Thread: Cheap Chainsaw

Originally Posted by DeeJay

In the entirely unlikely event a chain link should fail ( I have only seen it once and heard of it twice - in the 2 1/2 years I was a traveller with McCulloch chainsaws) the chain will throw off the bar forwards. Funny thing to see. Also most chainsaws since the late 70's have a mandatory chain catcher - its a lug usually on the lower part of the clutch cover.
Throw in "safety chain" usually on the smaller consumer saws and they are darn safer than a circular saw or angle grinder IMHO.

Yep, all saws should have a chain catcher, nylon guides and .325 chain is mainly only available in safety chain but.........YOU STILL NEED TO KNOW HOW TO USE IT.

The main problem over all the other little problems I have about stuff like this is that is someone who is only prepared to pay $100 for a chain saw going to be prepared to buy a pair of goggles and earmuffs let alone a pair of chaps, gloves and helmet and to do a safe use and maintenance course?

I'd be happier if someone would do a chainsaw course which provided all the gear and one of these little saws in the price of the course, then it wouldnt bother me so much.

I dont think chainsaws should be sold at Bunnings, Mitre10 or any hardware store where they dont have the knolage to pass on to the user so they can use it safely let alone sell them for $100, I think it is irresponsible.

Originally Posted by p38arover

I don't have one because the scare me.

A friend has worked for almost thirty years in the Parks and Gardens Dept. of a near Brisbane urban council. In this era of "training" and "multi-skilling", the outside staff are being sent off to training in all sorts of jobs they do not and will never perform. My mate drives a small truck, weeds around trees, distributes mulch, rakes and picks up fallen branches and does minor pruning of shrubs that can be done with secateurs from the ground. He is 63y.o. and is happy to finish his working life doing just this.

He gets sent off to a chainsaw training programme. The council requires chainsaw users to do this course and issues an internal ticket. Mandatory safety equipment is a hard hat, ear protectors, goggles AND face shield, chain mail gauntlets, ballistic nylon apron and chaps, steel toe boots. As my mate says, it takes thirty minutes to get the gear out of the truck and put it on to cut one branch. Anyway, one of the items on the course is a film of chainsaw accidents dissecting how the accident happened, what should have been done to avoid it, and graphic footage of the injuries. He told me he didn't want to finish the course or use a chainsaw after seeing this. He probably never will use a chainsaw as everyone went back to their normal duties after the course.

He also tells me that council's contractors wear whatever they feel like when they do heavy pruning with a chainsaw. Usually shirt, shorts, joggers, and a Caterpillar cap.

Originally Posted by mcrover

Yep, all saws should have a chain catcher, nylon guides and .325 chain is mainly only available in safety chain but.........YOU STILL NEED TO KNOW HOW TO USE IT.

The main problem over all the other little problems I have about stuff like this is that is someone who is only prepared to pay $100 for a chain saw going to be prepared to buy a pair of goggles and earmuffs let alone a pair of chaps, gloves and helmet and to do a safe use and maintenance course?

I'd be happier if someone would do a chainsaw course which provided all the gear and one of these little saws in the price of the course, then it wouldnt bother me so much.

I dont think chainsaws should be sold at Bunnings, Mitre10 or any hardware store where they dont have the knolage to pass on to the user so they can use it safely let alone sell them for $100, I think it is irresponsible.

let us all guess you wear safety goggles and ear muffs while hammering in nails ...............
if you read the warning on the hammer at time of purchase you'll see the warning
how irresponsible of hardware shops selling these items with out a safety coarse..................

Originally Posted by hiline

let us all guess you wear safety goggles and ear muffs while hammering in nails ...............
if you read the warning on the hammer at time of purchase you'll see the warning
how irresponsible of hardware shops selling these items with out a safety coarse..................

You use a chainsaw without all your safety apparel









I love watching the blokes suit up to cut out a jam up at work, next thing will be a whole chain mail suit

Originally Posted by mcrover

I dont think chainsaws should be sold at Bunnings, Mitre10 or any hardware store where they dont have the knolage to pass on to the user so they can use it safely let alone sell them for $100, I think it is irresponsible.

I totally agree. I've thought this for a long time and as stupid as I feel saying this I was actually surprised to see they sold them. What is worse now is that they are marketing them to everyone. You can get them in a nice little box for a couple of hundred and they look so user friendly and fun. They sell like hot cakes too.

Xav

Originally Posted by hiline

let us all guess you wear safety goggles and ear muffs while hammering in nails ...............
if you read the warning on the hammer at time of purchase you'll see the warning
how irresponsible of hardware shops selling these items with out a safety coarse..................

No I dont wear safety apparel when using a hammer.

I dont know what that has to do with this but it is just another way you can have a dig at me so youve had your dig now go away.

In all honesty how is it any different from purchasing any other power tool or piece of machinery?? I could list over 100 pieces of machinery quickly that this could apply to.
Should we have a ticket for all of them?
I do agree some knowledge is required, but the onus is on the purchaser to ensure they are competent not the sales staff.
I do think that relevant safety equipment should be included with the nastier tools. However I have seen fingers removed with nothing more than a hammer or a stanley trimmer and have in fact seen a life threatening femoral bleed with nothing more than a 2 dollar trimmer.

A lot more people get killed in car accidents than chainsaw accidents and those in cars usually have a supposed safety ticket (licence).