Posted: 9/9/2009 4:56:42 AM EDT
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Just purchased 40 acres of land that is mostly timber. Needing a chain saw for clearing and cutting firewood. Nothing over 18" diameter trees will be cleared.
Please share your durability experience with your brand and model of chain saw. Also what do yo consider best size bar in your experience. Thanks |
| Husqvarna Rancher, had one for years. Has 18" bar and plenty of power. Stihl's are equally as good. Get one slightly bigger than you think you need, they have more power, cut easier and faster. Chainsaws can be extremely dangerous unless you use them properly and wear protective gear. Your local dealer can help you out. |
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Stihl or Husky, whichever your local dealer has.
The previous poster gave good advice, make sure you buy and USE PPE. Also, learn to sharpen the chain, and keep it sharp. I produce sustainable hardwoods from our place, timbering and milling about 10-15k board feet a year plus firewood, I have a lot of respect for my saws, they are probably the most dangerous equipment I run. Do NOT buy a small saw and a huge bar. Not only do you lug the engine more, it takes longer to sharpen, and it's less wieldy, it also increases kickback potential (longer moment arm, less mass on the engine). It may seem like a bargain to get a 20 year old saw for next to nothing, but there's a reason modern saws have the safety features they do. |
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This question comes up about every 4 to 6 weeks. The answer is simple: Stihl or Husqvarna.
I bought a small stihl. I am 100% pleased with it. Absolutely a joy to use. You can opt for a large powerful saw. It will cut anything. Problem is, that large powerful saw is big, heavy and tiring. I use a Stihl MS250, which is a damned nice saw for an "occasional use" saw. It runs great. I also find that it it small and light enough that its a joy to use (try lugging a big assed heavy saw for three or four miles when you are trail clearling and line marking). It too cuts through anything. Instead of using horsepower for brute force, I simply keep the chain sharp. It works great. (and the sharp chain is likley safer). I voted Stihl. Other will vote Husky. No problems either way. Avoid cheapassed saws like the plague. A cheap father in law used to buy cheap saws (he ran an orchard). As a result he had a shed full of crapped out cheap saws. Spend $300 once and be done with it. Fro |
| It kind of depends on what your area HAS. When I lived in New England Jonsered were very popular and were fantastic saws. Here in WV you can FIND them, but getting parts and service were not so easy. Most of the tree trimmer guys here use Homelite but when I discovered they use the cheepies because they can throw them away and get another it's a different story. That being said Stihl is what I have and I love it. |
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A few years ago I bought a 16" Echo based on advice here, and it has served me well for the limited yard cleanup it was intended for. That said, earlier this year I needed a larger saw-my little Echo is more for limbing rather than felling.
Once again, the input from this board was most valuable. I ended up with an 18" Stihl that has enough power to do whatever I need. Buy quality safety gear! I have an arborist helmet with earmuffs and face shield, but most importantly I have a quality set of saw chaps-they are worth every penny. You can't put a pricetag on your life. If not for you-then do it for the people who love and depend on you. Good luck  Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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Stihl's are awesome saws. When I was in the army and had a bunch of free time, I worked a side job with a buddy doing tree work. We used Stihl's exclusively and they were awesome saws. I now have a Stihl 310 and it's a great all around saw.
husqy's are great saws too. Can't go wrong with either brand. |
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I take the multiple saw approach though I'm not gonna say that's the only way to approach things.
Echo CS-300, 14" bar, is a great light duty limbing saw. The top handle configuration makes it very handy. Echo does a stupendous job with the itty-bitty engines. At this size level, I'll buy Echo over any other manufacturer. Stihl MS 260 Pro, 18" bar, is a great "all around" saw. It rocks-and-rolls on firewood up to about 18". Light and very responsive on the throttle. It's my newest saw, but I've cut 5 cords of firewood with it and so far so good. Not cheap though. Stihl MS 361, 25" bar, is a great saw. If I can't cut it into pieces with this saw, I'll defer to a professional. This is the saw I'd keep if I could only have one as you can cut small wood with a big saw, but it's hard to cut big wood with a small saw. As frozenny said though: a bigger saw is fatiguing over time (which is why I bought the 260). This is a nice video that shows what happens when you combine inattention, fatigue and an oversize saw. Overall, I agree with everybody else. Buy once, cry once. Husky or Stihl will both serve you well. Echo is great for a little saw. I'm sure there are other good commercial manufacturers too. Just avoid the cheapies and you'll be good to go. IBTMHDSIGF. (In Before The my hundered dollar saw is great folks.)
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| I also use a Stihl MS361 with a 20" bar. Not underpowered with a managable length bar for most cutting. Don't forget extra chains, a bar or two, bar oil and gas mix. All worth their weight in gold when you need them. Take the time to learn how to sharpen the chain by hand. It will save money and teach you a valuable skill. |
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Stihl or Husqvarna. I used both a few weeks ago clearing out some big trees on my property (to make room for an addition). I learned the right tool for the job applies to chainsaws. I borrowed a 20" Stihl to take down the trunks, that would have taken me far longer with a 16". Conversely, I got out the smaller, lighter 16" to clean up the branches. The cleaning went twice as fast with the little one over the big one. I worked about 10 hours a day for two days, and using the smaller one where appropriate was far less fatiguing and kept me at it longer. If you can only get one get the 20". if you can afford two get a small and a large. |
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I have an old 14" homelite which I use for really small jobs/limbing. and a 18" mcculloch 3.4 CI (can take a 24" bar) and finally my baby, The stihl 034 with a 20" bar
Never used a husky, So I can't weigh in on em. I'll vouch for any of the above brands I own though, Of course my homelite is another old aluminum beast and not a new plastic one. |
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Stihl MS 260 Pro, 18" bar, is a great "all around" saw. It rocks-and-rolls on firewood up to about 18". Light and very responsive on the throttle. It's my newest saw, but I've cut 5 cords of firewood with it and so far so good. Not cheap though. This is what we use for the Florida Trail Association. Great little saws. |
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Stihl. I've beat mine to hell and back. It's the AK-47 of chain saws (without the Commie-stuff) LOL!!! I've got a Stihl MS 290. I've been very happy with this saw. I've been using one a work for 8 or 9 years and loved it so much I bought one for myself. I heat with wood and cutting firewood is its main chore. |
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I take the multiple saw approach though I'm not gonna say that's the only way to approach things. Echo CS-300, 14" bar, is a great light duty limbing saw. The top handle configuration makes it very handy. Echo does a stupendous job with the itty-bitty engines. At this size level, I'll buy Echo over any other manufacturer. Stihl MS 260 Pro, 18" bar, is a great "all around" saw. It rocks-and-rolls on firewood up to about 18". Light and very responsive on the throttle. It's my newest saw, but I've cut 5 cords of firewood with it and so far so good. Not cheap though. Stihl MS 361, 25" bar, is a great saw. If I can't cut it into pieces with this saw, I'll defer to a professional. This is the saw I'd keep if I could only have one as you can cut small wood with a big saw, but it's hard to cut big wood with a small saw. As frozenny said though: a bigger saw is fatiguing over time (which is why I bought the 260). This is a nice video that shows what happens when you combine inattention, fatigue and an oversize saw. Overall, I agree with everybody else. Buy once, cry once. Husky or Stihl will both serve you well. Echo is great for a little saw. I'm sure there are other good commercial manufacturers too. Just avoid the cheapies and you'll be good to go. IBTMHDSIGF. (In Before The my hundered dollar saw is great folks.) I agree,, there is no 1 saw does all.. you'll want 2, a 14 inch bar and a larger one. i started out with just a 14 and ya, it worked good, but then i had a little money, and got an 18.. that does the big stuff, then switch to the 14 once the tree is down. Recap: 18 bar for bringing down the tree 14 bar to get branches off back to 18 to sawing trunk up into manageable pieces.. also buy a spare chain for all saws, and a sharping kit. elect is great, but a file is nice too for touch up work. get a dedicated tool box for all this, along with wrenches, pliers, spark plug and plug wrench. plastic wedges.. more the better. at least 3. And a steel wedge and a big honking maul.. (pinched bars are not fun.. ) always plan an escape route... !! eyeprotection.. ear protection.. with that much timber,, invest in the chainsaw hardhat.. you'll love this.. and the kevlar chaps.. BRD =CSD (Chain Saw Disease) I only had 3 acres, and this is what I had.. this is word...... EDIT: buy a chainsaw from a local dealer that has parts for it. i'm lucky, i have a Stihl dealer close. everything else is a throw-a-way.. no parts to fix it. ( I know this from experience) |
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I have a Stihl MS290, because that was the only non-professional Stihl saw I could get my hands on after Ike hit a year ago. I never had any chainsaw experience before I bought it, but READING THE MANUAL was extremely useful. My Stihl manual provides cutting tips and recommendations in addition to the basic operation of the saw.
Ear muffs and eye protection are a must. Steel toe boots are nice. Heavy gloves reduce the amount your hands will numb up after use. I don't own chaps, but wear denim jeans whenever using my saw. ETA: 20" bar on mine. |
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I am happy with my two husqvarna saws. I have a 16 inch for limbing, and carrying while clearing trails, and a 20 inch for falling and fire wood.
If I only had one saw, it would be a Husqvarna with a 65 to 75 cc motor, with a 20 inch bar. There is not much you can't do with that combination. I like my local husqvarna dealer, and that is why I chose that company. Stihl, as you have read by now also makes a high quality product. In short, if you plan to use this saw a lot, purchase a professional version from a dealer you like to do business with. Get a file kit, protective equipment, an extra bar, a few chains, bar oil, sprocket grease, fuel mix while you are there. It is no fun to be half way through a job and to run out of something. |
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Stihl. I've beat mine to hell and back. It's the AK-47 of chain saws (without the Commie-stuff) here's a sig line" Stihl, the AK-47 of chain saws now to find a chainsaw board.. woo hooo Here you go Edited to add: Page 2 ownage
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| I'd echo all the folks who recomend purchasing a high quality saw. My wife bought me an inexpensive Home Depot 'Poulan Wild Thing'. I only had a few small trees to take down (~ 30 no larger than 16") but the lack of quality slowed things down and it took me a lot longer than I anticipated due to all the issues I had with the saw. So if you are on a limited budget and only have a single tree or two to take down, then I may consider a cheap saw (or better yet borrow / rent one). Otherwise, go with what the crew recomended and buy a high quality saw. |
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My Stihl MS 361, 16" & 20" bars does all I need and more, trully an awsome saw.
My Brother has the MS 180 that fills in the lighter work very well. On my hunt for a new saw, the main thing suggested to me was local reliable sales and service, be it Stihl, Husky, J-Red or Dolomor. |
| I sold Stihl equipment for 11 years, personally own an 011, 020T , 036 Pro and 066 Magnum. If I was buying one saw and was dealing with 40 acres I would look at the MS440 or 460 with a 20" bar. If you take care of the saw you will have it 15+ years (bought my 011 and 036 around '94) my way of thinking is that $600~ saw at 15 years cost me about $40 a year to own, I cut approx 5 cords a year with it so $8 a cord. At this point I wouldnt be suprised if I still have them another 15 years. Just my .02 . |
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Buy a high quality saw. Talk with a knowledgable person, preferably someone without a vested interest in selling you the most expensive saw in the store, about what you will actually need in terms of power and bar length. Check to make sure the chain pitch is matched to the saw's power capability.
Get the safety gear and USE IT! Chaps, earplugs, gloves. I don't have a hardhat because it is very rare for me to cut a standing tree that has dead branches. On the rare occasion that I do, I wear my ACH helmet. Have brain protection available and wear it when needed. A two inch branch falling from 30 feet up may kill or paralyze you. One of my trees dropped a 3 inch dia branch from about 30 feet that went through the dog house roof (shingles and 1/2 inch plywood) then through the dog house floor (1/2 inch plywood) then a couple inches into the ground. Get a good cant hook. Get some plastic wedges. Get a chainsaw file and dress the teeth after every two or three tanks of gas or whenever it starts spitting more sawdust than chips. Get a second chain. I let someone with the filing equipment take care of rakers and reset the teeth when it needs it. Get a screwdriver and wrench if the scrench is awkward to adjust the bar for chain tension. I put all the accessories except the cant hook into a wide metal pail. A 5gal bucket works ok too. Use fresh gas. I only mix a gallon at a time, I make sure the gas can stays in the shade, and I don't feel bad about mixing a new gallon if the old has sat for more than a couple of months. Use the highest octane gas you can buy. Which saw manufacturer makes a quality saw??? EPA emissions certifications can be found HERE Scroll down to the offroad small engine section and download the 07 to 09 model year zip file. The zip file contains an excel sheet that has the manufacturer's claimed design life for the various engines. STIHL has some engines with a 50 hour design life, which is junk. They also list some engines with 125 or 250 hour design life. Husqvarna is similar. |
| My father bought a "johnny red" 49SP in the mid 70s. It's still running. Of course the normal wear items have been replaced many times, but a new plug every year and it's good to go. I've ran Stihl and I find them good saws. The popularity means parts are easy to get, but there's something about them that feels flimsy and cheap instead of lightweight. Just my (very subjective) opinion to be sure. I stayed with Jonsered and got a CS 2159 and an 18" bar. I would suggest buying multiple chains and bars too. I sharpen my own chains and have the tools and files on hand to swap out the chains so they wear evenly. BTW Husquavarna and Jonsered are owned by the same parent company and many parts are the same on the professional saw models. |
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I have a Stihl 290 and love it. 18" bar and plenty of power. My only complaint is it is one heavy monster.
When my GF moved in with me, she brought a smaller 16" Stihl into the mix. It is great for smaller work and limbing felled trees. Husqavarna also makes a very respectable saw in their model 55 "ranch" saw. I had a small saw that I bouth at Sears. It was okay but not up to the same quality/power as a Husky or a Stihl. With 40 acres of timber I would get a big 18-20" for heavy duty work and a smaller 16" for limbing and smaller saplings. Don't forget steel toes, chaps, and safety glasses. For spares, pick up one bar and at least one (or more) extra chains. Don't forget the 2-stroke oil and chain lube. If you don't already have them, you also mifght want to get a few wedges to use to keep the bar from getting pinched. I sharpen my own chains and have found the round files sufficient for field use. The quickest way for me is the round stones sold by dremel for use in dremel tools. There are fancy angle brackets and high tech sharpening systems but I don't use them. |
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Which saw manufacturer makes a quality saw??? EPA emissions certifications can be found HERE Scroll down to the offroad small engine section and download the 07 to 09 model year zip file. The zip file contains an excel sheet that has the manufacturer's claimed design life for the various engines. STIHL has some engines with a 50 hour design life, which is junk. They also list some engines with 125 or 250 hour design life. Husqvarna is similar. That's an outstanding resource––thank you for posting it.
I haven't had time to fully digest it, but my guess is the 50, 125 and 300 hour service lives associated with the saws correspond to the way Stihl markets it saws as 'occasional use', 'mid-range' and 'professional.' It's interesting that ALL of Echo's saws are listed as 300 hour saws, isn't it? 
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I take the multiple saw approach though I'm not gonna say that's the only way to approach things. Echo CS-300, 14" bar, is a great light duty limbing saw. The top handle configuration makes it very handy. Echo does a stupendous job with the itty-bitty engines. At this size level, I'll buy Echo over any other manufacturer. Stihl MS 260 Pro, 18" bar, is a great "all around" saw. It rocks-and-rolls on firewood up to about 18". Light and very responsive on the throttle. It's my newest saw, but I've cut 5 cords of firewood with it and so far so good. Not cheap though. Stihl MS 361, 25" bar, is a great saw. If I can't cut it into pieces with this saw, I'll defer to a professional. This is the saw I'd keep if I could only have one as you can cut small wood with a big saw, but it's hard to cut big wood with a small saw. As frozenny said though: a bigger saw is fatiguing over time (which is why I bought the 260). This is a nice video that shows what happens when you combine inattention, fatigue and an oversize saw. Overall, I agree with everybody else. Buy once, cry once. Husky or Stihl will both serve you well. Echo is great for a little saw. I'm sure there are other good commercial manufacturers too. Just avoid the cheapies and you'll be good to go. IBTMHDSIGF. (In Before The my hundered dollar saw is great folks.) The Echo CS-300 is gone, and the OP is looking for an 18" saw. CS-370 or CS-400 would be the way to go. Check out the warranties before you buy, use the correct oil and fuel... |
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Which saw manufacturer makes a quality saw??? EPA emissions certifications can be found HERE Scroll down to the offroad small engine section and download the 07 to 09 model year zip file. The zip file contains an excel sheet that has the manufacturer's claimed design life for the various engines. STIHL has some engines with a 50 hour design life, which is junk. They also list some engines with 125 or 250 hour design life. Husqvarna is similar. That's an outstanding resource––thank you for posting it.
I haven't had time to fully digest it, but my guess is the 50, 125 and 300 hour service lives associated with the saws correspond to the way Stihl markets it saws as 'occasional use', 'mid-range' and 'professional.' It's interesting that ALL of Echo's saws are listed as 300 hour saws, isn't it? Yes... EPA regulations classify the engine by its durability period... "the point it needs to be rebuilt or replaced" 50 hours = Homeowner 125 = extended homeowner/ light commercial 300 = commercial product. All of ECHO products (including its homeowner) is rated at 300 hours. |
| I own a MS-290 Farm Boss with a 20 inch bar and a 16 inch bar. I used a Pullen for about 8 years before that. All I have to say is spend the extra on a good saw. It is a lot less work. The sthl saws can generally be bought for less than the prices there advertised for and your only going to spend another 60 bucks or so. |
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Just purchased 40 acres of land that is mostly timber. Needing a chain saw for clearing and cutting firewood. Nothing over 18" diameter trees will be cleared. Please share your durability experience with your brand and model of chain saw. Also what do yo consider best size bar in your experience. Thanks Stihl 029 (Farm Boss) FTW 
ETA 290... |
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snip That's an outstanding resource––thank you for posting it.
I haven't had time to fully digest it, but my guess is the 50, 125 and 300 hour service lives associated with the saws correspond to the way Stihl markets it saws as 'occasional use', 'mid-range' and 'professional.' It's interesting that ALL of Echo's saws are listed as 300 hour saws, isn't it? You're welcome. I've posted it on a couple of the internet boards over the years. I originally came across it when I was looking at Echo string trimmers a few years back. The salesman, a really knowledgable guy, made the 300 hour claim for Echo products but couldn't give me a number on a comparable Husky that he also had. I poked around the EPA website until I found the list for that year. I bought my house five years ago and acquired a push mower, then a string trimmer, then a lawn tractor and most recently a generator. The certification data has been a decent "sanity check" on these purchases. I actually hit the 125 hour rated life time on my push mower. Unfortunately I did not get to watch the engine spontaneously combust in a thermite reaction. But the carburetor diaphragm did need replacing shortly thereafter. $5 in parts and 15 minutes later it ran great again. Likewise my Echo trimmer (rated for 300 hours) continuously died at anything above idle this spring after I unknowingly put dirty gas in it, even though it had been run about 30 hours total. That list won't tell you when the tool will not work due to operator error. When buying a tool jot the engine codes down and do a comparison or cost/benefit analysis at home. For us survivalists it also gives us an idea of when we should start thinking about picking up a spare chainsaw or generator. I think PARover hit the nail on the head a couple of posts up. I really am not familiar with Stihl saws or the marketing, but if they have consumer, light commercial, and pro, that makes sense. Again, Husqvarna has similar hour ratings on various models of chainsaws, but they also make Craftsman, Poulan, and Jonsered. As far as my chainsaw ... MAC 10-10A from the 1970s. The thing is a tank and runs well, but some parts have been wearing out and something major is going to break sooner or later. That's why I clicked on this thread in the first place and went and looked up this years certs. And I do like Echo products! |