Chainsaw recommendation - new bargain model or second-hand 'proper' make?

Duffryman

Hi all

I need to buy a chainsaw to deal with some old trees that toppled during the winter, and will also need to chop up a few more that are due to be felled or topped soon. There'll be quite a bit of cutting in the short term but then the saw mightn't be needed again for years.

So, what would anyone advise between the following two choices:
A ProPlus 50cc 20" cutting bar, available in my local hardware for €239 and online for as little as €179 with free delivery:
http://watsonhire.ie/?product=20-pro-plus-chainsaw

OR

A second-hand Stihl saw from another place nearby that does 'proper' makes. Choices right now include a 40cc 14" bar for €300 and a 40cc 16" bar for €320. They say both come with new chains. Don't know how negotiable the prices might be.

Any advice please?

BreadnBuddha

It's a complete waste of time and money buying those bargain bucket chinese saws, new or not. They're not intended for any kind of regular use, more for the sort of fella who might put 20 hours of use on it in its entire life.

Put it this way, if you spend a couple of hundred quid on a chinese own brand piece of rubbish, it'll be worth 50-100 quid in 6 months if you want to sell it. You could run it for 30 minutes and that's all it'll be worth. Keep it for 5 years and need a part for it and it's time to put it in the bin.

If you spend 300 quid on a good quality Stihl/Husqvarna/Jonsered/Dolmar/Solo/Makita/Shindaiwa, it'll probably still be worth that in 6 months time if it's looked after. Need a part? Go to a dealer or order online, OE or aftermarket and know you'll have a good chance of getting it, especially if it's a saw made in the last 10-15 years.

Whatever takes your fancy but don't go paying too much for a homeowner grade saw either just because of the make. Stihl/Husqvarna both have dogs in the range that are no better than the chinese rubbish I'm knocking.

Duffryman

Lol..thanks...I think!

Was all set to go for the second-hand 'proper' make until your last line saying that they have some right dogs too...and knowing so little about it, I'd probably end up with a dog...ah well........

BreadnBuddha

Well, I'd suggest checking out what the model numbers of the saws are and maybe put them up here and all the lads will give you their tuppence on them.

I'm a husky man myself so I'd know which models are well worth the asking and which are better overlooked. There's others here (who will be reading this) that know their stihl saws and so on.

If that dealer has any of the following and will look after you I'd be happy to recommend:

51 or 55, probably a 50 while I'm at it but not any lower double digit numbers like the 36, 40 etc. (Except the 42, a different machine entirely)
350
445
450
455

You're not likely to see others offered for a few hundred I wouldn't think. None of those are pro saws but they all do a good job (a 55 is a big favourite of mine as it's a pro build quality) without a big price tag.

Others that you might find, but that are probably getting a bit old/worn out would be:

42/242/246/254

Not all of these are XP saws, but if you happen to find one in great condition for a price you're happy with, have a second look.

All nice saws but parts are getting hard to find now for some of the things that wear out.

Needless to say, don't buy any saw no matter what the seller has to say if the serial number tag is defaced or missing. No good can come of it. Not saying you would, but worth saying in case it wouldn't cross your mind to look for a tag otherwise.

..Brian..

Hey Lads,

What would you recommend second hand around the €150 mark? I need to get rid of a load of evergreen trees lining the drive way of the house and around the garden. The trunks would be up to about 15 inches in diameter I'd guess.

Thanks!

tinofapples

BreadnBuddha wrote: »

It's a complete waste of time and money buying those bargain bucket chinese saws, new or not. They're not intended for any kind of regular use, more for the sort of fella who might put 20 hours of use on it in its entire life.

Put it this way, if you spend a couple of hundred quid on a chinese own brand piece of rubbish, it'll be worth 50-100 quid in 6 months if you want to sell it. You could run it for 30 minutes and that's all it'll be worth. Keep it for 5 years and need a part for it and it's time to put it in the bin.

If you spend 300 quid on a good quality Stihl/Husqvarna/Jonsered/Dolmar/Solo/Makita/Shindaiwa, it'll probably still be worth that in 6 months time if it's looked after. Need a part? Go to a dealer or order online, OE or aftermarket and know you'll have a good chance of getting it, especially if it's a saw made in the last 10-15 years.

Whatever takes your fancy but don't go paying too much for a homeowner grade saw either just because of the make. Stihl/Husqvarna both have dogs in the range that are no better than the chinese rubbish I'm knocking.

What specifically would be the "dogs" you speak off ? Just this afternoon I visited a Husky dealer and was looking at the 236. His reaction told me enough without him actually saying very much. He said he'd recommend the 136/7 over the 236 anyday. He didn't say the 236 was a bad saw but didn't offer any praise either. It was priced at €250, the 136/7 was €330 and a secondhand (2009 1 owner) 455 (I think) was also €330.

I suspect the 236 might make your list of "dogs" , no ?

BreadnBuddha

tinofapples wrote: »

What specifically would be the "dogs" you speak off ? Just this afternoon I visited a Husky dealer and was looking at the 236. His reaction told me enough without him actually saying very much. He said he'd recommend the 136/7 over the 236 anyday. He didn't say the 236 was a bad saw but didn't offer any praise either. It was priced at €250, the 136/7 was €330 and a secondhand (2009 1 owner) 455 (I think) was also €330.

I suspect the 236 might make your list of "dogs" , no ?

Yes, the 236 is one to miss. I wouldn't pay 330 for a 136 either, not by a long shot. Either of those at 150ish would be worth a thought but not at those prices.

A 455 at 330 is an okay deal if it's coming from a dealer with new bar and chain and a little bit of warranty. If it's clean and tidy and in budget that's what I'd buy out of the 3 you list.

Just had a look on donedeal and this is one that'd be worth a look if you're any way close:

https://www.donedeal.ie/gardenequipment-for-sale/51cc-husqvarna-saw/11928266

It's an old model but simple to look after and handy to get parts when they're needed. You'd do a lot worse.

tinofapples

It was a 135 rather than 136, if there's any difference ? I see it can be bought online with free delivery for 255 , stihl ms 170 for 265. Any of them better than the other and more importantly any good in general for light use considering the price ?

sandydan

local coop were doing a special offer on stihl ms391 for €650 ish , got one as birthday present :D, didn't use it yet

Duffryman

Just since somebody else has brought this thread up again....

OP here, with the end to my own particular tale. I did something that the 'proper' chainsaw users on here definitely wouldn't recommend, and ended up buying a Ryobi saw off DoneDeal for €75.

It did the job I wanted it to with no problem at all, and as I said at the top, it could now be years before I need to use a saw again, so I'd rather have a €75 yoke hanging around doing nothing than a €500 one.

Horses for courses, I suppose.....

timfromtang

Duffryman wrote: »

Just since somebody else has brought this thread up again....

OP here, with the end to my own particular tale. I did something that the 'proper' chainsaw users on here definitely wouldn't recommend, and ended up buying a Ryobi saw off DoneDeal for €75.

It did the job I wanted it to with no problem at all, and as I said at the top, it could now be years before I need to use a saw again, so I'd rather have a €75 yoke hanging around doing nothing than a €500 one.

Horses for courses, I suppose.....

Aye a right decision I'd say,
Now that ryobi will reward you well, if you drain its fluids an put it away properly, it may well perform nicely for you in the future too, even the crappiest tools can be made to work reasonably well with a little finesse and perhaps repair/modification.

For my own part, i use a cheapy lidl chainsaw grinder (modified and lightly used it has lasted 2 years now), it gets used often, regularly as i manage a 100 acre forest.
Also whilst our main saws are expensive forestry grade Stihl's we do on occasion use an old yellow cheapy saw was once partner or mccullogh branded but now contains parts from both. Old tired an really crappy cheapy tool, but cos we mind it (fixed the crappy chain tensioner etc) an keep it sharp, when we need that "extra" saw now and again there it is.

tim

Duffryman

Thanks Tim. I drained the saw all right, cleaned it up as much as I could, and did all the other 'textbook' stuff before putting it away in the garage. Hopefully it'll work again all right if I ever need it.

And you never know...I might even get €70 for it myself on DoneDeal in a year or two if I do decide to try move it on.....!