Knowing what you know now... what would be your first saw?

[peds]

2 hours ago, Rough Hewn said:

Start small.
You'll use a 50cc more frequently.
But wood can get big.
Husky,stihl,echo,Makita,maculloch all make excellent saws. But not every saw is excellent.
Also user preferences.
I like reliable, big dogs, big bar, full chisel chain and running on aspen and bio oil.
Between the above brands at 50cc the biggest difference will be how you sharpen your chain and how well you maintain it.
 

 

Thanks for all of the above advice, as for keeping the chain sharp and maintaining everything, having spent my life in kitchens so far I know the damage to human flesh that a blunt knife can do instead of a sharp one, and I've got a solid appreciation of the physics of sharpening metal of all shapes. Definitely one to stay on top of.

 

Edited September 26, 2018 by peds

[peds]

2 hours ago, stihlmadasever said:

Its shite...but not as shite as cooking a sirloin well done for some dipshit with no tastebuds in his fuckn head!

Been there done that....

 

I had a regular a few years ago who would always order her ribeye black and cremated, literally, and dragged through the smoking oil that pools at the bottom of the grill. She explained one night that she's aware it's a total travesty to the poor cow that died to provide the steak, but it reminded her of the steak her mother would cook on the old peat-fired Aga whilst she was growing up. After that, I never minded quite so much.

 

You are absolutely right though... there's nothing on the planet like the shite of a kitchen on a bad day!

 

I'll keep an eye open for a 346xp, sounds like a decent tool. Thanks for the tip.

Edited September 26, 2018 by peds

[peds]

1 hour ago, billpierce said:

You looking for new or used?

Down the road I'd definitely be open to buying second hand, but only once I know what I'm looking for. With my lack of knowledge, it'd be easy to pick up something worthless off the wrong guy.

edit - I'm also in Ireland, not UK mainland, so that's a consideration too!

Edited September 26, 2018 by peds

[jfc]

My first saw was a second hand stihl that went bang after a month. I then bought a new husky 555, 60cc will run an 18" bar easily. It has been great, only thing it has needed is a new brake band, that's after 3yrs. My husky dealer is on 3 miles away so very handy.

[peds]

4 minutes ago, jfc said:

My first saw was a second hand stihl that went bang after a month.

That's exactly it, you are taking a huge gamble if you get something second hand without really knowing it's history, especially if (like me) you really don't know what you are looking for. At least if you fork out a little bit for something brand new then you've got no-one to blame but yourself if you break it. I'd rather have a blank slate to start with, and maybe look for a bargain for a second saw a some point down the line.

Edited September 26, 2018 by peds

[westphalian]

Buy cheap buy twice. I’d only buy second hand if you know the saw inside out

[carlos]

id say go with a husky 550, dunno where you are in ireland but arborist.ie in cork are ok on price or honey brothers in uk ship stuff to ireland very quickly.

id go new if you can as some problems with saws dont show up until they have been used a bit so can be hard to spot.

[stihlmadasever]

24 minutes ago, peds said:

I had a regular a few years ago who would always order her ribeye black and cremated, literally, and dragged through the smoking oil that pools at the bottom of the grill. She explained one night that she's aware it's a total travesty to the poor cow that died to provide the steak, but it reminded her of the steak her mother would cook on the old peat-fired Aga whilst she was growing up. After that, I never minded quite so much.

 

You are absolutely right though... there's nothing on the planet like the shite of a kitchen on a bad day!

 

I'll keep an eye open for a 346xp, sounds like a decent tool. Thanks for the tip.

Best thing about kitchens was the people.I worked with some crazy bastards that made me laugh...

If you do get a 346xp,and i really really hope you do,it will sour your opinion of newer saws im afraid as 346xp's are one of the great old school ground saws.

 

 

[carlos]

2 minutes ago, stihlmadasever said:

Best thing about kitchens was the people.I worked with some crazy bastards that made me laugh...

If you do get a 346xp,and i really really hope you do,it will sour your opinion of newer saws im afraid as 346xp's are one of the great old school ground saws.

 

 

what was that!?? did you say somthing about a 346xp

[maria warwick]

I spent 25 years fitting kitchens before changing   ( literally )....

 

First saw I bought for work was a 261.... stihl use it and stihl love it ?