Chainsaw checklist: what you need to know before you buy

Storm Ali left the country with trees down and debris everywhere. Many more trees fell in this storm over others, due to the large quantities of foliage present on branches. This left many farmers with trees down on land, meaning the trusty chainsaw had to be pulled out of the workshop and put to work.

We put together a few tips to take into account when buying new or secondhand chainsaws.

1 Try to buy from a branded agent such as Stihl, Husqvarna or Oleomac to mention a few. Buying from an authorised agent has many benefits, such as warranty and a reliable backup service.

2 If at all possible, try and buy new rather than second hand.

As with every secondhand item, you don’t know the history of the machine. Has it been worked hard? Has it been abused? Why is it for sale? These are all questions you ask yourself.

We would only advise buying second hand if you know the saw history and trust the seller.

3 Don’t be fooled by the many cheap imported saws on the market. These saws may look new and often look similar to a known brand, being sold for a fraction of the price.

These saws may work but will not last due to the fact cheap and poor quality components are used within. There will be no guarantee or backup either usually.

4 Make sure all saws have a genuine European conformity (CE) mark and comply with international standards. This information may not always be present on the saw but will be present in the user manual. Cheap imports may not have this marking, so steer clear.

5 Chainsaws are an increasingly popular item to be stolen due to the fact they can be lifted and made disappear fast, often with no traceability.

These saws often end up advertised online and at car boot sales across the country, so beware of this when purchasing a secondhand saw or any secondhand power tools privately.

After purchasing a new chainsaw or power tool, it would be a good idea to record the serial number.

Scribe your name on the item in a unique location. Another recommended option is to write your name and details on the tool with an invisible UV marker.

This marker can only be read when in the presence of UV light, otherwise it cannot be seen.

These markers can be bought in newsagents and online for only a few euros.