Chainsaw recommendation please

[nic531]

I use a couple of still, on eis 12 years young and the other bought second hand 10 years ago and about 18 years old.
I used to have a small ryobi and bought the still when it stopped running and a local shop said unrepairable (needed a new carb and they were unobtainable). few weeks later saw a thing on the internet about them... special £1.50 tool later and adjusted the carb and it was working agin.... however just gathering rust as I like the stills far more

 

[Apthorpe]

Thank you! Bit over budget though

Stihl is the most economic option. Otherwise you'll buy something else unsatisfactory, and only then perhaps realise that Stihl was the answer.

My dad used to do what you want to do here. Complete fale economy.

 

[Cyres]

Also remember if your leaving the saw unused for a while you need to have either stabilised petrol in it or synthetic fuel. E10 buggers up plastic and rubber components over time. You can get stabiliser from Screwfix/Toolstation.
D

 

[Sakoodin1]

Stihl or husqvarna/jonsered.

As above! Pay a bit more and get the xp models though! Even if it’s just a firewood saw or a hobby thing you are doing the professional line are more robust and will last a lifetime! You will get one of them second hand for that money. Just make sure you know who it’s came from and its age, most professional boys will change on 6 months to a year so if it’s been looked after it will do you grand

 

[J9Ned]

I'd buy a brand close to you. Support local and easy support for you. Another vote for echo though. I've got a CS310Es for small stuff and a CS501SX for the bigger. Love them, was Husky for 30 years but echo's have the edge IMO

 

[RJD]

Cool so I have two options I think

Online in BF
Husqvarna 135 II 14" Chainsaw

Or at Ernest Doe locally

Echo CS-310 14″ Petrol Chainsaw | Ernest Doe Shop

ECHO’s CS-310ES is a lightweight, extremely well-balanced rear handle chainsaw. It has a premium grade 30.5cc Power Boost Vortex™ engine for both power and durability. The top-mounted air filter is…

www.ernestdoeshop.com

I love your thoughts

 

[paul o']

A 181 Italian a nice size very usable if its nothing to big your up against mine is happy with sleeper size jobs

 

[Ratten]

Husqvarna are complete junk now, the 1 series were never that good anyway and just had the sticker on.
But even the pro grade saws are rubbish now, unfortunatrly i still have quite a few in my van and f##cking hate them.

If u really really want an orange saw 1 or 2 companies are importing 353s brand new to uk which were a bloody brilliant saw

The small stihls 170s or 180s are really very very good for the money.
Most of the local fencing companies round here use them, while there not worked hard they are completely neglected and abused and just keep on running.

If u go for a cheaper make like efco, mittox, solo i'd only buy from a dealer that services and fixes them.
Thre is some good budget brands out there.
But in honesty there not much cheaper than the wee stihls.

With any off those small cc saws the trick is to learn how to sharpen them and keep them sharp.
U do need to look after ur files as the small dia can snap if ur putting to much pressure on a blunt file.

Good to know. We're still using my dad's Husqvarna 44 (about 40 years old now) and it's great - light and powerful for nearly everything. But yes, Stihl seems to be the go to these days.

 

[Craigsaun]

Good afternoon, as a full time fencing contractor a reliable saw is a must . I ran stihl 181 for many years and after about a year and a half I always found the same problems with them . I now run husqvarna 135 and in my opinion they are miles ahead. It’s just a nicer saw to use and has more power , and always starts even when it’s been out in the rain all day. I have to admit that I don’t keep any of my saw’s longer than 2 years as these saws today aren’t a patch on the old saws

 

[Outback]

My old saw is a Swedish built 135 X-Torq , I think there was a lesser quality saw built as a 135 but mine has been great . Run it on synthetic oil as I think it al helps .

 

[RJD]

Good afternoon, as a full time fencing contractor a reliable saw is a must . I ran stihl 181 for many years and after about a year and a half I always found the same problems with them . I now run husqvarna 135 and in my opinion they are miles ahead. It’s just a nicer saw to use and has more power , and always starts even when it’s been out in the rain all day. I have to admit that I don’t keep any of my saw’s longer than 2 years as these saws today aren’t a patch on the old saws

Thank you, that and Black Friday swings it!

 

[countrryboy]

As above! Pay a bit more and get the xp models though! Even if it’s just a firewood saw or a hobby thing you are doing the professional line are more robust and will last a lifetime! You will get one of them second hand for that money. Just make sure you know who it’s came from and its age, most professional boys will change on 6 months to a year so if it’s been looked after it will do you grand

That was the way in the 80s not now, i dont know any pros that sell there saws after 6 months, just too expensive for that nowadays.

Very few modern huskies last much longer than 6-12 months if ur lucky.

In the past ive never bothered wot colour my saws are.
Oranage 1s were definately the best but i always had a few white 1s too.
Now i wouldnae take an oranage saw as a gift.
Unfortunatrly still having to run some and u have no idea how much i hate them now.
Just so unrealible and cobstantly breaking.


Never had an echo but meant to be good saws.

If it was me id be looking for a manual carb, proper old fashioned bolts for the bar ( some wee stihls have a fancy system)
A personal thing for me is i hate outboard/external clutches.
I imagine the wee husky will have that ( most sub 60cc/narrow bar mount huskys do) no idea about the echo.
But stihls are all internal.
The reason i like internal is easier for putting chain on/off.
And esp easy if u get ur saw stuck in a tree, 5 min job to take bar/chain of a stihl and cut it out with ur spare bar/chain.
Get a wee husky nipped its an absolute nightmare to get bar off and u usually have to walk out for ur spare saw.

If not going to get a lot of use be better off on Aspen or the like.
Yes its dearer but u'll save on not throwing 2 stroke away that has gone off, ur only talking a 3 month lifespan or so.

 

[Sakoodin1]

That was the way in the 80s not now, i dont know any pros that sell there saws after 6 months, just too expensive for that nowadays.

Very few modern huskies last much longer than 6-12 months if ur lucky.

In the past ive never bothered wot colour my saws are.
Oranage 1s were definately the best but i always had a few white 1s too.
Now i wouldnae take an oranage saw as a gift.
Unfortunatrly still having to run some and u have no idea how much i hate them now.
Just so unrealible and cobstantly breaking.


Never had an echo but meant to be good saws.

If it was me id be looking for a manual carb, proper old fashioned bolts for the bar ( some wee stihls have a fancy system)
A personal thing for me is i hate outboard/external clutches.
I imagine the wee husky will have that ( most sub 60cc/narrow bar mount huskys do) no idea about the echo.
But stihls are all internal.
The reason i like internal is easier for putting chain on/off.
And esp easy if u get ur saw stuck in a tree, 5 min job to take bar/chain of a stihl and cut it out with ur spare bar/chain.
Get a wee husky nipped its an absolute nightmare to get bar off and u usually have to walk out for ur spare saw.

If not going to get a lot of use be better off on Aspen or the like.
Yes its dearer but u'll save on not throwing 2 stroke away that has gone off, ur only talking a 3 month lifespan or so.

I must be getting oldt, them xp 350’s ain’t a bad saw,I I’ve a couple of them and they are going ok but nothing like the 254’s or the 346’s (I really liked them. We have echo strimmers here and they are a great work horse so I would imagine the saws will be to? Can you still get jonsered?

 

[teyhan1]

What I recommend for my current customers is to have a tub of Aspen. It’s bloody expensive.
At the end of your season (hedge cutters, chainsaws, anything 2-stroke) empty everything out and then refill with Aspen. Prime and run for a bit. At the start of the next season, use the Aspen in the tank and then switch over to normal 2-stroke mix. This way you won’t have to get a bank loan to run your machines.

 

[teyhan1]

Also, Echo are good saws.

 

[Sandy25]

I have an Efco MTH5600, which I got at a discount as was end of line. Brilliant saw, very reliable but maybe slightly on the heavy side.

Now rebranded as Oleo Mac as everyone knows orange saws sell better.....

ATB,

Sandy

 

[countrryboy]

What I recommend for my current customers is to have a tub of Aspen. It’s bloody expensive.
At the end of your season (hedge cutters, chainsaws, anything 2-stroke) empty everything out and then refill with Aspen. Prime and run for a bit. At the start of the next season, use the Aspen in the tank and then switch over to normal 2-stroke mix. This way you won’t have to get a bank loan to run your machines.

I was told by a decent 2 stroke mechanic when aspen 1st came out that mixing aspen and 2 stroke was the worst thing u can do.
He said the 2 interact and knacker the pipes.

I just go old school and run dry if i can.
Bit easier with strimmers leaf blowers as u know when will be used.
With my saws just get left as is, as u never know which saw i need.
I should be better with my milling saws .
But never have any bother, tiuch wood.
Use 95 octsne petrol smd decent 2 stroke pil, always freshly mixed.

 

[5MM/.20Man]

I have a Stihl MS 231 BC . Great little saw .

 

[Hambone]

Stihl (petrol) are good if a lot needs to be done but more and more for just sorting firewood I'm using a Makita battery chainsaw. Works well but I did already have a supply of batteries for other tools.

 

[Disco Stu]

Got fed up with Husky & Stihl, switched to Echo about 4 years ago. Still very happy with them.