Which brand saw?

[saltbranch]

I am done with Poulans...just threw them both in the trash. I have spent way to much money keeping them running. I am looking at having to cut over 300 fence posts this coming year, will be cutting Mesquite. Saw will be running mainly on Saturdays and Sundays for quite awhile.
What brand recommendations? Seems like Stihl, Husqvarna and Echo are the best choices? I do plan on buying from a dealer, not a box store.

 

[wthompson]

my personal choice is stihl. have two 028 AV saws which are older but have held up very well. husqvarna would be my second choice.

 

[LarJea]

I know, I used to buy cutrate chainsaws.About 20 years ago I bought a stihl 034. Its still going strong,cutting 6 to 10 cords a year with it.

 

[s219]

I think you named the top three brands in my area. Lesser known but also good are Dolmar (also sold as Makita) and Jonsered. I have an Echo and two Stihls (pro models) and like them all. I also ogle the pro model Huskys from time to time. Beware that all the brands make lower-grade homeowner saws, and in the case of Husky, some of their low-end homeowner saws are closely related to Poulans (Husky and Poulan are part of the same company now).

Nowadays, the crap models tend to be Poulan, McCulloch, Craftsman, and a couple more names I can't remember.

 

[PapaPerk]

Pro model Stihl or the Stihl farm boss.

 

[saltbranch]

I am interested in the pro models, what am I looking at 500-800$$? Also what about the chains that comes on these pro models, can someone explain the chains? I do not know much at all to be honest. I know I want a good saw and will have to pay for it. I saw the post here on the chains and that was something I had not thought about. I will be mainly cut fence post and will be clearing some trees for pastures in the next year, then it will used for fire wood and trimming etc.
Guess I need a basic saw education

 

[s219]

You can get a Stihl 261, their smallest pro saw at 50cc, for about $575. The prices go up from there. The 261 can handle an 18" bar with authority in hardwood, and pull a 20" fine in soft wood. Next would be the 362 (60cc, 20-25" bars) then 441 (70cc, 20-28" bars). Beyond that you're talking over a grand for bigger Stihls and getting into some heavy powerheads. For the record, I have a Stihl 261 and a 461. Of all the saws I have run over the years, the 261 is my favorite saw by far.

For what you mention, I'd suggest a semi-chisel chain, which has a rounded corner on the cutters. It is much more robust under "working" conditions or when cutting dirty wood or fence posts (treated wood). Full chisel chain, with square corners, cuts faster but will dull in a heartbeat if the wood isn't clean.

Stihl makes a green chain with anti-kickback features, and yellow chain without. The only difference comes when plunge or bore cutting with the tip of the bar. If you never do that, you'll never notice the difference between green and yellow. I run green most of the time, but have a couple yellows I rotate into the mix now and then. For what you describe, may as well run green and get a little extra safety.

The green semi-chisel will be the Stihl "RM3" chain. If you go yellow, its just "RM".

 

[Bluegill2]

Poulan used to make great saws, but went to the cheap consumer market some years back.

I went with Husqvarna XP pro saws 12 years ago in semi commercial use here. The first one a 346xp is still goin strong. Actually a 346xp would be a fine saw for your use, small, light, fast and strong.

 

[JoeBuyer]

I can speak for Pro Stihl saws, I have three and they make great saws. I would choose the MS261 mentioned above. I can't speak for Huskys but they have a good reputation. I never have used an Echo, don't know.

 

[Carl Bert]

I am done with Poulans...just threw them both in the trash. I have spent way to much money keeping them running. I am looking at having to cut over 300 fence posts this coming year, will be cutting Mesquite. Saw will be running mainly on Saturdays and Sundays for quite awhile.
What brand recommendations? Seems like Stihl, Husqvarna and Echo are the best choices? I do plan on buying from a dealer, not a box store.

Poulan is just garbage. Stihl is money well spent. I own about 9 different Stihl tools, and don't have a single complaint about any one of them. Stihl is right up there with John Deere, as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Scooby074]

Hard to beat the Husky XP (pro) saws.... 346xp as mentioned, the new 550xp or step up to the larger 562xp as I just did. The xp's are absolutely no comparison to the regular Huskys, more powerful, faster and lighter for a given horsepower. And even more so when compared to the box store Poulains. You wont have any regrets buying a XP saw (other than in your wallet)

 

[sea2summit]

I've got a Stihl saw and a kombi blower/trimmer thing. Love them both. Some people bad mouth the quick caps but I haven't had any issues with them. My dad ran a husky for a long time and it was a good saw but sense I've started seeing them pop up in box stores and making dirt bikes I'm shying away from their products.

 

[s219]

Poulan used to make great saws, but went to the cheap consumer market some years back.

I went with Husqvarna XP pro saws 12 years ago in semi commercial use here. The first one a 346xp is still goin strong. Actually a 346xp would be a fine saw for your use, small, light, fast and strong.

Nah, I'd say go with the new 550XP instead! Or maybe a 562XP for something a little bigger.

 

[JimRB]

I've got a Stihl saw and a kombi blower/trimmer thing. Love them both. Some people bad mouth the quick caps but I haven't had any issues with them. My dad ran a husky for a long time and it was a good saw but sense I've started seeing them pop up in box stores and making dirt bikes I'm shying away from their products.

Started seeing Husky make dirt bikes? What back in 1972? There were no box stores that I knew of back in 1972 unless you considered Sears, JC Penneys and other retailers. Early 70's was the first I heard of Husky. Husky was making bikes back in the early 1900's but maybe not the same division that made chain saws. ;-) I had a Sears Poulan that worked ok but I had a temper tantrum when it did not work one day. I got a homeowners Stihl 210 which is adequate for my random and occasional use. I don't do firewood but just clear brush and trees sometimes and sometimes trim fence posts. Of course if you are doing firewood you want something not occasional use rated I would guess.

 

[camshawn]

I just replaced my stihl 024av, 25 yrs.u old with a new stihl consumer saw. I can't remember the number now and am not home to look. I just trim and cleanup windfalls now,not firewood any more. I think that this saw should last another 25 yrs. The old saw needs a carb and they are obsolete. One evening this winter I may try a rebuild kit if I get time.
Cam

 

[Easternfrontnh]

STIHL!!
I used to do a small firewood business. We started out with 2 saws. 1 was a husky rancher 550. And the other was a stihl farmboss. After the first 20 coards the husky was getting repaired at the saw shop. While that was down for a week i went out and bought a stihl ms 390. Im still running that stihl today. Not for the firewood venture. But on occasion. We got the husky back and ran it for about a month and decided to put it out of its misery by running it over with the Hough loader. Best thing to ever happen to that saw...lol

 

[PoorPlowboy]

Husky motorcycles are made by BMW, not Husqvarna. I like orange saws; Dolmar, Husky, and Stihl. My 5105 Dolmar is the hotrod of the group and the current favorite.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

I think s219 nailed it. Myself I would lean towards the Husky's myself. Depending on how big these fence post are you don't need a long bar to swing around and run the risk of getting injured even easier. Buy yourself some chainsaw chaps or pants along with a good helmet with screen and earmuffs. It doesn't matter what flavor of saw you are running they will all chew you up easily...

 

[MNBobcat]

I used to buy only Stihl pro models. Stihl went to those stupid gas/oil flippy caps which I hated. The saw kept burning up bars, too. I bought my first Husqavarna last year and I'm loving it.

 

[Egon]

Consider several different bar lengths, a 12 inch and an 18 inch. For the chains/bars get some advice at the store you buy the saw at and will take it to for servicing, parts etc.

With bars and chains there are a lot of different options, especially with chains.

Don't know about your safety items but take note of them also.:thumbsup: