Looking for advice on a chainsaw

[mboulais]

I am looking for opinoins on a chainsaw for light to moderate use. I have used mostly Homelite in the past. I want something around 3.6 Cu. In. with a 16 or 18" bar (like the Stihl MS310). I have Husky, Stihl, and Jonsered dealers all nearby. (real dealers, not Walmart).

 

[Piperflyer]

I have a Jonsered 2250 turbo, 18" bar that I have had for who knows how long. I have had great luck with it & it is always there when I need it. Cut allot of wood with it over the years.

 

[hazmat]

I think (not 100% sure) that Jonsered & Husky are owned by the same parent company and could be the same saw.

You can't go wrong with any of the three brands - especially if you go for one of the "pro" models vs. the homeowner. If you search on chainsaw you'll find lots of previous threads.

I have a Stihl 270 which is considered "mid range" - in between homeowner and pro - it has taken all the abuse I could throw at it (25 + cords and counting). I found it a little underpowered when I had 8 cords of log length wood delivered - it is much happier with a 16" bar than a 20".

Well - looking up the info here's a reason you need to buy the stihl - chainsaw ring tones for your cell phone

 

[wushaw]

Just pick one that feels good in hand...all the brands you listed are good.

 

[gordon21]

Homelite Timberman 45cc with 18" bar at Home Depot. Thicker heavier chain that most small saws. It is a .325 pitch 72 link chain. About $179-189 including carrying case. HD has the extra chains (B72) , but does not carry the extra bars. Grab an extra chain and your total purchase will be just over $200 with tax.

I bought two of them this year after my 23 year old 14" Super 2 finally said it had to retire. We have cut down dozens of trees and cut them into firewood lenghts. I guess we have about 10-15 cord already cut up and another 5-15 cord laying on the ground ready to be cut into 20" lengths. Mostly 6-18" oak. Very dependable saws. We often are using both at the same time.


****Disclaimer-Do NOT do these things*********
You can cable tie the brake bar backwards so to disable it. The anti-kickback tip is not even installed at the factory. Leave it off.

 

[pappy19]

Most of the loggers I know in Idaho use Husky's, but some use Shindawa's on the landings. That's the hardest thing you can do to a chainsaw is use it on a landing. The Shindawa seems to hold up very well. That's what I use now, is a Shindawa, very fast, and seems indestructable. Had mine for 4 years now.

 

[shasta]

I would say the same as others. All three companys make great saws that will meet or exceed your needs. The dealer will help you make a descision as to which brand to buy. Go visit them and ask them the same question. Their response should help you to deside which dealer you will trust to help you when your saw has a problem. Then pick the model that that dealer has that will best fit your needs to buy. Just like tractors a poor dealer can cause you a great deal time and money even if their product is good.

 

[Diesel-ME]

I am looking for opinoins on a chainsaw for light to moderate use. I have used mostly Homelite in the past. I want something around 3.6 Cu. In. with a 16 or 18" bar (like the Stihl MS310). I have Husky, Stihl, and Jonsered dealers all nearby. (real dealers, not Walmart).

Marcel, I think that you are on the right track. Trading with a "real dealer" is a good idea for sure. The Stihl MS310 would be a real nice saw. You might want to look at a Husky 357XP. It' a little lighter in weight but has more horsepower. The Husky 35X series as well as the Rancher 455 are all similar. But the smaller XP series saws add some nice extra punch.

Personally I prefer to keep the bar length to the shortest practicle length. The longer the bar, the more chain that has to be dragged around, therefore the less power. So if the largest tree that you would ever fell is under 36" you could get by with an 18" bar. Of course for bucking wood it's nice to do so without working it from two sides. In any case an 18" bar on a MS310 or Husky models that I mentioned is an excellent setup.

One things that tilts me towards Husqvarna is the fact that they allow dealers to sell online and to post prices. Stihl strictly forbids that. Not that I'm advocating an Internet purchase for a saw, but at least you can do some pricing while researching. Plus you can buy parts online, etc.

Just like with a tractor, go to some dealers and handle the equipment. Check out the ergonomics. But unlike a tractor, and I almost can't belive that I'm saying this, don't buy too much more horsepower than you need - saws have a funny way of getting REAL - or as we say in New England - wicked heavy real quick.

~paul

 

[SteelDust]

I'm partial to Stihl's for the saw as much as I am for their dealer support. There is a reason they don't sell online or let just anyone be a Stihl retailer. Customer service from any Stihl dealer I've been to has always been excellent.

More important that the saw, in the smaller horsepowers, is your choice of chain. If you've run a saw before and are comfortable doing so, go with an aggressive skip tooth chain and keep it sharp. A friend of mine always wonders why my Stihl out cuts his Husky (same HP saws) by a long shot. He simply will not believe the anti-kickback, safety chain that he runs can rob that much power.

 

[Jstpssng]

I've run Huskies for years but am leaning toward Stihl for my next purchase, for many of the reasons Steeldust mentioned. what matters most though is how comfortable you feel with your local dealers. A good saw will last a homeowner 5-15 years, the initial price is quickly offset if the dealer is willing to support your needs.