Starting a chainsaw repair buisness

[panteliss]

There is a company in the US that makes them, D/Dave bought some and got a member (homelite410??) to make up some mounts to hold the saws in place. They were really good but his cost to produce was around $300us before making a profit. I have seen some ball/swivel vices on eBay bit they were cheap light duty hobby ones not rated to hold 10-20lb's needed for saws.

Better put theese 300$ for buying some cases splitters, and seals pullers , or other specialty tools

 

[Wood Doctor]

Thank you all so much for all the advice and tips.

I am not looking to do this full time and I do plan to pick and choose the jobs I take on.

Will be looking into a pressure/vacuum tester and maybe a small parts cleaner.

Will sit down when I get time and catalogue all the stuff people have listed that I any need.

I spent this afternoon building additional work bench space that I can dedicate to this work.
Still have to set up a heap of shelving, run power and air, more lighting....... Lots to do


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More lighting is about all that you will need. You cannot have too much. Looks good. Two thumbs up!

 

[Brewz]

Picked up some leads on some project saws.
Going to have a look at a husky 365 and a 2100 later this week.

Are the 2100's worth anything in good condition?

 

[CR888]

Mmmmm......2100xp's. Owning a nice one is what dreams are made of! Parts are a little hard to find but I would find it very hard to pass on a nice one at the right price. Think 2 series husky......100cc's. A true muscle saw from years past. 365's are great but dime a dozen.

 

[Brewz]

Yeah, the danger is I may want to keep it

 

[CR888]

Yeah, the danger is I may want to keep it

Yes.....you most certainly will!! You like big bars and torque, a 2100 will stroke your soul. In their day they were the choice of pro fallers.

 

[Brewz]

I am thinking milling.
Will make a decision after I get it on Friday but for under $100 it cant be a bad thing and it its a runner, its money in the bank as long as it sits in my garage!

 

[Brewz]

old mate said it was a 2100CD

 

[fearofpavement]

A big mistake a lot of people make when starting out is charging too low of a labor rate. It's hard to charge someone $10 an hour for a job and then 6 months later it's $30...

I'd recommend a labor rate appropriate to that industry in your area and then give "discounts" early on to compensate for your inexperience. It won't take long to acquire speed and skill if you're doing it weekly so don't undersell yourself.

Something along the lines of "I'm not really that familiar with that model of saw so it took me longer than it should have, so I'm knocking $25 off your bill.

 

[Brewz]

Great advice.

Just scored a Stihl 076AV for $50

I am really looking forward to getting them running.

I will take tools and a light so I can pop mufflers off to check internals

 

[VinceGU05]

MUCH better.



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too high .. i would lower them to just above yr head when standing.
even a workbench light.. and they can come with magnifying glass in them. handy for when ya half blind like me.


on the bench to the right i have a hand light, a T27 driver and a light rattle gun. vice, 20 litres of brake cleaner.( cheaper in bulk) USC on the floor. and in the foreground in the black draws, spanners sockets screwdrivers oring picks heat gun etc etc.
i dont think any one has mentioned flywheel pullers for both stihl and huskies. they work fantastic. i made some for both. more successful than just hitting with hammer and levering with a screwdriver. especially if the flywheel has been on for the past 30 years.

 

[Brewz]

They are a bit high but I do plan on some local lighting when I need it.

I am lucky to still have near perfect eyesight at 41

 

[VinceGU05]

by late 40's that could be different lol.
also start downloading a heap of SM's and IPL's of saws you may encounter . can come in very handy!

 

[Brewz]

Just picked up a lead on an 090.

Its an extra 3 hours in te car tomorrow but I am not going to let it go!!!

I just want to get it running so I can try it out

 

[jake wells]

you need a picture of your avatar in the shop.

 

[Brewz]

Haha, I wont need a picture, I will do it enough!

Ash is one of my favorite movie characters and I went looking for a pic of him with the chainsaw as a hand.
I saw that one and thought "thats how I look when I ask for a price on a piston at the local Stihl shop and get told $300"

Got a long day driving tomorrow to pick up some "cheap fix up" saws.

Husky 2100
Stihl 076av
Husky 365
Stihl 034 (maybe)
Stihl 090

Should keep me busy for an hour or 2 getting them fixed up.
I cant wait to run the big girls.

Apparently the 090 fell off the back of a ute and the case is cracked where it holds to handle on. Has a big box of spare parts, bars, chains etc and I cant pass it up.
I have a mate with a Tig welder

 

[Brewz]

Just got a call about an 064
Stripped spark plug thread that was repaired with a heli coil and then came loose and did some damage.

066 hybrid !!!!!!!

 

[Brewz]

Now all I need is a call about an 084, and mint 394 with a blocked carb, a few 066's and a 3120 to fill the gaps, and the back of the truck!

 

[CR888]

Those few will keep ya busy. They are the kinda saws 'saw guys' like us like and appreciate. Saws to flip and sell quick are ones that are popular in the market place....ms250's, 1122 series, 3 series huskyz etc. Popular saws usually have good parts availability with cheap AM options. Hope the 090 is a plum saw with the case damage....you got some interesting projects! You know we're gonna want pics and stuff. Order Wiha's basic chainsaw hand tool kit outta the US, its about $60usd & is awesome value tons cheaper than buying them here. Its got 8&10mm nut drivers, T27torx, 3xhex...I think its about 10 hand tools total.

 

[Brewz]

Yeah I am amazed at the awesome saws that have turned up.
I am not knocking back the popular stuff, thats what I have had come in so far.

There were a few VERY old "not worth the trouble" saws that I wont worry about.

The 034...... there are a lot of them advertised and they dont seem to move well, and old mate has just spent hundreds fixing it himself so I dont think it will be viable.
I just rang him and its an 034 super and will do it for a good price with additional bars, chains, new hard case......... WIN!