beginner chainsaw advice

[Milkgod]

Hello, i need some advice from all you experienced folks on here. I am going to take the cs31 soon, i need a chainsaw around £500 for the course and that can be useful in the future.

 

I don't care about the brand, i'm planning to get into forestry work so i know at some point i will need another saw.

 

All suggestions welcome

Edited 7 hours ago by Milkgod

[GarethM]

Ask if they rent them for the course, no point buying a small saw just for the course if you need 18".

 

Most places do rent them, plus you'll find if your Stihl or Husqvarna 

Edited 6 hours ago by GarethM

[Stere]

Just get a  550xp as best vfm

 

I know they are slighlty over the £500 budget but best not quibble over a   £100 quid and just get a decent one straight away imo.

 

 

 

Husqvarna 550 XP Mark II Petrol Chainsaw (50.1cc) - Radmore & Tucker

WWW.RADMORETUCKER.CO.UK

---

Introducing the Husqvarna 550 XP Mark II Chainsaw: Unleash the Power of Precision When it comes to professional-grade...

 

 

Not any other good choices really as to other brands anymore apart from husky or stihl

 

550xp are cheaper/better vfm new than stihl & and which is the best brand saw in the 50cc catergory  is debatable....  

 

For cs31 15" is ideal

[GarethM]

Turn up with a Makita, just for a laugh 

[kram]

You dont need a £500 saw. I think the maximum bar length is 16" but that doesnt mean you cant fit a shorter bar on a more useful, bigger saw.

I did my CS31 with a cheapy McCulloch CS340 16" that Lidl were selling for £99. My trainer/assessors saws were not in good running condition so thats why I insisted I use my own. The cs340 did the job but is far less powerful than a pro saw of the same engine size, so wouldnt recommed it.

 

Whatever saw you use must have the warning labels, but you can buy the stickers off ebay should you get a used saw or import thats missing them.

 

I know most dislike the pattern/clone saws but

I am quite happy with my Farmertec G372XP, its a bit bigger than they might expect, you can fit a 16" bar no issue. At 72cc it has enough power for most ground work. I see little point in also having a 35-60cc ground saw when this can do everything.

(It did not come with the warning stickers)

 

71cc Holzfforma Gasoline G372XP Top Quality For Husqvarna 372XP NO Bar & Chain

WWW.EBAY.CO.UK

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Chainsaw type Holzfforma single cylinder 2 stroke engine. Chain Sprocket Standard 7 tooth 3/8" pitch. Total Mass Without bar and chain 6.8kgs...

 

 

Edited 4 hours ago by kram

[Stere]

No one bothered or even mentioned about  stickers when I did it, 

 

I used a makita ea4300, & carried a spare chain & bar also just in case I rocked it or got it pinched.

 

Many were using/faffing about with   the various  assessors unreliable old junky ms181's or lf lucky maybe a  ms211 etc with blunt chains, but not  much fun with such  crappy saws causing issues &  stress, &  distracting from the learning...

 

 

[Stubby]

Husqvarna 550 Xp mk 2 . 15" bar .

[manco]

1st step, whats your closest/ best reliable dealer? stihl or husqvarna?

then just get a 261 or 550 on a 16 inch bar

that will tackle everything youre likely to be faced with but not be too heavy to run all day

[adw]

28 minutes ago, Stere said:

No one bothered or even mentioned about  stickers when I did it, 

 

I used a makita ea4300, & carried a spare chain & bar also just in case I rocked it or got it pinched.

 

Many were using/faffing about with   the various  assessors unreliable old junky ms181's or lf lucky maybe a  ms211 etc with blunt chains, but not  much fun with such  crappy saws causing issues &  stress, &  distracting from the learning...

 

 

Warning stickers are still mandatory on the saw weather we like it or not. 

[Milkgod]

I'm on the isle of wight but plan to move to NL next year so closest dealer doesn't matter. I don't want a cheapie saw, its a waste of money imo for me right now. I want this to become my full time job, sick and tired of my desk job.

I've lookes at the Echo's, lots of good and bad opinions out there.

 

Is the timber wolf (cs-590) any good compared to the 550xp?

 

 

From all the responses here i think i will just get the 550xp but satisfy my curiosity if you have a minute .