Cheap chainsaw

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Not really a subject for a photography forum, but any recommendations for a chainsaw. Need to chop some branches that have already been felled. Approx 4-5 inch diameter, could be electric or petrol. I'd rather pay extra than take a risk.
 
Archie747 said:
Not really a subject for a photography forum, but any recommendations for a chainsaw. Need to chop some branches that have already been felled. Approx 4-5 inch diameter, could be electric or petrol. I'd rather pay extra than take a risk.
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Unless you plan on chopping up branches quite often, wouldn't it be cheaper to just hire one?
 
Or a sharp axe?
 
Archie747 said:
Not really a subject for a photography forum, but any recommendations for a chainsaw. Need to chop some branches that have already been felled. Approx 4-5 inch diameter, could be electric or petrol. I'd rather pay extra than take a risk.
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Roughly how many cuts are we talking about, altogether?
 
I have a Bosch electric, not cheap but not expensive. I also have the proper chain-stopping chaps, gloves and protective helmet, and a decent saw horse. It's gets enough use to justify the cost.

If it's the only job you're likely to use it for, get a decent bow saw or find a friend who already has a chainsaw and the gear. Most of my neighbours know I have the saw (and a woodburner) so I'll occasionally get a call to help out with a fallen branch or unwanted tree and I'm happy to help as it usually means getting at least some of the wood to go into the log store.
 
I had a McCulloch 435 for 12 years, worked well until I managed to crack the casing :)

Now using a Hyundai HYC3816, nice and light but with a good bit of grunt
 
If possible consider using a handsaw. Apart from the chainsaw there is, as alluded to above, other gear - proctective gloves and trousers, visor, some means of supporting/holding the branches for cutting and the knowledge to use the chainsaw safely.

Used incorrectly there is the potential for very serious injury.

Dave
 
Had a chainsaw a while back, and it was useful on some smaller trees in the garden. But it was expensive and a little scary to use. It constantly needed the chain to be adjusted, and it is surprising how quickly a chain needs replacing.
Would not bother with one again. A good bow saw and loppers do a pretty good job.

PS

Would definitely not recommend a cheap chainsaw ( poor quality and potentially dangerous ) . If going to get one, spend a little more, and get a quality machine.
 
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This is the current model equivalent of the saw I use,
https://www.bosch-garden.com/gb/en/garden-tools/garden-tools/ake-35-s-3165140465410-199968.jsp

£75 from B&Q (good price for this model), but you've getting on for £150 to add to that to get the gear you need to operate it safely (chaps/leggings, helmet with visor, gloves, steelies if you haven't got any already), plus a spare chain, chain maintenance tools and chain oil. That's the budget option with risk minimisation. Anything cheaper is skimping on the safety. And have you used a saw before or seen one used correctly?

Bow saw.. you know it's the right thing for the job. Spend a bit on a very good blade and the job will be less effort than you think. It's nasty, blunt, badly set blades that put folk of hand-sawing.
 
Chain saws are lethal in the hand of a novice.
Don't go there.....

I use either loppers, bow saw, or to cut into 11 inch lengths I can just feed my large band saw though the workshop door. But even that can kick, if you are inexperienced.
 
Thanks everyone. I have come to my senses and will use a bow saw, a reciprocating saw and a sliding mitre saw, all of which I already have. Thinking of cutting up the branches, which are not too wide, to edge a raised border.
 
Chainsaws are fine, but require appropriate working practices - certainly nothing to be afraid of, any more than electricity or cars. And there's a certain pleasure in running a saw through a big log, feeling it gradually cut its way through.
 
Grab an erbauer reciprocating saw from screwfix..great bit of kit.I have one and its had alot of use and will go through large logs easily with decent bosch blades in it.
 
thats the one! couldnt be without mine its a superb bit of kit for the price when on offer as it is now at 49.99. I've really abused mine from logging to demolition etc and still going strong just use decent bosch blades
 
I have an old Titon reciprocating saw which uses old battery technology and is pretty useless. Just bought a Ryobi version which is better quality and uses lithium batteries, but the supplied blade is poor. I have ordered some Saxby blades but will probably end up with Bosch.
 
some heavy duty loppers could maybe do the trick 5-6" diameter branches
 
You'll be really pushed to find loppers that'll cut anything bigger than 2". Many can't even do that.
 
StuartH said:
thats the one! couldnt be without mine its a superb bit of kit for the price when on offer as it is now at 49.99. I've really abused mine from logging to demolition etc and still going strong just use decent bosch blades
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Can these machines cut through the likes of 7" and 8" thick wooden logs etc...?
 
They are ok but the bosch blades are far toothier for rough cutting and very sharp.Heres couple of pics of some laurels I took down couple of years back to give you an idesa of what it can do.


 
excuse the weeds and crap pics I just went out and snapped them quickly
 
No problem youll be amazed at how much you will use it!
 
macvisual said:
Thanks for the info from both Toni and Stuart I've finally got round to buying (today 24/12/16) the reciporcating saw along with the Bosch blades from my local Screwfix.

Happy holidays...

Thanks guys!
Peter
Scotland
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Don't be tempted to use it after lunch tomorrow, they don't mix well with alcohol!
 
I used my reciporcating Clarke Contractor saw and USA made MK Morse blades for cutting down branches and also cutting 4x4 posts for my fence and also cutting down some very thick hedge roots and it did the job fine.

Great blades, solid and will also cut through steel which I did for an old rot iron fence. Handy for cutting wood that may have screws or nails in it.

DSC_0732.JPG
 
Too late now but I have a B&D Alligator that has been fine for occasional use
 
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