My saws

[Pilot]

I'm not a logger, but I do have 10 acres of Douglas-firs which I planted in 1993, now about 10-12 inches in diameter.

Power Pruner (now Echo), great machine, bought it in about 1994, probably been in the shop once. I can reach limbs 13+ feet high. Very easy to start. Only complaint is it leaks bar oil.
Also have a Shindaiwa 357, gives me a little trouble now and then, it will go to the shop as soon as I log off. Arborist saw. Can use it one handed, although that's not always a good idea. When it runs, it is a real tiger. Light weight which is good for this 77 year old coot.

Also have a Husqvarna, starts really easily. Good saw.
Lastly, a Stihl. Very popular brand in this area, but I hate the thing, has always been hard to start, but it did cut well when I first got it (used).

For those with arthritis in your hands, get inch wide web straps, have someone with a strong sewing machine sew into loops, hook to the starter rope handle and starting is a lot easier on the hands.

 

[xyz123]

For my dad. I hooked him up with stihl 460 rescue handle.
It bought him a few more years of starting his own 26 year old saw back then. Now he is to easy start trim saw and battery pole saw. Unless I am there to start the bigger saws to hand him. He is 80 with hand - shoulder issues and lost alot of strength battling the big C.

I used to use them when cold start racing. Most comfortable and strong d handle to use. Like $5-7 at dealers.

 

[EddieWalker]

I have 3 Stihls and one Echo chainsaw. They all work great, but the Echo is by far the easiest to start. My dad is in his early 80's and he's had cancer twice now. Melanoma and Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma. He has become frail in the lat few years, but he still likes to stay active and cut firewood. He isn't strong enough to start a chainsaw anymore. If I start it and hand it to him, he can cut rounds for awhile, but he does tire out a lot faster then he used to. Last year he bought a Remington electric chainsaw. I cut the tree up into 12 to 20 foot lengths and carry them to the yard with the grapple. I like to get a dozen or so of them for winter firewood. Then I cut my rounds when I have time, and split the wood when I have time. Dad has a lot of time, so he uses his Remington Chainsaw to cut a few, split a few, and load them into his wood shed. Last year he was able to cut, split and stack about a quarter of the wood he used for winter. I did the rest for him and my mom. Currently I'm looking at cordless chainsaws for him to use out on the land. they seem like lightweight junk, but I'm wondering if they will hold up long enough for him to get a few rounds cut, even though I think it will create more work for me to come and pick up those rounds for him. We have a lot of trees that fell over during a really bad thunderstorm a month ago, and he wants to help clean them up.

 

[yomax4]

God Bless the hearts of those 80 year old saw guys !! I hope I can still do it even at 70.

 

[two_bit_score]

God Bless the hearts of those 80 year old saw guys !! I hope I can still do it even at 70.

Amen! :thumbsup:

 

[dragoneggs]

I've just migrated to an electric Stihl. My gassers, Echo and an old Craftsman are dying a slow unused death on the shelf the past couple of years. If I need a job done that my 14in Stihl can't handle then I will hire it out. Just don't see it happening much anymore based on the current state of my property. I guess I'm done with them other than trimming and clean up. I don't burn firewood anymore so it isn't an issue.

The one time recently I wanted/needed some extra oomph I coerced a tree feller that my neighbor hired to come over for a quick job. He was happy to do it 'since he was there' and gave him a bottle of whiskey for his trouble... he was very appreciative. Hope these kind of barter deal don't disappear.

 

[dragoneggs]

Pilot, just curious as to what kind of net cash you think your firs would yield if you were to hire out to drop/clear and sell? Or maybe a better question, what are your plans for the property? Is it just an investment?

 

[ericm979]

My Echo 352 starts super easy. But it's a small 34cc saw. The 43cc Stihl MS241 starts pretty easily since it's got a compression release. The old 45cc Stihl 025 (same as the MS250 except with screw caps) can be a bear to start. It's got super high compression and needs a good pull to turn it over. My MS362 (60cc) and MS460 (77cc) are easier to start. It's not so bad for firewood where I start it only a few times over a tank of fuel but for brush cutting where I'm constantly stopping and starting the saw, it's a problem. I was getting "golfer's elbow" pain in my right arm because of it. The 352 and 241 together cost less than the PT would have.