Let's Talk Chainsaws ...

[fuji]

Tracey, if in doubt, get BF to do a course pls.

Wayne

[HEM19X]

It is indeed & one of our favourites.  Needless to say the axe has received a good sharpen since - we just had to find where he'd put the grinding wheel whilst camping and found it on the very last day (of course).

I'm thinking one of the very cute (I am a sheila remember) stihl's is looking to be the go. 

So boys ... what are the Care Requirements? 
Apart from getting him some safety gear and a better chain ... anything else?

Kit_e

Nice choice Kit_e,

A good cleaning after use is the go [take the screen off to access the chain drive area], keep the bar oil full & it fueled up... use PREMIUM unleaded fuel - take care when mixing the 2 stroke oil.

You will have lots of time with your "2 Stroke Termite"

[Kit_e_kat9]

Tracey, if in doubt, get BF to do a course pls.

Wayne

You obviously haven't heard about my Class 1 Nagging Skills and the That's What Happens When You Don't Listen To My Good Advice course I passed a few years ago!   

Thanks so much for all your help & advice Swaggers ... Looks like we have a possible verdict (IMHO it's a given).  Very Cute Stihl MS-170 Mini Boss.     

Kit_e

[hairymick]

G'day Kite,

For what my opinion might be worth, I think in going for a Stihl, you are making a wise choice.

The little Ozito type thingies might do ok cutting a few small, green branches round the yard but cutting dead Aussie hardwood is another thing entirely. Cutting firewood from Aussie hardwood is one of the hardest things on your saw.

I have and regulatrly use 3 Stihls, an old "094" that is a bit like hanging onto a 25hp outboard, an old 056 (I think) magnum and last year, I bought one of these

http://www.stihl.com.au/STIHL-Products/Chain-saws/Landowner-Chain-saws/21867-1572/MS-251.aspx

The first 2 saws have many years of hard work on them and are still going strong. Having said that, I love the little Stihl and I find myself using it more and more.

[D4D]

I just had a thought, I wonder if I could get away with telling the wife I spent $300 on a toy chainsaw for my son for Christmas and the 170 came free

[2010banditsa]

Dont follow the stihl instructions on starting either IMO... the lil buggers flood easy and i found even if it didnt start on the 3rd pull, i would take it off cold start choke or it would flood... others may have different experience of course... and as i said, drain the petrol.... oh and dont use it after you have been drinking, you will find its irresistibly good fun and you will end up with too much cut wood.

[bushbandit]

Id love to buy the Mini Boss and swap them the Free toy for the case
These cases are $70 plus $20 delivery on ebay or similar price at the dealers

[2010banditsa]

the case/ bag i got with mine was a soft one, but on the plus side, it was big enough to hold the 2 stroke and bar oil and a 1l fuel container

[GUEY]

Not for everyone but if your into a bit of fun - take the chain off start it up and run it across someone's swag in the middle of the night.
Can't do any damage but I guarantee there will be a mess to clean up.

[Kalebjarrod]

Everyone says there chainsaws are better than the others

But why do all the councils and tree loppers and ses and fire dept and bl blah blah use stihl

Because they are the best

The ms170 is great, but if you want to cut wood try a ms 230 with a slightly thicker chain and bar twice as quick.

I own 8 chainsaws now, all stihl

[LeighC]

Don't follow the stihl instructions on starting either IMO... the lil buggers flood easy and i found even if it didn't start on the 3rd pull, i would take it off cold start choke or it would flood... others may have different experience of course...

Great advice.  I found that out the hard way.  I first thought I had some dodgy fuel as I was very particular when mixing it.  Persisted with cold start + resting for a while.  Lucky it wasn't crucial I used it on those occasions.

Also there's a number of good Youtube clips on correct ways to fell a tree.

[D4D]

As i said above, if its a cheaper husky, mcculloch or Poulan. look for the little label that tells you there all the same. For anybody who knows Queanbeyan it was the Hardware on the corner near Jayco that had the mcculloch for $129

I checked these out today and they had the Husky sticker on but made in PRC not USA. How old is yours?

[xcvator]

If you buy a petrol driven chain saw ALWAYS carry a can of "aerostart", little bast**ds aren't game not to start when you wave a can of this in front of them 

[davenitron]

Can't go wrong with Stihl. I have one and they r great

[fishfinder]

If you buy a petrol driven chain saw ALWAYS carry a can of "aerostart", little bast**ds aren't game not to start when you wave a can of this in front of them 

once you star feeding a small engine on aerostart you will find it impossible to start when out or none is avaiable.. I try to avoid the stuff its like heroine for small engines.

[Nay-DMAX]

I would usually agree with exactly what SteveandViv said but... for what you described that you want to do with it, I reckon you can't go past the ryobi 18v li-ion kit saw. I bought the pole saw version of this one and used it to cut back a massive amount of our mango tree earlier this year and it did it effortlessly. I was truly supprised by it after only using bigger petrol saws in the past. I will be getting the chainsaw version soon and yes they do go through a battery reasonably quick but I have 4 batteries (from other tools in their range) and ryobi even make a 12v charger wth cig socket for them so they are easy to swap out. Check them out at qbunnings.

Cheers

Wes

I had a quick read through to see if anyone had posted about these on here before answering.  We have the ryobi one plus chainsaw and we have a few of the other pieces too and hoping for some bunnings vouchers for xmas to add to the collection.  Recently bought the 12v charger so can charge batteries when travelling etc.  They have a big range of products.  No affiliation just we are happy with the ones we have.

[qlddsl]

once you star feeding a small engine on aerostart you will find it impossible to start when out or none is avaiable.. I try to avoid the stuff its like heroine for small engines.

I agree, any engine will become addicted to aerostart.

Kit e , I would stick to the better brands of chainsaw at least they are repairable

[CBRK]

Hi Kit_e,

As someone mentioned maintence gear and a spare chain, if you get the ms170 it should come with most stuff for a basic field service / clean.  Id recommend a hard bristled brush to help with cleaning.

A fuel container, two stroke oil and some bar oil.  I'd also get a spare air filter.

I'd avoid the premium fuel and use 91 RON unleaded but go with whatever the manual says.  Drain the fuel as others have recommended if you dont plan on using it for a few weeks.

Great choice if you go the ms170, if well looked after will start every time and will last a long time.

Chris

It is indeed & one of our favourites.  Needless to say the axe has received a good sharpen since - we just had to find where he'd put the grinding wheel whilst camping and found it on the very last day (of course).

I'm thinking one of the very cute (I am a sheila remember) stihl's is looking to be the go. 

So boys ... what are the Care Requirements? 
Apart from getting him some safety gear and a better chain ... anything else?

Kit_e

Sent from my GT-P7510 using Tapatalk 2

[Kit_e_kat9]

Thanks to everyone for their input.  The decision now lies with the BF ... his gift, his choice. 

MySwag Rocks!   

Kit_e

[Sawed-Off]

Did you end up with something, Kit_e?

Looks like the specials on the Stihl have ended. I'm thinking I might go with a Husqvarna 230E for $299.

[JU5T1N]

what could possibly go wrong here???

[Kit_e_kat9]

Well Santa didn't come to the BF ... in fact he is still undecided on exactly what he wants.  Hope the new sunnies and fridge light were what he hoped for ... 

Kit_e

[duggie]

I do have to agree with myfellow swaggers as to the quality of the Stihl range of chainsaws, but unlike the majority of you I can't be bothered spending more time than is minimal while getting enought fire wood required for a weekend away, so I use the saw that I have listed below.





Less time cutting fire wood equates to more time drinking. ;

cheers duggie

[jnik]

I know this goes against the "buy Stihl" trend of this thread, but I thought I'd mention that Masters currently list a 37cm Xceed chainsaw with a 40cm bar for $70!

By the way, my father has a Stihl, has had it for MANY years. I have a "Homelite" (purchased from Home Depot while living in Canada) ... if I were to use it as much as my father used his, I'd go the Stihl - but the Homelite is about 7 years old and has been fine for the amount of work I've put it to.

[Sawed-Off]

I completely agree. A cheap one would suit me fine. As I want one for occasional firewood gathering, the chances are I'll be on the road somewhere away from home when I want to use it. The main reason I'm personally going to buy a Stihl or Husqvarna is there are dealers everywhere. Hopefully, parts should be easily available should I need them when I'm on the road.

edit: Oh yeah, I always carry a bow saw anyway. It starts first pull..