Stihl and Husqvarna copies

zetecescort

Thinking about buying a bigger saw for the bigger bits left after the storm (50-60cc).

Would prefer secondhand as I couldn't really justify the spend for the use but at the same time would like a saw that will last. I have read posts here about even dealers struggling to tell the genuine from the copies.

My question is are the copies of just new saws and by going secondhand I reduce the risk of buying a copy (increase the risk of buying one needing work I know but I'm reasonably handy with spanners).

TomOnBoard

If chainsaw clones are difficult to spot new, surely they'll be equally difficult to spot secondhand.

zetecescort

Yeah, I was thinking if I buy a 10 year old saw rather than a 2 year old would I avoid the risk of getting stung with a copy?

Is there a timeframe for when the copies started showing up in large numbers?

ford2600

zetecescort wrote: »

Yeah, I was thinking if I buy a 10 year old saw rather than a 2 year old would I avoid the risk of getting stung with a copy?

Is there a timeframe for when the copies started showing up in large numbers?

I think @Reindeer ports saws and might be a good fella to ask.

Locally I have a man who rebuilds old stuff, and that's what i would do if looking for occasional saw for big stuff.

Other than that buy new from a registered stihl, husky,jonsered dealer?

zetecescort

Thanks for your replies.
I was more than likely going to buy secondhand from a dealer and try haggle some sort of warranty anyway rather than use Donedeal or the like. Will do plenty research on what to look out for and see how I get on.

Nekarsulm

Try your local man for a good trade in saw. He will have no problem telling real from copies, and considering some copies only last a few hours sawing, does he really want you coming back with a ball of scrap looking for it fixed? Handle a real Husky or stihl, then go to a car boot sale of sunday market and look at the clones. easy enough to see the difference.

ford2600

Nekarsulm wrote: »

Try your local man for a good trade in saw. He will have no problem telling real from copies, and considering some copies only last a few hours sawing, does he really want you coming back with a ball of scrap looking for it fixed? Handle a real Husky or stihl, then go to a car boot sale of sunday market and look at the clones. easy enough to see the difference.

Do they sell the clones beside the stolen ones?

monkeynuz

often the colours of the plastic on the clones is not quite right, and the colour certainly doesn't age well, so a year old fake will look a different colour to the housing of a genuine stihl/husky although I have seen more fake stihl than husky saws

Reindeer

TomOnBoard wrote: »

If chainsaw clones are difficult to spot new, surely they'll be equally difficult to spot secondhand.

They are easier to spot second hand - they will be falling to pieces.

TomOnBoard

Reindeer wrote: »

They are easier to spot second hand - they will be falling to pieces.

Good point.