Chain saw

[persistent king]

Is something like this any good ? http://www.screwfix.com/p/hitachi-cs33eb-35p-35cm-1-67hp-petrol-chainsaw/40957

 

[Firebow Swagger]

Groovy

 

[persistent king]

Haha ,what's wrong with it

 

[chimpy leon]

I regularly use my Sthil MS261. It's a great but of kit that sees some hard use.


If you're going to get a saw then you need a decent helmet with ear defenders and face guard. Class 2 trousers and boots.

I strongly advise getting your CS 30 Cross Cut and maintenance ticket.

+1 Couldn't agree more with that.

Either genuine Stihl or Husqvana will remain faithful providing you maintain them correctly... but obtaining the proper PPE and CS30 training before hand would be highly recommended.

 

[Goatboy]

As for PPE since your only cutting fire wood your not gonna need chainsaw trousers and expensive boots, Just some sort of face guard id recommend and normal steelies.

I'm sorry woodsman but speaking as an ex instructor I think that's a really lax attitude. Occasional users especially don't have the experience and are very likely to have an accident. A chainsaw is more like taking a mincer to someone rather than a wee clean cut. It's simply not worth skimping on the training and gear.
Look up chainsaw accidents on Google images - it's horrific.
Personally I don't think you should be allowed to buy one without a ticket.

ATB.
GB

 

[British Red]

Personally I don't think you should be allowed to buy one without a ticket.

I don't, in fact I think we have far too many laws and regulations already. Qualifications for professional users and mandatory insurance - fine, but if I want to use a saw on my own land to feed my own fire, I really don't need a petty bureaucrat telling me that I can't because "computer says no" - whatever next - an axe licence?


To the OP, get a Husqy or a Stihl, you can't get decent spares for most other makes and the extra spend is well worth it. Get boots, over trousers and a helmet. Get a saw bench for your wood.

Don't dismiss electric - it works very well, I use a Husqy 321EL for cutting firewood in a large barn - its great - no problems with the rain or fumes! Lighter, quieter, just as powerful as a medium saw, easy to put down and pick up when collecting logs from the floor, putting new ones on the bench etc. I do have a large petrol 350 as well, but I cut 15 cubic metres of stacked firewood a year and more than half is with an electric saw.


Here are my under £200 choices for a firewood saw

Electric - Husqvarna 321 EL

http://www.forestandarb.com/Husqvarna_321EL_Electric_Chainsaw.html?gclid=CNKX5MTM4LoCFSrJtAodyC4A1g

Petrol - Husqvarna 135

http://www.forestandarb.com/Husqvarna_135_Chainsaw.html

Seriously - don't buy anything but Husqy or Stihl - when you need a new air filter or chain tensioner screw (as I did this year), you have no chance of getting one unless its a proper make.

Red

 

[Imagedude]

If you are an occasional user then I'd suggest that you use Aspen 2T fuel rather than mixing your own 2 stroke fuel. Aspen will not go off in a week like homebrew 2-stroke fuel and you wont have the worry about getting your ratios correct.

 

[chimpy leon]

For non heavy duty use, the basic Stihl 181 is a cracking little saw that punches well above its weight when you equip the 12/14" bar. Dinky little pico chain chews wood suprisingly fast and sips petrol too.

I need one for myself.

 

[Uilleachan]

If I was a saw novice I'd do the basic chainsaw course, you get taught by someone who has lots of experience and learn the basics for safe operation and handling, cross cutting and felling maintenance etc. You'd learn whats a safe cut and what amounts to death on a stick. You get a ticket at the end of it that you can then use should the forestry operator require such to let you loose on their forestry for cutting fire wood.

 

[wingstoo]

Looks like the same old arguments coming up again...

I have used a chainsaw on and off for light duties for some 10 years, never done a course, though I do have a lot of safety kit most of it never gets worn and amazingly I still have all my fingers and toes, two legs, two arms etc etc, I do wear a basic visor/ear defender when using it, but when standing on level ground in open space cutting logs into manageable lengths I don't use a helmet...I have yet to find a log that can jump up 8ft to be able to come down on my head.


As for type of saw, do you really need to have a "Professional" quality saw for cutting a few logs a few days every month or two, I bought my saw from Argos, it does the job I need it to do, though it is laid up at the moment as I don't have a wood burner or go out into the woods camping so it's in the shed, but I did use it a couple of years back and a little fettling and it worked after being idle for some 3 years.


I use a Spear and Jackson axe when I go camping in the woods, I don't need a fancy named "Professional" axe to cut a bit of fire wood, I have a knife I paid less than a tenner for on my belt for cutting "stuff"...Why pay more for a camping knife...


The important things in life don't have to cost a fortune... And you don't need to go on a "Course" to learn, why not just ask a local woodsman for guidance, worked for me...

 

[Goatboy]

Employment status	Severity	Total
Fatal injuries	0	0	4	0	0	3	0	1	2	10
Non-Fatal Major Injuries	42	30	41	33	24	31	35	30	44	310
Over 3 day injuries	84	92	68	76	69	91	62	78	68	688
Total	126	122	113	109	93	125	97	109	114	1008
Fatal injuries	1	3	0	0	1	1	0	0	1	7
Non-Fatal Major Injuries	5	12	9	7	6	6	7	6	13	71
Over 3 day injuries	5	3	6	7	3	3	5	4	5	41
Total	11	18	15	14	10	10	12	10	19	119
Fatal injuries	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	2
Non fatal to MOPS	12	7	12	13	24	35	25	4	8	140
Total	12	7	12	13	24	36	25	4	9	142
Fatal injuries	1	3	4	0	1	5	0	1	4	19
Non-Fatal Major Injuries	47	42	50	40	30	37	42	36	57	381
Over 3 day injuries	89	95	74	83	72	94	67	82	73	729
Non fatal to MOPS	12	7	12	13	24	35	25	4	8	140
Total	149	147	140	136	127	171	134	123	142	1269

Forestry and logging SIC and Forestry Occupation
[TH="colspan: 9"]Year[/TH]

[TH="class: secondary"]2002/03[/TH]
[TH="class: secondary"]2003/04[/TH]
[TH="class: secondary"]2004/05[/TH]
[TH="class: secondary"]2005/06[/TH]
[TH="class: secondary"]2006/07[/TH]
[TH="class: secondary"]2007/08[/TH]
[TH="class: secondary"]2008/09[/TH]
[TH="class: secondary"]2009/10[/TH]
[TH="class: secondary"]2010/11p[/TH]

[TH="class: secondary"]Employee[/TH]

[TH="class: secondary"]Self Employed[/TH]

[TH="class: secondary"]Member of the public[/TH]

[TH="class: secondary"]Total[/TH]

 

[jdodger]

Im a certified Arborist and have been involved in tree work for the last 15 years and this is a subject I feel quite passionately about. A few threads down it was suggested a novice buy a top handled saw... really...?! No shop is allowed to sell a top handled climbing saw to anyone who hasnt passed CS 38,39 and top handled saws under no circumstances should be used on the ground... Ive seen an heard of so many accidents that happen from untrained operators an I even know of a guy who killed himself as he didn't know how to maintain a chainsaw an the chain came off severing an artery in his neck....! Its each to there own on this but even for a novice and new user I would recommend a basic maintenance and logging course. NPTC or lantra do some basic courses.

 

[Goatboy]

British Red, I have a huge respect for you and what you do, but I feel strongly on this one too. Some things need licencing, others don't.

Do you want a free for all on pesticides, driving cars and bikes, firearms - oh and do HGV drivers really need a ticket?

I was only thinking of the OP, for the first 6 months of use the risk to occasional users is huge, and chainsaw accidents can be life changers and enders.

Personal freedoms aside I'd hate to see it happen again to anyone.

 

[Ivan...]

I was going to stay out of this, but there has been some good advice on here and also a bit that made my jaw drop!

Please please, get some training or at least some tuition from an experienced chainsaw user, as they BITE! Using a chainsaw without safety equipment is madness.

If you catch yourself with a moving chain, you will not look down and say phew! That was lucky, and wait until you are cutting logs on a pile and one flicks out and hits you in the shin! You will have to go for a short informal walkabout!

I have see some horrific injurys caused by a moving chain, and thats by men with untold experience.

Not try to pour water on your fireworks, but you must have someone who knows what they are doing show you the safest way forward, and there is a likelihood that they may well have picked up bad habits, so if you can afford it go on a proper course (it may well save your life!)

Good luck.

Ivan...

And a personal recommendation for a saw is a Sthil MS 171 or I8I...

 

[Biker]

Personally I'd get as much advice face to face with someone who is in the know, than ask something like this on an open forum.

As for Personal protection Equipment (PPE) it is the absolute LAST line of defense when using any cutting tool. PPE starts between your ears i.e. education and training. If you go into using one of those chainsaws uneducated, and by your own admission you say you don't have a clue about them, then you really do risk life, limb and testicles. I am not kidding here or being a scaremonger.

 

[Biker]

I was going to stay out of this, but there has been some good advice on here and also a bit that made my jaw drop!

Me too, hence why I posted. Well said Ivan.

 

[cave_dweller]

[video=youtube;qkpofrE9Yrs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkpofrE9Yrs[/video]

 

[mrcharly]

Personally I'd get as much advice face to face with someone who is in the know, than ask something like this on an open forum.

As for Personal protection Equipment (PPE) it is the absolute LAST line of defense when using any cutting tool. PPE starts between your ears i.e. education and training. If you go into using one of those chainsaws uneducated, and by your own admission you say you don't have a clue about them, then you really do risk life, limb and testicles. I am not kidding here or being a scaremonger.

Well said.

I think a chainsaw is overkill unless you have a lot of large logs to cut. A good quality bowsaw (bahco are good) with a good blade will cut up to 6" logs so fast you'll spend more time stacking the wood than cutting (ok, that is a slight exaggeration).

I've met someone who didn't take his chainsaw seriously. He could feed himself, but not a lot else. Big groove in his forehead and scrambled brains behind it. Chainsaw kicked back and hit him in the head.

 

[British Red]

British Red, I have a huge respect for you and what you do, but I feel strongly on this one too. Some things need licencing, others don't.

Do you want a free for all on pesticides, driving cars and bikes, firearms - oh and do HGV drivers really need a ticket?

I was only thinking of the OP, for the first 6 months of use the risk to occasional users is huge, and chainsaw accidents can be life changers and enders.

Personal freedoms aside I'd hate to see it happen again to anyone.

On my land Goatboy I don't need a licence to use many pesticides, or to operate a vehicle come to that - and that's my point. People should have the right to do what they like up to the point that it affects others.

The advice given to use PPE, and to get training is excellent advice - and that's where it should stay - advice. A scheme of regulation would make it extremely difficult for many smallholders and self sufficiency types to keep going. I have been using chainsaws for decades, I don't do tree surgeon work, I prepare my own firewood to enable me to live a life I choose to. What you are suggesting is that I should be forced to stop since I have not done a course. Over regulation is huge curse - just look at all the axe injuries on this forum alone - I'm sure a similar case could be made for axe safety courses....or quad bike safety courses...

Life is full of risks - people should learn to assess them an act safely - not be molly coddled into a cotton wool wrapped urban lifestyle because we have regulated rural dwellers out of existence.

 

[stuey]

Chainsaw kicked back and hit him in the head.

And its for that reason that it is strongly recommended to wear a hard hat with visor (and ear protection) when using a chainsaw whether using on the ground or otherwise.

Everything I would advise has been said already but just to re-inforce the point:

Get some training to use and most importantly maintain the saw either from a professional saw user or from a training provider.

Get the correct PPE and wear it.

If you are logging, chainsaw protective chaps can be a little cheaper than proper chainsaw trousers.

Don't skimp by not buying chainsaw protective boots especially if you intend logging on both the ground and on a saw horse.

Bash hat with visor and ear protectors.

They are not forgiving machines to use when things go wrong.
I owned an Arb contracting firm for 12 years employing 5 chaps full time. As a company we had two cut incidents in those twelve years both caused by sloppy habits by the same guy. He went back for refresher training each time. His ppe saved him from serious injury. The bottom line is the cuts should never have happened.
There is only so much training can do. The process relies on people acting like grown-ups. Some kind of training or familiarisation will go a long way to ensuring you are a safe user both to you and those around you.

Get trained.



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