Product Review-Talon Chainsaw
Submitted: Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 21:51
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Jimbo
I bought a Talon 35cc, 14" bar, little chainsaw a bit over two years ago for the simple purpose of cutting firewood and
clearing the odd track.
It set me back the princely sum of $160.
It is now over two years old, and still going strong. All I have ever done is sharpen and tighten the blade/chain.
Never had to even replace a spark plug. It's done over 30 trips and has cut enough wood to keep us warm at all times.
I'd chuck it away tomorrow and reckon I've had a good run out of it. But realistically, it's probably got another 5 or 6 years in it.
You do get what you pay for LOL.
Jim.
Reply By: Member - David A (QLD) - Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 22:03
Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 22:03
Mine is the same, but about 4y.o. I'm sure it still runs fine, but it never gets used as I got sick having to get the chain sharpened pretty much after every log. Probably hasn't been started in 18 months or more!
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Follow Up By: Jimbo - Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 22:08
Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 22:08
David,
you need to get one of the
little red 12 volt sharpeners. It has a spinning carborunum tip and a guide to ensure the right angle.
Even a dill like me can keep it sharp with one of these.
Cheers,
Jim.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Crazy Dog (QLD) - Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 12:21
Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 12:21
heh Jimbo,
What is it called the
little red thing?
Where do ya get and about how much?
Grrr!!!
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Follow Up By: GU - Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 15:14
Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 15:14
Just be careful using those type of sharpeners. It is very easy to overheat/over temper the chain and then it will be too "hard" to sharpen.
Am in the tree
clearing industry and bought one of the little Talon's after getting sick of replacing my Stihls & Huskys after getting them stolen.
The Talon is very cheap but does not exhibit the usual "cheapie" characteristics.
I have had
mine for over 5 years. Only clean the filters and keep the chain sharpened (with a file). Always starts 2nd or 3rd pull and doesn't get tempermental when it's hot. Still on original plug, but keep a spare just in case.
Would recommend one to anyone.
Wayne.
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Follow Up By: Jimbo - Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 20:40
Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 20:40
Crazy,
SHARP-N-EZY, Model No G712. About $50 from a Mower/Chainsaw dealer.
Easy to use. Agree with Wayne, be careful not to overdo it. Follow the guide thingy that comes with it and give it 5 or 6 strokes back and
forth. Then feel the tooth on top and on the side. It should feel sharp on top and have a small bur on the side.
ATB,
Jim.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: geocacher (djcache) - Thursday, Feb 08, 2007 at 00:07
Thursday, Feb 08, 2007 at 00:07
Yeah but for $10 the same dealer would probably not only sell you a chain file, but also tell you how to use it. And if you asked for his honest opinion he'd tell you that the electric ones do far more damage than good.
If you want to replace your chain sooner buy a 12 volt one.
Also remember at least every couple of times you sharpen your chain to take the bar off and turn it over.
Dave
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Reply By: Peter - Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 22:07
Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 22:07
Jim
Yep got the same one. Over 2 years old, cut down plenty of trees etc around
home and at my daughters place and never missed a bit. Don't have any great issues with sharpening it. Would have to sharpen any brand that got that much use. Like you if it died tomorrow I would be happy and would buy the same model and brand again
Peter
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Reply By: Crackles - Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 23:11
Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 23:11
Jimbo, forget about the saw for a minute, I'm jealous that you can get away camping at least every 3 to 4 weeks for two years :-)
Lets see we'll do some sums.......30 trips, it takes 10 to 15 minutes (tops) to cut a trailer load of wood for a campfire, clear a few trees on the way to
camp.................the saws probably been running for not much more than 8 hours in total.
I should expect even a Talon Saw would last far far longer than one regular working day & certainly not require a spark plug just yet ;-)
Obviously the choice of a saw that costs less than the safety equipment needed to opperate it has worked for you, but still it's no reason to go promoting a lesser quality product that has failed in the hands of many others.
When people on this site recomend quality brand saws they do so because they use them regually & know from experience which ones have the best safety features & are less likely to break down when you need them most. If safety is a lower priority than price for you that's fine but after seeing a saw embedded in a mates leg I'll certainly be recomending the ones with the best features from now on.
Cheers Craig.............
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Follow Up By: Member - BORGY.. (SA) - Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 00:16
Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 00:16
" If safety is a lower priority than price for you that's fine but after seeing a saw embedded in a mates leg I'll certainly be recomending the ones with the best features from now on."
i dont think it would matter weather its a 2dollar chainsaw or a 600 dollar chainsaw , either one will embedd itself in your leg if not used properly , i dont think Jimbo was actually having a go about any paticular model , just stating that he was happy with his paticular saw .........Cheers ........Dave
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Follow Up By: Crackles - Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 18:07
Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 18:07
I suppose I can only go on the experiences that I have seen & heard 1st hand. A saw that burnt out the clutch from new due to poor factory adjustment of the chain brake. A saw straight out of the
shop that the chain brake wouldn't completly stop. A local chainsaw dealer who won't touch many of the cheap saws for anything more than a new chain as often parts were difficult if not impossible to source & owners wouldn't pay for repairs anyway after being handed a bill for $120. The 2 people I have travelled with on many occations that own them don't bother getting them out much any more. Their's are hard to start (not very old) & so slow to cut that the tree's are often cleared by others before they really get going.
I guess if all one has ever owned before was an axe then the Talon would seem pretty impressive but after opperating some of the later better featured saws they do feel pretty tinny. One key safety feature I havent seen on the Talon's yet is the inertia brake (not the standard chain brake) which stops the chain from kick back prior to your wrist even striking the hand gaurd. Without doubt a feature that would have prevented the saw cutting my mates leg.
I know Jimbo was only stating how
well his saw ran but I feel it's often important to give a balanced perspective on the quality & features of any product so others reading this don't get the wrong idea. From the other responses so far one could wrongly assume that not only are they one of the cheapest saws but they never break down, start without any trouble & will last as long as the expensive ones, when in my experience that's been far from the case.
Cheers Craig.............
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Follow Up By: Jimbo - Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 20:44
Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 20:44
Craig,
I never said it was a saw for pro tree fellers. It's just a toy for campers who are too old or lazy to swing an axe.
For that purpose it is magnificent. Nothing more, nothing less.
Why buy a sledge hammer to crack an egg?
ATB,
Jim.
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Follow Up By: geocacher (djcache) - Thursday, Feb 08, 2007 at 00:11
Thursday, Feb 08, 2007 at 00:11
Cos it might save me sending a helicopter to get you from half way down Zeka Spur and take you for a $4000 ride to the Alfred to get stitched up?
At least they don't take as long to sharpen, cos they usually run less teeth to the bar length so they don't bog down and stall in comparison to a similar quality saw size which will run more teeth and has the power to keep cutting.
Dave
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Reply By: Member - Tonester (VIC) - Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 00:53
Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 00:53
Yo Jimbo. Having seeing what it can easily do, it a bloody great purchase.
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Reply By: Member - Crazie (VIC) - Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 08:45
Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 08:45
Got one, love it and it has done some work. S&N also has one and we spent over 3 hours
clearing a track one day with both going. $ hours
clearing only to go another few hundred metres to get stopped by the biggest tree acroos the trackever haha
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Reply By: Philip A - Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 09:35
Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 09:35
My local Tree surgeon/ cutter/lopper has bought 4 Chinese cheapies off ebay,2 of them 20 inch and 2 x14 inch.
Aside from the fact he reckons they are a little underpowered, and replaced a 20 inch chain with an 18, he is delighted with them and they have not missed a beat for 12-18months.
Now THAT is more than 8 hours work!
Regards Philip A
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Reply By: Ron173 - Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 09:45
Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 09:45
Agree totally, i got a Talon too, starts easily everytime, great little workhorse, does exactly as it should do.
Mine gets firewood use, nothing too heavy but I couldnt justify the hundreds on a sthil or husky, I'm sure they are fine saws for heavy full on commercial use, but for the back of the ute firewood,
clearing etc , cant beat the talon for value.
Ron
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Reply By: rod2101 - Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 21:01
Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 21:01
Got one too ! Its a gem ! If you think it gets blunt fast buy an other brand chain.
Regards
Rod
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Reply By: Taz & Milka-Queanbeyan - Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 23:16
Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 23:16
Encouraging post.
I bought
mine from Bunnings for $170 nearly a year ago. It has been sitting in its box waiting for me to come
home.
My usage will be the same as most: a bit of firewood and track
clearing several times a year.
Happy to hear positive
feedback on a (hopefully) handy tool
Cheers ... Taz
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Follow Up By: Ron173 - Wednesday, Feb 07, 2007 at 09:34
Wednesday, Feb 07, 2007 at 09:34
So now were all jealous that youve been on the road for nearly a year.
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Follow Up By: Taz & Milka-Queanbeyan - Wednesday, Feb 07, 2007 at 21:59
Wednesday, Feb 07, 2007 at 21:59
Haa !
I wish.
I have been in Arsecrackistan trying not to get blown into a lingering pink mist.
Cheers ... Taz
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Follow Up By: geocacher (djcache) - Thursday, Feb 08, 2007 at 00:13
Thursday, Feb 08, 2007 at 00:13
Hmmm. Suddenly not so jealous.
Keep your head down and get
home safe...
Dave
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Reply By: G.T. - Monday, Feb 12, 2007 at 18:09
Monday, Feb 12, 2007 at 18:09
Jimbo -- sorry for the late reply, shift work restricts my computer time.
Any way there are two things that you don`t lend out. They are your wife and your chainsaw as they come back to you in the same condition. Regards G.T.
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