Advice on a chainsaw please!

[robgunby]

Hi All

I have seen this at 1st hand, getting someone down from 40ft up a tree with a serious cut is no joke.
Don't want to put you off, just be carefull

Be Safe
Si

Appreciate the advice Si, thanks. My father in law is a biker, so I'll see if he has any old kevlar trousers I could pinch. I have good steelies to protect the feet, and will get a face guard too. I am just the sort of person who would cut his hand off doing a simple log chop.

[keith157]

Rob, biker gear and chainsaw trousers are not the same, one is designed to allow you to slide gracefully across the tarmac without suffering too much road rash. The chainsaw trousers have the Kevlar woven differently so they can be picked up by the chainsaw teeth and allow the blade/chain to jam in an INSTANT!!! There are different BSC ratings for each.
You wouldn't (maybe shouldn't would be better) wear a caver's helmet on a motorbike as they are rated for different environments.

[robgunby]

Good point well made Keith

[thelawnet]

Here's a nice safety video to put you off.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqrV73Q1SPU

[robgunby]

I suppose with all these dire warnings, I should ask, what is the next best thing for cutting my fist sized chunks? Hand saw?

[derekmiller]

Rob.

Look for a Huskvarna straight pruning saw. I use one of these for smaller jobs, It cuts on the "pull" rather than on the "push". We have a 12" and it can easily cut branches upto about 9".
Derek.

[keith157]

Depending how thick they are a cheap power mitre saw might do the trick....

[robgunby]

Usually about 3" square.... ish. Had a look at mitre saws because I borrowed one to cut some skirting board and it was indispensible. You can get one for as little as £30, but I get a bit bamboozled by the jargon and figures and not sure which one I would need.

[keith157]

I think the only thing you need concern yourself about would be depth of cut. I have a cheapo Aldi/Power Force one but have a look around, Machine Mart/Clarks do some cheap ones, or a second hand bench-top bandsaw would cope. (No woodworking puns please )

[robgunby]

How about something like this? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Black-Decker-KS ... orpion+saw

The price is what I'd pay for two days' chainsaw hire.