Recommendations wanted for electric chainsaw as my Bosch one has died

Jul 20, 2009 5 Replies

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tinnews 17 years ago

My Bosch 40cm chainsaw has finally died (motor bearing seems to have failed) after many years good service felling Lleylandii and chopping logs.

So, I need a replacement, probably around the same size (16"/40cm), maybe a bit more powerful though the Bosch seemed quite adequate actually.

I don't want to spend loads of money but would like to get something that will be reasonably easy/pleasant to use. I can't find anywhere with comparisons of electric chainsaws so I'm a bit stuck. I chose the Bosch because it was about the cheapest 40cm I could find at the time.

I still have an even older B&D with a 12"/30cm bar, it's not as powerful as the Bosch but otherwise is OK. In fact I prefer the chain adjustment on the B&D as it's *not* "toolless", the no tools chain adjuster on the Bosch is actually less easy to use IMHO.

So, any recommendations (or un-recommendations)? Is there any reason why I shouldn't go for a cheapo Einhell from Focus (it's £49.99 and there's a Focus store just up the road). What more do I get if I spend £100 or so on a 'better' brand?

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gilli 17 years ago

Hi, I thought a lot about this and ended up with the Einhell one. The chain tension adjustment is a plastic screw, which I suppose I can replace, but otherwise it seems pretty good. I also got the oldie discount which is every day at Focus.You might have an oldie friend ! I figured I could get its worth out of it within the guarantee period. I also have an old B&D one which I accidently abused by running it out of bar oil and it burnt out a nylon sprocket. Wondering where I could get a replacement for that. It was good for its age. Good luck. David Gilliland

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tinnews 17 years ago

I don't need an oldie friend, I'm old enough and have a Focus discount card too. :-) So the Einhell is OK is it?

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John Rumm 17 years ago

Given the potential downsides should it decide to fly apart in use, this is a tool where I would not be included to buy on price.

Not used many electric ones personally, but of those, the nicest that I have used was a Husqvana. Personally I quite like the Makita petrol saws.

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Davy 17 years ago

snipped-for-privacy@isbd.co.uk wrote in news:4a64d816$0$31039$bed64819 @news.gradwell.net:

chopping

reason

You need a model which has effective safety features; a kick up detector that stops the chain in less than a second; a motor brake that does the same when you release the trigger; a chain catcher. In October I bought an AL-KO cos it had all those features and cost £79. But it has been back in the dealers for repair for more time than I have had use out of it. So I would go for a Husqvana - about £150? DAvy

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tinnews 17 years ago

... and do we know that that Husqvarna would be more reliable? :-)

OK, I take your point but I'm not all *that* convinced that more expensive means more reliable nowadays. I can get a Husqvarna 321EL for about £135 so it's not *that* expensive but I'd like to be sure I'm really getting what I want. There's nowhere that one can actually look at these things nowadays.

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