)

Himzo, I thought the even numbered ones were the "home" models and the odd numbered ones the "trade" models? I've got a cousin who's a tree surgeon and I thought that's what he told me, but I might be wrong (it has been known to happen ).

Mick

(it has been known to happen ).

Mick, me too..
either way I'm sure there is a diference between the odd numbered and the even numbered units

Himzo.

I have a big (2100) Husky. It is 20m years old; I am worn out and it is still going strong. In this time I have probably cut in the vicinity of 500 ton of firewood (SWMBO is an absolute bludy pyromaniac). A greater amount of this has been box wood which is damn hard. The saw weighs in the vicinity of 14kg dry; and the compression is that good you can still pick it up by the start rope. The older Stihls were good too.

A mate used to have an Echo agency and I got to use all his new demo saws. They were OK, but not as good as the Husky.

I would suggest that a GOOD second hand Stihl or Husky bought from a very reputable source would be better than the cheapo brands.

Ken

Originally Posted by DarrylF

Contemplating buying a chainsaw. Mostly for roughing down logs into turning blanks etc. Won't get a huge amount of use, and I want to be able to take it out & about, so electric is out.

Any recommendations?

Bunnies have a Talon with a 400mm bar for $279 - anyone got one?

G'day.

I've looked at it & it looks very much like my old 16" Eager Bever McCollough (sp).
It's not a heavy duty unit, suited more to the gardener for prunning etc.
I have had mine for 10 years or so & I have used it mostly for hacking up
blocks/logs for turning blanks & a bit of prunning. A mate borrowed it to cut
up several green gum trees about 6 to 10 inch diam after a cyclone &
it wore him out before he wore it out.
I hacked my way through wet mango up to nearly 2' in diam, slow work
but it did it. I've also hacked up a wet gum tree log about 18'' in diam.
Also slow work but it did it. It's better suited to smaller stuff & it prunes
wet pine tree branches like a hot knife through butter.
The only thing I had problems with in the last couple of years is the fuel
lines & primer bulb. The heat & the fuel/oil get to them in the end & they get
brittle & break. I was able to replace them all myself. I just took the sample
parts to the local small engine repairer & he looked at it & wipped out some
new fuel line & told me who would have the primer bulb in stock.

I'm happy with mine for turning blanks.
I'm keen on getting something bigger for slicing up some bigger stuff that
gets knocked over in heavy wind from time to time.
There is a very big rainforest wattle down on the side of our road & I have
managed to hack off 2 pallet loads of branches with my 16" bar but I haven't
got anywhere near a fork or croch yet, they are way too big for me.
I only need the big saw to hack it up into pieces I can carry.
Once they are that size, I reckon the small saw would knock the corners off
so it would go around on the lathe.

I won't recommend a brand, but I will recommend the guys at the Charmhaven chainsaw and mower shop.

Twice I've been in there, and both times they've given me sound advice which has saved me money and time, and cost them business. Seems to me like they're in business for the long haul, preferring to be honest than to pocket every possible cent.

Cheers,
Andrew

Silent, there's a very good tuition video around called "THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE"

I lent my first husky to a 'mate' and the next time I started it up it blew up. He had put fuel in with no oil. Now I'm on the second husky (fourth chainsaw) and it never misses a beat which is essential. You don't want to be 200km north of Wilcania on the wood collecting trip of a lifetime looking at a log of hairy oak when your crap chainsaw gives up the ghost. This would be the one tool where the quality versus cheapness argument will come out on the side of quality every time. Professional maintenance and chain sharpening are pretty important too.

DarrylF

I agree with the sentiment that you get what you pay for

Next to motor mowers, chainsaws customarily are the second most abused piece of equipment that man has ever decided to use. Put it away and expect it to run the next time you use it :confused:

That is not to denegrate our learned colleagues here but they're in a dead heat with outboard motors for an aweful lot of punters

If you can afford it go with a new one that others here have mentioned by brand name - they're all quality within their own capacities.

Otherwise find a well respected merchant of such devices preferably in rural areas rather than a city jock, tell him what you want to do with it and let him see if he can recommend a quality 2nd hand unit within your budget and at least he is likely to do the right thing by you

Goodluck

Jamie

I wouldn't have a Talon tool of any sort.
I bought a couple of Talon brushcutters last year.
The trimmer heads packed up within hours of work and they both leak petrol out of a rubber grommet in the fuel tank.
Great, Talon has a 2 year guarantee - take it to their service centre and wait forever to have minor problems fixed - Not again.

At least with GMC power tools you dont get stuffed around they just give you a new one and you're going again instead of hanging around like stale bottle of P--S