Small chainsaws

[Valkie]

Ok, i have come to an impasse.
Here i am 63 years old and never used a chainsaw.
Never had the need actually.
But, in the near future, i plant to start travelling and free camping.
This means firewood will have to be cut up.
Additionally, my past fallback (my reciprocating saw) was pushed to the absolute limit last weekend removing a small tree (about 10 inches across) and chopping it up with it is a no go.

So, i need a chainsaw.
My son is of no help, he lives on a farm and has several.
But i dont need anything like the monsters he uses.
Im comfortable with virtually any power tool on earth, thinking back the only tool i have not used is a chainsaw.

I figure, for my purposes, i only need a small one ( toy as my sone calls them) tgere are several battery powered chain saws out there.
But which one?
Makita, Ryobi, Ozito, Dewalt, and others.
But i know no one who has used any of these or if they are any good.

Has anyone out there ever used a battery powered chainsaw?
Are they any good?
Any suggestions?

[sprintcyclist]

You might not 'need' a chainsaw. I had one a while ago - very dangerous tools. Really, was never 'comfortable' with it.
I'm careful and safety conscious, these will take your hand off in a second. Literally.
A sharp new handsaw works ok. Costs $12 from Trade tools, gives you some exercise. Just take your time, let the saw do the work.

Aside from that, I am a Makita fan.
Their big advantage is they have a HUGE range of battery tools.
And they are Japanese.

[Gordon]

Never use a chainsaw in a remote location, unless you are an expert. A really dangerous piece of kit.

[Valkie]

My son has several on his farm and uses them on a daily basis.

I am quite competent with just about every tool you can imagine (and some you cant)
As a tradie, I have used them all, some are also particularly dangerous.

I plan to go to the sons farm and get some experience in using larger and my smaller one on some firewood.
He never has enough of the stuff and is eager to get to it.

He also warned me of the dangers, especially after his first accident when a tree kicked up after he cut it (it was on the ground)
His spatts saved him serious injury, well terminal anyway (I don't want that sort of battle scar)

He has all the safety gear and will never do (just a quick) cut.

He said preparation, reading the cut and setting the wood secure and safely, is more important than using the actual chainsaw.
He also said that keeping it sharp and in good order is vital.
I can believe that, with my knives I always ensure that I have very sharp knives, a blunt knife is far more dangerous than a sharp one.

Makita are good, but Im leaning toward the Dewalt now as I have several Dewalt tools and it makes sense to keep them all using the same batteries.

[Black Orchid]

Last one we had was a Stihl.

[Bobby]

Never use a chainsaw in a remote location, unless you are an expert. A really dangerous piece of kit.

I won't use one - they can jump out of the cut you're making and start cutting you.
They can get stuck in the cut and then be ripped out of your hands
meaning the chainsaw is out of control.
I have a friend who still limps after a chain saw accident 30 years ago.
It cut his knee down to the bone and a bit further.

[sprintcyclist]

Never use a chainsaw in a remote location, unless you are an expert. A really dangerous piece of kit.

I won't use one - they can jump out of the cut you're making and start cutting you.
They can get stuck in the cut and then be ripped out of your hands
meaning the chainsaw is out of control.
I have a friend who still limps after a chain saw accident 30 years ago.
It cut his knee down to the bone and a bit further.

Yes, I won't use one either.
A 'cut' from one of those will not be a 'cut'. Not like a kitchen knife.
It'll be an instant 1cm wide removal of 'whatever' was there.
Even a cut with a handsaw is ugly.

[Neferti]

KRudd was lucky he didn't remove something important.

[Bobby]

Never use a chainsaw in a remote location, unless you are an expert. A really dangerous piece of kit.

I won't use one - they can jump out of the cut you're making and start cutting you.
They can get stuck in the cut and then be ripped out of your hands
meaning the chainsaw is out of control.
I have a friend who still limps after a chain saw accident 30 years ago.
It cut his knee down to the bone and a bit further.

Yes, I won't use one either.
A 'cut' from one of those will not be a 'cut'. Not like a kitchen knife.
It'll be an instant 1cm wide removal of 'whatever' was there.
Even a cut with a handsaw is ugly.

They are very dangerous.

[Gordon]

If you were to use a chainsaw in a remote location, you'd also need to take cut proof chaps, gloves, jacket and boots.

I'd just take an axe good fitness.