Need advice on a larger chainsaw for an older guy.

[hslogger]

It aint the size of the wand, tiz the magic behind it... A pro knows how to cover trees with diameter much larger than their bar length. Safely and efficiently. I don't have any new generation saws. Mine are tried and true and probably not fit for your app. I would say full skip chisel chains are dangerous for all, and really best used and appreciated by professionals. Safety chains are slower and considerably safer. Kick back is a killer and safer chains for your use are just that.

Besides that, square chisel is harder to hand file and get just right. another tip, Stihl branded pro chain is harder than say Oregon chain. You don't need to be throwing chips at breakneck speed.

 

[4570Man]

I'm 75. Stihl FarmBoss is the only saw I have/use for 60 foot tall pine trees here in East Texas. I have a 22 inch bar on mine. Best chainsaw ever....
Key things with any chainsaw..keep it sharp. Don't use power grinder for sharpening. Causes too much heat. Only need four strokes on each tooth to keep it sharp. Also, don't run it into the dirt, will destroy you chain in a heartbeat. Above all BE SAFE. Wear protective gear.
One other saw you should consider if you have tall trees like I have is a pole saw. They too are worth their weight in gold. Again only the Stihl one...

A farm boss is far from the best saw ever. It’s really more like a boat anchor with a blade.

 

[jacspath]

I'm a tad older than you are [by 30 years] and have been running a 20" Husky for years and highly recommend it. And, some years ago was given an 18" bar and a couple of chains for this saw [the owner of the saw burned up the engine] which I have switched off with my 20" on occasion and I find that even at a full 20" cut there is no difference in my stress or fatigue so I would not worry about going to a bit longer saw.

 

[iptman]

Another vote for the 261. I have a 20 inch bar on mine and have yet to stall it out and I'm bucking mostly oaks and maples with it. I had a 462 with a 28 inch bar and while it was a beast is was heavier than I liked for all day use. I switched to the 261 and I use it for felling, bucking and limbing and haven't been disappointed.

 

[Fxfymn413]

I was given an almost new MS 390 (long story) that I am running with a full chisel chain on a 20 inch bar and I love it. It is heavy, but I use it for bucking more than anything else and the weight is actually helpful since it carries the saw through the log. We do anywhere from 5 to 15 cords of firewood a year and have been doing so for around 30 years now. This is the fastest cutting saw I have owned. I am 71 and it is not too much for me to handle.

I also use an MS 271 farm boss with a 16 inch bar and a semi-chisel chain for limbing. It is a little lighter, but not so much that I notice at the end of the day.

Now I'll really put some stuff in the game..If you are not going to be using a large saw that much you can look at the Chinese clones such as the Farmtec G660. Look at the You tube videos for a comparison. I'm not saying I would go that route, but it is an option.

 

[ning]

Multiple saws. I honestly don't think there's a perfect combo saw unless all of your trees are small.

If you're doing a lot of clearing (felling & bucking), take more than one saw with you; have a big saw with a long enough bar for felling, and use a small saw to clean up the branches, and then whatever it takes to buck it - it's foolhardy to use a bigger saw than necessary especially when cutting all the branches off, way more likely to have an accident.

 

[makromer]

I'm 58 years old and I'm in decent but not excellent physical condition. Average strength I would say.

I am not a chainsaw guy. In other words, I've been using decent consumer Stihl chainsaws all my life but I don't know anything about cc's, chain types, tuning, modding etc etc. Primary use has been yard and property cleanup as well as cutting firewood. I have the proper safety gear and a solid understanding of basic chainsaw safety.

But now I have ordered a saw mill. It should be here in a few weeks. It can handle up to 26" diameter trees.

My primary saw is a Stihl Farm Boss with a 20" bar. I don't remember which one but it is about 3 years old, bought new and was the larger of the Farm Boss saws. In my mind I'm thinking 350 but it might be a 271. I don't even know if the Farm Boss came in a 350. Anyway, it is a decent saw. I suspect it is a consumer level saw with a "farm" designation for marketing.

This weekend I felled several pines that were around 12 inches in diameter. The Farm Boss was okay but not great. I also recently cut up a much larger oak blow down (probably 25ish diameter) and the Farm Boss struggled a lot.

So I am going to be felling larger trees than 12" pines in the near future. My son-in-law will be there most of the time (we'll own the saw mill together). He has a big tuned pro-level Stihl. He has a good bit of felling experience. But I feel like I need a bigger saw for myself. I'm thinking 25-28" bar.

I'm not really looking for brand recommendations.

What I need to know is what I can get for this job that is: 1) Reasonably light. (Again, I'm 58). 2) Appropriately powered for cutting down large but not huge trees. 3) Reasonably safe for my age and experience and 4) What type of chain for my age and experience from a safety vs efficiency standpoint.

Any basic advice much appreciated.

P.S.: Not too interested in modding or tuning a saw.

Sounds like your chain not the saw. Get your chains professionally sharpened. That saw should be good for what you’re doing

 

[mark48]

The best buy I ever made was to go carbide. I have Stihl Duro's on my MS250 (16" )and Echo 306 (14") and a Plasmadyne carbide insert on my Chinese 20" saw....you will never go back to HSS

 

[ericm979]

On a side note, it appears there is only one type of chain that will fit my Farm Boss and it is an anti-kickback chain. Both Stihl and Oregon list all of their non anti-kickback blades for that saw as no longer available. It is 0.325 pitch, 0.063 gauge with 81 links. But I know nothing about the various chain types. Maybe you can get different chains by going with a different bar and/or sprocket???

Any 81 link loop of .063 .325 chain will work. Baileys lists four different chains for that, three of which are non safety. Including Stihl 26RS which your dealer should be able to get for you.

Some folks convert that to 3/8 with a new bar sprocket and chain. But .325 being narrower will cut a bit faster at the cost of going dull a little sooner. Some guys doing chainsaw milling will run 3/8 LP on huge saws with long bars as its kerf is even narrower than .325

If you're not milling with the saw then the size to get depends on the trees you will be cutting with it. I have a range from brush to 4'+ diameter trees so I have a range of saws and bars.

 

[davidjaqua]

Real simple - Get a low end Stihl professional a 261, with an 18" bar. Relatively light weight, and pro-line is incredibly responsive.

Had Husqvarans for years. Love the Stihl.