Chainsaw?

kevthegaff · 04-10-2012 08:53AM #1

Well girls and boys, wondering about a chainsaw for the farm. i wont be cutting big trees that often, mainly just firewood and bits and bobs. I was thinking of a husqvarna 445, what ye think? dont wana spend too much on it either maybe 250-350.

. I kno a lad with a very bix pro saw and a small one and he uses the small one 90% of the time. What cc should i look for too?

sh1tstirrer · 04-10-2012 10:26AM

I bought an aldi chainsaw for the same use as yourself and it does the job fine. It cost €100 with 3 years guarantee. You wouldn't cut down a forest with it but it's fine for light work.

ootbitb · 04-10-2012 10:35AM

30-40 cc, 16in. bar

I used stihl for many years then changed five years ago to Jonsered.

next saw will be another Jonsered.

karrimor · 04-10-2012 12:38PM

sh1tstirrer wrote: »

I bought an aldi chainsaw for the same use as yourself and it does the job fine. It cost €100 with 3 years guarantee. You wouldn't cut down a forest with it but it's fine for light work.

but it is impossible to get part for a aldi chainsaw

reilig · 04-10-2012 01:38PM

karrimor wrote: »

but it is impossible to get part for a aldi chainsaw

3 year warranty is tempting though. €100 is a small investment for something that you are guaranteed 3 years out of. Don't have one myself, but bought an electric aldi chainsaw for a relation lately and its a pretty sturdy machine for €70.

JohnBoy · 04-10-2012 02:04PM

karrimor wrote: »

but it is impossible to get part for a aldi chainsaw

wasnt it the case that last year the aldi chainsaw changed, and it was a mcullogh in aldi clothing, and parts should be no bother for them.

iverjohnston · 04-10-2012 03:13PM

Hi kevthegaff,
lots of good saws out there, for €250 you will be restricted to smaller new saws. The most important thing in my opinion, is a top class supplier and backup. He will often have a selection of good used saws, that he will stand over.
You will use a small saw a lot more than a 65 to 85cc "Pro" saw. I have a stihl 044 and a little Stihl 170. The 170 is the perfect tool for fencing, cutting ivy off trees, clearing back scrub etc( and only €100 off ebay).and you can carry it all day. If you are doing firewood sawing mainly, a bigger one will be easier on itsself.
Just dont get caught by one of the Chinese copy "stihl" or "Husqvqrna" currently being flogged around markets and car boot sales. Looked at one in Cavan car boot sale last sunday, and only I have a genuine MS170 Stihl at home, I wouldn't have known the difference. I would be happy with Husqvarna, stihl, jonsered,Echo,Solo,Makita.

One other point, most makers have a few lines. home use, semi-professional (or farmer) and professional. Best to stick to the semi professional. And buy a pair if chainsaw boots, and a pair of "Type C, class 1" trousers. A neighbour recently cut his leg above the knee,right through the bone. He lived and kept the leg, but €100 looks cheap now. Iver in Cavan

ootbitb · 04-10-2012 04:46PM

very good point about the safety trousers, found this:

Chainsaw protection trousers are defined by EN 381-5. There are three types of leg protection:
Types A and B are intended for professional chainsaw wielders during usual wood harvest duty. Here, chainsaw protection is primarily limited to the front side of the legs.
Type C is to be employed by persons who usually do not use or are only expected to use chainsaws under exceptional circumstances.
Here the protection covers both front and rear side of the legs.
Chainsaw protection trousers are divided into 4 classes -
Class 0 - 16m/s
Class 1 - 20m/s
Class 2 - 24m/s
Class 3 - 28m/s

04-10-2012 06:54PM

reilig wrote: »

3 year warranty is tempting though. €100 is a small investment for something that you are guaranteed 3 years out of. Don't have one myself, but bought an electric aldi chainsaw for a relation lately and its a pretty sturdy machine for €70.

If you only need a small saw buy the aldi one. If you only do a small bit of work it will do you a lifetime. if you do a lot it will breakdown within the 3 years and they will give you your money back, then buy another one and off you go again.
I have bought a few husqvarna 61 off ebay over the last 6 months, great chainsaw, powerful, old but very well made, they can be bought for 100-150 delivered to your door

Richk2012 · 04-10-2012 06:59PM

reilig wrote: »

3 year warranty is tempting though. €100 is a small investment for something that you are guaranteed 3 years out of. Don't have one myself, but bought an electric aldi chainsaw for a relation lately and its a pretty sturdy machine for €70.

Personally i think Aldi are a bit of a hit or miss job .
Iv bought bits off them over the years such as sets of spanners , a trolly jack and an air compressor which are all still working fine , (touch wood) .

However i bought a wallchaser and screw gun at the same time and they were total rubbish .
Burnt both of them out in a two week peroid .
Having said that , once you keep the receipt its a refund , no issues .
So i suppose buying some of the work-gear is worth a gamble

sh1tstirrer · 04-10-2012 09:39PM

karrimor wrote: »

but it is impossible to get part for a aldi chainsaw

Parts can be got from the UK. It's the 45cc model I know of a few people that have them a few years and have no problems with them. For €100 you can't go wrong even if it gave up after 3 years that's €33.33 a year plus maintenance and running costs, it will hardly break you.

CJhaughey · 04-10-2012 10:12PM

FFS whats your time worth?
You get setup on a good day to do some work with a saw, with a good saw you can work all day and the saw won't miss a beat especially if you have several sharp chains.
You try the same thing with a POS Aldi or Lidl saw and after an hour or two it gives up the ghost.
Yeah sure you can go and get your 100 euro back but what about the job?
Is your time worth so little that you can afford to stop work for the day forget the setup and go and get your money back from the Supermarket that you got the chainsaw from?
If you have need for a saw at least make it a good one not some lump of **** that will break down in 6 mths.
Plenty of good older saws around that have years left in them, not months.

sh1tstirrer · 04-10-2012 10:34PM

CJhaughey wrote: »

FFS whats your time worth?
You get setup on a good day to do some work with a saw, with a good saw you can work all day and the saw won't miss a beat especially if you have several sharp chains.
You try the same thing with a POS Aldi or Lidl saw and after an hour or two it gives up the ghost.
Yeah sure you can go and get your 100 euro back but what about the job?
Is your time worth so little that you can afford to stop work for the day forget the setup and go and get your money back from the Supermarket that you got the chainsaw from?
If you have need for a saw at least make it a good one not some lump of **** that will break down in 6 mths.
Plenty of good older saws around that have years left in them, not months.

True if you want to cut down a forest on the other hand if you only have small bits and pieces like the op has the aldi chainsaw will do fine.

CJhaughey · 05-10-2012 07:11AM

sh1tstirrer wrote: »

True if you want to cut down a forest on the other hand if you only have small bits and pieces like the op has the aldi chainsaw will do fine.

Last I looked he was a Farmer. Thats a profession not a hobby.
If he can afford to feck about with mickey mouse stuff then that says a lot about the kind of operation he runs.
This is the Farming/Forestry forum, people that come here asking for advice should be at a certain level.
If they want advice on gardening theres a forum for that.
I've rebuilt lots of saws over the years, Huskies,Stihls,Solo, Shindaiwa, Oleo-mac etc.
The cost difference between a good secondhand saw and a POS is negligible and the power and longevity is huge.

kevthegaff · 05-10-2012 08:31AM

What about something like a husky 435 with a 16" blade?

JohnBoy · 05-10-2012 08:42AM

CJhaughey wrote: »

Last I looked he was a Farmer. Thats a profession not a hobby.
If he can afford to feck about with mickey mouse stuff then that says a lot about the kind of operation he runs.
This is the Farming/Forestry forum, people that come here asking for advice should be at a certain level.
If they want advice on gardening theres a forum for that.
I've rebuilt lots of saws over the years, Huskies,Stihls,Solo, Shindaiwa, Oleo-mac etc.
The cost difference between a good secondhand saw and a POS is negligible and the power and longevity is huge.

Jeesus CJ, relax yourself.

Are you aware that some farmers have only got tillage crops which for a lot of the year require nothing to be done to them?

Or suckler lads with nothing but dry cows to be fed and checked for the winter?

Hell even a good dairy farmer in all year round milking should be relatively free and easy during the afternoons in non peak times.

Not everyone is chasing their tail all day long, nor is everyone interested in rebuilding saws.

And would you care to post some tips on what someone with little/no experience of chainsaws should look for to identify a "good" second hand saw?

iverjohnston · 05-10-2012 09:07AM

Hi, kevthegaf, a Husky 435 or 445 would be excellent, but your not going to get a new one for under €400 I think, or a good bit more for the 445. Super saws though! I have a Husky 61 my dad bought new in 1984, typical farmers use, a few days hard work a year, then nothing for months. It has had a new carb about 15 years ago,( the guy using it reackoned himself an expert, and buggered up the adjustment screw seats) and a secondhand silencer some a few years later. Its had a tree fall on it, bounced around in a pick-up, and generally used and abused. still a powerfull saw and allways starts on 7th pull. (6 with choke out, then choke in, and away it goes) No chain brake on it, however. I have never used an Oleo-mac, but I have one of their strimmers, and thats been good for me. Still reackon your better dealing with an expert saw guy, rather than the local Co-op or wherever. Iver in Cavan.

iverjohnston · 05-10-2012 09:28AM

Hi again Kevthegaf,
If you are a bit of a gambler, have a look at this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/STIHL-MS028-AVEQ-Wood-Boos-SUPER-18-Chainsaw-024-MS240-026-MS260-TOP-Working-/300786657253?_trksid=p4340.m1982&_trkparms=aid%3D555001%26algo%3DPW.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D29%26meid%3D2522142369423545859%26pid%3D100009%26prg%3D1013%26rk%3D4%26sd%3D251159773537%26

Super saw, if you win the auction, you will have a better saw than any supermarket model, and if it has undisclosed problems, at least you will get to know your nearest dealer!
Iver
PS Stihls with a white handle, are professional grade models, black handle one more for the home owner, light occasional user.

kevthegaff · 05-10-2012 11:55AM

theres a 435 with a 15" bar at mcquinnans in dublin for 416inc vat what ye think?

sh1tstirrer · 05-10-2012 02:09PM

JohnBoy wrote: »

Jeesus CJ, relax yourself.

Are you aware that some farmers have only got tillage crops which for a lot of the year require nothing to be done to them?

Or suckler lads with nothing but dry cows to be fed and checked for the winter?

Hell even a good dairy farmer in all year round milking should be relatively free and easy during the afternoons in non peak times.

Not everyone is chasing their tail all day long, nor is everyone interested in rebuilding saws.

And would you care to post some tips on what someone with little/no experience of chainsaws should look for to identify a "good" second hand saw?

Charlie must have got out the wrong side of the bed this morning, he's very ratty

kevthegaff · 05-10-2012 03:33PM

kevthegaff wrote: »

theres a 435 with a 15" bar at mcquinnans in dublin for 416inc vat what ye think?

Well lads what ye think of this?

iverjohnston · 06-10-2012 09:13AM

Well Kevthegaff, It should be a fine machine.Going to cost a bit above your original budget, but you would have a tool that should last decades. Husqvarnas website show it at about 430 plus vat, so you are about spot-on with price, allowing discount etc.
A new farm saw tends to be very heavily used for a month or so, and then the work tails off to occasional use. If you use good 2 stroke oil and mix it carefully, your engine should last thousands of hours. Iver in Cavan.

kevthegaff · 06-10-2012 09:17AM

iverjohnston wrote: »

Well Kevthegaff, It should be a fine machine.Going to cost a bit above your original budget, but you would have a tool that should last decades. Husqvarnas website show it at about 430 plus vat, so you are about spot-on with price, allowing discount etc.
A new farm saw tends to be very heavily used for a month or so, and then the work tails off to occasional use. If you use good 2 stroke oil and mix it carefully, your engine should last thousands of hours. Iver in Cavan.

sound iver gona buy it monday morning:)

iverjohnston · 06-10-2012 09:40AM

Kevthegaff, congratulations,

Please price protective trousers and boots, they might do a deal for you. (don't go bidding on thr Stihl trousers I'm after on ebay!)
Best of luck, and stay saffe.

Iver in Cavan

iverjohnston · 07-10-2012 06:51PM

http://www.acresinternet.com/cscc.nsf/58ec3441cc7c095d88256cfa001be33a/4dd78966a42572ee88256cfa004db71a?OpenDocument

tinofapples · 20-03-2013 10:28PM

Anyone any experience or opinions on either a Proplus 20" 50cc saw at €169 or a Homelite 20" 51cc one for similar money ? Impossible to get any details on the Proplus and I believe the Homelite is an American saw. Looking to get one within a €250 budget for light domestic use. If the lidl or aldi one was available soon I would probably take a chance on one of them.

Any opinions or recommendation ? I would consider 2nd hand but would be unsure as to how well it may or may not have been looked after.

sully123 · 21-03-2013 04:52PM

lidl have an electric on on sale now. 70 yoyos i think.

tinofapples · 21-03-2013 04:58PM

sully123 wrote: »

lidl have an electric on on sale now. 70 yoyos i think.

Thanks for the reply buddy but I'm after a petrol one now. I've had a florabest electric and ryobi electric in the past. The florabest stopped working (Receipt misplaced) and I sold the ryobi a few months ago on adverts. Would like the power and portability of the petrol saw now.

jmrc · 21-03-2013 05:34PM

buy quality and it will always be serviceable.... I still have a MacCullagh Mac1010 in the shed bought new in 1971... a new chain and bar every fer year and away you go again. Always starts on the 7th pull, remember to run the tank dry if your leaving it up for a while and that way you can put fresh petrol/mix in when you need it.

"A lad that cuts his own firewood warms himself more than once"

tinofapples · 21-03-2013 06:53PM

jmrc wrote: »

buy quality and it will always be serviceable.... I still have a MacCullagh Mac1010 in the shed bought new in 1971... a new chain and bar every fer year and away you go again. Always starts on the 7th pull, remember to run the tank dry if your leaving it up for a while and that way you can put fresh petrol/mix in when you need it.

"A lad that cuts his own firewood warms himself more than once"

Husqvarna 135 with 14" bar on ebay based in louth for €210 + delivery of €15.

Might be best bet.

GY A1 · 21-03-2013 07:19PM

tinofapples wrote: »

Anyone any experience or opinions on either a Proplus 20" 50cc saw at €169 or a Homelite 20" 51cc one for similar money ? Impossible to get any details on the Proplus and I believe the Homelite is an American saw. Looking to get one within a €250 budget for light domestic use. If the lidl or aldi one was available soon I would probably take a chance on one of them.

Any opinions or recommendation ? I would consider 2nd hand but would be unsure as to how well it may or may not have been looked after.

its around september that Lidl have their one,
got one myself 2 years ago and its A1 for occasional use, just added a new bar and chain there, for 100 euro
learn how to sharpen the chain and ur sorted, even better having a spare chain

Chainsaw?

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