Dockside Chat - Which Chainsaw

I know we have had some chainsaw discussions in the past but I thought it is time for a new one given the recent weather and downed trees.

The need is a chainsaw to clean up downed and dead trees, prune, and cut fence rails. It probably will get used only a couple of times a year, and then not too heavily. I am thinking something around 16" and 33-40 ccs or so. I know the top of the line brands are the way to go if you use it a lot, but my uses will be infrequent. I had been thinking of an electric saw to avoid having to maintain yet another gas engine until this latest series of storms made me realize you can't always string electric cords to where you need to cut.

Is there any real difference among the standard brands in the $150-225 range? Sears Craftsman, Poulan, and Homelite? I gather Homelite used to be highly thought of but people think it may be slipping the past couple of years.

It seems that you can get into a Stihl, Echo or Husqvarna for $250-350. Sears has a Craftsman Professional (or Industrial) 18" on sale now for $275 ($94 off) but it seems at that price you should just get a Stihl or Echo.

Should I just get a Craftsman on sale for around $160?

Am I likely to see a benefit to getting an 18"?

We have a Poulan wild thing. Had it for several years and it has been great. we use it about five to ten times a year and havent had any problems. Only short coming is the chain tension adjustment screw, will not stay locked and will vibrate loose and the bar will slide.

LC

I have had a Sear's 16" saw for about 20 yrs now.. for what I paided for it,it's been a great saw.. Had a poulan and had it repaired twice. The rope keep breaking,it was so hard to start.

It really depends on how much you plan to use it. 6 times a year doesn't justify a stihl unless you are cutting large trees up each time. The cheaper stihls probably aren't worth the money anyway. Go with the cheaper one and use the extra money for a good file sharpening setup and a spare chain.

For limited use like that I use a Poulan, pretty much a cheap ass chainsaw but it works fine for my use around the house and at hunting club.

I have a buddy that hunts with me and made the mistake of using his Stihl chainsaw one day and man what a difference

I'd get a Husky

A Stihl MS 260 or Husqvarna 346 XP would be about the size you are looking for(maybe a little bigger but makes the work a little less:)) and are built to last much longer than other brands. The chances of getting a lemon and a headache to continuosly repair is much more likely in the cheaper brands rather than a Stihl or Husky. Worth the exta $$$ IMO.

Just remember you get what you pay for. When you really need it will it perform? Stihl IMO. I don't use mine that often but when the storms come through, it always fires and cuts

I have a 16 in poulan pro, it's a low end saw, but it works great. I use it quite a bit at my hunt club. I agree with everyone on Stihl, it's a great product. I have other Stihl tools and love them. Just happened to get a great deal on the used Poulan. I would'nt be afraid to buy a Poulan or Sears.

Go with a Stihl MS390 with a 20" Bar. I'm ready to audition for Ax Men with mine.

Husky or Stihl are both great. Do yourself a favor and buy it from a local shop where service if/when needed and better advise are available.

husky and stihl price point higher than sears But echo is about the same money and twice the saw. Climbers around here run echo tough little saw and they hold up!

I ended up buying chain saws with the intention of throwing it away when it starts having trouble. They seem to be cheap enough. The oldest one is from about.....late 1970"s. Its a homelite which not only cut cordwood for the stove, it also cut salt water ice. A few of us spent a couple days cutting a channel out of the harbor so we could get out fishing. The saw still works,or it did about a year ago when I tried it.

Ya, a cheapo in the shop gonna cost you $65 minimum. There's your difference made up for the price of a Stihl.
My dad gave me his Stihl Farm Boss which he got in the late 70's when he was still farmin and we were running 2 wood stoves simultaneously. Couldnt begin to imagine how many hours it has and I dont recall ever having an issue other than a few new starter ropes and other regular maintenance. That monster still starts on 2 pulls and cuts like butter. Fact, the bulkhead at his summer home is made from kreosote soaked telephone poles ripped with that saw. That is a value you cant get from a cheap tool.

I have a 5-year-old Sears 16" that I'd give you for the cost of shipping. What's most important to me about a 2-stroke motor is for it to start in a reasonable number of pulls. Check internet reviews for saws where a number of comments are about the carburetors being finicky.

An Echo 18 found it's way to our house and it's more like the Stihls or Huskys or the older Homelites...it starts and bites.

Get two chains, BTW, for when you hit that dirt pile or sand.

If you buy a Stihl, don't get a model with the "Easy2Start" feature.

Great selling feature but a PITA if the saw becomes difficult to start.

Stihl...period the end

i would get a 20" saw no matter what kind you get

Stihl

If you buy a Stihl, don't get a model with the "Easy2Start" feature.

Great selling feature but a PITA if the saw becomes difficult to start.


Could you elaborate on this?:thumbsup:

older 372xp Husky 20" bar runs like an Indy Car!

I have an 18" Husqvarna 450/18" that I use maybe 4 to 5 times a year at best, but I'm not cutting down large trees. So far the thing has been flawless except that the chain that came with it seemed to not last very long. In any case I'm happy with it. As far as keeping it sharp, I bought the chain sharpening kit for my dremel and it works great.

How long do you expect the saw to last? I bought a Stihl 024AVQ in 1986. I still have it and use it about twice a year. I did have to replace the bar oil pump, which cost about $75.

Could you elaborate on this?:thumbsup:

If you ever had to pull the shit out of a small engine to cleat flooding etc. easy start would make that task ...... last forever

How long do you expect the saw to last? I bought a Stihl 024AVQ in 1986. I still have it and use it about twice a year. I did have to replace the bar oil pump, which cost about $75.

I don't know exactly but for my usage which is VERY light I would think it should last quite a while. I keep it sharp too so I'm not grinding away with a dull blade...or cutting trenches with it.:grin: For trenching I borrow a friend's saw!

If you ever had to pull the shit out of a small engine to cleat flooding etc. easy start would make that task ...... last foreverNot on a Stihl Saw, the only time i have ever seen someone have a hard time starting them is either the saw was not maintained or they don't know how to start one!
If the saw is cold, full choke with full throttle, pull a few times until it pops, then press the choke lever down to run while still on full throttle. pull again and it starts everytime.

If you ever had to pull the shit out of a small engine to cleat flooding etc. easy start would make that task ...... last forever

http://stihlusa.com/trimmers/easy2start.html

This feature does NOT allow you to give the saw a good fast pull !

You pull a little bit and it must wind a spring which assists starting the saw.

BTW, Sthil equipment prefer quality 2 stroke oil and require FRESH fuel !

There does seem to be a preference for Stihl, with some sentiment for Husky. ;cool;

Stihl makes a smaller saw (the 192 model) that might be ideal given its light weight. ;?

The comment about Stihls being very sensitive to fresh fuel is of some concern as I have heard it before.

I have a Stihl with a 20" bar and a cheap poulan with a 16" bar. The Stihl cuts three times as good as the Poulan. I use the Poulan ten times as much. I use the Stihl only when I am cutting ten inch trees and bigger. That Stihl will kill my back if I am doing a lot of low cutting of small trees and brush. I bought the Stihl first and then went and bought the Poulan and use it most of the time because most of my cutting is limbing, clearing brush and small trees, cutting lumber when building deer stands and duck blinds. The Stihl is in the shop every year, the Poulan has never been in the shop, although I did have to buy a new primer bulb. Smaller trees and infrequent use = Poulan, economy saw, moderate use with larger trees = Stihl/Husky, etc.

Buy a Stihl .Atleast you can have a dealer stand behind it if it needs repair. Try that with home depot , lowes or sears .

I use to sell Husky's and seen them in use by the pro's. I sold them to guys that once had busted their stihl and echo saws. Electrics can't cut through thick stuff. Poulan and Homelite don't hold up, the husky has a lifetime warranty. In the field I seen guys drop husky's from trees and through them across the yard, walk over pick the saw up and start right up continuing cutting.

Husquvarna are great!

Stihl. I agree with the importance of a local shop/dealer. Try asking a chainsaw question to a kid in Home Depot or Lowes...

Get two cutting chains, "one for show, one for go".

.02

You can't go wrong with either a stihl or husky.

That said, unless you know you will need it for heavy sawying, resist the urge to get a bigger saw. Remember you have to swing that big saw around. It'll wear you out if you're not strictly cutting tree trunks that are bigger than 12" diameter.

If you're buying for survival situations, like cutting your way out after a storm, get a big saw and a little saw.

Stihl, 290 farm boss, with one 20" bar and chain.....and one 16" bar and chain. With the proper sharpening equipment, at least a file and guide...cant go wrong

[QUOTE=Booker;2795572]You can't go wrong with either a stihl or husky.QUOTE]


I agree, I have a husky with a 18" bar, and it works well for light sawing and some larger trees. I don't use it but maybe 4 or 5 times a year, but it starts every time without any issues.:thumbsup:

Stihl.

One thing to consider is size of the bar. For safety and a more comfortable cutting stance a saw with a longer bar makes sense. As with everything typically longer bar = more powerful saw.

By the way Sachs Dolmar is probably the best saw I have ever owned and still use today

Lastly Stihl always seems to have the better calendar babes:thumbsup:

I am thinking the Stihl MS192T or MS200T, or the Echo CS330T, would do what I need. What do you think about them? The Echo is about $260, and I think the Stihl is around $300. These saws come with a 14" bar, are light weight and are made for cutting up in trees. I don't see myself cutting anything more than 12-14", and most everything will be less. Also, the light weight will make cutting and shaping fence rails easier.

If I need to get into heavier duty cutting, I could get a larger saw (someone above suggested a small and a large saw).

There doesn't seem to be a lot of enthusiasm for Echo on this thread. Why not?

I have a John Deere CS56 that has been a really nice saw without any problems. I think it is made by olympyk/efco.

There doesn't seem to be a lot of enthusiasm for Echo on this thread. Why not?

I don't think there's anything wrong with Echo. I just immediately think of Stihl or Husquevarna when I think chainsaw.

have a polan wild thing 40cc motor 18" bar cheap like 129.99 new hasnt missed a beat other then me hitting a fence with the chain and knocking some teeth off the chain . A polan pro 46cc 20" bar busted the chaing tightening thing , and the ring melted down from a carb hickup... still another cheap saw and cost me some 45 bucks to fix but that saw was around 200 bucks , then the stihl < forgot the model but 50cc motor 18" bar , wicked lilttle saw . the extra 10 cc's really makes a difference ... but between the wild thing and the stihl my cheap saw kept up with the abuse i threw at it just like the sthil , i run synthentic oil in the gas and am anal about keeping up on cleaning and the maintences .. i use the crap out of the saws !!!!!!



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http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL965/3750481/9359932/383081369.jpg

I worked as an aborist for awhile. I used a 3400 poulan for limbing while I was climbing and Huskys on the ground.
I worked for International paper and Scott paper. The crew I worked on cut about 2 million feet of lumber a year I worked for about 2-1/2 -3 months a year. for 4 years doing it. I still have the husky a 288xp.
For limbing a 35cc saw will work a 45-55cc will work better. If your cutting cordwood a 65cc saw for a pro and 45-55cc for a homeowner. Felling you want alot of torque 70cc and up to as large as you can easily handle. I've used saws with 110cc and bars over 4' (I think 6' was the largest not sure) A shorter bar will allow a smaller saw to maintain RPM through a cut. For firewood we used mostly 16" bars on the 266 Husky and similar sized Jonsered's Why because the 16" bar would not bog on a cut. The extra weight of the chain and length of a 20" bar will bog on a smaller saw.
I use to deliver 200 cord of wood a year. All was cut by hand not on a processor like most do today

My 88 year old Dad lives on the northern California coast and uses wood to heat his cabin, plus is constantly dealing with trees falling across roads since there are a lot of Monterrey pines around his property. He squeezes every last bit of life out any machine he owns, but still was getting new saws every three years or so, stuff rusting/corroding out etc. He probably uses his saw 4 or 5 times a week. My sister and I bought him a Husky back in the 90's; he would never spend that kind of money himself. That thing is still going strong and easy to use for the old fella. I have no experience with any other brands, we just asked the guy who sells to the local ranchers and lumbermen what was best and that's what he gave us.

I worked as an aborist for awhile. I used a 3400 poulan for limbing while I was climbing and Huskys on the ground.
I worked for International paper and Scott paper. The crew I worked on cut about 2 million feet of lumber a year I worked for about 2-1/2 -3 months a year. for 4 years doing it. I still have the husky a 288xp.
For limbing a 35cc saw will work a 45-55cc will work better. If your cutting cordwood a 65cc saw for a pro and 45-55cc for a homeowner. Felling you want alot of torque 70cc and up to as large as you can easily handle. I've used saws with 110cc and bars over 4' (I think 6' was the largest not sure) A shorter bar will allow a smaller saw to maintain RPM through a cut. For firewood we used mostly 16" bars on the 266 Husky and similar sized Jonsered's Why because the 16" bar would not bog on a cut. The extra weight of the chain and length of a 20" bar will bog on a smaller saw.
I use to deliver 200 cord of wood a year. All was cut by hand not on a processor like most do todayThe old 266 and the 268 were the best up here for the choppers IE the loggers felling trees then came the 272xp till what was the 372xpe which I own ported polished putting out between 5,5hp to 7hp have to be carefull how you sharpen it you might take a ride! It really does not matter what saw you have as long as it runs good I personally can sharpen it to cut a nat off of a deer fly! Sharp theath and the proprer racker level will let it saw thru wood like its on fire.Remember only a sharp chain will bring the proformance of a saw out not the power

Stihl, There's no competition. Husky's wear out. We burn wood for heat and have for years and years. Presently I own 3 stihls , small med and large. 170, 280, 361. Buy the best, it will last forever. Of course use fresh fuel, just drain the unused fuel, no problem.

Stihl, hands down. Built like a tank and ten times the quality of a Husq.

Stihl.... You won't be disapointed with this bad boy! No issues, no problems..... Cuts through like butter!

Stihl Boss! I have had lesser expensive saws in the past. Last year after a tropical storms I decided I would buy one that would last and hold up that I could buy parts for. There is also a local service/warranty center near here, that made a huge difference.

As for Echo, I have weedeaters and a blower that are indistructible and 4 to 5 years old.

I hear husqvarna is just as good no experience with them though.

I have 2 Husky saws. The new one was on sale at my local dealer for 299 and has done as well as it's more expensive brother.
The "old" saw was still running fine but I acquired a son-in-law and it made sense to have 2 saws,,,lol.

"Husky's wear out." Well, I know of one Husky that doesn't wear out and it sounds like it gets used as least as much or more than yours and going on 12 years now. And, I know the clientele of the dealer we bought it from, and they are not the types to be tolerant of anything that wears out, as witnessed by their other equipment. I don't doubt the quality of the Stihls, but no need to make blanket generalizations.

I have an old sears and old poulan . Work fine- always did - the 20 year old sears ahs had chains and bars and no other repairs ever. I bought a new Stihl last year - the real small light one 16 in - works great when it runs. I do like the thinner chain as it effectively gives you more power in a smaller saw. But, You have to use very fresh gas (less than one month old if your gas has ethanol) as it is very finicky and no adjustments. My old ones will run on panther piss.

I don't know if all new ones are this bad but this is my experience.

For the money I think the poulan's are good. I got one one sale back in 02-03 for $100 and just threw it away last year. I ended up buying a Husq to replace it (440e) just because I wanted to try a higher priced saw. I haven't cut much with it yet though.

I have an old sears and old poulan . Work fine- always did - the 20 year old sears ahs had chains and bars and no other repairs ever. I bought a new Stihl last year - the real small light one 16 in - works great when it runs. I do like the thinner chain as it effectively gives you more power in a smaller saw. But, You have to use very fresh gas (less than one month old if your gas has ethanol) as it is very finicky and no adjustments. My old ones will run on panther piss.

I don't know if all new ones are this bad but this is my experience.


Ahhhh, finally found my demographic for all the panther piss I've been storing;)

i have 3 stihls a 180 with a 14 in bar which is used the most.a 270 that i had them take off the 18 in bar and put a 16 in with full chisel chain and a larger 044 magnum which i bought used. that is an animal came with a 20 inch bar but i had to put on a 25 to finish cutting a large tree in my yard. all 3 are good saws

go to a stihl dealer and buy a used one, will cost what a new sears would be but last forever with such little use you will be doing

Anybody who speaks of an older saw running forever, it is because they were made different, before the EPA got involved the best little saw BAR NONE was the Homelite XL (they almost went out of business because of the exhaust restrictions, back then). With that being said next up on my list would definitely be a Stihl, but then again, as some higher-ups get involved with even further restrictions there quality has come down as well.:banghead:

You want power, go get a used, little older Stihl, as was suggested by someone else. I do have 20 plus years of my life using chainsaws everyday, they were like one of my hands to me, boy do I miss those day's.;)

Anybody who speaks of an older saw running forever, it is because they were made different, before the EPA got involved the best little saw BAR NONE was the Homelite XL (they almost went out of business because of the exhaust restrictions, back then). With that being said next up on my list would definitely be a Stihl, but then again, as some higher-ups get involved with even further restrictions there quality has come down as well.:banghead:

You want power, go get a used, little older Stihl, as was suggested by someone else. I do have 20 plus years of my life using chainsaws everyday, they were like one of my hands to me, boy do I miss those day's.;)


I still have Grandpa's Homelite XL.

Pulled guts out of casing last year, cleaned it off, good to go for a limbing saw.

Is so old that the owner's manual is written on stone tablets.:thumbsup:

I decided to go with the Echo CS-330T. It is a lightweight, compact saw with a top handle instead of the rear handle. The saw is made for cutting while you are climbing in the tree. While I won't be doing any of that, I have a need for cutting in front of me and at some angles that will make the way the saw handles useful. It seems to be a good compromise of a quality saw at a pretty good price (more than the lower-end saws but a bit less than the Stihl) and a 5 year homeowner warranty. Thanks for all the help and I expect I would go with a Stihl if I need a bigger saw some day.

I too bought the Echo CS-330T about a year ago and I have been happy with it so far. Its a great little saw for limbing and general clearing.

See alot of people with Echo's I have a gas trimmer from Echo that is going on 23 years Just change the plug and fresh gas. Still as powerful as the day I bought her!

I have had an Echo gas trimmer for a couple of years an have been very happy with it. It starts easily and works very well. I am looking forward to using this saw today.

Stihl. I've owne Jonsered, Homelite, Stihl, Echo............all of em................... Interested in a 460 magnum Stihl. I call it the tool box queen because no body wants to use it. I has it's own built in heater. Hehe.

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o48/looker12/shihl2002.jpg

Stihl:thumbsup: