Aldi Chainsaw - Opinions ?

Ebe_Scrooge

Saw this in my local Aldi last night :


https://www.aldi.co.uk/gardenline-petrol-chain-saw/p/064055117102100


Seems a good price. I'm wanting a chainsaw for occasional, fairly light, DIY use ( cutting trees up to about 6" diameter or so ). Has anyone used this beast before - good or bad ?


Obviously I'm not expecting it to be in the same league as a Husqvarna, but do you reckon it'll be OK for a DIY-er ? I've Googled for reviews, they seem to range from "Absolutely brilliant" to "Don't touch it with a bargepole"

martinsurrey

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

Saw this in my local Aldi last night :


https://www.aldi.co.uk/gardenline-petrol-chain-saw/p/064055117102100


Seems a good price. I'm wanting a chainsaw for occasional, fairly light, DIY use ( cutting trees up to about 6" diameter or so ). Has anyone used this beast before - good or bad ?


Obviously I'm not expecting it to be in the same league as a Husqvarna, but do you reckon it'll be OK for a DIY-er ? I've Googled for reviews, they seem to range from "Absolutely brilliant" to "Don't touch it with a bargepole"

How good are you at engine maintenance?

for occational 6" trees wouldn't something like this be better?

http://www.screwfix.com/p/titan-ttb355chn-40-5cm-2000w-electric-chainsaw-230v/92771

A lot less maintenance!

or if you want a brand

http://www.screwfix.com/p/bosch-ake-40-19-s-40cm-1900w-electric-chainsaw-240v/54041

the extra price will still be cheap compared to the headache of keeping a cheap petrol engine going.

Ebe_Scrooge

Thanks for the links Martin. Unfortunately an electric saw is not really practical for me, due to the trees being a fair distance from the house - I'd need to string 3 or 4 extension leads together to get it to reach :eek:


I do know my way round an engine pretty well, but reading between the lines I'm guessing you're saying it's going to be more trouble than it's worth ? I did wonder that myself - it's true that you get what you pay for

martinsurrey

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

Thanks for the links Martin. Unfortunately an electric saw is not really practical for me, due to the trees being a fair distance from the house - I'd need to string 3 or 4 extension leads together to get it to reach :eek:


I do know my way round an engine pretty well, but reading between the lines I'm guessing you're saying it's going to be more trouble than it's worth ? I did wonder that myself - it's true that you get what you pay for

Cheap engines have large manufacturing tolerances (why they are cheap), you could get a good one, or a bad one, or one that is good to start but takes ages to maintain.

if you are only going for 6", a chainsaw might be overkill.

How about one of these, 7" cuts in wood (you can do more if you cut around), cordless, electric, not expensive, and the blades are cheaper.

http://www.diy.com/departments/ryobi-one-18v-cordless-reciprocating-saw-rrs1801m/174025_BQ.prd

screwfix do several as well

http://www.screwfix.com/c/tools/reciprocating-saws/cat830862#category=cat830862&cordedorcordless=cordless

DaftyDuck

Assuming it's the same as last year's, I can tell you it works just fine - for the price! I've got the luxury of four chainsaws, one being an electric used at the barns for logging the smaller stuff (and for convenience you can't beat it!), and one being the last year's Aldi offering. It's an Einhell, the red one, 1535 or something, built to the same reasonable standards, certainly not professional, but good enough for general use on a few trees. I was using it earlier today on four to six inch trunks, and it was fine. Struggled with overheating toward the end, as the wood is deadish and a bit dry (and there's no variable chain oil adjustment).

Faults? The chain and bar are held on with a bit of flimsy clips, and the chain can loosen rather easily as a result. Regularly checking the tightness sorts that, and it's got an easy twisty handle for chain tension. It's prone to a bit of overheating, but so am I, so that helps...

Positives? It's easy to start, not too heavy, not too flimsy, bar just right for most reasonable jobs. Starts when warm too, which quite a few cheaper two-strokes struggle with. Chains are easy to replace, and cost £10 for Oregon, or two cheapies from the 'bay for eight quid - and they work fine. The three year warranty is excellent - I've used it on a few other tools, and Aldi & Lidl have always come good, brilliantly so sometimes (... replacement drill sent when bought one D.O.A., so now got two batteries.. and two drills, since I took the first apart and fixed it, and replacement chargers with no question). Spare parts are direct from Einhell, are easily available, cheap, and ebay does umpteen knock-off bits even cheaper.

I have a 20" for bigger jobs, and a beautiful East German rip-off (showing my age) of a Stihl which, when it works, is far, far superior. But, parts are difficult and expensive, so I protect that for more tricky jobs.

So, do I recommend it? You won't find better for the price anywhere... except possibly Lidl!

Do be warned, chainsaws are dangerous, and you relly, really ought to buy chainsaw trousers, gloves and helmet! Really! Do!!!!

!!!!!!

Ebe_Scrooge

Thanks Dafty for the comprehensive review :T And thanks Martin for the links to the cordless options - not something I'd really considered, but definitely worth looking into.

silverwhistle

I was just about to post suggesting the electric chainsaws at Aldi/Lidl - I've been happy with mine (can't remember which!) and they do spare chains as well so you can swap over if it's an inconvenient time to faff around with a file.

As they deal with the demanding German market I suspect the petrol one you require won't be a dog, but with the usual issues of a small petrol engine... When you're feeling flush you could always go with a battery model as battery technology has improved no end in the last few years.

Niv

I have recently bought this:


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/58cc-20-Petrol-Chainsaw-2x-Saw-Chains-Carry-Case-Easy-Start-NGK-Spark-Plug-/171547647444?hash=item27f1095dd4:g:DoMAAOSwcdBWSaAA


I confess I have not got round to using it yet but have used the 5in1 tool that they also sell which I must say is really good.


Less than £70 for a 20" 58cc chainsaw seemed a good deal, comes with two chains too ( as well as tools and mixing bottle and safety gloves and ear defenders )

Gloomendoom

Niv wrote: »

I have recently bought this:


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/58cc-20-Petrol-Chainsaw-2x-Saw-Chains-Carry-Case-Easy-Start-NGK-Spark-Plug-/171547647444?hash=item27f1095dd4:g:DoMAAOSwcdBWSaAA

A pity that the bloke the advert has never bothered to find out how to use a chainsaw safely. :eek:

gamston

I had lots of chainsaws
at the moment I have one of those Chinese 56cc ones off ebay, but I also have a 26cc one from SGS
http://www.sgs-engineering.com/garden-tools/chainsaws


the 26cc ones nice and little weight, easy to use if up a tree, cut most stuff in a garden or logs for the fire

fishybusiness

Scrooge, my inlaws have an Aldi saw.

Works ok for what it does, firewood mostly. Wouldn't want to use it for much else.

Starts ok, as said, starts when warm, spares are available if you want to wait a couple of weeks.

Do think about safety, saws are lethal, they move so quickly the damage is done before you realise.