Chainsaw Brand Quality Question

[newbury]

I have about 6 acres of woods I wish to maintain (develop into a park type area) and there is a bunch more fallen trees, this one is just forcing the issue because it is in the way. I expect the saw to see plenty of work however it doesn't need to be lightning fast as my lively hood is working in the city. I want something reliable and safe, as when I do have time to use it I don't want to be broken or to weak for the job.

I am going to check out Stihl's locally on Thursday, I appreciate your help, I may get a 16-20 inch bar and rent a 24 inch bar for the the big stuff when I need it.

How are you going to dispose of the wood?
I assume you are going to mainly want to make it into smaller pieces.

There are two ways to cut the wood - across the grain and make sawdust and ashes, with the grain and make lumber, sawdust, and ashes.

If you've got 3' DBH trees visit the milling forum at that other site.

For about $250 more than a good pro saw (and with 3' trees you could use a 440) you can cut your own lumber. With the prices of lumber today you won't make much money, but it seems you have to cut the trees one way or the other.

 

[gauthier]

Sthils and huskys have the same problem,home owner models and pro models,same color,same cc,just supposedly different parts on inside,I guess there are different parts but that just seems like a stupid idea to me,so if you want to get a husky or sthil get the pro model and be done with it and 5-600 hundred dollars,sure you'll get about the best saw out their. You'll need to buy them from a dealer,lowes don't sell them.

Now I got two echos,echo don't do that pro non pro stuff,[probably a few of the other top brands don't either],how do I like the echos,well the older one can't beat it,the newer one,I can beat it with an older poulan I got,so...

But echo makes good stuff,excellent trimmers,chain saws would give them a pretty good rating,better than home owners sthils or huskys,but maybe not up to the pro line,but,they cost maybe a couple hundred bucks less than the pro line as well.

 

[TGF]

How are you going to dispose of the wood?
I assume you are going to mainly want to make it into smaller pieces.

There are two ways to cut the wood - across the grain and make sawdust and ashes, with the grain and make lumber, sawdust, and ashes.

If you've got 3' DBH trees visit the milling forum at that other site.

For about $250 more than a good pro saw (and with 3' trees you could use a 440) you can cut your own lumber. With the prices of lumber today you won't make much money, but it seems you have to cut the trees one way or the other.

Neat idea, I had planned on just having a big bonfire party for the friends and family this fall. Not sure if the wood is suitable for lumber. I know one of the trees that is down is completely hollow on the inside, I am assuming carpenter ants.

 

[arrow]

Neat idea, I had planned on just having a big bonfire party for the friends and family this fall. Not sure if the wood is suitable for lumber. I know one of the trees that is down is completely hollow on the inside, I am assuming carpenter ants.

They can certainly begin the process but they are not the culprit for the completely hollow tree as they do not eat the wood as a termite would. Other things lending to the process are moisture, small animals and birds, and other types of insects all creating a good scenario for what eats up most of the tree...bacteria.

 

[brin]

I have been using an Axe for the last 2 months and as much fun as it is, I had a tree with about a 3 foot diameter trunk fall down during the last wind storm and i figure it is time it buy a chainsaw. My friends and neihbors say buy a sthil everything else is junk. Reading the reviews at Amazon seem to further their opinion. I am sure several of you guys own chain saws so help me out with some real world expeirince. Is it worth the money to get a Sthil, or is their a brand of comparable quality for less $$?

I just saw this thread and have only read your post, so I don't know what others have said but I have had a Poulan 18 inch chainsaw for over 15 yrs..same saw and all I have ever done is sharpen the blade with a hand file, change blades and clean it up..I have really used it hard but at the end of every session with it , I run it dry and store it with no gasoline in it..My Son and father in law both have had Poulans and same experience with them..I bought mine at Wal Mart.

 

[om21braz]

Go ahead and get some plastic wedges, spare chain and a file when getting the saw as they will come in handy.

 

[arrow]

I just saw this thread and have only read your post, so I don't know what others have said but I have had a Poulan 18 inch chainsaw for over 15 yrs..same saw and all I have ever done is sharpen the blade with a hand file, change blades and clean it up..I have really used it hard but at the end of every session with it , I run it dry and store it with no gasoline in it..My Son and father in law both have had Poulans and same experience with them..I bought mine at Wal Mart.

Back in the 70's, we bought several 306 Poulans. They were well made chainsaws but were slow and would rattle you to death but got the job done and were dependable. They were their own USA company back then. Also, did you know a Poulan was used in the first Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie? Even though they were in the movies, they did not reap the same benefits that the movie ET did for Reese's Pieces. I'm thinking it was because the pieces were different between the two movies.

 

[mikefromnh]

I've got an stihl 029 that I love -- starts and runs great, though a little heavy.

I have a Rancher 55 that I hate, never starts easy.

And a Poulan Pro -- an ironic name -- but it was cheap. It has held up ok but it vibrates more than the other two. I bring it in the woods as a backup (starts easy)

 

[beppington]

Stihl is the best.

 

[ihookem]

Stihl is everywhere. Chains are very good. They don't start real easy in my experience but they do start. I've had Stihls for 21 years. My first saw was an 011. 2 oil pumps is all it needed. My 034 is 18 years old. It needed an electronic ignition once. My 026 has been in the shop 2 times in ten years. That's it.

 

[Nitro-Fish]

Stihl is the best.

Ha ah ha ah ahha......... and how many different brands have you had the pleasure of operating? There is no "BEST", it's all in what someone likes & gets used to, and just how fast you want to get something done. Yes, stihl puts out more money than any other manufacturer on advertising, does that make them the best? Doubt it. I own (at the present time) stihl, husqvarna, jonsered, shindaiwa, poulan and homelite (and green machine to go back a few years) OPE; is there a best? I don't think so, they all have their places, in my stable at least, but to say one is the best; you'll have to explain that one.

 

[arrow]

Ha ah ha ah ahha......... and how many different brands have you had the pleasure of operating? There is no "BEST", it's all in what someone likes & gets used to, and just how fast you want to get something done. Yes, stihl puts out more money than any other manufacturer on advertising, does that make them the best? Doubt it. I own (at the present time) stihl, husqvarna, jonsered, shindaiwa, poulan and homelite (and green machine to go back a few years) OPE; is there a best? I don't think so, they all have their places, in my stable at least, but to say one is the best; you'll have to explain that one.

Your statements ring quite true. Unless woodcutting is/was a profession or worse, one is a chainsaw junkie ( I fall into both categories) a pro chainsaw is a chainsaw. They all cut and they all break. I can easily understand affiliations to these things if you've had one a long time and it has always come through for you. If you have used enough chainsaws, you get to the point of knowing that having the same model chainsaw as the last time means absolutely nothing to the new saws attributes as far as longevity and durability so all one can do is cross your fingers and hope yours doesn't let you down no matter what the brand. One piece of advice to the steady user I would offer is to get a pro saw. That being said, of all the cutting CHAINS I've used, I have to say Stihl chains have held up the best. They seem to have just the right blend of hardness and sharpening ease that have made them my favorite saw chain. Husky chains seem the softest to me and thus dull quicker IMO.

 

[RavensRoost]

IMHO, when comparing the "majors" pro model to pro model, a big factor in which brand is "best" is the dealer: cost, how close, attitude/comfort and competence.

 

[arrow]

IMHO, when comparing the "majors" pro model to pro model, a big factor in which brand is "best" is the dealer: cost, how close, attitude/comfort and competence.

An absolute point in my mind as well. Parts availability is also a major consideration. There are many good saws out there such as Efco, Dolmar, Solo,Tanaka, Hitachi etc, etc. Without a local backup for parts, it can get frustrating.

 

[eternalwolf777]

just for the record, I own a Poulan. It starts easy enough but keeping it running is another matter. It gets really annoying when you have to keep re-starting it between cuts. grrrrrrrrrrrrrr

 

[NC tractor driver]

IMHO, when comparing the "majors" pro model to pro model, a big factor in which brand is "best" is the dealer: cost, how close, attitude/comfort and competence.

Exactly. Without good local support the best chainsaw can be troublesome. That is why I have a Husqvarna over the other brands. Different location I would probably own a different chain saw.

 

[ultrarunner]

Just received a Father's Day Stihl flyer advertising MS250 with 16" Bar for $299 or $20 more with 18" Bar.

Also had $179.95 for the MS170

 

[John H. Thompson Jr.]

Stihl is pretty good, but make sure you can remove and replace the oil and fuel caps before leaving the store.
The engineer who came up with the new design needs be keel hauled in my book.

Wedge

And the boat should have lots of barnacles on the bottom. Otherwise--I love my Stihl.

 

[Nitro-Fish]

Just received a Father's Day Stihl flyer advertising MS250 with 16" Bar for $299 or $20 more with 18" Bar.

Also had $179.95 for the MS170

Both of which are "homeowner grade" saws.

 

[ultrarunner]

Both of which are "homeowner grade" saws.

Here's the link to Stihl's Father Day Promotion:

Father? Day Gift Ideas Legendary Outdoor Power Equipments for Legendary Dad | STIHL

The MS290 Farm Boss is also featured.

The OP has been using an ax... I have a MS250 and like it... then again, I'm not in the tree business.