Help With a New Chainsaw

[waterbuoy]

Or why not both?

 

An MS 181 or 211 (or similar) for when cutting a load of firewood, but a Makita 36v for when working in the garden.   They are great for picking up and removing a limb that is too big for the loppers etc, but run out of charge quite quickly when cutting anything bigger than 4" diameter.  (I also wonder how good the high current draw is for the batteries as they seem to get quite warm sometimes)

[Dan Maynard]

1 minute ago, waterbuoy said:

Or why not both?

 

An MS 181 or 211 (or similar) for when cutting a load of firewood, but a Makita 36v for when working in the garden.   They are great for picking up and removing a limb that is too big for the loppers etc, but run out of charge quite quickly when cutting anything bigger than 4" diameter.  (I also wonder how good the high current draw is for the batteries as they seem to get quite warm sometimes)

Especially if you have the batteries already.

[PC_Cambs]

3 minutes ago, Dan Maynard said:

Especially if you have the batteries already.

I'm just worried about over working the batteries. One review of the Makita I read said he was hammering 2 xx 5amp batteries in under 10min!!! and half my batteries are 4amps as I save the 5s for tracks and router trimmer. 

 

I'll have a think on it a bot more maybe. 

[waterbuoy]

That is why I differentiated between firewod cutting and working in the garden.  The 36v is great to have in the barrow for removing larger branches/small trees, but is not really up to serious firewood cutting (IMHO)

[Muddy42]

I am open to the idea that one day electric chainsaws may impress me.  However to date I have always felt a sharp triangular 21' bow saw with a new blade is way better.   Ideal for path clearing and around the garden.  People talk of the advantages of electric saws as light/easy to start and quiet, well a bow saw wins on every count.  As others have said, get a petrol chainsaw for firewood, pretty much anything over 35cc. You could get a second hand 135 for £130ish.

[peds]

14 minutes ago, Muddy42 said:

a sharp triangular 21' bow saw 

 

Jesus that's massive.

[Dan Maynard]

48 minutes ago, peds said:

 

Jesus that's massive.

He did say it cuts fast.

[Muddy42]

inches not feet.  Cut me some slack I'm from the metric generation! I think I first used this saw when I was 5 years old.

[openspaceman]

3 hours ago, Muddy42 said:

inches not feet.  Cut me some slack I'm from the metric generation! I think I first used this saw when I was 5 years old.

I last used one slung over my shoulder and an arbrex can and brush hanging from my belt, then silky saws arrived.

[PC_Cambs]

so went to local dealer this morning and bagged a Stigl MS 231. Didn't bother with the fancy CBE version as looked like more to go wrong.... that being said I'd of liked the fuel purge bulb as the Husky had one and its a bot more work on the Stihl without one but no drama at all. 

 

Spent lunchtime processing the 3 apple tress we had from a neighbour, dead standing so already very dry but none the less I was impressed with the 231s performance.

 

Big lesson I learnt today was I'd benefit from investing in a log splitter if I am going to start getting trunks directly from Tree Surgeons as using a splitting maul for that much in one sitting was a work out!

 

thanks all for the help and advice!