chainsaw

LeoHughes

what is your opinions on the EFCO chainsaws, any good

Never wrestle with pigs

Made in Italy. Probably not bad but only ok. Spent the last few weeks looking at chainsaws as I was sick of the heap of scrap I had. (Some cheap Chinese crap)
Looked at still and husky, asked a friend that is in the forestry game and he said husky so I went with that. I got a 545xp think is the number can't remember lol. Anyway it was 700 all in with a few bits thrown in. Best investment ever. It should be a good piece of kit that should be there for many years.

LeoHughes

Never wrestle with pigs wrote: »

Made in Italy. Probably not bad but only ok. Spent the last few weeks looking at chainsaws as I was sick of the heap of scrap I had. (Some cheap Chinese crap)
Looked at still and husky, asked a friend that is in the forestry game and he said husky so I went with that. I got a 545xp think is the number can't remember lol. Anyway it was 700 all in with a few bits thrown in. Best investment ever. It should be a good piece of kit that should be there for many years.

good few made in china too

husky looks a good buy but expensive

deccydohc

LeoHughes wrote: »

good few made in china too

husky looks a good buy but expensive

Husky saws last for years though, easy to get replacement parts (compared to some chinese or smaller saw manufacturers.

It really depends what you are planning on doing with the saw? Do you need a professional grade one?

blackbox

LeoHughes wrote: »

what is your opinions on the EFCO chainsaws, any good

The name sounds like a rip off of Echo.

zetecescort

efco and oleo mac are the same as far as I know. fine machines if I'm right

MasFer

I have an Efco strimmer. Italian made. I have it for years now. I have no problems with it, sturdy and well made. Don't about there chainsaws. On Echo, there are Japanese design and built in Japan. I bought one last year. I think it's call Es 420. Happy with it so far nice saw, but haven't use it allot.

shrek008

If you need a chainsaw buy a Stil chainsaw!

Welding Rod

I have an Efco 151 chainsaw. It’s well over 20 years now. 18 bar. It’s probably a bit on the heavy side compared to modern saws which can be tiresome when using for a long time.
However a great saw. Never a bit of bother. I recall when I bought it new, equivalent Stihl or Husky was near twice the price.

Qprmeath

Had an Efco chainsaw, bout 10 years very good, only problem I find with it is thats its very heavy.

elperello

Stihl are hard to beat and service, parts back up is excellent.

By the way Lidl chainsaws are Husqvarna made in China.

Who2

They are a good saw, they aren’t a husky or stihl but good all the same.

Cattlepen

Buy Stihl or husky. It stops n ends there. Rest are average. Never regretted buying husky other than the ones the indigenous Irish aboriginals robbed out of my workshop

St.Senan

I have an Efco strimmer. 15+ years old. Never once let me down. Starts first time every time. I love it. It hasn't cost me a cent.

I have a Husqvarna 435 chainsaw for about 5 years. I hate the thing. Hard to start, even when warm. It was a pig from the start. I had it in two repair shops to try and improve it. No joy. I have replaced the recoil starter twice in the past 12 months.

St.Senan

Thanks deccydoh. I am no longer convinced Husqvarna have the same product quality that they built their reputation on. I would be reluctant to get another.

Had to replace a walk-behind lawnmower three years ago. Husqvarna and Honda mowers were side by side in the shop. The Honda were a more robust build. Husqvarna felt light and flimsy. I went for the Honda. I have no regrets. It is solid as a rock.

I have a Husqvarna Forest Technical Helmet. Looks great. Great visor and ear protectors when they stay on. But they protectors come off/fall off so easily. The problem was there from when I took them out of the box. It is a bad design and bad quality implementation.

ADKELMAC

Buy a brand that is well established.
In the long term you'll be better off. Its hard to pass a Stihl or Husqvarna. The Japanese stuff is good too, the engines will excellent but it's the add on parts like strimmer shaft couplings, switches etc that would catch you out.

I have a small Stihl saw, 22 years old. It needed a repair last year, new barrel and carb. Genuine parts still available at short notice. Atkins in Cork serviced & repaired it. I Didn't even recognise it when I collected it they had it so clean. It's better than it than it ever was. Starts on the first pull and enough power to do most jobs.

Father has two Husgvarnas, one of them nearly 30 years old. Still going strong.

Father in-law has a very large Stihl saw he bought in 1978. It needed a repair a few years back, no problem repairing it.

Buy a good saw and look after it.

rlady

Although it has been about 2 years, some things have not changed. What does not change is the issue of choosing a quality chainsaw. There are many electric saws on the market. I did a lot of research too. My father-in-law bought an Oregon chainsaw for his little work in the garden and is perfectly satisfied. However, this does not mean that the Stihl brand will be bad. I just made a suggestion.

Fine Day

Got to use a Tanaka saw lately from a friend, was well impressed. It was an 18 inch. Great power in it and very light. Not sure what they are like in the long therm. Not a budget saw mind you I think it was only 100 or two cheaper than a Stihl equivalent.

mythos110

I have a small Jonsred (16") saw for the last number of years. Lovely light saw. Many of the same parts as a husky as far as I know. Have a larger Stihl (20") for the bigger stuff. Both fine saws which have proven very reliable. I'd rate the Jonsred at least as good as a Husky but probably a bit cheaper

Xtrail14

LeoHughes wrote: »

good few made in china too

husky looks a good buy but expensive

Stihl are made in China too so what’s your point.

endainoz

I've had a Titan for a few years now, had no issues with it. I don't see the point of buying an expensive brand if your only going to be using it a few times a year.

Track9

Reckon my Saw should be a Hall of Fame or such like.
It's a Partner 40 yrs old,50 cc engine had a New Carburreor a few yrs back & still runs like clock.
I think Partner was another one of those Reliable Saw makers that got hoovered up by the Big Players.

SmartinMartin

mythos110 wrote: »

I have a small Jonsred (16") saw for the last number of years. Lovely light saw. Many of the same parts as a husky as far as I know. Have a larger Stihl (20") for the bigger stuff. Both fine saws which have proven very reliable. I'd rate the Jonsred at least as good as a Husky but probably a bit cheaper

Hang on to your jonsered, them and the sthils are the best saws ever made, I have one of each. Having said that, I also have a lidl saw that I just love, it starts even easier.

Fine Day

I was thinking of trading in our Stihl 029 as it is heavy and takes a good few pulls to get it going. My dad bought it new in the mid 90s. Saw is prefect still. Reading these reviews on new saws I think I will hang onto it.

older by the day

Jays I don't know lads, I cut a few trees but seven hundred for a stilh or husky is steep. If you keep the chain sharp and the mix strong a cheaper saw will cut a few trees for an average farmer

SmartinMartin

Theheff wrote: »

I was thinking of trading in our Stihl 029 as it is heavy and takes a good few pulls to get it going. My dad bought it new in the mid 90s. Saw is prefect still. Reading these reviews on new saws I think I will hang onto it.

Might just need a new plug. Leave it in to a small engine shop for a service, they'll get it running right again. Ask around, there'll be somewhere near you.

Denny61

I've a stihl for 24 years. And still as good as day I bought it. Its a heavy saw but that's cos good quality stuff in it..you leave it on a tree to cut.no pressure needed as weight goes through it like butter..

rlady

Denny61 wrote: »

I've a stihl for 24 years. And still as good as day I bought it. Its a heavy saw but that's cos good quality stuff in it..you leave it on a tree to cut.no pressure needed as weight goes through it like butter..

I strongly agree stihl brand is a brand that has proven itself for years. But last year a friend bought Dewalt 60V. Previously, he was using a stihl saw. He mentioned that the Dewalt brand is at least as good as the stihl brand.

bogman_bass

Once the next generation of battery saws comes out i’m Investing. 2 stroke engines are a balls of a yoke

CJhaughey

older by the day wrote: »

Jays I don't know lads, I cut a few trees but seven hundred for a stilh or husky is steep. If you keep the chain sharp and the mix strong a cheaper saw will cut a few trees for an average farmer

True but when stuff wears out as it does with a chainsaw, parts for no name brands are difficult or impossible to get.

CJhaughey

bogman_bass wrote: »

Once the next generation of battery saws comes out i’m Investing. 2 stroke engines are a balls of a yoke

Not really, they are still great for long sessions.
If its only a few bits that need cutting Battery is fine, for all day cutting you can't beat a good two stroke saw.
Given decent maintenance a good quality saw will last a very long time, new plug every season, fresh petrol and a good quality oils both chain and mix and a few sharp chains and a clean air filter and that's all they need.

elperello

CJhaughey wrote: »

True but when stuff wears out as it does with a chainsaw, parts for no name brands are difficult or impossible to get.

You have a point for saws that get a lot of use.

Parts and service back up is important in that case.

With no name brands as long as you can get bars and chains you should get a good run for your money.

harwester

It's a cool brand and chainsaw. I advise to you.