chain saws...

[Pete M]

lookin' to get dad a chain saw for the Georgia house. I'm thinking around 18" in size but besides that, I'm not all up on the latest and greatest features. My dad will be using this mostly so I want safe and reliable. Got waaaay too many memories of chainsaws that refused to start. thankfully I have no memories of any injuries. :D

[sinkrun]

In my opinion either buy a Stihl if its in the budget if not just buy a Polan. The stihls are the smoothest, least fatigue, most reliable saw made but there pricey. The polans are great for the money if it breaks in a few years toss it out and buy another. I think anything new will have chain brakes and anti kick back chain on it. My dad cuts about 5 cords a year with a 250 stihl hes in his early 70`s thats about the smallest I would recomend. If he can take a little more weight and you want a 18" bar a 290 should fit well if you go much bigger its going to get $$$. I have my eye on a old 028 at a auction in a few weeks in town.

[sinkrun]

Her ya go if you can find one LOL

[Pete M]

18", not 80". :D

[Northup]

It all depends on what you want to spend and how much use it will get, Polan used to be really good but not a huge fan of their saws since they got bought out

 

Sthl 290 is nice, the "farm boss" 290 is a nice all around saw it will run an 18" bar and have plenty of power. Remeber don't just throw larger bars on any saws, the longer the bar the more power the saw needs to move the teeth.

 

I own a few saws.... Sthl 290 Sthl MS200 climbing saw (my fav. thing shreds), and a husqvarna 455 very similar to the 290 just a little more power.

 

I like the Sthl's new 290s are like 350-375$

 

New gas kills these saws don't let gas sit in the saws it goes bad quickly, always check your oil and clean of the bar. Store the saws correctly we store ours on the sides.

[nitroxsteve]

I have a Shindaiwa 488 thats about 5 years old and am very happy with it. it always starts on the first pull unless it has been sitting for a while and then it will start on the second or third pull. It has good power an 18" bar with .325 anti kick back chain. I also like the stihl and husky's but you will save some money with the Shindaiwa and in my opinion a great saw much better than the polan.

[Pete M]

Dad and I stopped by the chainsaws in Lowes today and he seemed ok with the $300 price tag on the 18" Husqvarna, but I get the feeling that'd be the upper limit for price. too bad they don't let ya fire them up for a test drive. :brows:

 

http://www.lowes.com/pd_197596-86886-96 ... Id=1229529

 

why is it that so many chainsaw brands are carried by little hole-in-the-wall "dealers"? it makes it that much harder to compare products and prices. :fs1:

[kyleag89]

Pete don't buy a Husquarvna from lowes!! The quality of their Husky products are a "homeowner" brand and are not as reliable. I would recommend going to a Husky power equipment dealer and get a quality Husky saw from them. Also remember you can hagle on the price at most power equipment dealers! :thumbsup:

 

I purchased a Husky 355? I believe last year for $265. It has an 18" bar and plenty of power to upgrade to a 20".

[jtdesigns]

If you love your dad get him a Stihl

[Pete M]

hey, it took a lot to convince him to get the dewalt cordless tools. :yes: what stihl can I get for 300?

[jtdesigns]

I'd rather buy a used Stihl then any of the new china made junk made now days,,, Crigslist it...

[kyleag89]

Stihl are great saws but a little pricey for someone who won't use it that much. Husky is made in Switzerland and are just as good as a stihl.

[KYMJ]

Had an Echo that lasted 20+ years. When it crapped out finally, I bought the Poulan Pro or something like that, at Lowes. I'm just an occasional user, and it's been great. Came with extra chain, so I always have a sharp chain to use. Yeah, I can tell the difference in quality, but it is great for my use. Don't see why it won't last awhile for my usage.

[streetjeep2.5]

In the past I bought used and a size of engine one up from what I wanted that usually also had a bar one size bigger than I needed, and put the smaller bar on it so the saw would not bog down.

[HOrnbrod]

Stihl are great saws but a little pricey for someone who won't use it that much. Husky is made in Switzerland and are just as good as a stihl.

 

Husqvarna manufacturers only their high end saws (359 & up) in Sweden (not Switzerland). American Yard Products (owned by Husqvarna) makes their low end saws now.

 

I've been using Homelite saws for years and they go forever.

[knever3]

I would choose the Stihl MS 250 C-BE.

 

http://www.stihlusa.com/chainsaws/MS250CBE.html

 

 

I have the MS 250 and it's a great saw. I wanted a saw that would be powerful enough to take down a tree stump and all but be light enough to take up a small ladder without much effort. I looked at the 290 but it's to heavy and bulky for ladder work.

 

I recommend the C-BE because it's an EASY START model, meaning it has a primer ball and a depress valve so the pull string doesn't balk on the compression. The salesman tells me it was designed for the older homeowner but after the first time using my saw without the easy start it's a pain in the a** to start and twice I gave up this year. I will take it back to see what I'm doing wrong and if they can't convince me I will trade it for their easy start model.

 

If they get their stuff together soon maybe we'll have a 4 stroke that can start in one pull!!

[kyleag89]

I stand corrected hornbrod.. Thats what I meant when I was saying to not buy a Husky from lowes. The saw I bought was one of the smallest 18" they had from Sweden and it was at a great price.

[87Warrior]

Go Stihl or go home. I have used nearly all of those disposable saws in the past and will never return.

 

My father still runs his two McCulloch saws from 25 years ago. They are NOT the same as the McCulloch saws of today. However, the fuel pump mechanisms within the blocks have worn out and will not run long on a long hot day. He picked up a Stihl 391 as a replacement. Its like a Cadillac.

 

Within my immediate family we have 4 Stihl saws:

- 260 Pro

- 290

- 361 Pro (no longer made)

- 391

 

The pro saws seem to run like a V8 with a big cam. Kind of lumpy but smooths out once you hit the throttle. My fathers saw is smoother running but is heavier and does not rev quite like the Pro version. Its a shame they did away with the 361 Pro. I LOVE using that saw.

[Pete M]

the easy start feature just might be a deal maker. my dad is in good shape for his age, but he sure ain't getting younger and I have to remember that this is his saw, not mine. :D I imagine it'll only be used a few times a year, but for several days in a row each time. the trees by him are huge.

 

So I guess I now need to find a local dealer so I can check it out in person.

[dasbulliwagen]

Our local John Deere dealer has a whole section in their store dedicated to Stihl saws and equipment.... and the prices were suprisingly reasonable considering. My buddy has a Stihl 028..... sure wish I had one. That saw will last forever!

[Comanche County]

I went through a couple of "homeowner" saws in CO. After trying to fix my last poulan pro 20 incher I discovered most of those saws are only good for 50 hrs. They even say that right on the saw in small print!

 

Eventually got a 20 year old McCulloch box saw that ran great and would cut just about anything without bogging down. Never had the money for a Stihl.

[knever3]

So I guess I now need to find a local dealer so I can check it out in person.

 

I bought mine at a local rental place. I bought my string trimmer from country grocery and hardware. The point is stihl dealers are places you never thought would handle them. Get online to stihl's website and they will give you a rundown on the closest dealers. The rental place gave me a deal and what was priced is what I paid out the door. They are unilateral priced company like Bose but the owner or salesman can work you a deal so don't be afraid to ask!! The guy that sold me mine put gas and oil in it and started it for the first time and educated me how to use it since I never owned a chainsaw before. Very helpful indeed.

 

So here's the link, it displays a map of all the dealers so you can call before you waste your drive time.

 

 

http://stihldealer.net/locator/

[Pete M]

yup, I found my local dealer. turns out to be the lawn mower place over on eureka rd. wouldn't have thought that. :dunno:

[wyk]

yup, I found my local dealer. turns out to be the lawn mower place over on eureka rd. wouldn't have thought that. :dunno:

 

Do NOT buy from Lowes - those are only Husqvarnas by name. Go to a Husqvarna or STIHL dealer and buy from them. Here's me with our little STIHL 250(non cbe) with a dull chain:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3xWIvUrFDU And here I am killing it with a soggy log(if ya know wut I meen)

 

 

I just spent 2 hours and 2 tanks of fuel felling and bucking pines with it today. For a lil chainsaw, this thing gets on. I only adjusted the carb and opened up the exhaust and it feels easily 20% more powerful now. Sounds great, too.

 

As for Husqvarna, ya may wanna look at the Rancher versions. But, bear in mind, they are harder to start than even normal STIHLs, at least in my experience. My MS250 on a cold day takes 2 pulls on normal choke(I have never had to use the cold choke) and then the choke off and a couple pulls gets ya goin. When hot, it starts up on one pull every time unless I fumble it.

Just don't try to tackle a waterlogged..uh..log with it. ;)

 

The 445 is the minimum Husqvarna I would even look at.:

http://www.amazon.com/Husqvarna-445-18-Inch-2-Stroke-Powered/dp/B00280MV5C/ref=sr_1_4?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1286865399&sr=1-4

 

If you can swing it, the 455 Rancher is a better saw, if a bit heavier.

 

Again, I would say that, for the weight, I would go with the STIHL 250 in your price range. I love mine. I have an 18" bar on it. Bear in mind yer local dealer can often swap out the bars for you. But, on a MS250, 18" is the largest you can get, I think. And, honestly, I wouldn't go larger if I could. If I need more, I reach for the 361.

 

If I had to choose one chainsaw for all the work I do, I would probably go with the STIHL 361, with ported exhaust and minor carb dithering I can do myself, with the 20" bar. It weighs nothing for a pro saw, goes up ladders, it cuts down oaks. All for cheap(ish) at around $600. The 250 I have isn't really mine, it belongs to the ranch I work on.

[knever3]

So Pete, did you get a chainsaw yet? You probably been a little busy since you are a new uncle and all congrats!! I would like some feedback on the easy start feature.