Best Chainsaw for Farm Use

patsy_mccabe · 13-04-2021 7:16pm

Ya, definitely don't get a one-handed chainsaw. Accident waiting to happen. They are meant for tree surgeons, as said above. They are trained to use them right.
That's the danger with a very light 2-handed saw, you will be tempted to use it with one hand. I had an uncle who was doing just that till I told him he had no protection from kickback.

13-04-2021 11:38pm

farmer2018 wrote: »

Have a Aldi saw atm its crap..

Any work gear that german discounters sell is cat, be it saws, wrenches, gardening gear, drills etc

Can't go wrong with husqvarna or stihl. Husqvarana has nice electric saws aswell

14-04-2021 9:04am

Deleted User wrote: »

Any work gear that german discounters sell is cat, be it saws, wrenches, gardening gear, drills etc

Can't go wrong with husqvarna or stihl. Husqvarana has nice electric saws aswell

Aldi and Lidl honour their warranties. When the prices are low you can find yourself surprised by the quality.

endainoz · 14-04-2021 9:23am

Ive had a titan cabin saw bought cheap from screwfix about five years ago, still going perfect. Bought a good quality file with it to, maintenance is key as others said.

Bass Reeves · 14-04-2021 9:45am

minerleague wrote: »

Bought one myself, have a huskvarna 61 that must be 35 years and still going strong, hard to move to another brand after that. Found last few years a bit heavy for me now if using all day ( do a bit of hedgelaying / coppicing every winter ). As you say 550xp seemed to be a good compromise between weight and power, although I find the noise a good bit more high pitched than the 61. Bought better ear protection.

Bought a new saw this year for that reason. Got a Sthil MS251 traded my old Sthil in against it got 200 euro of a trade in. My old say was an MS 370 I think. Rang around and got a lad that would take trade ins.

I laid a hedge with it in February and have cut a few loads of timber.

farmer2018 · 19-04-2021 10:48am

Question for the experts-on my Aldi chainsaw the chain tension screw in the cover it will only screw half way on the thread toward the bar therefore leaving my chain loose. Is the tension screw is the issue as I cannot remember if it threaded fully before?

http://www.einhelltools.co.uk/pdfs/store/glpc41ug.pdf

This is the chainsaw above

Also what is the correct chain oil to use?

minerleague · 19-04-2021 12:11pm

farmer2018 wrote: »

Question for the experts-on my Aldi chainsaw the chain tension screw in the cover it will only screw half way on the thread toward the bar therefore leaving my chain loose. Is the tension screw is the issue as I cannot remember if it threaded fully before?

http://www.einhelltools.co.uk/pdfs/store/glpc41ug.pdf

This is the chainsaw above

Also what is the correct chain oil to use?

Might have to take out link in chain if tension screw tightened to last
Just get chainsaw bar / chain oil here

farmer2018 · 25-05-2021 4:53pm

What's peoples thoughts on this saw?

https://www.lidl.ie/en/p/great-gardens/50cc-petrol-chainsaw-500mm/p12826

charlesodowd · 25-05-2021 4:59pm

Have a Makita DUC353

Also have plenty of other Makita tools, hence plenty of batteries.

Highly recommend a battery saw, brand would depend on what platform you are already on. Does all I want comfortably.

Always wear all the safety gear. It might be quiet, but it would still absolutely destroy you.

So handy to just pull the trigger and away she goes, no servicing or letting you down when you need it most.

25-05-2021 7:29pm

farmer2018 wrote: »

What's peoples thoughts on this saw?

https://www.lidl.ie/en/p/great-gardens/50cc-petrol-chainsaw-500mm/p12826

It looks like a cloned Husky 51 from a distance.
It has .325 chain which is more aggressive and should work well.
crankcase looks to be aluminium.
I assume it will come with a 3 year warranty.
@149 euro I'd buy one just out of curiosity.

The saw stand for 22 quid looks like a great offer as they are hard to get if you go looking for them.

patspost · 25-05-2021 7:34pm

I would like to do a chainsaw course, been using one for years the odd time and am probably lucky that I've not injured myself.
What type of course & duration do people recommend?

Ard_MC · 25-05-2021 9:45pm

farmer2018 wrote: »

What's peoples thoughts on this saw?

https://www.lidl.ie/en/p/great-gardens/50cc-petrol-chainsaw-500mm/p12826

Bought one a few months ago. Only use it for light work. But happy with it. Can take an extra pull to start sometimes but that's about the height of it.

Dinzee Conlee · 26-05-2021 9:29am

farmer2018 wrote: »

What's peoples thoughts on this saw?

https://www.lidl.ie/en/p/great-gardens/50cc-petrol-chainsaw-500mm/p12826

I think I bought the same saw for 99euro a few months ago.

I haven't used it much, but the small bit I have done it seems ok... Its heavier & noisier than a huskvarna saw we have, but its probably half the price too...
For occasional use, I found it ok...

26-05-2021 10:20am

Dinzee Conlee wrote: »

I think I bought the same saw for 99euro a few months ago.
I haven't used it much, but the small bit I have done it seems ok... Its heavier & noisier than a huskvarna saw we have, but its probably half the price too...
For occasional use, I found it ok...

More like a third of the price of the equivalent powered Husqvarna.

jmayo · 26-05-2021 11:57am

charlesodowd wrote: »

Have a Makita DUC353

Also have plenty of other Makita tools, hence plenty of batteries.

Highly recommend a battery saw, brand would depend on what platform you are already on. Does all I want comfortably.

Always wear all the safety gear. It might be quiet, but it would still absolutely destroy you.

So handy to just pull the trigger and away she goes, no servicing or letting you down when you need it most.

Speaking to Husky dealer some time back he mentioned that with the standard batteries you would only get 15/20 minutes if doing any major work.
How long do you get out of the Makita with say a pair of 18V 5 Ah batteries that you would use in a saw or drill ?

I know Makita own Dolmar in Germany so does anyone know are the electric chainsaws made by Dolmar or Makita itself?

Anyone hear ever use Tanaka kit ?

Have a strimmer of theirs and it isn't at all bad, touch wood.

charlesodowd · 26-05-2021 12:24pm

jmayo wrote: »

How long do you get out of the Makita with say a pair of 18V 5 Ah batteries that you would use in a saw or drill ?

Depending on what you're at, would get around 30 mins of reasonably intensive use from a pair of 5Ah's. Like for example cutting up a small tree that had fallen.

As it is only using 'fuel' when you are pulling the trigger, ie no idleing, times are usually longer than expected. I'd always have a few spare pairs available if the job looks like it'll take a while. Keeping the chain sharp would also help maximise energy efficiency.

It would eat up power fairly quickly if you were cutting up reasonably thick hard wood at the limit of it's capacity.

Suitable for light work, and some medium stuff here and there, so ideal for farming. If you're planning to knock or log a large tree best leave it to the pros.

Saw alone works out about 200-250, if you don't have batteries or a charger you could double that. Wouldn't make sense to have it unless already invested in the platform.

Mine has the tool-less chain tensioning mechanism, wouldn't be a fan of it. Prefer if it had the normal version, when buying tool-less was far more popular so went that way.

monseiur · 26-05-2021 2:49pm

patspost wrote: »

I would like to do a chainsaw course, been using one for years the odd time and am probably lucky that I've not injured myself.
What type of course & duration do people recommend?

FRS in Roscrea, Tipperary run chain saw courses throughout the country.
I think a 2 day cross cutting course may suit you.
You will need specialised PPE which is not cheap (over €250.00) but will last years, boots, overalls, helmet with visor & ear muffs etc.

Denny61 · 26-05-2021 3:00pm

Stihl .without a doubt .I've mine 25 years. No trouble with it .

divillybit · 10-11-2021 8:22pm

Bought a stihl 064 last year off donedeal, took a punt buying it without going to see it as it could have had poor compression but the seller got it couriered to me and I'm very happy with it. Got a max Air flow filter kit for it and serviced it and it's upped the performance even more so it'll be fit to run a 32" bar. Not sure what year it is but probably an early 90's. Needed a big cc saw to cut a few big tree trunks that fell last winter in high winds. Didn't realise how rare these stihl 064/066 saws are and I'd say I could ask twice what I paid and would get it. This one is 85 cc but I'll not part with it.

Had bought a 70cc Husqvarna 365 in 2019 but its not a patch on the old stihl and wouldn't be fit to run a bar longer than 24". I find the bigger 85cc stihl to be more economical and productive.

I think a log holder/saw horse is a good piece of safety kit if you're cutting firewood too and saves the back too. Have one here a few years and it's paid for itself several times over

farmer2018 · 31-03-2022 6:19pm

Any use the

Any use this chainsaw before? They were in Lidl recently.

JoeCasey · 31-03-2022 7:03pm

We bought that Lidl saw a few months ago, great saw for 89 euro I think it was. Perfect for light work. Don't know how long it would last if I was doing 8 hour days however.

Easten · 31-03-2022 7:22pm

I had a petrol lidl one before. It was ok, plenty power. It would get very hot during sustained use, the exhaust box started to glow orange for a finish. I got it for 80 euro, was 90 but used a voucher at the time. The saw is still going today but will refuse to start once it gets used for a while which is a sign of piston wear. It was my handy go to saw for small jobs until I purchased the lidl battery chainsaw, I haven't used the petrol one since.

31-03-2022 7:47pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118862602#Comment_118862602

It isn't a sign of piston wear. It is a sign of vapour lock and is the reason why many better saws separate the tank/handle from the engine block.

Either that or the ignition/coil breaks down when hot but I'd still go with vapour lock.

farmer2018 · 01-04-2022 12:29am

Can someone please recommend me a good all round reliable saw that will cut for a day no problem.

divillybit · 01-04-2022 12:39am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118863968#Comment_118863968

What's your budget @farmer2018?

I was looking at a new 50cc ish stihl as my small chainsaw (I already have a 100cc saw), couldn't justify the price of a brand new saw, but a good 2nd hand Stihl would be my recommendation. I bought a ms250 stihl off DoneDeal about 6 months ago for 250 euro but checked it thoroughly before buying it.

farmer2018 · 01-04-2022 12:55am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118863988#Comment_118863988

I'd spend up to 350/400

wrangler · 01-04-2022 8:01am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118863968#Comment_118863968

I've a stihl 291, a lovely saw, bought it a mth ago for €734, I had a 1995 stihl, that was getting shook. not a lot wrong with it, but the service guy lost interest in it it needs a clutch and he reckoned it wasn't worth spending that sort of money on it.

monseiur · 01-04-2022 2:34pm

Check out the Stihl MS251 a nice size lightweight saw, weighs 5 kgs. Has an 18'' Bar, will cut 16'' logs easy. Cost approx. €600.00

If not abused should last 15 to 20 years.

patsy_mccabe · 01-04-2022 3:49pm

I bought the Stihl MS170 from Donegans in Donegal. Cost me $245 delivered to Clare in 2020. Pissed off when it arrived and saw it was made in China. It's a good saw though so far. Lovely and light for limbing etc around the farm.

I see it's €319 now. Those Lidl saws won't last. Made of cheap plastic. Uncle had one and he had to throw it away. Can't get parts for them either.

STIHL MS 170 Chainsaw - Donegan's Garden & Leisure

farmer2018 · 01-04-2022 5:00pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118866529#Comment_118866529

Will it cut heavy timber?

patsy_mccabe · 01-04-2022 5:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118866818#Comment_118866818

12" bar.

divillybit · 01-04-2022 6:39pm

https://www.donedeal.ie/gardenequipment-for-sale/stihl-ms-261-chainsaw/30748890

For your budget and to get a good decent saw you'd probably need to look at 2nd hand saws. This one on done deal looks OK, could have been rebuilt as the colour of the handle is different to the main body of the saw.

farmer2018 · 05-10-2022 2:02pm

Can someone please help me, I bought a 53cc chainsaw in Lidl 2 weeks ago, I have used it a few times now problem. I have tried to start it the last few days, the first evening it started after several tries revd high by itself when start but when I touched the throttle lever it kept cutting out, the last two latest times I have tried to start it wont start. I have the correct mix etc. Advice welcome.

blue5000 · 05-10-2022 2:35pm

Take it back.

archer22 · 05-10-2022 3:14pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118866529#Comment_118866529

Actually parts for Chinese made saws are very easy to get Aliexpress has just about every part for small money....also they sell parts for most western made saws.

For example my old crap of an American Partner 352 chainsaw is kept running on parts bought from Ali..it would have been binned long ago without them.

divillybit · 05-10-2022 5:55pm

I've no experience with cheaper saws, I'd always buy stihl myself. It's easy enough to flood a chainsaw. When starting have it in the choke position, give it a few pulls till it coughs like it's about to start then close off the choke to the half choke position. It should start after another pull or two. The saw will run fast if it does then fire up but if you then throttle it then it should click off from the half choke position to the normal run position.

The low idle and low jet may need adjusting either if it idles ok but stops if you try throttle it.

Count Mondego · 08-10-2022 9:53am

I bought a second hand Stihl ms271 farmboss for around 300 quid last year. Hard to justify spending 800 on a new one when you're only cutting for a day or two a year. It's a great chainsaw.

Best Chainsaw for Farm Use

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