Chainsaw advice

[Mudball]

I inherited a chainsaw from the previous house owener about 5 years ago. Never used a Csaw before. I will look it up on youtube. Its been in the garage all this while. It maybe that it was not used for a long time before that either. Havent checked the condition.

In a few weeks, I might need it to take apart a sofa (assuming mine does not get stuck at Dover). I am assuming i need to service it before I use it. Any advice on chainsaw users

 

[fundy]

Imo dont! Properly dangerous tools in inexperienced hands.

Plenty of much safer tools for chopping up a sofa

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Imo dont! Properly dangerous tools in inexperienced hands.

Plenty of much safer tools for chopping up a sofa

What he said. Seems great and lots of fun but you can easily lose a limb. If you were constantly chopping wood it would be worth looking into properly but for a one off, leave well alone.

On a practical note, if it hasn't been used for a while it probably needs properly servicing, not just squirting a bit of oil into it.

Apologies for looking like a killjoy.

 

[jim8flog]

Unless you are prepared to buy all the safety kit that is essential to have on when using one buy a standard electric reciprocating saw. Far cheaper to do that and far safer.

A sofa will have hidden metal components that could easily cause a chain saw to kick back in to your face.

 

[USER1999]

Buy a club hammer, and just smash it to bits. It's far safer.

 

[Deleted member 21258]

I would not use a chainsaw with the fabric covering that is use on a sofa. It is likely to catch up in the chain...

I would use a kitchen/Stanley knife to cut the fabric and (sledge)hammer on a sofa.

 

[patricks148]

Imo dont! Properly dangerous tools in inexperienced hands.

Plenty of much safer tools for chopping up a sofa

what he said.

have a chainsaw but i don't use it myself unless i have to, which is once in the 10 years i have had it.We have a tree surgeon who is a friend of the wife's and he will pop in and do what ever needs done

 

[Mudball]

Thanks folks... looks like it wont be the fun but i will need to chuck the chainsaw idea and use my trusty multi-tool instead ... it will be slow work too (given its a one-off, may not get the reciprocating saw)

 

[Dibby]

You might find the sofa goes into small enough bits, just by unbolting it. A lot of modern sofas are modular like that. If not, I doubt you need much more than a knife to cut the fabric and a crowbar to get the sofa apart, if the plan is to turn it into a pile of wood, metal and fabric\leather.

 

[Mudball]

You might find the sofa goes into small enough bits, just by unbolting it. A lot of modern sofas are modular like that. If not, I doubt you need much more than a knife to cut the fabric and a crowbar to get the sofa apart, if the plan is to turn it into a pile of wood, metal and fabric\leather.

I am hoping so... it is a corner unit and has a few rips so needed replacement. 50 quid for it being taken away... i reckon lot cheaper for me (free) to split it and take it to the local tip.

 

[Dibby]

I am hoping so... it is a corner unit and has a few rips so needed replacement. 50 quid for it being taken away... i reckon lot cheaper for me (free) to split it and take it to the local tip.

Good luck.

The last couple of sofas I disposed of, hand tools were enough to make them small enough to get to the tip. It's also a lot less messy if you're just dismantling, rather than chopping things up, making sawdust etc..

 

[Robin Hood]

Thanks folks... looks like it wont be the fun but i will need to chuck the chainsaw idea and use my trusty multi-tool instead ... it will be slow work too (given its a one-off, may not get the reciprocating saw)

Definitely get rid of the chainsaw.
I bought a second hand one a couple of years ago to do some tree work.
It scared the living daylight out of me. Especially when the chain came off.
I re-sold it on gumtree as spares or repair.
Buy a hand saw and a crowbar and have some fun 😁

 

[patricks148]

Definitely get rid of the chainsaw.
I bought a second hand one a couple of years ago to do some tree work.
It scared the living daylight out of me. Especially when the chain came off.
I re-sold it on gumtree as spares or repair.
Buy a hand saw and a crowbar and have some fun 😁

i still have images of me cutting my foot of every time i see it in the shed....

 

[spongebob59]

Is it worth offering the sofa on something like Freecycle ?

 

[Doon frae Troon]

As someone who used to use a chainsaw at work before safety regulations came in...………...don't touch it without getting properly trained and kitted out.
That alone would cost you more than an average sofa.
Borrow a sledge hammer/full sized axe...…...10 mins later lots of little bits.

PS I can now understand why some of your posts are a bit 'strange'.

 

[User62651]

Definitely get rid of the chainsaw.
I bought a second hand one a couple of years ago to do some tree work.
It scared the living daylight out of me. Especially when the chain came off.
I re-sold it on gumtree as spares or repair.
Buy a hand saw and a crowbar and have some fun 😁

Slacken bar holding nuts, then tighten the chain tensioner screw so that when the saw is sitting flat, the nose of the bar just starts to rise, that's a useful indicator for correct chain tension. Then re-tighten the nuts holding the bar in place! Chain should not be coming off the bar! Also once tension is correct if the chain is moving whilst the engine is idling then the engine idling speed needs reduced, another little screw for that.

As a former frequent chainsaw user and an occasional one now, who's done several training courses and refreshers, I'd say take a course or at least shadow someone who is qualified for basic maintenance (sharpening/filter cleaning/bar replacement etc) and cutting techniques and definitely get PPE - protective trousers and boots most important for protection of limbs, helmet with visor and earguards for eyes/hearing.....obviously. Keep your thumb around the handle and not on top.
Most serious accidents with chainsaws in the industry at least these days are from hung up trees, i.e. the one being felled gets stuck in the neighbouring trees, people then start cutting the neighbouring tree which is holding the weight of the first one and all kinds of dangerous things can happen. It's crush injuries rather than cut injuries that are the most common serious injuries/fatalities in the industry. Kickback is largely protected by the chainbrake just ahead of the handle, older saws didn't offer that protection. Outside the industry stats for farmers having accidents with saws is bad, they tend to crack on with tasks without PPE or training, used to doing everything themselves.
Clearing windblown trees (fallen but still rooted) is also very dangerous especially if done incorrectly, tremendous stored forces in the stem of a rooted fallen or leaning tree can be released very quickly when cut.
Go to respect chainsaws, not saying dont use one or get one but get PPE and some basic training if you do.

 

[Robin Hood]

Slacken bar holding nuts, then tighten the chain tensioner screw so that when the saw is sitting flat, the nose of the bar just starts to rise, that's a useful indicator for correct chain tension. Then re-tighten the nuts holding the bar in place! Chain should not be coming off the bar! Also once tension is correct if the chain is moving whilst the engine is idling then the engine idling speed needs reduced, another little screw for that.

As a former frequent chainsaw user and an occasional one now, who's done several training courses and refreshers, I'd say take a course or at least shadow someone who is qualified for basic maintenance (sharpening/filter cleaning/bar replacement etc) and cutting techniques and definitely get PPE - protective trousers and boots most important for protection of limbs, helmet with visor and earguards for eyes/hearing.....obviously. Keep your thumb around the handle and not on top.
Most serious accidents with chainsaws in the industry at least these days are from hung up trees, i.e. the one being felled gets stuck in the neighbouring trees, people then start cutting the neighbouring tree which is holding the weight of the first one and all kinds of dangerous things can happen. It's crush injuries rather than cut injuries that are the most common serious injuries/fatalities in the industry. Kickback is largely protected by the chainbrake just ahead of the handle, older saws didn't offer that protection. Outside the industry stats for farmers having accidents with saws is bad, they tend to crack on with tasks without PPE or training, used to doing everything themselves.
Clearing windblown trees (fallen but still rooted) is also very dangerous especially if done incorrectly, tremendous stored forces in the stem of a rooted fallen or leaning tree can be released very quickly when cut.
Go to respect chainsaws, not saying dont use one or get one but get PPE and some basic training if you do.[/QUOT


If I knew then what I know now, I wouldn't even have contemplated a chain saw - luckily the chain came off pretty quickly. I then looked on YouTube for instructions, refitted it and tensioned it. Tried again, but decided it was just too scary..........
I have a really good selection of handsaws for pruning trees; and a brilliant tree surgeon for big jobs.
I also have all my fingers and limbs 👍👐

 

[Mudball]

Is it worth offering the sofa on something like Freecycle ?

I called the community furniture project (and BHS) but they won’t take it as it can’t be re-sold as it does not have the fire safety labels (15 yrs with kids running around - nothing is safe) and also it has a few small rips (not on the leather but where the stitches have come off).
The community project offered to take it away for recycling for about 40 quid. I can do that cheaper.

 

[spongebob59]

I called the community furniture project (and BHS) but they won’t take it as it can’t be re-sold as it does not have the fire safety labels (15 yrs with kids running around - nothing is safe) and also it has a few small rips (not on the leather but where the stitches have come off).
The community project offered to take it away for recycling for about 40 quid. I can do that cheaper.

We have a local Facebook site where you ca n put up stuff for free, furniture always seems to go from there so maybe worth seeing if there is something similar ?

 

[Tashyboy]

Take no notice of what folk say on here, not saying any of them are wrong coz there not. There's an old saying " what I hear I forget, what I see I remember". With that in mind, just google " Chain saw injuries" images.
Once that's done buy a sodding great hammer and smash it to bits.
Of that don't convince you, ring Greg Norman. 👍