I need a new chainsaw

BeeDI

I need a reasonable value chainsaw, for general farmwork and firewood cutting.
I have plenty of mature spruce trees on the farm, which I want to cut say a three per year. Cut down, and cut into logs.
Also lots of ash on the farm with big overhanging branches, which need to be cut etc,. I would hope to be getting enough wood to partially fire two houses. Both houses have oil heating as main supply.
Also general farm tidy up.

So ........... what do the people who know about chainsaws recommend, and how much do I need to budget?

B

ford2600

Use chainsaw a bit more than you intend to, heat 2 homes entirely with firewood. Have 2 saws one is a Husqvarna 350 (50 cc) which I bought about 7 years ago. Rock solid, ideal with 18" bar.
Also picked up a new stihl ms 250 for half price at an auction 2 years ago. Wouln't rate it as good as 350.
Both stihl and husky do "homeownwer", "farmer" and "pro" ranges.

From what I can remember 350 is farmer level and ms250 is top of homeowner range.

Have a look at Jonsered and partner also. www.arboristsite.com is a great source for chainsaw info.

Whatever you buy maintenance is everything with saws, keep good edge up, chain taught, good chain oil, proper mix, clean air filter and clutch bar regularly and a good saw will give next to no trouble.

Don't leave petrol mix sit in saw, when finished return saw to shed dry.

For what you want budget for 500, but shop around. Also use the proper gear to protect lower limbs, eyes, ears etc. 200- 300 might sound a lot but a trauma surgeoun or and ENT specialist wouldn't do much for it.

Be careful knocking anything big

BeeDI wrote: »

I need a reasonable value chainsaw, for general farmwork and firewood cutting.
I have plenty of mature spruce trees on the farm, which I want to cut say a three per year. Cut down, and cut into logs.
Also lots of ash on the farm with big overhanging branches, which need to be cut etc,. I would hope to be getting enough wood to partially fire two houses. Both houses have oil heating as main supply.
Also general farm tidy up.

So ........... what do the people who know about chainsaws recommend, and how much do I need to budget?

B

kay 9

Good post above and if you follow that you wont go too far wrong. For what you're doing I would recommend a 50cube saw such as the ms 260, husky 346xp NE, either with a 15 and 20 " bar should cover everything you need. Preferably the 346 as it's a real well balanced saw and cuts like an ms 260 on steroids;)

Fiskar

Agree with Kay 9, I have an MS261 with a 16" bar and it eats through whatever I present. Went through 14" ash and 12" spruce recently. On a par with the Husky 346XP as it is the pro saw.

kay 9

Fiskar wrote: »

Agree with Kay 9, I have an MS261 with a 16" bar and it eats through whatever I present. Went through 14" ash and 12" spruce recently. On a par with the Husky 346XP as it is the pro saw.

Forgot about that one, held one today actually and a really nice saw in the hands. I just felt it was a little bulkier than the 346 though. However, no need to tune a 261:) They supposedly have slightly more torque than the 346 also.

ford2600

They are top notch chainsaws the previous posters have recommended, the husky 346xp and stihl 361. You'll have to pay more than 500, but in the long run(if that's the way your looking at it) it pays to buy quality chainsaws.

If you can do your own edging and basic cleaning etc you'd probably never need to take the above saws to shop for repair on the use your talking about.

A good non pro saw if cared for also will do you to, nice to have the pro saw though!! Happy cutting

kay 9 wrote: »

Forgot about that one, held one today actually and a really nice saw in the hands. I just felt it was a little bulkier than the 346 though. However, no need to tune a 261:) They supposedly have slightly more torque than the 346 also.

Oldtree

dont forget a felling licence and PPE to go with the lovely new saw.

I have just started using aspen fuel mix lately and its fantastic, also use a bio-degradable chain oil.

http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/forestservice/treefelling/treefelling/

kay 9

Hi oldtree, how do you find the aspen and is it expensive. Seems to be more suited to occasional users as it wont go off. Seen a sticker on some of the new huskies recommending to use aspen. Probably bit pricey though as it is a really a premium fuel. Spillages would be frowned up-on:D

Oldtree

Aspen was €23 for 5 liters and comes with two stroke oil in it. So about 2 1/2 times the price of a petrol and oil mix.

There appears to be no fumes!!! makes a hell of a difference to choking on old mix, which I have to say I miss the smell of. No exhaust/burnt 2 stroke oil throat at the end of the day now.

The saws run very well and the impression I get is "run better", running on first pull and no splutters. i also get the impression of run a bit hotter but not so much thet it matters, but keeping an eye on the exhaust and plastic thereabouts. Have the impression that the aspen burns up a bit quicker too.

Time will tell on the impact on the saws but for the health effects alone its worth it and I wont be returning to petrol. Say you use 5 liters a day, 8 hours, €23 euro aspen or €8 petrol, thats €15 euro more or €2 more an hour, not a lot to add to the price of a job for your health, (same with the bio-degradable chain oil as inhale vaporised spray) (that Nice mr maxol distributer dropped a tub to my back door when passing.)

Yea freak out with spillages as their plastic container could do with improving its delivery system, but I transferred it to a combi can so no spillages.

bit on aspen:
http://www.husqvarnachainsaws.co.uk/acatalog/Aspen_Petrol_Info.html

bulk price aspen from limerick (i've only bought small can in castlebar):
http://www.mower-power.com/shannonside/product.asp?numRecordPosition=3&P_ID=776&strPageHistory=&strKeywords=&SearchFor=&PT_ID=206

maxol bio lube:
http://www.maxolubes.ie/lubricants-products/cat_view/26-lubricants-products/117-forestry/125-maxol-bio-degradable-chain-oil.html

kay 9

Sounds like good stuff but if cutting in the forestry could work out rather expensive. Wikied it there also, apparently it comes from the top of the fuel tanks which is more pure than down lower, no wonder it's so expensive.

Oldtree

I will be up inside leylandii and it used to be a smoke filled environment similar possibly to a windless plantation, I cannot overemphasize the difference of a smoke free day to a smoky day. IMO the price difference is a small price to pay for the health benifits and just feeling better at the end of the day, I sound like a zealot now but I have been totally and absolutly converted.

There is the further reduction in the aspen cost of write off to tax, prsi, vat, etc, so reduce the price by a further 50%, so down to €1.00 hour difference now!!! too little to be called expensive, less than the price of a bottle of water.

All I can say is give it a go and see what you think.

CJhaughey

OP
I think you'd be best off with a 20" bar for the work you seem to be doing, less bending.
I'd look out for a Husqvarna 365, they have a large mount Husky bar which allows a good choice of bars.
In the Stihl line you could go for a MS310 which are a similar cc saw but more plastic.
Jonsered are Husqvarna with a straight handle and a different colour but they don't seem to be bringing the bigger ones in here.

wayoutwest

I agree with CJ- Husky 365 with 20"or 22" bar- loads of power,light for engine size,rugged,comfortable and very reliable. I've had one for 10 years and its never let me down- still starts on 5th or 6th pull every time. Perfect firewood saw and well worth the money in the long run.

BeeDI

I bought the Stihl 261 / 18 inch bar last evening on the way home from work.
Straight home, and ate a huge feed of bacon and cabbage:p

Then I went down the land, and murdered a good size ash tree:D

Twas like a knife through butter:cool:

O.A.P

BeeDI wrote: »

I bought the Stihl 261 / 18 inch bar last evening on the way home from work.
Straight home, and ate a huge feed of bacon and cabbage:p

Then I went down the land, and murdered a good size ash tree:D

Twas like a knife through butter:cool:

Sure after a big feed of bacon and cabbage you'd get it done without the saw started
Glad you got sorted, what did it set you back?

Reindeer

This is Arboristsite's chainsaw-specific forum: http://www.arboristsite.com/chainsaw/

It is a huge huge huge depository of chainsaw knowledge from the homeowner to the professional up to chainsaw racing even.

ford2600 wrote: »

Use chainsaw a bit more than you intend to, heat 2 homes entirely with firewood. Have 2 saws one is a Husqvarna 350 (50 cc) which I bought about 7 years ago. Rock solid, ideal with 18" bar.
Also picked up a new stihl ms 250 for half price at an auction 2 years ago. Wouln't rate it as good as 350.
Both stihl and husky do "homeownwer", "farmer" and "pro" ranges.

From what I can remember 350 is farmer level and ms250 is top of homeowner range.

Have a look at Jonsered and partner also. www.arboristsite.com is a great source for chainsaw info.

Whatever you buy maintenance is everything with saws, keep good edge up, chain taught, good chain oil, proper mix, clean air filter and clutch bar regularly and a good saw will give next to no trouble.

Don't leave petrol mix sit in saw, when finished return saw to shed dry.

For what you want budget for 500, but shop around. Also use the proper gear to protect lower limbs, eyes, ears etc. 200- 300 might sound a lot but a trauma surgeoun or and ENT specialist wouldn't do much for it.

Be careful knocking anything big

Simon 69

Hi all
Im new to this so i hope im doing this ok.
Now your possibly all going to wet your selves laughing when i ask about a chain saw that i found in a skip!!!
Its a Pro Cut, i think the bar is 14 or 16 inch. It has a 34cc motor.
The funyest bit is its unused, there is not a mark on it. The chain teeth are sharp with plenty of meat for resharpening. Took the spark plug out and not a mark.
Im going to see if it will start later.
Where did these come from originaly?
Its almost entirely plastic, very light, spring/ rubber isolated handles, ajustable autolube for the bar and chain.
I know its only a toy compared to others.
Anyone had any experiance with these???

Simon

kay 9

Never heard of them, but after a quick google seen that woodies were selling them some time ago for 200euro. Probably be ok for a homeowner. I wouldn't be putting a 16" on a 34cc saw though. 12-14 be plenty. Even though it looks new it could be scored or something from straight fuel. Hope you're lucky though and let us know how you get on:)

Simon 69

Well i got this "toy" chainsaw up and runing and its bloody great, sliced up a pallet in seconds. Going to try it on some 10 - 25 inch logs next.

intbn

Simon 69 wrote: »

Well i got this "toy" chainsaw up and runing and its bloody great, sliced up a pallet in seconds. Going to try it on some 10 - 25 inch logs next.

Well Simon 69, hows she cuttin for ya now? had any troubles with it cuttin out or over heating?