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I need to buy a saw to cut small branches 2" to 4" for making rustic garden furniture. The saw would also be used for cutting treated wood of various sizes but mostly 4"x 2". I have arthritis in my hands and need some advise, would I be better to buy an all purpose electric saw or an electric chain saw. The prices of both saw would be at the lower end around £75. Has anyone used both types of saw and which would you advise me to buy.

I've been in the trades for a long time and have many tools, often very specific for a particular task. I have a feeling YOu need more than one tool for two very different tasks.

With all due respect to you, and certainly other answers I see, your issue with some debilitation might be aggravated by using either saw?

I have a few Recip. saws and a couple of gas/elect. operated chain saws. Each is designed for various purposes or choices of use obviously, but one might give you "finer" results than the other.

Your problem might be in just the weight of each and the angles you need to be using them at? My Recip. saws are every bit as heavy as my chain saws, but offer a finer, smoother cut, with multiple blade choices, even up to 8 inches, effectively.

The other issue you might encounter is in using either for the two different approaches you want to apply to the same sized piece of stock.

Either will work well on a cross cut...IE: Branch, but your suggestion in the Q is that you're going to be doing either type of cut "Freehand." I'll assume in the making of even rough cut furniture some RIP cuts might have to be made?

Without strictly knowing your techniques in achieving the "product" it's probably 50/50 for either saw. I've seen ART created with a chain saw, but that doesn't constitute it as FINE art. Likewise "RUSTIC" is a mind set as well as a look.

I suggest RENT both types for a weekend/week and practice the use, and effects of each, then judge them against your desires and designs.

If you work with either for any extended time period they will seem Heavier.

If you went all out and spent 150 pounds for two different saws you'd very likely find appropriate uses for both, and realize that they will pay for themselves in time.

Steven Wolf

2007-03-26 14:01:44 by arter.m

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