What chainsaw do you like?

Thank you! I'm proud of you all for not fighting about it! lol

I had DH read your responses. Keep them coming if anyone else has a favorite or even a warning about one. He's been looking around for a few weeks. He said he wished he had someone to ask about saws and I said I knew just the bunch to ask!

Add Shindaiwa to the quality brands. Its as good as the older Stihl and Huskies and Johnsereds and Sachs. I have two of them and hold them in high reguard. They've given me less trouble than any other saw I've ever used. They just work, no constant hassles with settings and such and I cant think of a single weakness in them. Wish I had known enough to buy a quality saw 25 years ago, would have saved me lot of hassle.

As to modern saws have to say I was impressed with a newer husky I got to use for couple days about a year ago. Cant remember model number anymore, like a 359 if that sounds right. Anyway about 3.5 cu in engine. Kinda hard starting cold and lot of EPA crap (manual said in some markets they even have catalytic converter, jeese-louise...) The chain brake setup is sort of tinker toy and light duty. But boy that thing has torque and can cut circles around older saws the same size. No idea what they did to get the extra power.

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"What would you do with a brain if you had one?" -Dorothy

"Well, then ignore what I have to say and go with what works for you." -Eliot Coleman

Husquevarna, Stihl, Johnserud, and Dolmar are all top notch.

I run Husky's and wouldn't dream of changing. Funny how these allegiances form...

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"They laughed, because he was different"

"He laughed, because they were all the same"

My stihl AV41 is over 30 years old and still (stihl?) runs like a top.

I love my Husky 359, cuts hardwood like butter. I have never used a Stihl, but when I had a lawn business I only used Stihl weedeaters. I now have a Honda 4 cycle weedeater and will never ever go back to 2 cycles.

My vote is for Stihl.

Husqvarna 372 is the best all around saw you can buy. Unfortunately, Husqvarna now has limited production of the 372 and they are hard (not impossible) to find. They retail for around $600. Nearly bulletproof. It will likely last a homeowner over 20 years.

Stihl or Husqvarna. Whichever one has a repair shop near you. Ask locals about the reputations of the repair guys. If the Stihl shop has a bad rep, might as well buy the Husky saw. The saw's only as good as you treat it. Also, put a smaller bar on your saw. If you want an 18" bar, shop for a machine that's rated to run a 20" bar and then swap down for the smaller bar.

I have a Husqvarna 261. No problems with it and cuts like a dream. Only thing I don't like is there is a needle bearing that you have to grease and you have to take the chain drive cover off to get to it. Stihl's may be the same way, but I've never used one. Personally, if you're going to use it alot I wouldn't consider anything other than a Husky or Stihl. One caveat, Husky does unforunately now put out some cheaper saws now As stated in a previous post, you get what you pay for.

I have a Husqvarna 51 Have had it for about 11 years. I now have a 16 inch bar on it.I had a 20 inch bar on it at one time. The thing is bullet proof!! I use to cut alot of wood for extra money. Some say the 51 is a little heavy I dont feel it is.
Like outhers have said check your local dealer see what they carry. incase you need parts!!

Stihl or Husky.

Husky makes a nice saw for homeowners just under the Rancher. Pulls an 18 inch bar pretty well, unstoppable with a 16", and isn't so heavy that it gives you backaches...

Most important thing is to buy it from a shop that services saws right there in their shop, not from a big-box store. I have Jonsereds and just got a Stihl MS260 last year, seems better than the Stihl I had 25 years ago.

Agree with Jim.

Around here, both the local Husqvarna and Stihl shops are real good -- wouldn't go wrong with either one.

Most of the time, I use either a Stihl 029 Farm Boss or a Stihl 046. Years ago, I had an old Homelite C5.

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"Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil and you're a thousand miles from the cornfield." Dwight D. Eisenhower

husquavarna i bought one a ew weeks back and its like a hot rod chain saw. i hve been cutting wood for many years with older homelights and mac, this huskey will cut 8 or 10 cut for every 1 cut of my other saws. fact is i have been hospitlised four days this month trying to keep up with the new saw. back cant take the work out.

I believe Johnsereds are made by Husky these days. I was amazed by Husky's small saw, the 141... I think...maybe 40cc... it cut far better than my 45cc homelite.

I'm a Jonsered man myself. Have purchased their equipment for over 25 years. I am lucky that the biggest small engine equipment dealer around here is also a Jonsered sales and service center. My recommendation, and I’ve probably made this recommendation a dozen times on this forum, is to pick the saw brand (Jonsered, Husky or Stihl) that is sold and serviced by the small engine equipment dealer nearest to you. Don’t go buying a saw from a “big box” store or over the internet.

One other thing you might want to consider. Husky and Jonsered built their reputations while the saws were being manufactured in Sweden. All these saws, except the bottom (smallest) two models are still being made in Sweden. So expect the same quality from one of these saws that has been around for many, many years (unless you buy one of the small models). Stihl is a different situation. Stihl built its fine reputation when the saws were built in Germany. If you have a German-built Stihl saw you have a gem! Stihl saws are no longer built in Germany (except for the very high-end commercial models). So, don’t expect the same quality from a Stihl saw today. Stihl is not a bad saw, but they are no way the same quality as the ones that were once built in Germany.

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This is the government the Founding Fathers warned us about.....

This is excellent advice, especially if you're actually going to do work with the saw... Both Husky (my preference) and Echo (and probably other manufacturers) make 2 lines of saws - one for the occasional use typically needed by a homeowner and one for constant commercial use. Both are good saws for their intended use, but don't try to cut 20 cords of wood a year with the 'lighter' versions.

Another vote for Stihl (hubby does tree trimming commercially as a side business). We've also been happy with their pole-saws (chainsaw on a stick, I call it). He's used them, dropped them, dropped limbs on them (you don't want to try using a pole saw when the pole is slightly bent, by the way - just cough up the dough and replace the shaft right quick). And they are still running. If you're going to be doing a lot and can afford it, I would recommend the commercial model.

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A wise man speaks because he has something to say; a fool because he has to say something. - Plato

I had a Husquavarna for the last 7 years. It is excellent.

There are other, more expensive chainsaws, but what's the point of paying more when these are so good?

Before the Husquavarna, I had 2 Pioneers for 20 years, they also were excellent. Though I sure like the modern Husquavarna.

Alex

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Lotsa good saws listed here, but most all of em are too heavy fer my bad back. My Echo seems to be holding up quite well in its fourth winter now. Cuts good, light, and trouble free. The ole little homelites I used to buy lasted one winter if I was lucky, and their not even made anymore. they have 2 types of echo saws a 250hr. and a 1250 hr. saw. I bought the 1250 hr.saw...