Stihl GTA 26

[Mark Bolam]

My 10 year old daughter rated the cheapo Amazon version for cutting kindling for her Grandma.

[Dan Maynard]

9 hours ago, Stere said:

I don't get the appeal as they seem for the  very small niche between a silky /loppers and the smaller battery topper saws. Since I got a 18v makita,  I have not use the silky as much

Agreed I wouldn't get one as I'd use the 18v Makita, it really seems to appeal as better than a handsaw when you don't have a chainsaw 

 

Bit dangerous really, encouraging people with no chainsaw experience to cut one handed, but there we are. 

[5thelement]

I used the Stihl GTA 40 which was being demoed at a local dealer here.
It was more expensive but way better than the GTA 26 if you have a decent amount to cut, the GTA 26 is marketed more towards the domestic market and mincers, it comes with its own handbag.

I have an avenue of trees to re pollard in the new year, diameters up to 3”, could easily use the little Echo but quite fancied a bit of quiet working. 
Mine came with 6 batteries, charger and a hard case for storage. 
 

Edited December 19, 2024 by 5thelement

[Dave1976]

Gta 26 is so conveniently light, that i would never use any other similar tool.

 

Have 2 batteries just in case. But usually get through work with 1.

Edited January 5 by Dave1976

[green heart]

On 19/12/2024 at 06:49, Steve Bullman said:

Has anyone used one in anger yet?

I think the GTA26 maybe falls into the 'gardening' category, not really for serious professional use? 

Did you mean the GTA40 possibly? 

 

The GTA40 is rather bigger and better, maybe coming out this month, using twin batteries from the GTA26.

 

However Milwaukee have a much better, personally tested M500 offering.

And Makita's 18v offering (way better than GTA26 in my own experience), is soon to be available in an improved 40v unit. 

 

So.. I wouldn't bother with the GTA26, even if you gave me one ?

 

NB

Heaven help any 'enthusiastic' or complacent users, without strongly cut-resistant gloves AND arm protection sleeves...

I think HSE will have banned these units, within the next 18 months or so -but really great to use, if carefully !

 

There's a similar more detailed thread, last month, called 'Small battery pruning saws'. 

 

Edited January 5 by green heart
Update!

[5thelement]

9 hours ago, green heart said:

I think the GTA26 maybe falls into the 'gardening' category, not really for serious professional use? 

Did you mean the GTA40 possibly? 

 

The GTA40 is rather bigger and better, maybe coming out this month, using twin batteries from the GTA26.

 

However Milwaukee have a much better, personally tested M500 offering.

And Makita's 18v offering (way better than GTA26 in my own experience), is soon to be available in an improved 40v unit. 

 

So.. I wouldn't bother with the GTA26, even if you gave me one ?

 

NB

Heaven help any 'enthusiastic' or complacent users, without strongly cut-resistant gloves AND arm protection sleeves...

I think HSE will have banned these units, within the next 18 months or so -but really great to use, if carefully !

 

There's a similar more detailed thread, last month, called 'Small battery pruning saws'. 

 

Stihl GTA 40, been out here a while now, got this as a birthday present for an upcoming job, I’ll do a review when I have put it through a decent test.

[Stere]

Milwaukee cut cookies faster than the 40v makita.....

 

Safety guards look abit annoying...but can see why they put ones on them given the one handing dangers

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 6 by Stere

[richyrich]

The DeWalt one is very good. More for rough cutting as it's not the nearest finish.

[HKarb]

I've been researching mini chainsaws, but have little knowledge.  The GTA40 looks great for what I need it for. however, it maybe used by multiple people and I have some questions about the safety.

 

When I compare to other mini chainsaws:   the GT26 has a protective hood over the top of the chain, as do other brands such as Stiga, Makita, Husqvarna, Ryobi.

 

The DeWalt and Milwaukee don't have a protective hood, but they do have a protective handle over the top hand grip, and the DeWalt also has a tip guard.  

 

From what I can see, the GTA40 is the only one in the category that doesn't have either a protective hood or protective handle (or tip guard).

 

So does this mean the safety of the GTA40 is worse, or is the protective hood and protective handle not really useful. 

 

One difference I did notice was that most others in the category are marketed as being able to use one-handed. The GTA40 is marketed as 2 handed, although given the lightness of it and looking at some YouTube videos, people are using it one handed and the temptation would be there.  

 

So I'm keen to know just how safe are they, how much PPE are people wearing, are people really using them gloveless, and is the GTA40 less safe due to the issues above.

 

Any advice would be much appreciated thanks!

 

thank you

 

 

 

[Stere]

All theese saws imo are more dangerous  than a   regular  chainsaw  in some ways  in the fact that they are  designed for one handed use and the small size & weight may encourage complaceny

 

The above mentioned safety features   are relatively irrevelant to its  safety imo versus always just being aware of   the dangers of the one handed use  issue.

 

See what can happen with battery secateurs:

 

 

 

Edited March 17 by Stere