Stihl......ours is made in USA.
What chainsaw do I buy??
- Thread starter CAJUNLAWYER
- Start date
Viss
Member
I have two Stihl saws,they are very reliable.
amazingflapjack
US Veteran
lifting a farm boss is one thing...running it is another. Lokk at what real tree men use. They are Stihl's, but they are smaller.
No Poulin
I bought my first and last one many years ago. At the time it was a well-recommended saw but it started falling apart the first time I used it. I got better use out of a little plug in electric chain saw that was great for light duty stuff, like climbing tree branches.
I bought my first and last one many years ago. At the time it was a well-recommended saw but it started falling apart the first time I used it. I got better use out of a little plug in electric chain saw that was great for light duty stuff, like climbing tree branches.
High end Huskies are excellent saws. The 357xp is a real goer, that would be my top pick... Higher end Stihl are also very good.
I would stay away from the big box Huskies, different saw than their high end saws, they are junk. Echo also makes a very good saw, and are probably the best value.
I would stay away from the big box Huskies, different saw than their high end saws, they are junk. Echo also makes a very good saw, and are probably the best value.
My Stihl was ancient when I bought it second hand (in Alaska) 15 years ago. Wouldn't get rid of it. The local tune and sharpen shop is run by a fella that should have been relaxing for at least the last 10-15 years and he keeps trying to buy it from me. It is just a 16" bar Stihl AVP 020. I can't understsand how ANY engine can run that fast. It screams and doesn't miss a lick.......
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foxeye
Member
Unless you go with a high end Husky, they are not what they used to be. A lot of the lower end Huskies have steel or aluminum reinforced crankcases. They are basically a step up from Poulan or Poulan Pros. High end good, consumer grade not so good. Stihl on the other hand is great, but then again they make consumer grade and commercial grade. You'll be hard pressed to wear a commercial grade Stihl out. The MS260 and 270 are fantastic saws. Stay away from the electronic controlled carb that comes on the MS280. Unless you can come up with a Husky that is New old stock from about 15 years ago, they have went down hill.
My son has the Husky 455. He bought it about a year ago. I haven't used it myself, but he's cut a LOT of firewood with it and absolutely loves it. And, yes, it is much better to have more power than you actually need. I consider that a basic life rule.
II've had a little Stihl before my 34 year old son, all that has gone wrong with it is the shut off switch failed after a couple of years, I have choked it off for decades. I hadn't used it for at least 5 years until the other day when my son needed help with a big old black locust. We drug the saw out, filled it with clean fuel and lube and damned if it didn't fire off after a dozen pulls. It has cut dozens of cords of wood and helped fall and clear a good acre of odd sized trees and even brush one year. Mine is one of the first years of electronic ignition, the best thing that ever happened to this stuff.
If I needed to replace it I would with another Stihl, probably something on the order of a Farm Boss or similar model, try to get at least a 20" bar.
Another saw I've used while at work was a Big Husky 460 I think...it was a real animal, I loved it...it could tip cut stuff that another saw would stuggle with, never bogged down on anything I cut. We had quite a bit of overgrown hardwoods, like ornamental cherry, apple and plum and that thing ate everything like butta. Those are two I'd recommend, Stihl and Husky. I have a full compliment of Stihl yard tools, edgers, hedge trimmers, blowers...don't use anything less and never have problems. Keep your fuel stabilized and mixed perfectly and you'll never have problems with it.
If I needed to replace it I would with another Stihl, probably something on the order of a Farm Boss or similar model, try to get at least a 20" bar.
Another saw I've used while at work was a Big Husky 460 I think...it was a real animal, I loved it...it could tip cut stuff that another saw would stuggle with, never bogged down on anything I cut. We had quite a bit of overgrown hardwoods, like ornamental cherry, apple and plum and that thing ate everything like butta. Those are two I'd recommend, Stihl and Husky. I have a full compliment of Stihl yard tools, edgers, hedge trimmers, blowers...don't use anything less and never have problems. Keep your fuel stabilized and mixed perfectly and you'll never have problems with it.
model70hunter
Member
I used a Stihl forever. I sold it to a collector because the only place to get parts was on the internet. I own a husky for medium work, a smaller Sears for quick light work which has already paid for it's self in cutting brush under barbwire fences. And an ECHO arborist for getting one or both feet off the ground. It is also great for small limbs.
Do you clear timber or cut many cords of wood? A Light medium saw at the most. Stihl, Husky or Echo. The pros in my area still go to Stihl.
Do you clear timber or cut many cords of wood? A Light medium saw at the most. Stihl, Husky or Echo. The pros in my area still go to Stihl.
Col. Plink
Member
I can tell you to stay clear of Homelites (do they still make them?) I bought one for $25 from a lady I worked with, who was clearing out a garage and I figured how bad could it be -- she said it ran ...)
Well, it did run like she said, until you tried to cut thru something. Finally gave it to my neighbor, who loves to rebuild small engines. I think about buying a new chain saw now and then,, but instead I just go over to borrow mine from him ...
Well, it did run like she said, until you tried to cut thru something. Finally gave it to my neighbor, who loves to rebuild small engines. I think about buying a new chain saw now and then,, but instead I just go over to borrow mine from him ...
Here in big timber country, there's only one: Stihl!
Then there's always Hotsaw:
Has to be seen to be believed.
Then there's always Hotsaw:
Has to be seen to be believed.
Grayfox
US Veteran
Over 20 years as a mechanic for Public Works. We have lots of chain saws and they're all Stihls. I like that because I don't have to work on them very often. 
charlie sherrill
Member
Farm Boss or Husky. I've gotten good service out of both. I fired up my 21 year old Husky today to trim some limbs. It started on the first pull even though I haven't run it in over a year.
Caj,
Stick with Stihl or a Husky and you will be good to go.
Just make sure you don't get the bottom of the tier
"light duty or Beginners" series. The extra money you
invest in a heavier duty saw will pay off in spades.
Talked to my Stihl dealer and he told me the differences
are in durability. You can take a top of the line Stihl saw
and drop it from 60 feet to the ground and it will not hurt
these saws.
So this should give you some comfort when you get up real
high on a ladder with a chainsaw. You may break half the
bones in your body but at least the saw will be unaffected
when you both hit the ground at the sane time. haha
Be careful really.... A good pair of chaps might be a good idea
if you plan on cutting alot and could save you from a nasty
cut.
Chuck
Stick with Stihl or a Husky and you will be good to go.
Just make sure you don't get the bottom of the tier
"light duty or Beginners" series. The extra money you
invest in a heavier duty saw will pay off in spades.
Talked to my Stihl dealer and he told me the differences
are in durability. You can take a top of the line Stihl saw
and drop it from 60 feet to the ground and it will not hurt
these saws.
So this should give you some comfort when you get up real
high on a ladder with a chainsaw. You may break half the
bones in your body but at least the saw will be unaffected
when you both hit the ground at the sane time. haha
Be careful really.... A good pair of chaps might be a good idea
if you plan on cutting alot and could save you from a nasty
cut.
Chuck
Ivan the Butcher
Member
In the mid 70's we started a timbering company in mid-Ohio. I ran the dozers and skidder, while my brother did the felling and bucking. The whole shebang lasted about 3 years. Our limbing/topping saws were 16" Daytons from Grainger's. The big felling saw was commercial Homelite 750XL with a 36" bar it would handle up to 60" bars. I found a 20" bar for it for small jobs and such after we shut down the company. I've been so disappointed with small saws these days, that I ended up buying a Homelite 110 volt electric model about 1 1/2 years ago. A suprize cordless is the Ryobe 18 Volt, I think it is 10". My brother was so impressed with mine, he bought one for around his farm. Ivan
