Chainsaw buying: what kind?

[Gray_Area]

I don't want gas-powered. I've used electric; Lowe's and HD have decent looking ones for under $50. Lowe's has a Black and Decker cordless for $99.

What say you?

[Howard_Casto]

Don't get a cordless.  Chainsawing would run even the best batteries down in a few minutes. 

I got a Black and Decker corded one for around 60 bucks a couple of years back.  I haven't run into any issues and it cuts like a champ. 

Make sure it has a button to oil the chain and uses a standard bolt setup to adjust the chain... because that chain is going to slip off a lot of you are doing anything other than perfect cuts with no pressure on the saw. 

[TopJimmyCooks]

I've got a plastic bodied corded one (remington) with 18" bar that I inherited and have used for years.  the oil just drips out of the reservoir over time rathe rthan being controlled.  they are fine for what they are intended for - under 4" cuts and infrequent use in the yard.  Bar and chain oil is best but I've also just used lots of 3 in 1 oil with no issues. 

[ChadTower]

You could also consider a good pruning saw.  Keep it sharp and you can cut a 4" branch by hand in ten seconds.  That's how I deal with my trees and you have none of the safety issues or complications of a chainsaw.  I use one very much like this one.

[shponglefan]

I've got a Homelite corded saw.  It's handy for lighter jobs, although it goes through bar oil like crazy.

I prefer a gas-powered saw for heavier work, though.

[Vigo]

I dunno, if I was to get a chainsaw, it would be gas or nothing. I'm personally just using a reciprocating saw for my branches right now. It's a great tool for cutting everything under the sun. I'm sure the minute I have more branches to do, I'd get a pruning saw like chad mentioned.

If I had a large enough volume and size of branch to merit actually needing to buy a chainsaw above my recip. saw, then I don't think an electric would deliver the torque and power I would need.

But that is just thinking out loud right now. I'm sure if the price was right, I wouldn't be above buying any tool. 

[Howard_Casto]

I wouldn't recommend pruning saws under nearly any circumstances.  They bind and they wear you out.  Considering a GOOD pruning saw is around 30 bucks and an electric chainsaw is 60 it's well worth the extra investment to be able to cut off those awkward branches with ease.  Anything that you can cut with a pruning saw you should really be using loppers on anyway.  Chainsaws can do stuff that a manual saw simply can't... like cut the stump of a bush/small tree completely level with the ground, ect....

Gas chainsaws are definitely an option, but unless you plan on cutting down legitimate trees they are overkill.  There is a BIG difference between an electric and gas saw and considering an electric has a lot less maintenance (not to mention the fact that it's less dangerous) it's the smart choice for light work. 

[ChadTower]

I wouldn't recommend pruning saws under nearly any circumstances.  They bind and they wear you out. 

The good ones have a wide kerf that works perfectly on the cut types you're doing if the branches are still on the tree.  If the branch isn't still on the tree, and it's binding the saw, you're just doing it wrong.

Yes, it does require more energy from the user, but at the same time it's not going to slip and change your life.  It requires very little maintenance and has no cord.

[SithMaster]

I'm going to need to dismember a pine tree that has at least a foot thick trunk so my choices are handsaw for a week or chainsaw for five minutes then modify it into a rocket.  Or I could rock the handsaw through halfish the trunk and let gravity handle the rest.

[Vigo]

Recip. saw? I know I'm plugging the same thing again, but a good saw takes up to 12" blades and demolish almost anything. I have cut up whole major appliances and furniture. Usually to fit it in my trash can. It paid for itself to avoid appliance disposal fees from the city dump.

If you don't want to spend the dough, they do make hand chain saws. Never used one though.

[SithMaster]

Recip. saw? I know I'm plugging the same thing again, but a good saw takes up to 12" blades and demolish almost anything. I have cut up whole major appliances and furniture. Usually to fit it in my trash can. It paid for itself to avoid appliance disposal fees from the city dump.

My concern is the possibility of pine sap clogging it though I might just be worried for nothing.  I think I'm sold on the idea now though.  My town likes to gouge its residents on bulk day services like that so it'd pay for itself.

[Howard_Casto]

I wouldn't recommend pruning saws under nearly any circumstances.  They bind and they wear you out. 

The good ones have a wide kerf that works perfectly on the cut types you're doing if the branches are still on the tree.  If the branch isn't still on the tree, and it's binding the saw, you're just doing it wrong.

Yes, it does require more energy from the user, but at the same time it's not going to slip and change your life.  It requires very little maintenance and has no cord.

I think you are thinking of pruning.  Again... just use loppers for that.  If somebody is asking about a chainsaw they need to do some crazy hard cuts as Sith just explained. 

You are going to have a hard time cutting down a tree like that with an electric.  They typically max out at around 8 inches.  The length of the blade is not the length you can cut with it.  It can be done, but man it'd cut every single branch off of the trunk first because that's getting a little iffy.  Since I guessing you aren't a lumberjack, you'll want to run rope/chain from high up on the tree to help control the direction it falls.  If there is ANYTHING in the path of where the tree might fall I would recommend hiring a professional. 

[ChadTower]

Yeah, cut all the branches off, then cut the trunk in parts moving downwards.  If it's too big for you to do that safely with a ladder and that saw, and there's anything in the way as Howard said, hire a pro.  Sometimes it's best to hire the guy with the cherry picker.

[SithMaster]

No worries the tree is maybe ten feet tall, branches trimmed, and its leaning away from the house towards the empty front yard.  I should post a pic of how much its leaning.  When I noticed how it was half uprooted I went next door and told the neighbors I'd like them to move their car so a branch doesn't hit it while I trim anything that would land in their driveway if it decided to go down.  In the middle of trimming the branches the downstairs renter pulls into the driveway and I ask him if he wouldn't mind coming back in a few minutes.  Using a ladder on a slope with bushes in the way while someone holds a rope tied to the branch being cut so it snaps and swings away from me is not fun.  Me being stupid didn't help when I forgot work glasses to keep the sawdust out of my eyes either.

edit-picone and pictwo  Take note that the gutter is only up to the first floor so ten-ish feet.

[Gray_Area]

Oh yeah, safety glasses are a must. I have some fairly stylish though non-tinted ones for regular stuff. (I no longer wear shades, but I found out in '91 that you could get some kick ASS shades that are saftey glasses for twenty ---smurfin--- bucks.)

I might check out the hand saw. I'm used to using an electric chain saw, even just to cut down small-ish trees. I tried my dad's hand saw - a large sort of triangular lookin thing - and that thing pissed me off so bad I was cussin an spittin and through the ---fudgesicle--- off the roof.

[BadMouth]

I'd steer clear of the cordless.

What are you doing with it, trimming branches, cutting firewood, carving statues?

I recently bought one of these from harbor freight to trim 2-3" thick branches and it worked well.


Bit harder to balance at full extension than I thought it would be, but what used to be an all-day job with the hand saw took 15 minutes this year.
It requires, but didn't include bar oil.

They have a regular chainsaw which I assume is the same thing without the pole, but it isn't that much cheaper than the ones you mentioned.

Don't forget the 20% coupon from the Sunday paper. 

[Vigo]

What are you doing with it, trimming branches, cutting firewood, carving statues?

How about kicking some deadite ass.

[ChadTower]

Of all the things to not buy at Harbor Freight for safety reasons I'm going to go with A CHAINSAW as the #1 answer. 

SURVEY SAYS...?

[Howard_Casto]

Yup... don't buy chainsaws at Harbor Freight, don't buy Toilet Paper at Big Lots, don't buy condoms from Mexico....  rules to live by.