See saws at their best

Saws specifically designed for farm use make up just one portion of the market, which also include smaller saws suited for quick jobs, and the larger commercial grade saws typically purchased by professional firewood cutters or gardeners.

Yass Outdoor Power Centre salesman Neil Glassford said farmers had been looking to upgrade their chainsaws given the developments in technology, improved ease of use and power many of the newer models offered.

"Most of the farmers we see will have two saws; they'll have a smaller saw for jobs like getting a branch off a fence or off the road, or for a bit of pruning, and they'll also have a larger saw for cutting logs and firewood."

He said the little saws had proved to be popular among buyers seeking to carry out smaller jobs.

Weight had also proved to be a factor in a purchasing decision; many newer chainsaws were lighter than older models, given improved engine efficiency and the ability to have more power, and older farmers in particular appreciated the lighter saws.

Some of the newer saws offer more efficient engine operation, more responsive throttles, and features like anti vibration.

Generally, most of the chainsaw buyers included farmers who were cutting a lot of wood on their properties, commercial and professional gardeners, as well as firewood cutters.

Mr Glassford said sales of chainsaws usually varied according to season - and also to markets.

For example, if the lamb market is going well, local farmers are more likely to upgrade and replace their old saws, than in a tougher season.

Hobby farmers also make up a big portion of the market in the Yass area, but Mr Glassford said recent job uncertainty from many public servants in Canberra had flowed down to more limited sales from the hobby farmers.

"The discretionary end of the market has gone quiet, but the standard working end of the market has remained pretty strong," Mr Glassford said.

In Wagga Wagga, Prestige Mowers manager Greg Adams said chainsaw sales usually fluctuated depending on the season.

He said chainsaw sales had been somewhat subdued lately due to milder conditions heading into winter.

Alternatively, mower sales had been up on normal for the time of year.

Mr Adams said chainsaw sales normally picked up quite a bit when the weather got cooler - driven by customers looking to cut up firewood on their properties - but that had held off a bit this year given the warmth, but had been compensated by more mower sales.

He said they sold Husqvarna chainsaws in three categories: homeowner, landowner and commercial, with farmers more likely to purchase saws in the landowner category.

Specifically, he said the XP - a product in the commercial range - had proved to be popular, while generally saws within the homeowner range made up the bulk of sales.

The XP offered features like electric ignition and vibration control which had contributed to its popularity among heavy duty users.