What chainsaw do I buy??
- Thread starter CAJUNLAWYER
- Start date
Rintimtin
Member
I am agreeing with everyone else who says STIHL.
Last edited:
Naw, Caj runs his, on top of that ladder, in Bermudas and flip flops.
Seriously, I think anyone who runs a chainsaw without chaps is nuts.
wheelgun28
Member
I have two Stihl saws, all my power equipment is pretty much Stihl, weed waker, back pack blower, hedge trimmer.
Anyhow I have the little MS170, its the bottom of the line. I think its two hundred dollars or less now. I have used it for everything, fell trees in the 8" to 10" diameter. Its limbed, cut brush, ripped stumps, made fire wood. Its small, light always starts its my go to saw. I was thinking of writing a letter to Stihl about how good this saw has been to me!
This fall I had two 30"+ at the base Oaks fall that I had to deal with. My little MS170 did most of the work but the big sections were just to much for her. I now have a MS290 Farm Boss 20", its a very nice saw cuts full depth oak no trouble.
So if your just doing small stuff consider the MS170
My friend loves cutting trees, he has several of the Pro series saws. They are nice and have a pleasant sound while running. They are too much saw for the casual user
I dont have a pair of Chaps, I do have the Stihl helmet with hearing protection and face screen. You get used to having it and miss it when you dont
Anyhow I have the little MS170, its the bottom of the line. I think its two hundred dollars or less now. I have used it for everything, fell trees in the 8" to 10" diameter. Its limbed, cut brush, ripped stumps, made fire wood. Its small, light always starts its my go to saw. I was thinking of writing a letter to Stihl about how good this saw has been to me!
This fall I had two 30"+ at the base Oaks fall that I had to deal with. My little MS170 did most of the work but the big sections were just to much for her. I now have a MS290 Farm Boss 20", its a very nice saw cuts full depth oak no trouble.
So if your just doing small stuff consider the MS170
My friend loves cutting trees, he has several of the Pro series saws. They are nice and have a pleasant sound while running. They are too much saw for the casual user
I dont have a pair of Chaps, I do have the Stihl helmet with hearing protection and face screen. You get used to having it and miss it when you dont
Dominus_Lex
Member
Based on my father in laws history with his 20+ year old Husqvarna (which runs like a charm) I made the same mistake twice, to my folly.... Not wanting to be a three time looser I picked up a Stihl, and have yet to look back. There is no other chainsaw....
My first chainsaw was a Homelite. I was young and naïve at the time. It started OK the first year or two, then, IT WOULD NOT START. Even took it to a dealer. Brought it home and IT WOULD NOT START. After I threw it as far as I could, I went and bought a Stihl after noticing that’s what the pros used. After several years of occasional use, it starts in a couple of yanks.
bobf
US Veteran
I've had a 455 Rancher for probably 5 years, been very happy with it. When I bought mine they were available with a range of bars and chains. I got a 20" I believe standard was 16.
Make sure you get one that will use commercial chains (3/8th?). I've been away from them so long I've forgotten the chain sizes. Hard to believe how much I've forgotten and things have changed since I ran saws all day logging.
Make sure you get one that will use commercial chains (3/8th?). I've been away from them so long I've forgotten the chain sizes. Hard to believe how much I've forgotten and things have changed since I ran saws all day logging.
Caj, I'm not an expert, but my advice is to get the one your Wife can handle easiest.
Jim
There ya' go, another vote for the ms170
absolutevil
Member
Been using the same Husqvarna 266XP for, well 20 years or so. Three or four bars and umpteen chains but it still runs fine. I'd sure buy another one!
stlr_dude
Member
I would go with this one...
rburg
Member
Ya know, you can buy 2 of the bigger Stihls and use the two powerheads on the 60" bar. One at either end. It really does double the power to the chain! The best advice is to buy it that way because you'll not find anyone crazy enough to run it with you. You'll end up drinking beer and looking at the tree. Its probably safer than the surgery and recovery time. Cheaper, too. If its small branches you seek, just buy a cordless model and rent a big arse cherry picker. Much easier than climbing and if the blond across the way suns herself, you can see that from the picker.
Actually the cheapest way would be to find a commercial tree trimmer who just got a DUI. Then defend him and get him to trim your trees. They're known drunks (just like lawyers). Y'all would talk the same language!
Actually the cheapest way would be to find a commercial tree trimmer who just got a DUI. Then defend him and get him to trim your trees. They're known drunks (just like lawyers). Y'all would talk the same language!
foxeye
Member
The 266XP has been out of production for years. It was a good saw.
bgrone
Member
Magnum
What are you waiting for?? Stihl is the S&W of chainsaws and everybody knows Magnum means better so that saw would be the S&W 500 of saws. Or you can be like 3rd gen addicts get one in every size.
Many years back I had a Stihl 260 when living in town, one hot humid day I watched from my kitchen window as neighbor and his buddy tried to take down a pair of 10" poplars with a Poulan.After they spent about 45 sweaty minutes on the first one I walked over with my Stihl and asked if I could try the other tree, exhausted they said "go for it". The Stihl started on second pull as always. Revved it up took it off half choke and felled the poplar with one swipe. After I shut the saw off they asked where I was while they were working so hard on first tree. I answered " watching from my kitchen in the air conditioning".
PS send pics of the tree mayhem
Thanks for the info on the Stihl-that farm boss looks pretty sweet and I can get it at the John Deere place around the corner from the office-plus is is a few bucks cheaper than the Husky. But what about this bad boy........can get it with up to a 50" blade Bayou Tractor Company, Inc - Franklin, LA 70538 Franklin - LA
What are you waiting for?? Stihl is the S&W of chainsaws and everybody knows Magnum means better so that saw would be the S&W 500 of saws. Or you can be like 3rd gen addicts get one in every size.
Many years back I had a Stihl 260 when living in town, one hot humid day I watched from my kitchen window as neighbor and his buddy tried to take down a pair of 10" poplars with a Poulan.After they spent about 45 sweaty minutes on the first one I walked over with my Stihl and asked if I could try the other tree, exhausted they said "go for it". The Stihl started on second pull as always. Revved it up took it off half choke and felled the poplar with one swipe. After I shut the saw off they asked where I was while they were working so hard on first tree. I answered " watching from my kitchen in the air conditioning".
PS send pics of the tree mayhem
Last edited:
tomf52
Member
Bought an Echo CS400 last year and have cut a boat load of wood with it. Starts with barely a pull. cuts like a bear, and has the only five year warranty out there (that I know of anyway). Think it was $329. 18" bar.
Mickey D
Member
A blonde walked into a store and bought a chainsaw. The man behind the counter said "This chainsaw is guaranteed to cut down 5 trees in one day." So the blonde went home and it took her one whole day to cut down a tree. She went back to the store and said "This chainsaw took me one day to cut down a tree." So the man started up the chainsaw and she said... "Whats that sound?"
I have a Husqvarna and a Stihl. Both are 3.5 engines with 20 in. bars and I can't tell any difference in the way they cut or handle. Larry
