Trade Tools Direct Chainsaws

Hi John.

Stihl is first choice. If you want a less expensive (but still good a unit) have a look at a Husqvarna.

If you want it for clearing tracks, then you want the saw to work when you need it to work.

If all you need is a yard saw around the house then there are plenty of options that are cheaper. Remember though that if you end up buying two cheap saws then you might as well have bought the better one to start with!

Good luck,

Stephen

With chainsaws the old adage of you get what you paid for comes to mind ,
my old Stihl MS200T bought second hand for $200 6yrs ago starts first pull every time even after sitting for upto 12mths unused ,will run all day when called upon ,small and compact so takes up no room in the vehicle , take the bar and chain off and the body is the size of a six pack of stubbies.

Well, I'll buck the trend.

My little Talon cost me $160 five and a half years ago years ago and has done a lot of work. I've so much as changed the spark plug.

You'll be amazed how capable these little units are as long as you keep the teeth sharp; I use one of those 12 volt sharpeners 'cause I'm hopeless with a file.

Cheers,

Jim.

Hi John,
I have a Stihl chainsaw purchased approximately 8 years ago and it is still going strong. Nothing worse than buying an inferior product that needs maintenance/repair, costs more in the long run.

Annette

I have used both cheap and expensive chainsaws, We had a husqvarna when i was landscaping and it went all day everyday, rain hail sunshine, couldn't kill it, aas for the cheaper ones, constantly back to the dealer for repairs, chains needed constant sharpeneing, which i did by hand or if i had them machine then i would use it.

the husky only got a bar and chain because someone forgot to fill it with bar oil before it was stolen.

Oh the cheap chainsaw, can't remeber the brand, bar oil lube port constantly got blocked up.

John
I paid $800 for my Stihl in 1988. Still going strong. That's a bit under $40 a year. For the first 12 years I lived on a property and it got quite a workout.

teege

U can get a Husky for $399. Bargain.

Hi John,


I have a stihl farmboss for getting firewood, dropping trees etc, I also have a McCulloch chainsaw I got for 140 bucks from Bunnings. It works ok, Doesnt have the auto fuel compensator and such. It also doesnt have the power of a similiar cc Stihl.

But it is reliable, cheap and if it gets knocked around, cheap to replace.

Cheers Wilko

Congrats on your first post John!

We have had a Jonsered 2145 (ie 45cc engine) for some years. It has been very reliable and a good saw. Jonsered are a Swedish company, sister company of Husquvana - both owned by Electrolux. I asked an arborist what he recommended and he said Stihl, Husky or Jonsered.

The dealer we bought from sold and serviced different brands (many dealers are tied to one) and recommended the Jonsered as better value. He pointed out that it had metal parts that were plastic in the corresponding model Stihl, and better vibration control. He also recommended a 45cc engine as the minimum necessary to cut big fallen trunks of hardwood. His experience was that many people bought saws that were underpowered for their needs.

We travel a lot in the High Country and East Gippsland by ourselves. We often encounter fallen trees. Here is one example. We had driven 2 hours up Zeka Spur from the Wonnangatta Valley and are within a couple of kms of the Howitt Rd. Progress is blocked by a large fallen tree wedged between standing trees. No one else around, and it's a long long way back down to the Valley and out by another route (probably with a very cranky co-pilot). I pull out the saw. I really want to know it is going to work. Yank on the cord, VROOM. Chop up the tree, off we go. Am I thinking, "I could have saved a couple of hundred buying a cheapy" or "Thank goodness I bought a quality saw"?

You feeling lucky punk?

Cheers,
Des

I have 4 chainsaws on the farm. McCulloch, Homelite, and two Stihl's, both farm boss 032 & 038. The 038 gets most of the work as it has the power for clearing fence lines and all the big jobs. A heavy saw, too big to carry around for camping. The 032 fits that area really well and the one I carry into the high country for track clearing etc. The other two never get used anymore.

Mate just go the cheapie. I have a Sthil 880 magnum and also the small 14" Talon and 18" talon.
For the price I dont think you can beat the Talon.
The small Talon saw i have had for about 5 years and it has been abused at home and bush, dropped bounced out of the trailer, dropped, driving the blade into dirt and sand and yet runs sweet and starts first time. If that was my Sthil i'd probably cry!
If just for camping just spend about $150 and get a small Talon or similar and it will do you for what you need and you will get years of service out of it.
Alot of folks always go the expensive stuff and then always try to justify the purchase, as long as it is maintained and kept sharp the thing will last for years.
Chains going blunt have nothing to do with the brand of saw as you get the quality chains to suit etc.

Its the same as everything you purchase (lights, winches etc) no one wants to buy them and always bag them out.

Gday,
Ive got an Echo.....bit cheaper than the Stihl and just as good in by opinion.
When we used to cut a fair bit of wood we had 3 Farm bosses and the echo....I prefer the echo......chain adjuster and filter is a lot easier to get too and had a lot more grunt in my opinion.

Cheers

All my mates who borrow the stihl wood boss wish they had bought one!

at least one would plan my demise if he could be sure I'd leave it to him in the will....

Horse

Nev,
check out these, I think you will see they are better long term than some more expensive chainsaws?

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I bought it when I was travelling, now don't need it :-)
six hours work, 2 x bars, 3 x new chains, block splitter, wedge etc etc

Maîneÿ . . .

G'day John
I don't know anything about the Trade Tools saw but I do know a bit about chainsaws, having used them on and off for 30 years, and now frequently. Every winter I cut 16+ cubic meters for myself and an elderly neighbour and there are always smaller jobs to be done around the block.

I'm also in the Stihl camp, my current one being an 044 with the 20" bar. I've had it for 20+ years. In that time I've had one breakdown - the coil.

IME small saws are ok for small jobs and hopeless for bigger ones so for track clearing I would regard a Farm Boss or equivalent as the minimum. I wouldn't seriously consider a 14" bar for anything other than pruning. Somebody else posted about a dealer saying a lot of people buy saws that are too small. That's my experience too.

It's true that bigger saws are heavier, especially if you are cutting at or above waist height. It's also true that cutting with lightweight saws can be like gnawing on a gal water pipe.

Factor in safety gear, spare chain, sharpener and learning how to keep chains sharp. I would suggest buying the biggest you can safely and comfortably handle - new or secondhand - within the budget. If that extends to a Stihl or Husky - bonus.

If you get one, keep the fear alive - your health will benefit. :^)

Cheers
Mark