Search results

Any saw that 'does the job'. I've owned/used plenty over my 43 years of cutting including Stihl, Husqvarna, Dolmar, Jonsered(Husky), Makita and various "Who Flung Dung" etc They all have their pro's and con's but as long as they 'do the job' I'm happy.

Avoid Mtronic like the Bubonic Plague! See if your dad will part with his old 036av.

Any free wood is good wood; even Pinus Radiata!!! The trick is knowing when it is dry enough to burn 'cleanly'. I leave pine, cut and split, outside for two years or more: no problems with soot/creosote. I mix it with Ironbark, Greybox or one of our local hardwoods and it's fine.

I use both types, depending on the job at hand. Two-stroke saws are definetly more powerful but also a lot more fiddly and noisy. Battery saws require less maintenance but you need to carry a few spare charged batteries to cut a truckload of firewood. If the diameter of the logs exceeds 12" I...

I agree. We've just had a big storm in Blackheath, NSW, and a council arborist has arranged for two big pinoaks in my street to be reserved for me as firewood rather than going into the chipper. I'm very grateful for this. I have to cut and remove the wood from the verge but that shouldn't be a...

Lovely handle!

That is a Fiskars Isocore maul (about 8lbs) and you are correct. They are much appreciated here in Australia where we have some pretty hard and twisted timber. They are heavy though compared to a good axe or 6lb Cyclone maul. I only use mine when the hydraulic splitter 'spits the dummy' or the...

Thanks Leaf. The old Stihls gave me great service for 42 years (as did the local small engine mechanic) but I'm clueless about modern equipment.

Thanks everyone for your responses. A mate has given me his old Stihl ms230C which is about 40cc and seems alright for what I need. It's easy (but weird) to start but he could not get it to stop unless he choked it by pushing the black slide/lever fully down. I've given it a "mug mechanic"...

Without wanting to start a 'flamewar' can I have suggestions for a top quality brand of saw. I've heard that Stihl, Husqvarna, Dolmar etc are rubbish these days. My old Stihl 045 has recently 'given up the ghost' and friends tell me their modern plastic fantastics are unreliable. It's...

Buckin' Billy just uses the boot on his foot as a rough guide when cutting up firewood (around 12"). I've started doing the same as it's a bit more accurate than eyeballing the log. As for stacking timber I just lay down a bed of sticks on the ground to keep the firewood dry; works for me...

Great saw if (and only if) you can obtain the parts. I've been using a 116i for a while now but cannot obtain a steel band for the chain brake. An old timer told me to just wrap the brake handle with knotted rags. In the event of kickback (heaven forbid !) he reckons the rags will tangle up the...

Dolmar(Makita) are a good saw; I have an old 116si (60cc) and it's a terrific workhorse. Unfortunately the chain brake steel band broke many years ago and I haven't been able to obtain a replacement. Makita told me they haven't stocked parts for this saw for many years. Thus I have to be very...

I picked up a beautiful old 1895 English Gilpin axe a few years back for nothing but had to replace the handle, and 30+years ago a nice(but lightly rusted) Plumb axe head for A$2.00 at a local garage sale. I'm not in the business of collecting axes but I do use both of these occasionally for...

Love that new handle. I can only purchase rubbish where I live in the Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia. The hickory axe handles are plantation stuff (no old growth). Even old growth spotted gum(local hardwood) is getting hard to obtain.

Thanks Matt. Are you a former Blackheath scout? (Just out of interest) I've used a Stihl 031av Farmboss since I bought it new in early 1980 (Aussie $163 from memory) for firewood;great saw but it's now pretty dead. I picked up the old Dolmar on ebay as a replacement and, as mentioned in an...

Thanks fellas for your advice Thanks for your advice fellas.

I'm new to this site but can anyone help me out with an old Dolmar 116si that is missing the steel brake band? (equals no chain brake!!!) I got onto the Australian Makita distributor who claims they stopped manufacturing the part in the early 2000's. I've had no luck trawling the internet. The...

I have had an "el cheapo" Chinese 7-ton electric splitter for a few years now and it's surprisingly good, if somewhat slow compared to using a maul/splitting axe. I prefer to use the Fiskars but had to get a splitter when I had surgery on both my hands for carpal tunnel and trigger fingers...