Who makes a decent chainsaw?

rancar · May 13, 2002

I got the Stihl Farm boss.

Good choice! I've had the Stihl 044 for about 6 years. Never have had a problem with it. Slices through logs like a hot knife through butter. Even their chisel point chains last a lot longer than I've ever thought. This was a very good investment for me that's improved productivity many fold.

Regards,
Bob Ancar
Cambridge, NY

Boondox · May 13, 2002

I'll second that comment about the chains. They're so good, I use them on my Husky 372XP

Pete

bellweather · May 14, 2002

I bought a Husky some years ago and it's a real workhorse. Starts easy and runs great. Everyone tells me it's a great saw. I used a Stihl day in and day out for an entire summer about 25 years ago, and it was a very impressive machine...it made everything else look primitive. From what I'm reading, Stihl ain't what it used to be. I really do like my Husky.

rancar · May 14, 2002

"...Stihl ain't what it used to be..."

/w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gifDo you mean they're better or worse than when you used yours 25 years ago????? Seems like most of us here who have Stilhs love their saws and wouldn't give them up for anything else.

RocketJSquirrel · May 15, 2002

If I recall correctly, the odd-numbered Stihls are the "consumer" grade, and the even-numbered are the "pro" grade. I have an 021 and although I have not used it much, I'm impressed with the quality. For my occasional use, it is just right.

Ledgemere Farm · May 15, 2002

I have 3 saws: a Poulan Woodsman, Stihl Farm Boss and a Homelite Ranger. The Homelite is really light and always starts on the second pull. Great for pruning. The Poulan is all right, but seems to always be in need of having the air filter cleaned. The Stihl has a TON of power and starts easy, but is a gas hog. Unless I have some big cutting, I grab the Homelite.

Anonymous Poster · May 15, 2002

I love it when a Stihl dies that way.

Anonymous Poster · May 16, 2002

I lost 170 trees when a toronado came through Oklahoma City in June, 1997. I wanted to buy a Husky but couldn't find one late Saturday or Sunday. I couldn't wait so I purchased a Poulan 16". It has absolutely been a trooper. My neighbor waited till Monday and bought a Husky. I tried it and it sounds much better than mine (the Poulan sounds tinny) but cut about the same. I can't say the Poulan is better, but it was less than half the cost of the Husky and I am still using it. Bought a new bar, chain, and spark plug and that's it. By the way, it lighter than the Husky, so it doesn't work me to death.
C. T. in Oklahoma

ghl · May 17, 2002

In my humble opinion, Echo is a great little chainsaw. The cs3000 model is light enough to use for trim work,or tree climbing. It will start on usually the 3rd pull cold, and will idle away like a purring kitten. My Dad bought one from a Husky dealer(he sold the big Huskys) about 6 years ago and we have put a ton of time on it. The dealer wouldnt recommend or even sell the smaller Huskys because he considered the engines in them to be junk. He did however have a cutaway of the Echo engine and it was built much heavier. The Echo is the way to go for a light dependable saw. I just bought one for 300 bucks Canadian, or about 50US!!!!

Anonymous Poster · May 17, 2002

... Echo is a great little chainsaw...

In his tree company, one of my friends use a number of the small Echos for limbing way up in the air (super lightweight and super start-no fiddling up 50-100 ft + in the tree)... and uses the Husky's for just about everything else...

Those Echo's are sure feisty little beasts... for their size.../w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

ghl · May 20, 2002

I also would like to add the fact that proper care and feeding of a saw, regardless of what color or name it has on it is paramount to its longevity. Case in point: my Dad has a Poulan Microxxv. This saw was purchased in about 1979, it is still running, and running well I might add. It was fed a diet of Optimol at 100 to 1 ratio. We switched it over to Amsoil and it still runs great. Actually in a power contest it would likely do almost as well if not as well as the new Echo. The Poulan was not a dept store saw at the time, and neither was the Echo, both of them have become just that in latter years. It just goes to show that if you are really diligent in your fuel to oil measuring.........and we are extreme on that point...... a cheap little saw will go for a long long time. Another point of course is the keeping of a sharp chain on the little bugger too. Who wants to cut with a chain that is as dull as a hoe anyway?
Anyway thats my story and its completely true and Im not getting any kickbacks(no pun intended) from Echo or Poulan

Gary_in_Indiana · Jun 19, 2002

I just bought a 20" Poulan 'Timbermaster' on sale at Tractor Supply here. I hope it's a good one. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

edt · Jun 19, 2002

Hi all i love my stihl i own 026 and love it it is about 10 years old have had no problems with it cut up about 3 cords of wood a year and alote of wood clearing i bought my brother an 024 for his small work have also had a poulin mcculloch but like the stihl best
edt

Anonymous Poster · Jun 19, 2002

Must say I have been enjoying this lengthy thread.
I just moved up to a Stihl 021 after using a Poulan "wildthing" for awhile. The Stihl has been a joy to use. The chain stays on, doesn't need retightening every 5 minutes, and has always started up easily. I bought it at my local dealer where I buy JD stuff. I wanted a JD saw, he said he didn't carry them, didn't think they were much good. He carries Stihl, Husky, and Echo. (in chainsaws). It kind of hurt standing amid the JD tractors looking at (gasp) another brand, but I must say that the little Stihl has been a pleasure to use in every way.

k8ny · Jun 19, 2002

Husky or Stihl.
Case closed!

Bob

Egon · Jun 20, 2002

Everyone makes a decent chain saw if they are used in the manner for which they are designed.

Egon

gobbler · Jun 20, 2002

My Stihl dealer is also a JD dealer. When I bought my Sthil, he did have some JD saws. Said he's never sold one. He claims they are made by Homelite.

cstocks · Jun 20, 2002

I had a Green Machine string trimmer for 12 or so trouble free years. When it finally did crater on me I could not get service or parts for it. I was told that Green Machine had sold out to Homelite and then Homelite to John Deere. He said that the quality of the product line had since gone downhill.