looking for best chan saw in 14" class. Wants light weight, reliability

[gladehound]

I have a top handle saw that I use for a few different things, but mainly when I am on a ladder or otherwise in the air. I do sometimes use it on the ground, but I think for groundwork, you may as well use a safer rear handle saw. Yes, a top handle saw has a handlebar allowing two-handed use, but it's a very close cramped fit. Your two hands will be very close together. It's not comfortable for extended use, plus you don't have a lot of leverage to resist kickback.

So to me, top handle = not really for groundwork. There are safer better saws for that.

I know that a top handle saw is not supposed to be used one handed and was not designed for ground work. But the fact that I can use it one handed for ground work makes cutting up the little stuff infinitely easier. And yes, you don't have as much control with one hand, just work out that wrist so that it's as strong as two!

The most common injury with a top handle saw is cutting the other hand that was not on the saw. You do have to be more careful... But there isn't much that we write about on this site that doesn't warrant care when doing.

 

[gladehound]

...Dolmar makes great saws, but dealers are hard to find, at least around here. I'd love to have one of their 7900s, though...

The Dolmar 7900 is a little girl's saw!!!!



I hope you know that I'm kidding. I love the 7900. My favorite saw.

 

[Sodo]

Chainsaws are a difficult discussion on forums. You always have to devote some of the time discussing big saws that only pros need.

I have a logger friend who can't stop talking about his new Husqv electric saw. Much lighter than a gas saw, great power. And when you let go of the trigger, it stops, quiet. When you pull the trigger it cuts. The price $399 is no battery. Will be towards $800 with battery etc. But no more gas, no more tuning, no 2stroke oil. Just bar oil. You can use it when the forests are at fire level 3. So easy to use (if you do have to climb) you don't have to start it.

I was amazed you can bury the bar in a 14" log and it cuts like h***. It runs the pico chain.

I have another friend who was so impressed he bought the Makita 36V which was $200. He has a load of Makita batteries already. We tested them up and up, the Makita cuts a log 33% slower than the Husqvarna. Makita battery (pair) didn't run as long also. It's a whole new world using electric for a trimmer saw.

 

[DFB]

]I have a logger friend who can't stop talking about his new Husqv electric saw. Much lighter than a gas saw, great power. And when you let go of the trigger, it stops, quiet. When you pull the trigger it cuts. The price $399 is no battery. Will be towards $800 with battery etc. But no more gas, no more tuning, no 2stroke oil. Just bar oil. You can use it when the forests are at fire level 3. So easy to use (if you do have to climb) you don't have to start it.

I was amazed you can bury the bar in a 14" log and it cuts like h***. It runs the pico chain.

I am so after my boss down at the orchard to try out a lion powered battery chainsaw sooner...than later. :laughing:

Just the convenience in our work place of simply having a (hopefully) fully charged battery and your ready to go seems to outweigh some of the daily issues we face surrounding usage of pull start gasoline powered saws during the different pruning phases of the operation and with the new GAP documentation the less petro products around on the grounds all the better too.

The only issue has been that all we've really seen so far are rear handle designs which he doesn't want.

If there is a top handle battery model out there someone can let me know

He did purchase battery pole pruners to try 40V Oregon. I used one to trim the higher overhanging branches of the maple trees lining my home driveway to a height that the company box truck would clear. Worked okay for my needs was lightweight and decently balanced

As for the question the OP posed

I think I need to find someplace where I can try a top handle saw out, to see if I like it.
I guess I wouldn't have to bend over as far, maybe? I can believe it might have better balance, but I worry about not having as much control. Can anyone comment on that?

If limbing out branches from felled trees/ground work is your main intention a short bar top handle saw isn't what you want to use. Like s219 already pointed out hand placement is tight and there is awkwardness to your stance and arm reach using them in that situation. I think you would find yourself bending over even more so.

 

[teg]

...Husqv electric saw. Much lighter than a gas saw, great power. And when you let go of the trigger, it stops, quiet. When you pull the trigger it cuts. The price $399 is no battery. Will be towards $800 with battery...

Would love to have one but will wait until the price comes down... a lot!!! Stihl had one that was not too high of a price, likewise, that was also without the battery. :shocked:

 

[ch1ch2]

There is a lot to be said for electric. I have a 14" electric pole saw. I can take it off the pole. It runs on 110V which is the big down side. If I could take it to the field It might be my go to saw.

 

[roadhunter]

I have a little electric saw I purchased refurbished on e-bay and I use it quite a bit. Extremely useful for some situations.

 

[4570Man]

That battery saw is definitely interesting. Currently I can buy a XP saw for the same price. I might buy one when the price comes down.

 

[slaveToHorses]

Lots of good references. Thanks!
I have ruled out a top handle saw. You guys are correct about it being optimal for my primary use. I actually use my current tiny saw, Echo 3000, one handed. But the rear control plus side bar is much better for holding on its side for limbing felled trees.
That husky electric would be ideal, but I would probably need multiple batteries to get through a full day of work. The price of the full package is pretty tough to swallow.
But then yesterday, 2 of my 4 saws decided not to start... Today I tried one of them again and it started right up
sheesh maintaining 4 chain saws for regular use is a pain. Ironically enough, the one that is the most reliable is the one I want to replace! But only because it is very tired and not worth rebuilding.

 

[Sodo]

Logger friend has 2 batteries, said in real usage the other one charges in less time than he uses up the first one.$800 was for saw & 2 batteries. He's not yet 40 yrs old and does a lot of work, and chooses tools that gets more work from the crew. He does a lot of tree removal near residences and customers are happier with the quiet saw. He bought it because they were getting shut down at 1:00 every afternoon during fire season but he could keep crew working with elec saw.

Said it was unexpected how it changes the workflow and became everyone's favorite tool. Far less effort due to light weight and you don't realize how much effort you spent pulling starter cords until you don't have to anymore. No more choke and warmup blips, no more clearing it out. Just cut, and off, it's much faster and easier.

Also you can hear other guys working, talking, hear other eqpt working while cutting, hear other trees falling, not possible with gas saw running. His other favorite is the 346XP. He advised me to get the 346XP but I bought a Stihl MS201T = big mistake. This was 2 years ago. I am pretty interested in the Electric Husqv.

Times they are a changing.