Chainsaw Recommendations

[Mark Patoka]

In the aftermath of Hurricane Isabel, it looks like my next toy is a chainsaw. My co-worker had some tall Oak trees get knocked down that are approximately 18"+ diameter. Since I've also recently starting doing turned work, I thought this would be a good opportunity to maybe cut out some turning blanks.

I'm looking for recommendations on what most people have, what to look for and what to avoid in features. I don't plan on using it a lot but want to get a good tool that will suffice should I need to start cutting copious amounts of firewood in the future and general all-around tasks.


As an aside, when Isabel hit us in northern VA, we were fortunate and only had a 12" diameter beech tree fall on the corner of our fence. We were without power for 24 hours but many others were without for most of the weekend. Overall we faired pretty well compared to many others in the region.

[Don Farr]

Hi Mark, I have my second Stihl and I think it has been one of the most reliable saws that I have owned. It is a farm boss 029 with a 16" blade.
It is about all this old man can handle. If you want bigger then go for it, they got it. I have had others but I always seem to have troubles. Why my second saw? I bought some property and needed something bigger. I sold the first for almost as much as I paid for it.
It has saved me many times like in the attached photo. Just my .02 cents.

Don't know why that didn't work. Let's try it for the third time. they say that is the charm.

[Kevin Gerstenecker]

Mark, I agree with Don. I have always owned Stihl Chainsaws, and my experience has been nothing but good. I was in the Landscape Contracting/Tree Service Business for 15 years, and my Stihl Saws never failed me once. I currently own the 026 Pro Saw, and I have an 18" and 20" Bar and chains for it. (Stihl recently changed the Model Numbers of the saws, so the new number for my saw is 260 Pro, I think.) It may be a little larger than what your needs are, but for reliability over the long haul, I would stick with one of the Professional Models. They are built a little better for the demanding use that those who use them a lot require. I have a good friend who is currently in the Tree business, and he has both Stihl and Husqvarna Saws, and both have given him good service. He prefers the Stihl Saws a little over the Husky's, but that is mostly due to the service dealer that we both deal with. This dealer sells Stihl exclusively, and their service is hard to beat. That is something else to consider as well.........no matter how good the saw is, if you can't get decent service when you need it, then the quality becomes moot. Properly maintained, a good quality chain saw will last a long time. I have a Stihl Wood Boss with an 18" Bar that I bought 13 years ago, and it has been through more timbers, RR Ties and trees than I care to remember, and it still cuts like a champ. It has never had a wrench on it, other than the wear items, like plugs, drive sprockets, and an occasional Carb. Tuning. There are MANY opinions on Saws. Like my Grandpa always said about Automobiles, "I have owned them all............and I have pushed them all!" :D

[Lynn Sonier]

Get one of those hotsaws they use in the lumberjack championships. It has a tuned pipe on it.
Just joshing. Glad you made it through Isabel. It usually us here in south Louisiana that are playing host to hurricanes.

[JayStPeter]

I'll agree on Stihl. I don't have one yet, but my father heated our house with wood for about 20 years. The first five years he used 3 different cheaper chainsaws. He finally bought a Stihl and used it for the next 15 years. He still has it and uses it around the yard, but no longer heats his house with wood. Still looks and runs like new.
I went through a few weedwackers and blowers before sucking it up and getting Stihl equipment. My only regret is that I didn't get the Stihl stuff first.

[Don Farr]

One other thing Mark that I am sure Kevin will agree with me on. Never, ever let your saw blade hit the ground. Nothing will dull a chain quicker than contact with dirt! :(
Learned that the HARD way.

[Bill Grumbine]

Hi Mark

I will add my vote to the Stihl group. I have two Stihl saws, the 026 and the 046. The 026 has a 20" bar and the 046 has a 28" bar. I love my big saw, but if I am going to be doing a lot of cutting and the wood is not too big, I will reach for the 026 every time. It is a very compact and light saw, but still quite powerful. It is great for firewood and medium turning wood. What is big turning wood? This is big turning wood.

<img src = "http://www.enter.net/~ultradad/monstermaple09.jpg">

I am the slightly pudgy guy on the right. ;) My buddy Jim there has a Shindaiwa (sp?) with a 28"bar as well. The tree in the background is 48" in diameter at the stump where you see it cut off.

Bill

[Don Farr]

Wow Bill !!! That is a BIG saw and a big man wheeling it. I'll add you to my got to be a friend list. :D

[Chad Pater]

I to have a Stihl (025), and completely love it. I didn't use it for 18 months once, put in fresh fuel and it started right up. Mine came with two chains which works out nice because you can always have a sharp spare. No complains

Chad
Good luck

[Tony Falotico]

Don't know about Stihl, never owned one but one of the better shops in town deals with them exclusively. I have a Husquvarna (sp?) I bought about ten years ago and it has been a fine machine, used, sometimes abused, but always starts and cuts just fine. Would highly recommend the Husky. It has even stood up to my son and son-in-law, not many machines still standing that can make that claim! (Just funnin', inside joke at our house)

[Jim Becker]

Stihl or Husky are the way to go when it comes to chain saws. Most of those "homeowner" units at the big-boxes will burn up right quick.

I personally own the same saw as Don, a Stihl FarmBoss .029 with an 18" bar. It's the right size for property maintenance, starts easily and is well balanced...something nice for a rank amateur sawyer like me. I also have an 18" Remington electric chain saw that I use in and around the shop for turning blanks, etc.

Be sure you pay attention to what you are doing when using a chain saw. They are one of the most dangerous tools there are. (And that's not even counting the tree that is aiming for your noggin!)

[Mike Sweat]

I also have to go with Stihl. My father found one in the middle of the road about eight years ago, he ran a lost and found ad for two weeks along with other attempts to reunite it with its owner to no avail. He cleaned it up and replaced a few broken parts and still uses it to this day.

[Brad Schafer]

i have 2 Stihls - an 041 and an 038 (20" bar). my dad has an 038 and a Husqvarna. i like the Stihls better; dad likes the Husqvarna better. the Husqy seems to have higher chain speed and is a little lighter, but both are decent saws.

FWIW, i also have a small (13 or 14") Echo trim saw. great little saw, although keeping the chain tension correct is problematic.

bought the Echo new - got all the others used.

b

[Charles McKinley]

Echo Makes a good saw. What ever you buy, buy from a dealer not a box. The price wil be the same and the service will be better.

You cannot go wrong with orange: Echo, Husky or Sthil.

If you are not using it drian the gas or it ruins the carborator.

[Ed Marks]

Well, I'll depart a little bit from the crowd. I've been using a Husqvarna for a long time (18+ years) and it has performed extremely well. (~65cu.cm./26" bar) Lots of firewood, turning blanks, "alaska" saw mill, and a fair amount of use/abuse. It needed a moderate overhaul at about the 11-12 year mark. The closest thing they have today is probably something like the 365 without all the niffty features and safety stuff.

You'll notice I have nothing bad to say about Stihl. I'm sure if I were in the market for a new one I'd be looking at them too.

BTW, if you're considering a lot of ripping work, like using a sawmill or cutting bowl blanks, it makes sense to buy a chain specifically for that or have one reground at a sharpening shop for the purpose. It helps if they are ground square with a 40 degree hook (or even a little more). A good sharpening shop will know what you want.

[John Weber]

Mark,

I can't disagree with the other comments, but if you happen to have a Jonsered dealer in your area, they are fine saws. I've used one for about 5 years without fail They are made in Sweden, and have a long history of Chainsaw products. They seems popular in different pockets in the US, but are big around the world.

Just another thought - John

http://www.usa.jonsered.com/index.asp

[Rob Russell]

Mark,

I've got a Stihl 044 (with 20" and 28" bars) - just a tad smaller than the big boy Bill G's holding. I bought it used from the local Stihl dealer after they'd gone through it. That saw's done everything I've asked of it.

It's a bit heavy for limbing. I'd look at something like the Husky 242XP for that. It's a lighter saw, very quick and high revving - what you want for snicking limbs off of a tree that's down. The saw still has the power to buck up logs. There is probably a Stihl equivalent - I just don't know what it is.

Either Stihl or Husky saws are great. The Echo is a step down. Not a bad saw, but not in the same class as the other 2.

The most important thing is to buy the brand that your local saw dealer services. When you need a chain, or advice - you want to be able to call the local guy (or gal) - not some 1-800 number.

Get a Pro class saw in whatever brand you buy. They're higher HP/pound. As an occasional saw user, lighter is better. Bill G. spends a lot more time with a saw than I do and is therefore used to working with a heavier saw. I don't regret buying the one I have - bucking logs with it sure is fun.

I lent my 044 to my brother after he'd tried one of his neighbors Homelite saws. His comment was that the Stihl made the Homelite look like a toy.

Last thing - buy one of the saw helmets with a face visor and ear muffs. You may feel funny about them, but you want hearing protection and shouldn't touch bar to wood without something protecting your eyes. There was a guy who just left my area that cuts all his own wood (an actuary making $100K+ a year - does it for fun and the exercise). He wore full protective chaps - the Kevlar stuff. This guy is built like a lifter - but his comment to me was that as strong as he was, a saw that bucks can hurt you faster than you are strong. Take safety seriously. I'd rather deal with comments about too much safety gear so I can concentrate on cutting without worrying about my eyes, etc.


Rob