Chain saw or sabre saw?

[marcus]

Hi,

I'm thinking of getting either an electric chain saw or a sabre saw, for quickly rough cutting boards to length, and for chopping up large off cuts for fire wood, together with some occasional light garden duties.

It will generally be used for cross cutting boards up to 3" thick and up to 12" wide.

I've never used either tool before and have no idea which would be best. Any thoughts?

It will be second-hand, but any thoughts on makes to consider or discount?

Thanks

Marcus

 

[dickm]

Have had both, and I wouldn't bother with the sabre saw, though others will probably disagree.
So I'd recommend the chainsaw route, BUT remember to allow about as much again as the cost of the saw for protective gear. Helmet and ballistic nylon leggings are essential. If you can afford them, probably aim for a Stihl, Husqvarna or possibly Makita saw if you want something solid and less likely to shred internals. Or go for something cheaper like the Bosch, but regard it as likely to be disposable.
And whatever one you get, treat it with care - they can break and they can bite back.

 

[Racers]

Hi,

I was talking to a mate who if doing a forestry course he told me they have an article on the wall about sone one who decapitated himself with a chain saw. He said if you hold one left handed and it kicks back it swings round towards your neck :shock:

Pete

 

[SVB]

Yep - I am left handed but all saws are made for the right handed so it is a case of getting used to it. DO NOT be tempted to try and make do holding them 'left handed'

s

 

[big soft moose]

Hi,

I was talking to a mate who if doing a forestry course he told me they have an article on the wall about sone one who decapitated himself with a chain saw. He said if you hold one left handed and it kicks back it swings round towards your neck :shock:

Pete

nah - i'm a proffesional chainsaw user and thats an urban myth - if the chainsaw kicks back the chain brake will snap on (assuming its in working order and you shouldnt be using one that isnt) and your finger will come off the trigger, you can certainly get a nasty bruise and potentially a cut but theres no way it would still be turning fast enough to decapitate you , whichever hand you are holding it in.

The real reason not to hold it southpaw is that it puts the blade right next to your legs which is asking for it to snag on your leggings and jam the chain and bar - plus you will be venting all the chip straight into your left boot.

on the original question - a chainsaw beats a sabre saw hands down every time - but you must also buy chainsaw ppe (Gloves, hard hat with visor and muffs, leggings , and boots , and also get some training so you know how to use it propperly.

If you dont want to go the chainsaw route a third option is an alligator or tyranosaw - which is basically like a sabre saw but has a double blade reciprocating in alternate directions for a fiercer cut

 

[Grinding One]

How about a Tigar saw made by Porter Cable...it comes with a 6 inch blade.Pretty safe to use by a novice...

 

[Tom K]

Chainsaw are not the most subtle tools for workshop use (although great fun). I love my Makita recipro with the wide variety of blades available it pretty much "Sawzall" every thing from minor tree surgery to car exhaust pipes :lol:

 

[OPJ]

I've never used a chainsaw and the thought of using one frightens me! :shock: Some form of training is essential, along with ALL PPE, as I've heard about the kind of damage of injuries these can cause. In fact, I think a law should be introduced where you need a license (earned after training) before you can buy a chainsaw... :-k

Cordless battery-powered saws are supposed to be safer, for what it's worth, although I'd still take ALL precautions.

 

[marcus]

Well i don't want to be putting on full safety gear or going on courses just for a tool I will only use now and then. I've seen guys at the more rustic timber merchants I use who casually grab a chainsaw to cut boards to length, and thought maybe the full kit was only necessary for cutting down trees etc....

Anyone used a sabre saw? What are they like?! Any good?

Thanks for replies so far.

Marcus

 

[Dibs-h]

I have both a chainsaw and a reciprocating saw - and to be honest wouldn't be without them. But neither are woodworking tools (in the sense of what most people do here), I see them more as construction tools.

The chain saw is Stihl and the reciprocating saw is a Dewalt - both purchased second hand - and no problems over the last 5 yrs.

 

[marcus]

Hi Dibs-h

neither are woodworking tools (in the sense of what most people do here)

That's OK, as I just need something to cut big boards down to size before moving them into, or around, the workshop - I have some quite big pieces of tree to deal with sometimes and work on my own.....

Could a decent sabre saw cross cut wide 3 or 4 inch oak boards fairly easily?

Cheers

Marcus

 

[Tom K]

Marcus heres a clue. These saws are often called a "Sawzall" it imitates a hand saw with a back and forth action.
You get a wide range of blades and can even run it along a straight edge.
It is multi purpose but not a Disston :lol: The limiting factor is the blade
length.
If you want a chainsaw buy petrol the little electric ones bust gears.

 

[Dibs-h]

Hi Dibs-h

That's OK, as I just need something to cut big boards down to size before moving them into, or around, the workshop - I have some quite big pieces of tree to deal with sometimes and work on my own.....

Could a decent sabre saw cross cut wide 3 or 4 inch oak boards fairly easily?

Cheers

Marcus

I've had 12" blades in the sabre saw - but that was primarily when cutting up part of a car bodyshell and the cut was always oversized and if the blade did wander - it wasn't an issue.

I did recently cut up an old purlin - 12" x 4" and it did do the cut relatively quickly and somewhat cleanly. But - there is noticeable vibration from these things and if the blade sticks slightly - your hand and forearm will feel it.

Best thing would be to try one of you can - shame you are so far away, otherwise you'd be more than welcome to try both the sabre saw and chainsaw.

Have a look on fleabay - I suspect you'd pick up a sabre saw very cheaply.

As to which brand - Makita\Dewalt are very common and blades are cheap and I have a Dewalt but would just as happily take a Makita.

Or you buy a cheapy one - and see how you get on and after a yr or 2 upgrade (or earlier if it dies) although Skill do one which seems a good halfway house.

 

[xy mosian]

Am I the only one who does not know?

Is ' ppe ' personal protected/ive envelope/environment ?

xy

 

[PowerTool]

Am I the only one who does not know?

Is ' ppe ' personal protected/ive envelope/environment ?

xy

Personal Protective Equipment - safety gear,basically.

Andrew

 

[xy mosian]

Thank you.

xy

 

[big soft moose]

I've seen guys at the more rustic timber merchants I use who casually grab a chainsaw to cut boards to length, and thought maybe the full kit was only necessary for cutting down trees etc....

it depends on how much you like being alive - you will see people do all sorts of stupid things with chainsaws while wearing totally inadequate protection, but this doesnt mean its a good idea to imitate them.

a chainsaw can kickback if the top quadrant of the saw touches anything while the blade is unsuported, and that can happen just as easily while cutting boards as it can during forestry - and as a casuyal user you will be at more risk as you wont develop the skills that a full time user has and thus it is more likely that you will use the saw incorrectly and encounter a kickback or other hazardous situation.

Cautionary tale - My mate Si who is a full time tree surgeon was once on site with his mate "bob" (I dont know his mates real name, but si is a real guy and this is a true story) - they were working on site clearance coppicing and wearing full PPE. After the day was over and they were leaving site they took off the PPE and loaded a load of coppice product into the landrover and trailer. Unfortunately one piece was a couple of ft too long so "bob" casually picked up the chainsaw and without putting his PPE back on started to cut it to size. - however for some reason while he was cutting, the piece split and the released tension slammed the still running chain into his upper thigh

Si was in the landrover at the time and saw the accident occur in his rear view mirror - but the saw had severed "Bob"s femeoral artery and by the time si had jumped out and grabbed the first aid kit , bob was unconcious from blood loss - and he died before the ambulance arrived.

Moral of the story - never use a chainsaw , even for "just one cut" without putting the PPE on.

I also carry Haemostatic Granules in my first aid kit - which are a sachet of special granules developed by the milliatary for traumatic bleeding wounds (shell fragments etc) - one of these poured into a wound like bobs and then tightly bandaged over slows the blood loss and increases the casualties chances of surviving long enough to get medical attention.

 

[marcus]

I don't think I want a chain saw :shock:

 

[Alie Barnes]

I don't think I want a chain saw :shock:

I use a chainsaw pretty much everyday, used correctly and you should never have a problem.

Find someone to give you some guidance training on using one.

 

[big soft moose]

I don't think I want a chain saw :shock:

I use a chainsaw pretty much everyday, used correctly and you should never have a problem.

Find someone to give you some guidance training on using one.

yep the bottom line is that used correctly and wearing the correct ppe they are no more inherently dangerous than any other tool - after all people have horrific accidents with tablesaws , routers, bandsaws , chisels, stanley knives etc (wood whisperer have a whole forum board dedicated to accidents ) but most of us use them safely- because we are sensible and use them in a correct and safe manner.