Rant: Tried to notch a limb with a cheap chainsaw and it kicked back hard

I was up in a pine tree outside Boise last Saturday and the chain bound up on a heavy branch, nearly threw me off the ladder. Has anyone else had a close call that made you switch gear brands on the spot?

2 comments

2 Comments

thea_mitchell201mo ago

Nothing like a cheap saw to remind you you're not immortal.

kim_west1mo ago

A 16-inch bar on a $99 saw with a dull chain, that's what almost got me last year. I was cutting a big limb on my property near the river and the kickback sent the bar right into my shoulder. I switched to a Stihl with a safety chain and never looked back, it's not just about the brand but having a reactive chain brake that actually works when you need it. You ever feel the difference in vibration between a cheap housing and a magnesium case? Your hands will thank you after a full day of cutting.