Information on Tanaka saws?

[jimdad07]

I made a comment on a different forum about a Tanaka (43cc) saw that was based on the looks of the saw to the effect it was slave made junk. Someone wrote back and said they were good saws. I am not interested in buying one, but would like to know more about them so I don't say something dumb like that again without knowing wtf I am talking about.

 

[spudulike]

Best place to start is here - http://www.acresinternet.com/cscc.nsf/GasbyManufacturer?OpenView&Start=117&Count=30&Expand=125#125

I think they are a high quality Japanese manufacture - mostly small bore but decent quality not to be confused with some Chinese c**p.

Sure someone on the site has used one - not had one through yet!

Spud

 

[7sleeper]

Tanaka was bought by Hitachi. Both excellent companies. The quality is top notch.

7

 

[Javelin]

That saw you are talking about is an excellent saw. But way overpriced! Too bad I was hoping when hitachi bought them they would get compettive on there saw pricing.

 

[Stihl Crazy]

The biggest saw is almost 100% identical to a Redmax 5000. Parts manual looks like a copy.
Not a price copy though. Tanaka is almost $300 more.

 

[Javelin]

It is a redmax! The 4501 is a true tanaka unit.

 

[Patrick62]

The fact is...

I work in a store that has 3 spiffy new Tanaka saws on the shelf.
I put them together, and in casual observation, noticed that 1 of them said "made in Japan". I know you are dying to know where the other two were made. Take a guess.
:jawdrop:
china

If you want proof, I can take a pix of the label.... The quality doesn't look bad, just not fantastic. I do not know how they run yet.

 

[Javelin]

I have not bought any tanaka saws in quite some time but do you know what models were made in china? If I had to quess I would say the new Honeycomb models.

 

[rmh3481]

I got a note from Tanaka that said two of their new saws have a 7 year warranty. Dont believe me, check their website; http://www.tanaka-usa.com/index.php?section=1

 

[johncinco]

They are not Slave Junk!





Indentured servants.

 

[Analyst Man]

Check this out.

http://www.wisesales.com/chainsaws.html

 

[jus2fat]

Check this out.

http://www.wisesales.com/chainsaws.html

Our sponsor Bailey's also sells various Tanaka models.

http://www.baileysonline.com/category.asp?catid=13


J2F

 

[kemo]

I work in a store that has 3 spiffy new Tanaka saws on the shelf.
I put them together, and in casual observation, noticed that 1 of them said "made in Japan". I know you are dying to know where the other two were made. Take a guess.
:jawdrop:
china

If you want proof, I can take a pix of the label.... The quality doesn't look bad, just not fantastic. I do not know how they run yet.

Please do post pics. If they are indeed from china, the pieces are starting to come together... I have a pretty good idea where they come from if that's the case.

 

[tdi-rick]

Tanaka petrol powered drills are the choice of a lot (most ?) fencing contractors here.

 

[gemniii]

The 32cc Hitachi clone of this are on sale this week.

Whoops deleted where they were for sale because it's a non-sponsor and I got hit with an infraction.

But they are on sale for a week I think and it looked like at the B&M only.

 

[jimdad07]

I think it is DR that is selling them as a milling saw with their Alaskan saw mill setup.

 

[TraditionalTool]

I have heard good things about the Tanaka saws, and they do have a 7 year consumer warranty. I am seriously considering buying one of the 33EB saws over the past couple days, it has a $50 Visa card rebate and they can be had on ebay for $200.

The reason I would consider the saw is that Bailey's has the 1/4" sprocket to convert it over to 1/4" pitch. While a tad pricey at $32, it still provides a quality carving saw at less than $200. They have a Walbro carb and the cylinder is chrome (I believe many of the Stihl cylinders are chrome).

 

[Aled Owen]

I'm just wondering about these saws, the Tanaka ECV-4501 with the 18" bar looks interesting but somebody in the thread earlier said some Tanaka saws are made in China, he didn't specify which ones though.

 

[rasputan]

tanaka

I bought my first Tanaka 32 years ago. It was a 3hp air-cooled 2-cycle outboard. Made in Japan in the same factory their chainsaws are mfg, in today. It was basically a chainsaw laying on its side with the centrifugal clutch engaging the drum connected to the propeller shaft. Between myself and a few freinds trading off, running our trotlines, we ran that little engine hard. virtually day and night for 15 years. It was still running like new when I sold it. If their chainsaws are half the quality or as durable. They should easily outlast any saw I have ever used. Which is why when I saw they made one last year. I didn't have to think about it very hard to decide to buy it.
I have used it enough already to know it is a fine saw. I will have to use it for another 14 years before I will know how it compares to the little outboard.

 

[zogger]

measurement freaks

My dealings with Japanese tech folks shows me they are measurement freaks bigtime. They love close tolerances and working as small (or large) as needed. I have also heard this anecdotally repeated from other people who had dealings with them. They also have the cultural mindset for making quality. I think this is why you see so many good quality japanese made things today.

I remember way back in the 60s when I was working for GM and I had a chance to look at some of the japanese cars that were just showing up, I went, paraphrased "these guys are gonna take our lunch money if we don't get on the stick and start emphasizing engineering over just crap giant raw horsepower of dubious quality". I got laughed at and dismissed. All sorts of union guys told me I was nuts, "no one will ever buy those little things". I just looked at the reliability/quality/mileage and went, "nope, they are gonna do it, just watch".

Ha! I was right, just two decades out in my prediction, when it really became apparent even to the shortbus dudes.

I had a tanaka aquabug bike motor in the 70s, dang slickest little reliable motor. I had an email correspondence with the company a few years back (because I wanted another one) to see if they would consider remaking that device, but they said they didn't want to because it is "transportation" and there are too many liability issues with it. Said they would like to, but didn't think it would be good for their company at this time.

Currently all I have tanaka is a string trimmer and it rocks. If I get flush I would definitely consider one of their saws, especially that now they have a 7 year warranty.