Steviejones133

@Steven P - thanks for the advice, much appreciated! I noticed that the Oregon chain that came with the saw is a low kickback type, so should help I guess. Also not cutting with the tip of the bar is duly noted. I’ve been reading up a lot and trying to learn as much as possible, so every nugget of knowledge is great to share. I was just looking at safety wear when I recalled my good old dad used to use a chainsaw regularly but he’s hung up his sawing boots so to speak, at almost 80 he neither wants to or feels comfortable using like he did. Fortunately for me, both he and I are of a similar build and he has some shtill trousers and gloves, helmet with mesh face guard and ear muffs which he’s kindly going to donate to me, so that’s some ways to improved safety. I was looking to buy some, but wow - they’re not exactly cheap. Then again, what price can you put on not losing a leg or hand. 👍

Thanks for the replies fella’s! I purposely went for a cordless Makita battery saw because it kinda fitted in with the rest of the kit I have, and the fact that my usage of the saw will be fairly minimal in reality - I don’t expect I’ll need to be running it for several hours at a time like a professional surgeon would do - kinda felt a petrol saw would be overkill for my usage. From the spec of the saw I bought, the chain runs at 0-20.6m/s or 0-1,240m/min - don’t know how that compares to other saws mind you. It doesn’t state torque values though…. Obviously reading up on the use of chainsaws, I’m aware that kickback can be dangerous, and I imagine it can happen with any saw wether top or rear handle - I guess rear handles with the handle spacing and grip give additional control over top handles - my thoughts on this would be to treat every cut made with the approach that it could kick back at any time, both hands with firm grip ALL the time - treat it with the respect that it commands as ultimately it can cause serious injury - the old adage of “fail to prepare - prepare to fail”.

Hi all, new to the forum so be gentle with me! - hope I’ve posted this in the right section of the forum. I’ve been reading a lot lately about top handles not being suitable for use on the ground - I’m still not exactly sure why, if they’re used with two hands all the time and caution applied whenever using one, engaging the brake, correct footing and the like, safety gear etc etc. From what I’ve read, it’s a devisive topic, one which seems to me to point primarily to them being deemed dangerous because of the temptation to use them one handed which increases the risk of user injury, and lots of HSE legislation for arborists in business capacity - nothing about home users as they do so at their own risk I guess. I might add at this point, I have zero intention of ever using ANY chainsaw with one hand as I’m fully aware of the increased risk in doing so, therefore my top handle would only ever be used with two hands for sure as I’m not into the possibility of self harm. My intended usage - well, it’s not for felling trees, mainly for pruning of some bushes with maybe 2-4” branches such as overgrown buddleia and some other shrubs and small trees. I bought the saw in the title because I already own Makita 18v kit with 5.0ah batteries which are compatible with the saw in question as it takes two of them in series. It has a 25cm bar and seems a very solid bit of kit - I paid around £140 for it brand new from an authorised dealer and was attracted by the compact size and weight and 3 yr warranty - granted it might not be the choice of the professional, but for me as a home user, its seemed like a good deal and it was a fraction of the price of a similar “body only” 36v rear handled Makita. Now I do get the argument that a rear handle is safer on the ground, but are top handles really that much more dangerous if used to exacting safety standards? - I’m kind of at a loss as to why a top handle in the canopy is any safer than using it on the ground and vice-versa for using a rear on the ground or in a canopy. To me, call me an amateur which is what I am when it comes to chainsaws, but isn’t ANY chainsaw lethal if used incorrectly? I’d appreciate any thoughts you guys might have on this one, and if any of you have any experience with the specific Makita model I’ve bought. Maybe I should add that I’m not a complete novice when it comes to working with dangerous power tools - I use a compound mitre saw on a regularly basis, electric planers, most wood working tools that can take a hand or finger off without proper precautions, so I’m not a stranger to danger….. Thanks in advance Steve O