Which chainsaw ??

[SteveAndBelle]

Hi,

Just bought a small 5 acre property on the East Coast of Tassie. It's all natural bush with many tall trees scattered around however it's the old fallen trees I need help with.

I've never owned nor in fact used a chainsaw before but will need to get one to deal with all this dead wood and turn it into firewood for the stove heater. Most of the old stuff on the ground is still complete and will need cutting up into logs. From what I saw most of it would only be under 15cm dia. but there would be sections that would be larger that I wil have to split after it's cut to length.

I'm willing to spend good money on one as even though I'm probably not going to work it too hard I do expect it to last a LONG time so I don't want any rubbish ... so what should I look into ? Stihl, Echo, McCulloch, Husky ? I'd prefer something Japanese and wouldn't say no to something decent from Europe but no Yankee stuff please.

Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

[Planned LScape]

I did a crosscut license years ago through TAFE and we had Stihl and Huskies on the course, both were good. I found Huskies to have more grunt but Stihl a bit comfier to use. Both have a good reputation and come in a few different sizes. Wouldnt hurt to get some tips off someone as they can be dangerous and there are ways of cutting wood in different places.

Get a good chain sharpener too, and get shown how to do it properly, as it will stay sharper for longer and save you a hell of a lot of time out cutting

[Wood Borer]

I like my Stihl. It is reliable and does the job.

Mine is only a medium sized one with an 18" bar. I use it to cut firewood on our block.

[Calm]

I would suggest a Stihl or Husky about 50+ cc with an 18 or 20 inch bar.

That will be a fairly light saw for cutting firewood and still have enough power to cut the bigger logs. Remember if you cut from both side you can handle a log up to 3feet diameter.

If you intend to slab some then you are going to need a bigger saw but it is heavier and harder to use to cut small stuff and firewood. That might be better done n a share basis where someone comes in and does the slabbing for half the wood or something along those lines.

Hope that helps. - Remember chainsaws canbe dangerous but only if not used with care. I have used one for 35 years and never cut myself at all. A Tafe course would not be the dumbest thing you have been too.

Cheers

[BobL]

. . . I do expect it to last a LONG time so I don't want any rubbish.

No question then - it would have to be either a Stihl, or a Husky.

Think about investing in some quality PPE and doing a chain saw course. Chains saws are the 6th highest reason for hospital admission following DIY accidents.

"Mild addiction warning" - like routers, people who buy chainsaws often find that or two is not enough :D

[Outbackrr]

My current saw is a Stihl, made in Brazil and came with an inherent starting problem - so next time I'll be looking at Husqvarna or maybe Shindaiwa (Japanese).

Definitely do a course in chainsaw operation and maintenance, you'll be surprised what you'll learn.

[SteveAndBelle]

Wow, what a great response !! Thanks to all who replied.

It seems it's a no-brainer. Either a non Brazilian Stihl (if they exist these days) but most probably a Husky as I've heard nothing bad about them both here and word-of-mouth.

Combine a 50cc Husky with a 18-20" bar, a decent chain sharpener, a heap of good quality PPE and a TAFE course and I think I'll be set !

Thanks again guys, just the advice I needed !

[echnidna]

Stihl & Husky are the preferred chainsaws of the pro's

I prefer the Husky as Stihl vibrates a lot more than a husky.
This is important if you spend hours using it, which sounds likely.

[SteveAndBelle]

Super. Just did a bit of research and found the Husqvarna 450e to probably be the best suited (http://www.husqvarna.com.au/node1556.aspx?pid=12452)

Not cheap at $899 rrp (obviously cheaper once in the shop with cash in my hand) but I'd imagine it'll last for a looooong time. An extra chain to suit will cost about $40-$45 (handy) and I might save my dosh & hassle and get a pro to sharpen the chains whenever needed (as I'll have two anyway).

Gonna have a look at it on the weekend and will probably buy sometime within the next month or two. Exciting :)

Thanks again.

[SteveAndBelle]

Update

I just found the next model up (Husqvarna 455 'Rancher') which is basically the same but with a bit more oomph on eBay for less than the price quoted above for the lesser model. It's from a Melbourne seller and has a 'Buy It Now' price of only $683.00 including postage !

Not bad. I might be tempted by that methinks :)

[Planned LScape]

Don't forget to not wear undies and pants under your protective chaps...it makes for great Village People impressions!

[SteveAndBelle]

Village People ? I think I'll pass thanks ;)

Well, I just bought a chainsaw thanks to the advice I got here. It's the Husqvarna 455 'Farm Tough' model with the 55cc engine, 3.4hp and a 20" bar. I got it from an eBay seller in the US for only AU$570 including postage. Amazing !!

The only thing I'm guessing I'll have a problem with is if I need to make any warranty claims but at that price I don't mind having to pay for any repairs :) I may also get hit with some import duty which I'm prepared for but have never been hit with it in the past when buying large expensive items from the US. We'll see ...

All I've gotta do now is book the course & get all my PPE.

Thanks again ! Great site.

[SteveAndBelle]

Definitely do a course in chainsaw operation and maintenance, you'll be surprised what you'll learn.

Yep, couldn't agree more !

I just did my Chainsaw course today (Interlink Training) and learnt all the basics including safety, safety, safety, general maintenance & chain sharpening ... oh and then a bit more safety ;) We then went out and did some cuts on some old (yeah, pre-CCA) hardwood electrcity poles that have been sitting in the yard for about 20 years. I did a basic cross-cut, a rip-cut along the grain and then the scariest of all a few plunge cuts right through the pole ! When I say 'scary' I mean it was scary to watch the others do it first as you could see the saw trying to kick back and the chain flex but once I actually did it for myself it wasn't too bad. I still need to practice my correct stance and remember to grip with my thumb all the way around and not out on top like a car steering wheel. Definitely worth every cent though, highly recommended !!

Now a few more questions for you pros out there. I need some hardcore PPE and other bits and pieces including:

- Decent pair of Protective Pants or Chaps
- Decent Hard Hat with Ear Muffs, Mesh Face Visor & neck flap
- Decent chain sharpening & bar cleaning kit to suit Husqvarna
- Husqvarna chain to suit 20" bar (to alternate with other chain)

Anyone got any secret places to get all this good gear ? I'm guessing I could just go to my local Husky reseller but just thought you guys might know somewhere better.

Also, I don't mind sharpening the chain by hand however I've seen some small cordless sharpeners on eBay. Anyone know if these are any good ?

[ledbe]

heya,

In the Canberra region, lots of saw users around here with open fires.

I've been through this decision recently - I originally had a no brand chainsaw 20" bar, which I got about 20 - 30 hours out of before it started to become useless (starting problems, broken start coil, clutch issues). I got my moneys worth out of it, now it sits on the shelf.

I did the rounds looking at the husqi's and the stihl's. I also asked around... I heard nothing but good things about the stihls.

So I ended up buying a stihl farmboss 320, it wasn't cheap... but I have chopped up a 2 year supply of firewood with it... so it has paid for itself. I've got confidence that it will keep paying for itself for a long time.

I get long engine run times, it starts within 3 pulls every time, the parts are sturdy and the advice from the stihl shop is good.

Consider a couple of things, buy extra chains that you can keep sharp and swap. The chaps are an excellent idea, expensive but its proportionate to how long you spend sawing.

Getting the stihl was refreshing and no regrets!!

Ben