Post Your Chainsaw Recommendations Here

daytrader · #41 12/07/07, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crafty2002

I bought a Poulan Pro with a 16" bar because it was all the money I had to spend at the time.

Never again. It wants to give me a fit getting it started now and I have been super careful about the fuel/oil being clean and new and all.

I worked as a small engine mechanic at a Rental Store, for a few months way back and he had several different brands of chain saws. I had to tune up everyone of them he had when they came back in except the 2 Stihl's he had.
I forget who said it now but someone said make sure it is made in the country of origin and he's right.
I have used a Stihl and also a Husqvarna right much and never had a seconds problem with them and then I used a Stihl that was made in another country (I forget which country now but it seems like it was Japan but don't hold me to it) and I didn't feel like cutting any wood by the time I got it cranked. Especially if it was cold.
As far as I am concerned you can't beat a good Stihl, but I know several retired now, loggers that would only have a husqvarna.

Someone said buy one of these from the closest dealer and that makes since too.

JMHO
Dennis

Stihl are most made in Germany or assembled in Illinois. Husquavana is a dang good saw. Still I like the Stihl. You can find a service tec all over if needed for the stehil.

I will say. You can buy a used one off ebay. I would not do that. You can get a brand new one many TIMES CHEAPER then a used one.

daytrader · #42 12/07/07, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nathan104

I can chime in here. Just two months ago I went on a search for my first chainsaw. I moved to a place with 5 acres and was needing both cut firewood, and, there was a HUGE 36" diameter post oak tree truck that had blown over in a storm that had been on the ground for several years. So, is it very seasoned and very hard.

I was a stupid consumer at first, as I went to Lowes, and grabbed one off the shelf. It was a Poulon wild thing with an 18" bar for $130. I brought it home, got it running and started to use it. It was JUNK! It would not stay running and the pull rope kept getting hung out. I had to use a thin screwdriver to stick in the case to spin the plastic reel the rope was on to get it to unhang. The saw was complete garbage. I boxed it back up and returned it to Lowes the next day.

Now having experienced what a BAD chainsaw was like, I decied I wanted a very good chainsaw. I found a Stihl dealer locally and tried out the different models he had. I really wanted one of the 260's but it was a bit too much for me price wise. So, I settled on a 290 Farm Boss with 18" bar for $360. I got it home, started it up and just LOVED it. It ran so smooth and you could just feel the power in your hand. I started to cut up the near petrified post oak and it was butting through that huge log like it was butter. I got it cut into 3 foot section in a matter of about 30 minutes. It never hesitated or even tried to idle down or die out on me. Then, I went to start another cut and it would not cut the wood. Apparently, the chain had dulled out. I looked through the wood I had cut for anything I might have hit but did not find anything. Not sure if it nicked some metal in the wood or the well seasoned oak just dulled it that fast. So, it went back to the dealer and is being sharpened now. Sharpening there costs $7. But, even though that happened, I still love the saw.

I am very happy with the Stihl. The only thing I regret, is buying it new. I just saw an ad on the local craigslist for a good running Stihl 260 with a dull chain for $225. Kicking myself now.

So, to sum it up, this is my experience my experience. With a sharp chain, the Stihl 290 Farm Boss will breeze through the hardest of seasoned hardwood. With a sharp chain, the Poulon Wild thing is a piece of junk which should be used as a boat anchor.

The farm Boss is a great small saw. We have 2 that are 18 in. Great saws and for the money a real value.

on the chains. Stihl chains are not cheap, YOU CAN USE MOST ANY CHAIN. We use the Stehil fast cut. It rips the wood like nothing. They also have a fine cut. It is good for trimming trees and such.

KEEP THE BLADES SHARP. This is a must. You can burn up a saw with a dull chain. ALSO, learn how to use the saw. The saw should do the cutting with NO HELP from you.

When the guys are processing wood for me. The blades get sharpend about every 1-1.5 hours. Its easy to do by hand on the saw. It also give them a break.

daytrader · #43 12/07/07, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neolady

Careful with Stihl.
My father bought me a smaller unit (16") recently as a gift and it should be a fine little saw for me. He bought my sister one identical and I can use it and start it, as can she, with no problems.

The object of the purchase was to buy one that I could start as I can no longer start any of the other four ones we have, and several of the saws are now too large for me to operate due to injuries I have. These older units are McCulloch & Poulon products.

I have taken this Stihl back several times as I just cannot start it - I have only used two tanks of fuel in it. My husband can't start it either - but he can start the old McCulloch's and the ancient Poulon.

A buddy that has one identical can't start it without considerable effort - however I can start his!!! The guys at the service center start this one first time every time by "drop starting" the unit. This is not a possibility for me. So we now have five chainsaws that I can't use...I'm very disappointed

Go to a differant dealer. They will make it work right. The points may beed replacing. I have been very happy with them. Parts are easy to get and over all they are dang fine saws.

Stihl still has from what I am told the two pull guarnatee. Two pulls it starts or they will make it start in two pulls for free.

Agent Iron · #44 12/08/07, 08:49 AM

I am with Eric Jeeper and Slu on this one.

I was out cutting yesterday with my Dolmar 5100, and can not tell you what a pleasure it was to run. I have run Stihl 020T's 026, 028 Super, 034, 036, 038 Super, and 066, and I think the Dolmar is every bit the quality saw as any of the others listed. I enjoy it more because it is so light, lighter then the 026 but with more power and a side chain tenssioner. A real dream. Not as powerful as the bigger saws, but I cut through a dozen 16" to 18" hard Walnut logs plenty quick without a sore back. The 7900 is a monster!

The distribution network is not like Sthil, and I fear potential problems in the future, but there are sources, and you can find guys with old part on the Arborist site as well.

Super saws, and reasonably priced!

PyroDon · #45 12/09/07, 12:32 PM

Just purchased a husky 142 small saw but I like the 3 year parts and labor warranty . had a husky 52 years back was a great saw but didnt survive a tree jackknife But it did save my ankle .
Homelite used to make a decent saw but I havent seen one for year worth a darn . I still have a 1978 homelite xl trim saw that starts and runs fine but wouldnt give 2 cents for one of the new ones.
made the mistake of buying a poulan cut three trees and locked up , got it freed up and cut three more but it was a constant fight .
Buy a good saw there nothing worse than trying to cut ice fall so you can get out and have a saw that fails you everyother cut.

Brisket · #46 12/15/07, 10:31 PM

stihl is the saw, i have cut wood for about fifteen years as a ground man for a few cutters and i have a homelite sixteen inch and it is really nice, but if you are looking for the saw that will never quit go stihl. if you learn how to back cut you can use any saw that is twenty eight inches plus and you dont have to bend over to do the cutting your back will thank you for the rest of your life. but with that said, the most important thing is not the saw, we can all get lemons or the best from the box, but its the chain. keep it razor sharp and grind the guilds once in awhile. use a dremel with a 7/32 bit for the bigger chains twenty inches plus, and a 5/32 for the smaller chains, a file works also im just lazy.
if a stihl is warm and is turned off for under a minute and is started in the full choke position your stuck with a ten pound manual saw for about ten minutes. a warm stihl put in the start position will start immedietly, i do always drop start all my saws, it was how i was taught.

stonykill · #47 12/22/07, 09:27 AM

new saws....I've owned a few. In the early 90's I bought a stihl 026. It was a good saw for a small saw. I cut much large wood than I should have with a 48 cc saw. My dad had an Stihl 029. He loves it, I hate it. It always starts, but it feels cheap and flimsy, and cuts slow for a 54 cc saw. I've owned a Husqvarna 346xp. Similar saw to the stihl 026 but 46 cc's. Starts hard (more than 4 pulls is starting hard to me, I expect a saw to be running in 2, 3 the most) but cuts small wood (under 12 inch) like a crazed animal. Above that, not so much, but it will cut it.
For me, I'll take an old saw anyday. I've got several old Pioneers dating from the 60's to the 80's. All metal construction, the ones from the 70's and 80's all have a decent anti vibe, tons of torque, unlike todays high reving, low torque machines, and always start easily. I grabbed my early 60's vintage Pioneer holiday the other day to cut down a christmas tree. It hadn't been started since the summer(I use my 70's vintage P40 the most for firewood). I gassed it up, and on the 3rd pull it was running. If I tried that with the 346xp husky, it would have taken 10 to 15 pulls just to pop.
If you are mechanically inclined, an old saw is hard to beat!

Agent Iron · #48 12/22/07, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stonykill

new saws....I've owned a few. In the early 90's I bought a stihl 026. It was a good saw for a small saw. I cut much large wood than I should have with a 48 cc saw. My dad had an Stihl 029. He loves it, I hate it. It always starts, but it feels cheap and flimsy, and cuts slow for a 54 cc saw. I've owned a Husqvarna 346xp. Similar saw to the stihl 026 but 46 cc's. Starts hard (more than 4 pulls is starting hard to me, I expect a saw to be running in 2, 3 the most) but cuts small wood (under 12 inch) like a crazed animal. Above that, not so much, but it will cut it.
For me, I'll take an old saw anyday. I've got several old Pioneers dating from the 60's to the 80's. All metal construction, the ones from the 70's and 80's all have a decent anti vibe, tons of torque, unlike todays high reving, low torque machines, and always start easily. I grabbed my early 60's vintage Pioneer holiday the other day to cut down a christmas tree. It hadn't been started since the summer(I use my 70's vintage P40 the most for firewood). I gassed it up, and on the 3rd pull it was running. If I tried that with the 346xp husky, it would have taken 10 to 15 pulls just to pop.
If you are mechanically inclined, an old saw is hard to beat!

You would rather tote a vintage 70's saw because you don't like to pull start a saw more then three times? It seems like it would be easier to pull the 346 four times, then lug around an anvil all day.

I have heard a lot of people really devoted to the older saws, and without all the emmsision stuff, they are probably more reliable, and will last forever. I wonder if you would be better with a bigger saw next time around since you like the torque. I bet you would like the Dolmar 7900, or the Stihl 066 which is a monster. I have heard a bunch of good things about the Stihl 038 magnum as a grunty saw of the modern vintage.

stonykill · #49 12/22/07, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agent Iron

You would rather tote a vintage 70's saw because you don't like to pull start a saw more then three times? It seems like it would be easier to pull the 346 four times, then lug around an anvil all day.

I have heard a lot of people really devoted to the older saws, and without all the emmsision stuff, they are probably more reliable, and will last forever. I wonder if you would be better with a bigger saw next time around since you like the torque. I bet you would like the Dolmar 7900, or the Stihl 066 which is a monster. I have heard a bunch of good things about the Stihl 038 magnum as a grunty saw of the modern vintage.

If you read my entire post you'll see the 346xp from cold takes 10 to 15 pulls. The P40 is 14 lbs with a 20 inch bar. Its 66cc's. It cuts circles around the 346xp, as it should. If you can't handle 14 lbs in a saw, you shouldn't be cutting firewood, or running a chainsaw.
I also own 2 Pioneer P51's, 82 cc's. I mainly use those to mill lumber, but they do come out for some big firewood.
I have less than $300 invested in 2 pioneer P51's. 2 Pioneer P40's and 2 Pioneer Holidays. Thats less than the cost of a new 346xp. A new Dolmar 7900 is more than that. An MS660 is a LOT more than that.A used 038 brings more than $300. I owned a Stihl 056, the predicessor to the 660, lots of grunt, outragiously heavy, and a pain to start.
Last I checked this was a homesteading site. To me homesteading is first and formost about being independant and living cheap. I've got a lot of saws to go around for all family members to run when it come wood cutting time, and 6 of them cost less, combined, than any of the saws you meantioned..used.
I'll stick with what I have. The 70's and 80's saws run at lower rpms and cut like crazy. Compare it to a high reving race car engine to a regular car engine. Whats going to last longer, and be more reliable? The race car that revs to extremes every day, or the regular car that isn't ever pushed to the limit? Not only that, but new saws are plastic. I worked for a short time in a plastic factory. The moulding of plastic causes cancer. Everyone who worked in that plant for more than 20 years, and I mean everyone, died of cancer before they retired. That right there is reason enough for me. I DISPISE plastic. #1, it kills people, and # 2 it doesn't hold up well at all. Its CHEAP!!

Agent Iron · #50 12/22/07, 09:14 PM

stonykill

Glad you are happy with your inexpensive saws, hope they last you many years. Just trying to make suggestions on some other saws, thought you may still be interested in trying new saws as you mentioned some newer models. The new saws do cost more money, but may be the right choice for some people who can not find a reliable 30 to 40 year old saw with adaquate parts availability.

I am truely amazed that a 66cc saw made in the 70's out of metal would only weigh 14 lbs. That is about what a modern saw of that size weighs. I don't mind a 14 lb saw...I think I can handle that and have plenty of times, but I don't mind a lighter one that can get the job done either.

Take care

JJ Grandits · #51 12/25/07, 07:19 AM

Stihl and husky make some good saws but another good saw and at a fair price is an Echo. All of my landscape small eguipment is Echo and I'm very satisfied with it.

crafty2002 · #52 12/25/07, 07:44 AM

I had to take mine apart and clean the filter yesterday ( which it needed) and it starts a lot easier now but while working on it I notice a sticker that says,

Durability Period:: 125 Hours.

I feel like I am renting the thing until it breaks for more than a dollar an hour.

I couldn't believe it when I saw that sticker.

Never again
Dennis

NorthernWoods · #53 12/29/07, 10:17 AM

Actually, I'm currently in the market for a chainsaw. Like other people have said, that Husky 055 Rancher 18in. is quite the saw. I've used the 055 at least twice a week for work for the past couple years and haven't had any problems with it. It is heavier and a little more than what I would consider a trimming saw but when I'm 45ft. up on a power pole, I ask for this bigger saw for the simple reason is starts easy and I don't have to fight with the power band.

But I'm currently looking for a good midrange Husky for myself, maybe a 357xp 20in. So that is my objective for today...out the door I go.

walnutgrove · #54 01/09/08, 04:25 PM

OMG finally a question I can actually answer (im new to homesteading). I just finished clearing 7 acres of thick brush. Just me and my chainsaw. I have bought, used and returned within a week 6 different chainsaws until I found the 'perfect' chainsaw - the new Craftsman 16"/ 36cc with "Sim-Pul" (tightenes the chain with a turn of the knob). The other ones i used were different types Stihl, Poalan, and Echo. All worked great for about a week of heavy use. Then they wouldnt start, kept dying, etc. The Poulan one's chain came off, cut the guard, and sliced my leg open (that was a nice 30 minute drive to the ER bleeding all over my jeep). The only one that 'took a lickin and kept on tickin' was the Craftsman. Now im a customer for life. And it was only $160.00.

VonWolfen · #55 01/09/08, 08:55 PM

I guess I'll have to go with stonykill on this one...although each individual has different priorities, needs, strength and skills....I guess that's why they make so many different models. I have "ol Blue", the 60s model Homelite Super XL with the manual oiler, and it is a miraculous saw. I have a 70s Homelite that is much lighter and still performs well as a trim saw. I have a new Stihl that was neat for about a month, then acted up. I returned it under warrantee and they said they detected a "nonStihl" oil product and voided my warrantee. Interestingly I had only used Stihl products in it, but it soured me on the product.

Columbia,SC. · #56 01/09/08, 11:10 PM

After truley learning how (because of help found here on this site) to sharpen a blade by hand I will put my Husky Rancher up against most any saw, not including the older ones, I admit better construction in the older saws. It is not very heavy, also it has never bogged down and will start 4-5 pulls after setting for a while. It was made in Sweeden SPC. and is a great saw, it works well duel purpouse SPC. for felling and limbing.
I would love to get a bow blade for it and then get a smaller limb saw (husky also) to go with it .