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can we talk about CHAINSAWS??? Help the NOOB |
pjc5150
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 01, 2009
Posts: 1672
From: Tampa, FL
|  Posted: 2009-06-25 4:13 pm Permalink
So....
Electric? Gas?
Brand?
Mods?
What's up???
I practically destroyed my buddy's 16" homelite and barely used the damned thing. I can't afford to be pissing good people off borrowing their stuff & wrecking it, so it looks like I'm buying my own saw.
Help a brother out.
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GROG
Grand Member (first year) 
Joined: Jun 21, 2006
Posts: 6265
From: Tujunga
| Posted: 2009-06-25 4:16 pm Permalink
The Carvinator 2000!
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Benzart
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jan 09, 2004
Posts: 10309
From: Port Saint Lucie, Florida
| Posted: 2009-06-25 8:35 pm Permalink
get a makita electric with an in-line motor. They are tough and they spin up real fast and cut great
Search for chainsaws and find every post there was about chainsaws and it's fast.
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Aaron's Akua
Grand Member (8 years) 
Joined: Jul 09, 2004
Posts: 1594
From: Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
| Posted: 2009-06-25 9:04 pm Permalink
This should help: http://www.tikiroom.com/tikicentral/bb/viewtopic.php?topic=13826&forum=7
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-Pablo Picasso
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seeksurf
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Sep 27, 2007
Posts: 2144
From: Buckley, WA
| Posted: 2009-06-25 10:36 pm Permalink
Are you going to be using it for anything other than carving?
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pjc5150
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 01, 2009
Posts: 1672
From: Tampa, FL
| Posted: 2009-06-29 08:21 am Permalink
Quote:
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On 2009-06-25 22:36, seeksurf wrote:
Are you going to be using it for anything other than carving?
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Nope. Maybe an occasional yard chore from time to time, but 99% of what I'm getting this for is carving.
Also, I've noticed Sears Crafstmen electric chainsaws are CHEAP, and with the warranty you could pretty much burn 'em out & keep returning 'em & getting new ones forever. Is the Makita so much better to use that it warrants spending $250 as opposed to $50? I'm kinda thinking about trying the Sears.
Should I absolutely not do this? Should I just bite the bullet and buy the Makita? Is the Sears really a horrible unit to use and not worth money saved?
Even though the stuff I've carved is total crap compared to what 4wd & some of you other guys are doing, I'm still having fun & plan on keeping it going, so should I just not be a cheap-ass and pony up the cash for the Makita if I'm in for the long haul?
Don't be afraid to be completely blunt here!
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GMAN
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 14, 2005
Posts: 2994
From: My Island
| Posted: 2009-06-29 08:54 am Permalink
Gas
-At least two powerheads
-One setup for 1/4 pitch and one for 3/8 pitch chain
-Run a sprocket tip and a quarter tip bar on the 3/8 pitch
-Run a dime tip bar on the 1/4 pitch
Or
-Get any cheap electric saw and beat the hell out of it........then get two gas saws set up as above.
-G
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4WDtiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 03, 2004
Posts: 1742
From: Omao, Kauai
| Posted: 2009-06-29 4:59 pm Permalink
I would google the sears saw with the words "review" and "opinion", to find out how people that bought them like them.
Also, I thought the craftsman lifetime replacement warranty is only on hand tools, not on any power tools. That's what they told me when I bought a drill, anyways.
My bottom line, I never used an electric, but for $50, it would be a great tool to learn on.
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GMAN
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 14, 2005
Posts: 2994
From: My Island
| Posted: 2009-06-29 5:29 pm Permalink
Get what ever you can and use the heck out of it. You'll never know what you like until you try some. Tail handle? Top handle? Chizzle chain? Safety chain? Sprocket tip bar? Quarter or dime tip carving bar? You can find used gas saws for 25 - 50 bucks. I see them a lot and I have purchased two or three in the last few years. I gave or traded them away too. MBL has one  You'll likely find Poulan and Craftman saws at yard sales or flea markets. I found a Poulan for 15 bucks. It ran like a raped ape. Look in the paper or on Craig's list. Bottom line.....get one and start carving. It doesn't matter if it is gas or electric or nuclear - just get one cheap and start having fun. Oh, yeah, and wear saftey gear!
-G
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Tiki Diablo
Grand Member (8 years)
Joined: Jun 24, 2002
Posts: 1896
From: socal
| Posted: 2009-06-30 12:11 am Permalink
Quote:
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On 2009-06-29 17:29, GMAN wrote:
Get what ever you can and use the heck out of it. You'll never know what you like until you try some. Bottom line.....get one and start carving. It doesn't matter if it is gas or electric or nuclear - just get one cheap and start having fun. Oh, yeah, and wear saftey gear!
-G
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True ... true. If you like carving and plan to stick with it, then get the one that Benzart suggests. I use a Dolmar electric, which is basically a re-badged Makita. I've had it for sbout 4-5 years now. Remember though, it is not the saw, but the hand that guides it.
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Creative Chimp
Grand Member (2 years) 
Joined: Jul 31, 2008
Posts: 278
From: Lost continent of west Florida-Parrish
| Posted: 2009-06-30 1:52 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2009-06-29 17:29, GMAN wrote:
.....It ran like a raped ape.
-G
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HAAA HAAAAAAA HAHAAAAAA HAAAAAAAAA. MAN thats the phrase that pays!!!! I laughed my ass off when i read that. I bought an electric craftsman for $20.00 new on ebay. so far it works better and quieter than my poulon...lighter too. i figured starting out a cheaper saw is my throw away until i get better at what i do.
...raped ape....dman thats funny. thanks for the laugh GMAN.
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GMAN
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 14, 2005
Posts: 2994
From: My Island
| Posted: 2009-06-30 7:47 pm Permalink
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blindy the pirate
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jan 21, 2008
Posts: 160
From: Tallahassee FL
| Posted: 2009-07-03 05:38 am Permalink
I wanted a chainsaw, so I went down to the Home Depot and bought the small Homelite electric model. It now sits collecting dust in my work shop. I figured that since I wasn't going to use it but to carve tikis, I could go cheap and be ok. I was wrong. It ran ok for about 5 cuts and thats it.
I don't know if anyone else has a Homelite that they like, but my experence isn't good.
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TURNING OUT HALF-ASSED CRAP SINCE 2005
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pjc5150
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 01, 2009
Posts: 1672
From: Tampa, FL
| Posted: 2009-07-03 07:44 am Permalink
I spoke to the dude at Sears, and essentially I can get a 3 year unlimited exchange warranty for their electric and extra 12 bucks & change. I figure that at about 70 bucks with tax & the warranty, it'll be a good, cheap learner, and maybe a back-up saw if I decide to upgrade down the road.
I took 4wd's advice & read a few online reviews where they tested it side by side with some other more expensive models and most were pretty positive.
Baby steps....
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Tiki Tack
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Jun 12, 2009
Posts: 15 | Posted: 2009-07-03 09:32 am Permalink
Hey there... first post of hopefully more. Been lurking through here and wanting to post but feeling unworthy still.. But.. I can contribute here somewhat.
I bought a Sears gas chainsaw at an outlet center, re-conditioned, for $70. I've used it to chop down and prune trees (was into landscaping). The thing is still running like a charm, never had to service it and only needed to sharpen the chain every once in a bit (and I'm brutal with it). I loooove it! Maybe I just got lucky but I would say if you want to go Sears, I've had zero issues.
But we'll see, I'm hoping to get it into some carving so maybe I'll kill it yet...lol
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