Posted: 5/27/2013 4:05:36 AM EDT
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Looking to get a good quality chainsaw. I'd appreciate recommendations as to brands or models. I plan to use it for some firewood, mainly. Even though it will be lightly used, I'd like a quality one.
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| I bought a 18" Stihl 250 (around $300 OTD with some accessories) and am happy with it. Husky and (sometimes) Echo might be comparable on the low end. Advice I found useful is to buy one of these brands that has good nearby dealer support, not just a box store. Preferences are much the Ford/Chevy type opinions--you will find advocates and lemon stories with every brand. |
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Looking to get a good quality chainsaw. I'd appreciate recommendations as to brands or models. I plan to use it for some firewood, mainly. Even though it will be lightly used, I'd like a quality one. Thanks for occasional firewood cutting (aka bucking), limbing, and light felling (dropping 2-15" diameter trees), you want a lightweight saw with a 16" or 18" bar on it. a Stihl MS250 would be a great choice. you should get 20 years out of it and with hundreds of thousands of this model alone sold there are parts everywhere. a couple of years ago i rebuilt an 021 (now called the MS210), which is the little brother of the MS250. i had no problem getting rings, a carb gasket kit, and a few other bits and pieces. today it's still going strong despite the fact that this saw was bought new in 1993. the MS250 is one of the most popular of Stihls "occasional use" saws. don't forget to get a pair of chaps. chain vs. skin injuries are suckage. $69 spent on a pair of chaps can prevent death via bleeding out. ar-jedi |
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My little MiniMac 110 finally gave up the ghost after 25+ years, so I was recently in the market for a new saw. We recently moved into the mountains to a house that sits on an acre which is heavily wooded, mostly with Ponderosa pines, Pinon pine and Alligator Juniper, with a few scrub Oaks here and there. The land had been neglected for several years, so there is lots of clean up to do. We have several large trees that have already fallen down and numerous dead trees that are still standing. There are also lots of smaller trees that need to be thinned out.
I decided that I needed a mid-range sized saw to deal with our property, so after going back and forth between Stihl and Husqvarna, I decided on a Husky 450 with an 18" bar. I had tested one of my neighbors' Stihl "Farm Boss" and another neighbors' Husky 455 "Rancher". Both saws worked great and seemed about equal in cutting ability. The deciding factors for me was the ease of maintenance on the 450 to clean/replace the filter and access to the spark plug. I was also able to get a nice package deal on the Husky that included a case, extra chain, chain oil and gas mix oil. There is a great shop in town that carries and works on them, so parts and service will not be a problem. After I get rid of the 20" trees, I will probably drop down to a smaller bar (14" or 16") for ease of handling as the remainder of my trees are 6" to 8" in diameter. |
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{SNIP} You really can't go wrong with either. I agree, it is really a "Ford vs. Chevy" type of thing. There are rabid fanboys for each brand. My final decision was based on price and the fact that I really like the husky dealer here in town. We do have a Stihl dealer, but he is very pricey and not a lot of fun to deal with..... As it is, I may end getting both as this Husky is fairly large for limbing or for small trees, so I am thinking on picking up a 12-14" saw for those tasks. I am looking at the Sthil MS 192 TC-E or the Husky T435... |
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Grew up using my dad's old Husqvarna. It's a good saw that's older than I am. Then on a guide job all they had were Stihls. Haven't turned back since. Both are fine saws, I just prefer the way the Stihl runs and feels. If you live in a rural area find out which of those two is available and worked on locally.
No matter what saw you end up buying, learn to run it safely and efficiently. Get a set of chaps, eye and ear protection, etc. Also learn how to sharpen the chain yourself and save yourself some money and frustration. |
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{SNIP} Jonsered looked like a possibility. Is this just a red Husqvarna? 
I had the same thought....the Jonsered does look like a Husky, just a different color. They do get great reviews though. I went with Husqvarna as we had a dealer and repair shop here in town. Our nearest Tractor Supply store is about an hour away..... |
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Actually looked around this weekend for a new saw. My Stihl 041 is just plain worn out. Electronics are no longer available. Looked at Huskys, Stihls and Jonsered at a Tractor Supply. Jonsered looked like a possibility. Is this just a red Husqvarna?
yes pretty much, different plastic and top handle config but otherwise the same. |
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Quoted: Actually looked around this weekend for a new saw. My Stihl 041 is just plain worn out. Electronics are no longer available. Looked at Huskys, Stihls and Jonsered at a Tractor Supply. Jonsered looked like a possibility. Is this just a red Husqvarna? Check here for obsolete parts. http://store.chainsawr.com/collections/stihl I haven't ordered from there yet but will sometime this summer.  |
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Actually looked around this weekend for a new saw. My Stihl 041 is just plain worn out. Electronics are no longer available. Looked at Huskys, Stihls and Jonsered at a Tractor Supply. Jonsered looked like a possibility. Is this just a red Husqvarna?
Check here for obsolete parts. http://store.chainsawr.com/collections/stihl I haven't ordered from there yet but will sometime this summer.
...and fleabay . Also one of the best resources to gather info/parts/ipls is arboristsite. Look that place up. They can help you fix it. |
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Actually looked around this weekend for a new saw. My Stihl 041 is just plain worn out. Electronics are no longer available. Looked at Huskys, Stihls and Jonsered at a Tractor Supply. Jonsered looked like a possibility. Is this just a red Husqvarna?
Jonsered is pretty highly regarded by pros, I think they are pretty much no thrills get the job done type saws. I haven't gotten to use one yet, but I have heard good things. |
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I have both, and frankly I'm not terribly impressed. Split fuel line and leaky bar oil reservoir on the Husky and had to have the carb rebuilt on the Stihl, both only a few years old. Maybe my expectations are too high, I dunno. How long does it take you to burn up a tank of fuel? Do you use the saws constantly or do they typically get used once a year and then put into storage? |
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Quoted: Quoted: I have both, and frankly I'm not terribly impressed. Split fuel line and leaky bar oil reservoir on the Husky and had to have the carb rebuilt on the Stihl, both only a few years old. Maybe my expectations are too high, I dunno. How long does it take you to burn up a tank of fuel? Do you use the saws constantly or do they typically get used once a year and then put into storage? Never really timed how long I run through a tank; whats that an indicator of? I suppose its about an hour or two depending on how much tree I need to move between cuts. I use the hell out of them, well the Husky now the Stihl is on permanent loan. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I have both, and frankly I'm not terribly impressed. Split fuel line and leaky bar oil reservoir on the Husky and had to have the carb rebuilt on the Stihl, both only a few years old. Maybe my expectations are too high, I dunno. How long does it take you to burn up a tank of fuel? Do you use the saws constantly or do they typically get used once a year and then put into storage? Never really timed how long I run through a tank; whats that an indicator of? I suppose its about an hour or two depending on how much tree I need to move between cuts. I use the hell out of them, well the Husky now the Stihl is on permanent loan. Huskys are known for leaking bar oil. Is your fuel ethanol free as that will kill a saw fast. |
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I use a Stihl Farm Boss w/18" bar and a standard chain (not a safety chain). Epic. I picked up one of these last Christmas. It has been great, little on the heavy side but had done everything I asked of it. Also buy the stihl oil they give you an extra year warranty and it has fuel stabilizer in the oil. One rumor Ive heard was that the CA emissions are becoming standard on all the 2014 saws. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I have both, and frankly I'm not terribly impressed. Split fuel line and leaky bar oil reservoir on the Husky and had to have the carb rebuilt on the Stihl, both only a few years old. Maybe my expectations are too high, I dunno. How long does it take you to burn up a tank of fuel? Do you use the saws constantly or do they typically get used once a year and then put into storage? Never really timed how long I run through a tank; whats that an indicator of? I suppose its about an hour or two depending on how much tree I need to move between cuts. I use the hell out of them, well the Husky now the Stihl is on permanent loan. Huskys are known for leaking bar oil. Is your fuel ethanol free as that will kill a saw fast. No such animal as ethanol free in these parts. I suppose I should use seafoam or just store empty? |
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I have both, and frankly I'm not terribly impressed. Split fuel line and leaky bar oil reservoir on the Husky and had to have the carb rebuilt on the Stihl, both only a few years old. Maybe my expectations are too high, I dunno. How long does it take you to burn up a tank of fuel? Do you use the saws constantly or do they typically get used once a year and then put into storage? Never really timed how long I run through a tank; whats that an indicator of? I suppose its about an hour or two depending on how much tree I need to move between cuts. I use the hell out of them, well the Husky now the Stihl is on permanent loan. Huskys are known for leaking bar oil. Is your fuel ethanol free as that will kill a saw fast. No such animal as ethanol free in these parts. I suppose I should use seafoam or just store empty? No airports near by? Try looking at non ethanol locator. If nothing else, I'd run it dry and then pour in a little motomix or huskies version of the same thing and let it run for a short time to clear out all the ethanol gas. Once you crack the seal they claim it's good for two years. It will help keep your carb diaphragms and lines from rotting. |
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I use Husky-based vent saws and Stihl Farm Boss saws at work. Both run. As stated, buy whichever has the strongest support from local hardware stores and small engine repair shops. Those are the places that will still have odd parts on hand 20 years from now.
BUY SAW CHAPS. In case you missed it: BUY SAW CHAPS. They are invaluable. |