Who makes a decent chainsaw?

[Egon]

Your neighbour has the best saw. Check and make sure he has fresh fuel, a sharp chain and then borrow it.

 

[Youare]

I have a Mobile Dimension Saw made by the Mobile Manufacturing Company. There web site is www.mobilemfg.com. I have cut up a few red oak logs that had been stored off the ground for seven years before I cut them up. The wood was a little darker in color than a fresh green log would have been, but still sound. I have cut white pine that was down for a year or so, it had developed a little stain and some bug damage, but the wood was okay. I also cut up a few white pine logs that came from a tree that spent close to 12 years in a pond. That wood was almost as nice as a fresh cut tree, no bugs just a little stain on the edges. Years ago loggers would store logs in ponds to keep the bugs out and reduce stain problems. Today mills in the summer months will spray wter on them to keep them wet for the same reason.

Green logs always are easier to mill than something that has layed around for a while. The wood fibers are a little tuffer after they dry out. I have run this mill for almost 20 years with very few problems. It is a rotary not a band mill. It also has two horizontal edger blades plus the main vertical blade. Three sides of the board are cut at one time. Because the kerf is wider than a band mill I make a little more saw dust, but the lumber produced is more consistant in width and thickness end to end and board to board.

 

[djradz]

Youare, where did you get your fuel recommendations??? I have never heard about lubricating properties of the gas/oil mix breaking down after 30 days or using 93 octane. In fact my Stihl 044 specifically says to use 87. I can see where if you had an older saw you may want to use 89, but 93? As in a car, extra octane does no good if it isn't needed. Also, I've had fuel-mix for a year and as long as the fuel hasn't gone bad, it seems to be lubricating just fine. What do you have to back this up?

 

[Youare]

The fuel stuf came from one of the websites form either Johnsred, Husky, or Stihl I don't remember exactly.
The octal recommendations I beleive came from the same place as well as the distributor in told me the same thing. This info. was only about 3 years old. Outboard oil is formulated for water cooled engines, chain saws run too hot for this type of oil. I will try to find where I read this. Late for supper, got to go.

 

[jdkid]

Hi ya
i'd run with useing fuel in 30 days and as for fuel rateing 96 unleaded for all high spec saws when i worked in the bush, fuel was mixed every 2-3 days any old fuel or unknown got dumped $2 worth of new gas is cheep when a new saw cost ya $1000, if ya saw's puting food on the table ya do get picky but with small motors it pays off each time .talk to guys who work on bikes/saws etc etc and they will say 9 out of 10 use fuel mix as soon as .. it dose go off and alot faster that most people think
catch ya
JD Kid

 

[Hillbilly]

I can vouch for the fuel shelf life,I used to never dump my fuel if it was old.I used to mix my oil for the Stihl chainsaw and Stihl brush cutter/weed eater in a 5 gallon container.Well one spring day I had some would I wanted to cut up,I filled the saw up and started it up and ruined the engine .Anymore
I only mix it in 1 gallon containers and that way I do not have it setting around as long.

 

[looch]

My Jonsered manual recommends 95 octane. Also, exactly what you said about the "outboard" two stroke oil - don't use it in the saw. I just bought it this week, so the information is still up to date.

 

[krpig]

i was also in the market recently for a new saw. recently purchased 10 heavily wooded acres, and my old homelite wasnt up to the task of all the cutting to be done. purchased a stihl 026. love the saw. a lean,mean, cutting machine! HOWEVER, had to be repaired at the young age of 33 days. the master switch (off/on/choke) broke. dealer said just a fluke. the switch had felt rough from day one. have never owned a stihl product, but from what i've heard, reliability is exceptional. hope that turns out to be my experience.

kevin

thanks,
kevin

GO SOONERS!!!

 

[Hillbilly]

That is the same saw I have,excellent choice.I burnt the 1st one up with the bad fuel,I asked them the price to repair and it was almost as much to purchase a new one.......So, I bought a new one and kept the old one for parts.I have cut a lot of wood with these Stihl Saws,I will never have anything else.

 

[Calpyro]

Hello,

I hope that it is not too late to add my two cents about chain saws.
I am a Captain with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and I have used both Husky and Sthil saws extensively. I worked several years in a CDF Conservation Camp see link: http://www.fire.ca.gov/FireEmergencyResponse/CooperativeEfforts/camp.asp
In a CDF camp we have used both Husky and Sthil saws for use on wildland fires. On average, a saw will see 50-100 hours of work on fires each month operated by inmate firefighters during the fire season and about the same in the winter for fire prevention projects. My camp has 6 crews with four saws for each crew and about 10 saws in reserve. As can be imagined, these saws see some of the most severe use by somewhat less than caring operators. Generally, a saw lasts about two fire seasons before being retired to the scrap bin.
In my experience, both Sthil and Husky are very good saws. I have used mostly Husky 268, 372, Sthil 044, and Sthil 046 Magnum saws. My favorite is the Sthil 046 Magnum because it has one of the best power to weight ratios of any saw on the market. The only thing I have ever found that I don't like about any of these saws is that Husky uses the handle for the gas tank and if it is rested in some coals the handle melts and the saw erupts in fire. Don't try this at home!
If somebody is looking at a saw to purchase, stick to Husky or Sthil professional series and avoid any saw designed for the weekend warrior. The cheap saws are garbage and will be a waste of money and frustrating to use. In contrast, a professional saw will last a lifetime for the average homeowner.
I hope this is helpful, check out the cool photo: http://www.fire.ca.gov/FireEmergencyResponse/PDF/camps2000.pdf
Cameron.

 

[Hillbilly]

It is never too late..............
Welcome and Thank you for your input about the saws,I looked at your aricle about CCP,very interesting I printed it off and will read it.

 

[Youare]

djradz,

There is some good information on chainsaw fuel mixtures at the website www.madsens1.com Go to Accessories/Repair/Tools then to Maintenance & Service look for the topic Fuel Mix. They refer to both Husky and Stihl manufacturer's specs on fuel requirements. Another website that posted something on chainsaw fuel is www.gcsaa.org.

randy

 

[banjobj]

Just read your post. I have been cutting wood for years, but your advice is some of the best I have seen.

 

[dmccarty]

Banjobj,

Thanks. Did you find any mistakes in what I said?! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I was hoping someone would say, "HEY! Don't do ABC! That is dangerous!" But nobody did so I must be doing something right. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif BUt I ain't cocky and I ain't bet'n that I'm doing everything right. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I did have my first, shall we say Opps, with the chainsaw two weekends back. I was cutting up a small branch, something like 4 inches in diameter. The branch was in an oak tree top, on amoung many, that the loggers had pushed into a pile. The branch was buried in wood except for the little bit that was exposed. I'm guessing the branch was under a bit of tension. I had just refuled/reoiled the saw and I had just checked the tension on the chain. I always try to do the same thing everytime I work on the saw. Develop habits. Hopefully the right ones. Anyway, I know the chain was on the way I like it and as I was almost through the branch the chain came off the saw. YIKES!

Supprisingly the chain did not do any damage to me. Which I consider a very good thing! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif There is a hooked piece of metal that is designed to catch the chain if it should come off the bar. It did. Its got some impressive scratches. I went to put the chain on and found that one of the teeth had bent so that the chain would not move on the bar. I think I could bend the tooth to fix the problem but for $25 I'm tossing the chain. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I THINK what happened is that the branch was under tension. The tension was pushing the two pieces of the branch towards each other AND down at the same time. Furthermore the branch movement was on the lower peices of the branch. I think this is what pulled the chain off the bar. Basically the branch pinched the chain and it was pulled off the bar. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

 

[banjobj]

Dan, I have been felling trees for many years and still don't feel comfortable doing it.

 

[Mac624]

Here in Germany they say:" There are three Brands, which You can buy:Stihl, Husquarna and Jonsereds", and thats right, I think. I have a 011 a 028 and a 044, also a Hedgetrimmer and a Trimmer made by Stihl. They had problems with the Saw's named "Wood-Boss" and the smaller ones under 024, which were built, sorry, in the USA, they don't fit their Quality-standards. Stihl began to built Saw in the czech-republik, but they closed the Plant of there bad Quality which will be produced there.
Bernhard, Derichsweiler, Germany

 

[jdkid]

Hi ya
where does dolmar rate over there ?? i know where it rates in german foresty .i also see they have a 4 stroke chainsaw coming out
catch ya
JD Kid

 

[banjobj]

I think chainsaw owners are just like tractor owners, very loyal to their brand.

 

[RichZ]

With all the expensive equipment we've been buying lately, I stupidly thought I could get away with a Craftsman chainsaw. Big mistake!!! The chain needed tightening every 5 minutes, and it finally started to come off the track as I was cutting!! How dangerous is that??!! Luckily I noticed and shut it down right away. I immediately brought it back to Sears, and demanded my money back, even though I'd had it for several months. The saleman shocked me by giving me the cash right away, with no argument. He didn't even look surprised when I told him that I thought it was so dangerous that it shouldn't even be fixed. I went to the local farm supply down the road and got a Husky 350. I have had a few problems in my one day of use. First it would not start easily. I brought it back and he readjusted it for me. Then cutting through a log, I hit what must have been an old chunk of wire. Sparks flew, and the chain dulled immediately. I brought it back, and the owner of the supply store laughed, and said that he had days like that, too. He re-sharpened it for free. Would Sears do that?
I can't claim to be an expert on the Husky yet, though all my friends have them, but it will be a cold day in hell before I buy another Craftsman power tool!!

Rich

 

[GrantMO]

Here it is almost a year later and I finally bought a chainsaw. I got the Stihl Farm boss. It'll do everything I need it for and Stihl had sent out a 30 dollar gift certificate plus a promotion deal at the dealer made it pretty reasonable.