[rob39]

Hi guys
Need a new saw (stand in only planning on getting a husq at xmas)
What do you guys feel about the ebay saws. All I'm using it for is general tidying up fallen trees and branches (in my own wood). I'm fully aware of the quality issues but just need something half decent to get going until xmas

20" & 12" Petrol Chainsaw With 2 x Bars, 2 x Chains, 2 x Bar Covers & Carry Case | eBay

58cc Petrol Chainsaw with 16" & 20" Chains and Bars. TIMBERPRO Chain Saw Kit | eBay

58cc Petrol chainsaw | Petrol Chainsaws | Petrol Chain Saw £79.99

[Womble]

Personally, I wouldn't.  My friend bought one but before long he ended up with a jury rig on the brake and a nail to hold the stop button out!  The chain catcher was also very flimsy and in my opinion unsafe.

We have a wee firewood syndicate going where we go out together to collect, then share the spoils. Somehow I always seem to end up getting in more cutting hours over the day, whilst he prefers to spend his time tinkering and swearing  .

If money's tight, that's all the more reason IMHO to only buy a tool once. What about a second hand stihl or husky? This one on Ebay is the same as my saw. It's lightweight and whilst it only has a small engine, easily makes up for that in sheer RPM - I'd take it over a cheapy any day of the week.

Also, if you're worried that getting one second hand could ruin your chances of getting the good one for Christmas  , get one with a long bar and one with a short one. That way you'll always have the right tool for the job, and will have a second saw to help you out if (when) you get the first one stuck!

[pgkevet]

I first bought a pole saw and one of the stihl 250's. It wa a nice little saw but some days a pain to get started. then i had some big fallen trees to log up and traded it in for one of the 400 series.. a big saw.
The guy that helps me out sometimes bought himself one of the Aldi chainsaws last year and it was so handy and reliable that i bought one in this years special... branded gardenline the warranty actually shows it's made by einhell. For £79 and a 3yr warranty it was worth it. Turned out to be an easy starter and my go-to saw for quick jobs..light, has a low kickback oregon bar and chain..works well.
Whether any aldi stores still have stock after 3mths?

[bloomer]

I did 5 years on a 99 quid b&q special, it was noisy but did the job, when I moved here and had a lot more work to do I upgraded to a stihl ms211, the still is obviously way better and easier to use but the little homelike was great, if spares weren't so expensive I'd have fixed it for my son to use as is i'll probably get a bigger stihl in a year or so and he can use the smaller one when we work together...

[pgkevet]

Ocassionally you win with the cheap stuff. i bought a B&Q lawmower about 15yrs ago. discounted and on a special extra discount day i got 2 lots of 10% off a £90 petrol mower. Still going after all that time albeit noisy as heck from a rattling exhaust etc.

[chrismahon]

I am still using a Black and Decker 10" electric chainsaw I bought in 1980 -on the 2nd chain now. Keep it well maintained and don't abuse it and even a cheapie can last for ages.

[verdifish]

If your only going to use the saw once a month fir a few hours a cheap saw will suffice ,once you get into the 4/5 hours per week usage you will need a decent saw and that going to cost decent money ,stihl,husquarna,dolmer all make excellent home series saws that will last for ages .
Don't bother with anything with a longer than 16" bar as if your cutting anything bigger than that and asking these kind of questions you are well out if your depth and trees + chainsaws kill experts everyday !

[Womble]

Ah, now I view B&Q, black & decker etc as being slightly different?  OK, they're still built to a price, but at least there's SOMEBODY doing quality control, and if it breaks within a year you can return it.

It was the no-name ebay ones I was talking about, and so far the two I've seen have ranged from flimsy to positively dangerous. You might get lucky of course, but personally I wouldn't take the risk.

[VEG]

I am a tree surgeon by trade, I would give up the job if i had to use those crap look a like things on e bay. I like to know the brake is going to work when I expect it to. The metal in these things is made of cheese.

[Rupert the bear]

VEG  is right ,
its a nightmare  especialy getting a saw off ebay , you have to be careful that the "big name " saw is genuine and not a cheese copy from far far away land, be wary of secondhand stuff too , how worn is it ? does the chain brake work properly  ? is the cylinder bore scored ( hard to tell unless stripped down ) not stolen.... and a hundred and one other things.

If it is just for very occasional use hire one, otherwise,

The cheapest way , in the long run is to buy from a real physical dealer.
New or secondhand  tell them what you want it for and your budget, you may pick up a good secondhand one failing that if it has to be new console your self that it will have a warranty ,( even a second hand one will have a short one) you should be able to get spares and service and most importantly advice.
Our local dealer wont sell you one until he has demonstrated it ,made sure you can use it and you have the proper safety gear as he doesn't have arms and legs in stock !

When you get one look after it, use the correct  mix , keep the chain sharp  and when you finish using it run it dry of fuel if not to be used for a while clean out the crud that has accumulated ,give it a wipe over and if possible  get a proper case for it ( not an airtight one).
My stihl saw is 26 years old ,ok its had a new carb, but starts 1st or 2nd time . the way I look at it is the purchase price divided by years owned..
What ever you do , do it safely

[rob39]

Going for a husq 135

[Womble]

Nicely done.  I don't think you'll regret it  .

[Rupert the bear]

Very good choice 

[cloddopper]

There is a wise saying ..never buy a second hand chain saw.. 

One of the members on TAS kind of proved outright a few years ago , it by suggesting that if a certain persons saw was not up to scratch " why not put it on eBay " & use the dosh towards a  new one.