Good Homeowner Type Chainsaw

[Chipstien]

Originally posted by RT66DOC

How about a high quality axe?



Much cheaper, multiple uses over a lifetime and good exercise.



Any body know if Stihl makes axes?

What do you think.

http://www.stihlusa.com/handtools/axes.html



FWIW, It is only Stihl for me. I have a 044 with 26" bar and a 029 with a 24" bar and a 019 with a 16" bar. I also have a Stihl professional gas trimmer. The only problem I have had with any of them was when I ran over the handle of the 044 and cracked the gas tank. I also had the weed trimmer in because I used to run it at half throttle all the time but it doesn't get hot enough and the carbo builds up and plugs the spark arrester. Now I just run them at WOT and I haven't had a problem since. I love all my Stihls and would not be without them.

 

[RT66DOC]

Holy Moly, Chipstien. ". . an infinite number of monkeys etc. , etc... . " That's probably going on my gotahavit list. My wife thanks you for contributing to my tool fetish.



Bill - I just checked your profile and see that your birthday is "N/A". I did notice, however, the year they let you out of high school and I've gotta admit I'm a couple years older and a couple years lazier.

 

[merryman]

About 1973 or 74, I bought a Mac. 10-10,(its a small saw with about a 16" bar). We had a woodburning stove and cut significant wood each year.

About 1988, I convinced myself it was worn out (it had never had anywork except a spark plug) and bought a Husky 51 (which is a great saw I really like ), so I gave the Mac. to my son AND he is STILL using that thing. It just won't wear out.



Vaughn

 

[BRayls]

the differance for me,stihl starts 2-3 pull cold,first warm. the rest in my experiance do not. being in a tree 30+ feet up and pulling the saw is not fun. I started with a homelite(one of the good old ones,not the new junk). after pulling that thing 10 times my granddad laughed handing me the 028 I still have that is 20 + years old,starts with-in 2 pulls every time. i inherited his 041 and 044 both great old saws. but I have the 440 and yes its over kill for most but cutting through big 18+ inch hardwood like its butter is nice. only bad thing on the stihl the air cleaner ,any of those who use them will agree,or they are lying to you. LOL. they need cleaned on long usage,filling with chips. I would buy a low end stihl before any other brand. the next choice would be jonsered turbo saws with a nice air cleaner design that blows the chips off. but the 440 has what 5. 6 hp ,we all know us ctd guys need more power,LOL.

 

[GFritsch]

If your only going to use it 5 or 6 times in the next 10 years I would rent the saw. No maintenance, no fuel gelling up after not using it for too long etc.



No matter what chain saw you get remember a sharp chain is what gets the job done.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

I've run both Stihl and Huskies and think they are very comparable quality saws.



Axes, someone say axes. I love my Gransfors Bruk double bit and my Arvika 4lb single bit for clearing trails. Plus I have a Swedish Black King and an old Plumb. Got to go to Sweden or Germany for a good axe. Then you have to put a lot of work into turning it into a usable tool.



Spent as much on axes as some of the saws meantioned But then again there is no chainsaw allowed in most wilderness areas. Just quality two man crosscuts and axes.

 

[PJereb]

For occasional use, get an ELECTRIC saw.



Stihl saws are great, I have a 025 in my garage, but I use it in so sparingly that I wish I would have got an electric saw. Since it is the only 2 stroke powered tool that I have, it is really a pain in the ass to mix up premix, and not end up with a bunch of waste.



Stihl makes three electric models



MSE 140 1. 9 BHP 12-14” bar

MSE 180 C 2. 3 BHP 14-18” bar

MSE 220Q 2. 3 BHP 16-20” bar



Electric saws are great, as long as you have power near by, no worries about old gasoline, no tuning, and no nothing other than a beefy extension cord and bar oil. If you are going to be a lumberjack and do something that you can’t do with an electric saw with a 20” bar like the MSE 220Q, you are better off renting a saw. Most rental centers rent nice saws, I know that the local Hertz and Cresco both rent big saws.

 

[JLEONARD]

I have an 18" Stihl that's an animal.

But I also have owned a Poulan 16" for 20 years... wore out 2 bars and I don't know how many chains in that time..... cutting several cords every season plus yard chores. Can only say good things about that old saw.

Jay

 

[BV]

I own a 360 Homelite and an 026 Stihl. Both came from the scrap bin of a rental yard. The Stihl is roughly 15 years old and still running after the cylinder gasket was replaced. The Homelite got a fresh cylinder and piston 12 years ago and is cutting wood just fine. Homelite parts are getting harder to find.



We rented Poulan saws for awhile and had problems with the chains coming off. Again this was over 10 years ago and things have changed but I would consider one for recreational use.



Unless they have changed, I would stay away from Craftsman because the only parts you can get for them with going to Sears would be the spark plug and chain.



My replacements will be Stihl, Husky or Jonsered in that order.