I'm thinking of trying to use my late husbands chainsaw in the garden. How hard is it? Too dangerous or is it do-able? Thanks.
woody89,
Oct 11, 6:47am
I've been thinking along the same lines. I do think that my husbands chainsaw would be too big & heavy for me & possibly unnecessary as I don't see myself felling big trees or cutting firewood rings. Also I have observed that a new one he purchased is much easier to start than the rest. I'm thinking of quietly going into the shop & asking for their advice & maybe coming out with one for me. Wonder if they have pretty colours so no male wants to touch it?
masturbidder,
Oct 11, 7:58am
Have a look at electric chainsaws, lighter and more manageable. I have two petrol chainsaws and an electric bought for pruning and small firewood, but use that more than the others. But remember all chainsaws can be dangerous; always wear safety glasses, gloves boots and ear protection.
simeon_,
Oct 11, 4:30pm
can be dangerous if inexperienced .you tube chainsaw safety perhaps.
lythande1,
Oct 11, 6:09pm
Which is OK as far as it goes. More important learn how to use it safely, that's the biggest thing.
sinclairsouth,
Oct 11, 7:23pm
If inexperienced ladies are considering chainsaw purchase it would pay to consider the Alligator which is probably a lot safer and more easy to use. This small covered type chainsaw is excellent for odd jobs around the garden and I'm sure everyones' friend Mr. Google will advise where it can be bought if there are not any listed on Trademe. I have my own chainsaw (Husqvarna 16") which is adequate when cutting my own firewood but I was taught how to operate chainsaws safely many moons ago!
katelin1,
Oct 11, 7:30pm
Our local Stihl shop do special safety training sessions for ladies, so that would be worth a look.
mrfxit,
Oct 11, 9:13pm
Highly recommended to get lessons. Learn all you can about ALL aspects of how to use it & maintain it. Even if you never do any maintenance on it your self later on, the simple fact of having learned how to sharpen the chain & clean/ oil etc the chainsaw will give you more confidence for later
ANY mistake with a chainsaw touching flesh WILL result in REMOVING flesh.
All chainsaws are only as safe as the operator regardless of what they are doing with it & regardless of it running or not.
You NEED to be reasonable fit, confident in using it & CLEAR HEADED.
Chainsaws are NOT for wimps or dickheads or the unsteady of body
If you fear it, . it WILL bite you
skin1235,
Oct 11, 10:11pm
all those suggesting lessons
did any one of you actually take lessons way back when you first started using chainsaws
I bet most did not, you picked it up, pulled the cord and attacked anything in front of you, as life went on you learned how to handle it way better
maclad,
Oct 12, 12:07am
You really need lessons if you are totally inexperienced. They are very dangerous. Polytech run a one day course and you would be able to take your own saw. I use a chainsaw in the course of my work and am only a tiny female but can handle it as long as I take care and respect the equipment. Must also be maintained to a safe standard as poor maintenance makes them even more dangerous. Highly recommend the course, I did it after 30 odd years of using a saw and found it good.
mssteptoe,
Oct 12, 5:07am
I have my own Poulan and I've just been using it again today. Damn handy and like any tool, you have to respect it and know it's capabilities and what you should and shouldn't do. I recommend a small pruning saw for you which is what the forestry guys use to prune high up. They're usually light and can be swung round with one hand while they hang on with the other. Have a look online and visit a store where the sales person has knowledge to share and can make the right suggestions. Altho sometimes they see us women coming I suspect and think we're stupid, telling us all sorts of rubbish coz we're 'gullible' lol I recommend you take charge and I'm sure you will feel a sense of pride & the 'girls can do anything' buzz. I love my 'sheila's shed' with it's assortment of tools etc. Can't do the job without them! Good luck.
mssteptoe,
Oct 12, 5:08am
PS: I forgot to mention the main thing when using anything like that, wear the safety gear recommended, goggles, chaps, good strong footwear, ear muffs, etc
maclad,
Oct 12, 5:24am
Have to say I agree fully with using safety gear. One of contractors, an arborist, got an apology from his employee for destroying his chaps when the chainsaw slipped. The main man was so pleased the chaps had done their job and the employee still had his leg.
redhead96,
Oct 12, 6:08am
I find easy to use but will never use it unless someone else is around.
maclad,
Oct 12, 6:15am
I think you are being very wise and in time you will be confident enough to use it on your own. At the mo I am training our new girl to use a chainsaw and will be teaching her care, safety and respect for the machine. A biggie as she is the first one I have helped tutor and she is doing well. Confidence is a biggie but over confidence is not so good.
ravo,
Oct 12, 6:15am
I use a petrol chainsaw - it's quite fun! But I learned as a teenage and had my experienced father show me how to use one safely. I certainly don't take risks that's for sure.
mouse265,
Oct 12, 6:28am
An expert farmsafe tutor that I know is now in a rest home after rolling a tree over himself last year so that was a good lesson for all there that day accidents do happen any where any time .I also have a mate who sliced a piece out of his forearm both were very experienced operaters
maclad,
Oct 12, 6:37am
Hence the need to get all tuition needed. Chainsaws are fast and very often fatal
anne1955,
Oct 12, 6:39am
I have two chain saws I was brought second when my first one tried to remove a hand :( But even before my accident I knew jolly well what I should not do and I did it. Taken down 3 trees getting tired decided to finish of some notty fire wood. It jumped back at me a couple of times knew chain was getting blunt and I should stop. Didn't and worse did something just plain bloody stupid and knew better than to do! Held wood in one hand chainsaw in other. chainsaw kicked back took off a hunk of left index finger bounced back and tried to remove from main knuckles next three fingers. Now the chainsaw doesn't have a brake off on it and really should have been tossed. New one to heavy for me and couple of months ago took 2 trees out with old one again. I had it sharpened by a female friend that works with chain saws. Went like a charm. Women can do anything :) even like men have accidents with chainsaws.
maclad,
Oct 12, 6:44am
Thanks nice post
gabbysnana,
Oct 12, 7:23pm
Find i can no longer manage "holding it". I have gone to electric tools and alas now pay for someone else to do.
pinnochio1,
Oct 12, 9:22pm
Chainsaws should not be used above your head. If the work you intend to use it for is higher than your head, consider getting a pole pruner. There are still dangers but less severe as you are away from the chain.
ianab,
Oct 12, 10:41pm
Agree with the others about getting some training before you use one.
No problem with ladies using a chain saw, as long as they have the arm strength to start and hold it properly, but there are a few basic things you need to know to keep yourself safe. And if you don't, it's easy to get a bar covered with sharp cutters flung back at you ~ 100kmph. And that's actually more likely to happen using a chainsaw for pruning, where you end up holding it at weird angles, and reaching out, and contacting other branches behind what you intend to cut.
The Farmsafe 1 day course is good if you can get on that. It's theory and practical, and they will teach you to use a saw properly, and even so some more advanced stuff that's useful for cutting tricky stuff.
BTW, electric saws can still bite, and in some ways they are more hazardous as protective chaps aren't as effective against an electric motor.
Those little "Alligator" saws look useful for gardening and pruning. Because most of the chain is covered, it would be pretty hard to hurt yourself.
maccachic1,
Oct 13, 1:29am
I can use one - just got the Oh to show me how but I do a fair bit of DIY.
redhead96,
Oct 13, 3:11am
I am confident to use it on my own but choose not to.
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