Help With a New Chainsaw

[PC_Cambs]

First post and would love some help picking a new saw.

 

Finally junked my old Husky 135 today after a terminal fall onto a patio. I'm after an upgrade to the 135, budget up to £450 but would like to spend less if I can. Not a pro user but do cut up a fair amount of firewood each winter, have a reasonable amount of shrubs and trees to maintain in the garden and have previously helped out the odd friend / family member with dropping small trees or clearings shrubs etc. 

 

few saws I've been considering that I've found in budget.

 

Stihl 211

Stihl 231

Husqvarna 435

Husqvarna 440mk2

 

I did look at one of the 36v (twin 18v batteries) Makitas as most my power tools are on their 18v platform so I have a few batteries but from what I can understand these saws eat batteries incredibly quickly so decided against that.

 

I have a Stihl dealer just down the road from me in South Cambs but nearest Husqvarna dealer is Ernest Doe and not sure closet branch has full range in plus they are £££. Can of course order on line but like a bricks and mortar I can walk back into if there is a drama. 

 

any help, advice or alternate suggestions welcome.

[AHPP]

Does are robbers and Stihl are better anyway. I think the 231, 241 and 251 hit a very sweet spot in the toss up between displacement/power and weight. The 211 is a noteworthy step down.

 

How much firewood do you do? Tonnage or volume per year and usual diameters.

Edited February 19, 2023 by AHPP

[Dan Maynard]

Depends if you're west or east, if it's west then maybe Stuart Brown arborist supplies which are just across in Beds and do Stihl.

 

I think £450 should get you something decent, not quite enough to get a pro saw. I would suggest to have a serious look at whether that is going to leave you wanting to upgrade later in a way that you won't if you buy a 261.

[gand]

Have you thought about looking at Echo?

[PC_Cambs]

6 minutes ago, Dan Maynard said:

Depends if you're west or east, if it's west then maybe Stuart Brown arborist supplies which are just across in Beds and do Stihl.

 

I think £450 should get you something decent, not quite enough to get a pro saw. I would suggest to have a serious look at whether that is going to leave you wanting to upgrade later in a way that you won't if you buy a 261.

 

I'm South cambs on Herts border so Stuart Brown is about 45min away but Wrights Mower Center is 5-10 up the road and are a Stihl dealer although not sure what current prices are as their website is not for online sales. easy phone call or trip over tomorrow lunch time.

 

I don't think I'll need to upgrade as the little Husky 135 was fine for most the garden work but just struggled a bit on firewood sometimes. Thinking about future use we are looking at moving further out and getting a house with land attached but there is a lot of very very big ifs about that thanks to interest rates!

 

4 minutes ago, gand said:

Have you thought about looking at Echo?

 

Don't know anything at all about them so no idea what to look for. 

[Excels1or]

241

[PC_Cambs]

31 minutes ago, AHPP said:

Does are robbers and Stihl are better anyway. I think the 231, 241 and 251 hit a very sweet spot in the toss up between displacement/power and weight. The 211 is a noteworthy step down.

 

How much firewood do you do? Tonnage or volume per year and usual diameters.

 

Not loads to be honest, we usually get 3-4 bulk bags a year that's pre cut but have had to cut chunks up from time to time, most of what needs properly processing is deadfall I scavenge. That said I'm looking to try and reduce price of wood so seeing if any of the yards I but from are happy to sell un process trunks for a cheaper price than the bulk bags so if that's possible figure 4 bulk bags worth a year.

[Steve Bullman]

Any of those saws will be perfectly adequate for scavenging fallen deadwood etc. Obviously you're asking on a pro forum though so the standard answer is going to be buy the best you can afford.

 

If you are after wood and have room to accept a truck load at a time you can also chance your arm by adding your property as a tip site for tree surgeons to use. 

 

https://arbtalk.co.uk/recycling/

[AHPP]

5 minutes ago, PC_Cambs said:

 

Not loads to be honest, we usually get 3-4 bulk bags a year that's pre cut but have had to cut chunks up from time to time, most of what needs properly processing is deadfall I scavenge. That said I'm looking to try and reduce price of wood so seeing if any of the yards I but from are happy to sell un process trunks for a cheaper price than the bulk bags so if that's possible figure 4 bulk bags worth a year.

 

Go battery. They're better than you think.

[PC_Cambs]

7 minutes ago, Steve Bullman said:

Any of those saws will be perfectly adequate for scavenging fallen deadwood etc. Obviously you're asking on a pro forum though so the standard answer is going to be buy the best you can afford.

 

If you are after wood and have room to accept a truck load at a time you can also chance your arm by adding your property as a tip site for tree surgeons to use. 

 

https://arbtalk.co.uk/recycling/

amazing Tip! thanks for this.