chainsaw to buy

bigfella567

hi all,
looking at buying a chainsaw for cutting up firewood for my own use as well as cutting down trees on other peoples land to sell as fire wood. i have roughly 500-600 to spend on chainsaw . what should i buy ? i hear stihl and husqvarna are best . but i have also used oleo mac before and i quite like it. the trees are fairly big around 2 ft or a little more so what ever you think is best ? i'm only a newbie to the chainsaw market so i need some advice.

thanks in advance!
bigfella567.

case956tom

im in the market for a chainsaw too at the min,its going to be a stihl anyway, looking at a ms 261 seems to be a nice light saw,pricey though.

TomOnBoard

If youre going to be cutting trees of 2 foot or more diameter, youll need one helluva long bar and the power to drive it. Such a saw from Stihl (eg ms461 or ms660) would cost you an arm and a leg ( no sick pun intended :-)) You certainly wont want to try and drive a 24 inch b/c with a 261. That sells with a 18 inch b/c max.

case956tom

TomOnBoard wrote: »

If youre going to be cutting trees of 2 foot or more diameter, youll need one helluva long bar and the power to drive it. Such a saw from Stihl (eg ms461 or ms660) would cost you an arm and a leg ( no sick pun intended :-)) You certainly wont want to try and drive a 24 inch b/c with a 261. That sells with a 18 inch b/c max.

already have a 044 just wanted something a bit smaller/lighter with a bit of power for smaller trees.

TomOnBoard

case956tom wrote: »

already have a 044 just wanted something a bit smaller/lighter with a bit of power for smaller trees.

Sry. My post was for BigFella..

kay 9

372xp. You would pick up a good s/hand one for that money..

Sam Kade

bigfella567 wrote: »

hi all,
looking at buying a chainsaw for cutting up firewood for my own use as well as cutting down trees on other peoples land to sell as fire wood. i have roughly 500-600 to spend on chainsaw . what should i buy ? i hear stihl and husqvarna are best . but i have also used oleo mac before and i quite like it. the trees are fairly big around 2 ft or a little more so what ever you think is best ? i'm only a newbie to the chainsaw market so i need some advice.

thanks in advance!
bigfella567.

Have you qualifications and insurance for cutting timber on other peoples land?

Jonty

Can you also budget for some PPE?

Alexthegrater

I realise it's a risky business, but if you have any mechanical aptitude, you can buy secondhand. I bought a Husqvarna 50 with starting issues but good compression on eBay, and just rebuilt the carb. It's an original Swedish chainsaw 1990's vintage and is absolutely bulletproof, being pre Electrolux, and it's easily the equal of later model flimsy chainsaws. There are a lot of chainsaws bought that only do intermittent light work out there, and may have sat in a garage for 10 years.

bigblackmug

Husky 50 in the nineties is an Electrolux era saw. You'll see EM with the date stamp on the inside of every plastic part of that saw. Doesn't mean it isn't a good saw.
They're a good farmer's saw.

Nekarsulm

Electrolux back as afar as the early 90's. Nothing wrong with that. Ask anyone with a 61.

Alexthegrater

bigblackmug wrote: »

Husky 50 in the nineties is an Electrolux era saw. You'll see EM with the date stamp on the inside of every plastic part of that saw. Doesn't mean it isn't a good saw.
They're a good farmer's saw.

Didn't know that Electrolux owned them that far back.. You're right, good farmers saw, simple and tough.

Nekarsulm

Actually the 61 that I have has an Electrolux Plate on it, and it was bought in 1984.

bogman_bass

I picked up a Jonsered cs 2238 in Oliver goughs in Navan for 299. If you arent going felling might be a good option

Oldtree

A stihl 026 has done a lot of work for me over the last decade and has much to recommend it, much lighter than my 044 which is a right beast as I put a shorter bar on it.

Aln_S

Anyone know much about the new generation Husquvarna? Was looking at one the other day. 550XP. A pro model? Supposedly reving 20% faster so 20 % more cutting speed & comes to full revs 20% faster.
Price tag discounted is €750.

Is this just sales blurb or the real deal? Worth the money?

Reindeer

Aln_S wrote: »

Anyone know much about the new generation Husquvarna? Was looking at one the other day. 550XP. A pro model? Supposedly reving 20% faster so 20 % more cutting speed & comes to full revs 20% faster.
Price tag discounted is €750.

Is this just sales blurb or the real deal? Worth the money?

€750 is 560xp territory. That 550 should be a lot less. I have liked the ones I have tried. If you're not a pro, the 545 and 555 are worth a look as they are taregted towards land owners, but are otherwise very similar to the 550 and 560.

Oldtree

shop around and don't be afraid to haggle, usually 20% in there leeway. Have online prices (+P&P) in the back pocket to use as a hammer.

monkeynuz

If you are planning on going on to other peoples land you will need chainsaw tickets and insurance and full ppe.

For 2' diameter logs you could use an 18" bar but a 372xp is a terrific saw and will cost around €900 I think although I bought mine a few years ago.

I have heard good and bad about the new generation saws from husky.

And yes husky have been owned by Electrolux for ages and they are sister company to jonsered iirc the two factories were next to each other but they couldn't share development so jonsered used to wait for the new husky to come out and then copy it best they could!

CJhaughey

monkeynuz wrote: »

If you are planning on going on to other peoples land you will need chainsaw tickets and insurance and full ppe.

For 2' diameter logs you could use an 18" bar but a 372xp is a terrific saw and will cost around €900 I think although I bought mine a few years ago.

I have heard good and bad about the new generation saws from husky.

And yes husky have been owned by Electrolux for ages and they are sister company to jonsered iirc the two factories were next to each other but they couldn't share development so jonsered used to wait for the new husky to come out and then copy it best they could!

There is no two factories, Husqvarna and Jonsered are the same factory since the late 70's
Only difference is the colour and the straight handle on the Jonsered.
Any built in Sweden saws have the same EM cylinders Mahle pistons etc.

Reindeer

monkeynuz wrote: »

And yes husky have been owned by Electrolux for ages and they are sister company to jonsered iirc the two factories were next to each other but they couldn't share development so jonsered used to wait for the new husky to come out and then copy it best they could!

Electrolux divested itself of Husqvarna in 2006. Electrlux bought Jonsered to acquire technology and market share Jonsered had in the late 70's(much of which was in the states). You could argue it was more Husqvarna 'copying' Jonsered for that. When Husqvarna went about on their own(with the help of investment groups), they took Jonsered with them.

Aln_S

Reindeer wrote: »

€750 is 560xp territory. That 550 should be a lot less. I have liked the ones I have tried. If you're not a pro, the 545 and 555 are worth a look as they are taregted towards land owners, but are otherwise very similar to the 550 and 560.

Thanks. Will look into a few more prices beyond my local.
Not a pro but would pay for a strong saw to have for a long days work every so often.

Rovi

Aln_S wrote: »

Anyone know much about the new generation Husquvarna? Was looking at one the other day. 550XP. A pro model? Supposedly reving 20% faster so 20 % more cutting speed & comes to full revs 20% faster.
Price tag discounted is €750.

Is this just sales blurb or the real deal? Worth the money?

I've been using a 550XP for a couple of years now, and I adore it!

Apart from 1 broken brake band a few weeks ago, it's been utterly reliable.
As it's an early model, the original brake band had a slot in it where it anchors to the case, which it where it broke. The new version doesn't have the slot, and is supposed to be much more robust.

Anyway, it spends almost all its time wearing a 13" bar, and is a joy to use in hardwood and softwood thinnings.

It's an absolute screamer


My brother has a Stihl 026, also with a 13" bar, and while it's a perfectly adequate saw, it's nowhere near being in the same league for power, speed, and throttle response as the 550.
He got a loaner of a Stihl MS261 for a couple of days recently while the 026 was waiting for a part, and while it's a big step up from the 026, I don't consider it to be the equal of the 550.
It's feels about as powerful when buried in a full cut, but the throttle response is a good bit slower, and it's heavier.

Reggie.

Anyone any dealings with the ama make of saw

Sir Arthur Daley

Reggie. wrote: »

Anyone any dealings with the ama make of saw

I was told thet they are just another brand of chinese saws e.g macdillion. Open to correction though.

bogman_bass

I see an ad for chadwicks in Navan for a hyundai chainsaw. 56cc and a 20" bar for 169 :eek: anybody have any experience with them?

Sir Arthur Daley

bogman_bass wrote: »

I see an ad for chadwicks in Navan for a hyundai chainsaw. 56cc and a 20" bar for 169 :eek: anybody have any experience with them?

A rebranded Zenoah, another chinese beauty.

Nekarsulm

well when you condider that a 56cc Stihl/Husky/Johnsred/Solo price rsnge starts about the 475 Euro mark, this gives a fair idea of the quality of the 170 euro offering.

Nekarsulm

Got a very clean 170 off ebay.co.uk for 78 sterling, plus about 12 delivery. Dont rush into buying, and dont buy Chinese.

TomOnBoard

Sir Arthur Daley wrote: »

A rebranded Zenoah, another chinese beauty.

Two unhelpful associations here:

Firstly, Hyundai is not a Chinese company- It is South Korean, and produces some very good, if bland, cars etc.

Secondly, whilst I know nothing abt. the quality of their saws, Zenoah is Japanese, NOT Chinese.

This kind of lazy mis-information annoys me! Just because something comes from the Far East doesn't mean that it is automatically rubbish!

CJhaughey

Sir Arthur Daley wrote: »

A rebranded Zenoah, another chinese beauty.

Zenoah aren't Chinese, they are Japanese saws and high quality saws at that.
Lots of clones out there of everything, Stihl,Husky and Zenoah. Some of them are pretty close copies and if you don't know what you are looking at you could be suckered.
As everything backup is key, no good putting your saw in the shed and finding out when you really need it that the petrol has rotted the carb diaphragm and fuel lines and the parts are no longer available.
A non running saw isn't very useful even as an ornament.
Oleomac/Efco would be a good saw for an average user who doesn't want to buy pro level stuff.
962 is a good saw for the money and very well built.
Good parts backup as they are made in Italy.

Sir Arthur Daley

TomOnBoard wrote: »

Two unhelpful associations here:

Firstly, Hyundai is not a Chinese company- It is South Korean, and produces some very good, if bland, cars etc.

Where did i say Hyundai was a chinese company, i said the hyundai chainsaw is a rebranded zenoah.

Secondly, whilst I know nothing abt. the quality of their saws, Zenoah is Japanese, NOT Chinese.

I need to do my research better on that, always thought they were chinese.

Just because something comes from the Far East doesn't mean that it is automatically rubbish!

I along with alot of other people with years of operating/servicing and repairing have yet to use a chainsaw that came from the far east that was any good, I never judged any of them to any pro stihl or husqvarna, I judged them to home owners saws to which most of the far east stuff claims it is, saying that i have seen them with pro stickers.

Nekarsulm

The older all metal Echo were a good Japanese saw. Makita branded saws now built in Germany , having bought Sachs Dolmar.

Reindeer

Sir Arthur Daley wrote: »

I need to do my research better on that, always thought they were chinese.

They are firmly in bed with Husqvarna, to boot:

http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=880921

Echo, Shindaiwa, Zenoah, all make quality saws for professional service. I have used a ported Echo in logging without any issues. Since at least one Zenoah is rebranded as a Husqvarna, saying they aren't up to Husqvarna quality is a bit disingenuous. Both Stihl and Husqvarna make plasticky nearly junk 'homeowner' lines of saws that I wouldn't bother repairing, if I had the choice, let alone using for any sort of work, pro or not.

http://www.husqvarna.com/us/products/professional-chainsaws/543-xp/

http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/chainsaws/62311-zenoah-4300-543xp.html

CJhaughey

Husky actually bought into Komatsu-Zenoah to get their Strato tech.
Not long after that Husky bought out their first Strato saws.
In my experience most Japanese saws are pretty good, some are better than others performance wise but in terms of build quality they are very solid.

Aya xxv

Hi in the same boat here my stihl 310 finally gave up the ghost after 10 years labour so looking at a stihl 391 demo for 600 or a husky 362xp for 600 plus vat. Stihl has 20' bar husky 24'. I've always had stihl but local tree surgeon who always had stihl has gone to husqvarna and says the difference is unreal. Thoughts???

Oldtree

Don't do it

CJhaughey

My local TS got a 362xp and reckons its an animal.
Very light on juice as well which makes a difference over a days cutting.
I have its daddy the 262xpg which is still pretty grunty for a near vintage saw.

sandydan

was reading this as an AMA(18" bar , no timber thicker than 15" to cut) i purchased just stops cutting , bar heats up and chains stops completely, cant figure out what to do, waste of money, thinking of purchasing something for handy use, can't figure what

Sir Arthur Daley

sandydan wrote: »

was reading this as an AMA(18" bar , no timber thicker than 15" to cut) i purchased just stops cutting , bar heats up and chains stops completely, cant figure out what to do, waste of money, thinking of purchasing something for handy use, can't figure what

There are alot of saws on donedeal at the moment, older husqvarnas and stihls from the good era.

pollocks

Looking at the husky 435 on offer at the moment at €325 . Anybody any opinions on it before I hand over some cash tomorrow at the ploughing ??

Sir Arthur Daley

pollocks wrote: »

Looking at the husky 435 on offer at the moment at €325 . Anybody any opinions on it before I hand over some cash tomorrow at the ploughing ??

It will be a grand saw for occasional use for cutting firewood etc, try and get it with a 13 inch bar, any bigger imo will only deaden it.

pollocks

Sir Arthur Daley wrote: »

It will be a grand saw for occasional use for cutting firewood etc, try and get it with a 13 inch bar, any bigger imo will only deaden it.

Yeah that's all I intend to use it for. I've a few fallen trees around the farm need tidying up.

Sir Arthur Daley

pollocks wrote: »

Yeah that's all I intend to use it for. I've a few fallen trees around the farm need tidying up.

That saw will do nicely, its a good deal too. Push them to throw in some oil etc to sweeten the deal more.

case956tom

sandydan wrote: »

was reading this as an AMA(18" bar , no timber thicker than 15" to cut) i purchased just stops cutting , bar heats up and chains stops completely, cant figure out what to do, waste of money, thinking of purchasing something for handy use, can't figure what

is the chain being oiled?neighbour had a tanaka saw with an Oregon bar, chain used to do the same as you describe oil wasn't getting to the chain even though he cut grooves to the bar oil holes.

pollocks

Sir Arthur Daley wrote: »

That saw will do nicely, its a good deal too. Push them to throw in some oil etc to sweeten the deal more.

They are throwing in €100 worth of freebies: gloves, fuel and oil combi can and a litre of aspen fuel. It's a good offer alright.

sandydan

case956tom wrote: »

is the chain being oiled?neighbour had a tanaka saw with an Oregon bar, chain used to do the same as you describe oil wasn't getting to the chain even though he cut grooves to the bar oil holes.

well what i do to check is rev saw and face chain at wall and oil is definitely spattering off it , its going out of reservoir but that would/could be just leaking so i check against wall. needs fill of oil same time as petrol, maybe bar is too long is see advice given that long bar deadens saw , mine is 18". oregan chain/ some one suggested getting self or auto sharpening chain, anyone got an opinion on that.

Reggie.

sandydan wrote: »

well what i do to check is rev saw and face chain at wall and oil is definitely spattering off it , its going out of reservoir but that would/could be just leaking so i check against wall. needs fill of oil same time as petrol, maybe bar is too long is see advice given that long bar deadens saw , mine is 18". oregan chain/ some one suggested getting self or auto sharpening chain, anyone got an opinion on that.

18" bar is long enough for anything. Learned that meself this year

sandydan

Reggie. wrote: »

18" bar is long enough for anything. Learned that meself this year

im wondering is it too long ,new saw ama €280,quoted while ago. comes now with 16" Oregan bar and chain,fella i spoke to recons chain sharpener/grinder unless very careful reddens teeth and destroys temper ,said a blade of grass is enough to destroy edge in that case. sells stihl as well but reckoned hiring man to cut timber would be better without good amount of work at price.

Reggie.

sandydan wrote: »

im wondering is it too long ,new saw ama €280,quoted while ago. comes now with 16" Oregan bar and chain,fella i spoke to recons chain sharpener/grinder unless very careful reddens teeth and destroys temper ,said a blade of grass is enough to destroy edge in that case. sells stihl as well but reckoned hiring man to cut timber would be better without good amount of work at price.

Yeah I've an am a. A right little saw

sandydan

Reggie. wrote: »

Yeah I've an am a. A right little saw

is it working fine, no issues. how new