Chainsaw selection... ideas?

[Pilot]

If what you are referring to is a beefy weedeater, I have one, a Homelite that I bought in '91 to clear about 6 acres of old growth Scotch broom, up to 3 inches at the butt and 12 ft. high. It did the job. The best way to use it was to swing the blade into the stem in a hacking motion with the engine at full rpm. With a blade with chainsaw teeth, it would go right thru stems up to 1 1/2 inches without slowing down. Larger stems would take some work and if you cut on the wrong side, as it started to fall it would pinch the blade and stop the saw.

You need good gloves and face protection as it kicks out chips pretty hard and without eye protection you could lose an eye.

But, if you have smaller stuff a Bush Hog on the back of a tractor would be my first choice.

[dmccarty]

I used my Stihl weedwacker as a brush cutter for years. I wore out quite a few saw blades. And those things ain't cheap. But I used what I had and what was paid for.

But it was WORK.

I bought a DR Mower that will cut down 2.5 inch trees just like the Stihl brushcutter and my MX6 rotary cuttter. The DR will also cut the grass and run a generator. It is expensive but it works much better then the Stihl for cutting down brush/saplings. The DR is a good work out but it is less work than a hand held brush cutter.

And at the end of a few hours of work my arms are not vibrating for hours afterwards when I am trying watch TV or work on the computer. The hand held brush cutter has its place but the DR works better for me.

Later,
Dan

[smfcpacfp]

Here's a serious chainsaw for your consideration

[savedbyzero]

It's not always about the brand...I have a Stihl 029 that has also cut many cords...but I also have an old Mac beater that I cut rocks with and have owned Echos too...
I think the main thing is running a sharp chain...at the expense of early replacement even. I bought one of those chop saw sharpeners from the Chinese store...you know which one..I'm telling you , once you get all the teeth the same size, the saws cut like butter...it's actually fun to go out and cut wood...

[Kernopelli]

My first saw was a 14" 32 CC Craftsman/Poulan I got as a Christmas present in 1983. I used that saw religously....I cut firewood for sale, tornado clean up, downed untold trees, used it as a demolition saw and wore out untold 16" Oregon replacement bars and chains. After having it for about 10 yrs. I was out cutting miles from town and ran out of 2 cycle oil and thought "what the heck, I want a new saw anyway". I ran 4 tanks using 30 wt. oil in it that day and that saw lasted another 10 yrs of regular use. When it died, I was going to get a Stihl and my lovely wife surprised me with a new saw....a new Craftsman. Well, I've been trying to kill it for the last 6 yrs and the only thing I've done to it is replaced the sprocket ( my fault) and bar studs. I currently have a second Poulan that is an exact copy of my first Craftsman that I keep a Cannon 12" dime tip carving bar on.....it starts and runs flawlessly.

After the "inland hurricane" that came through S.Illinois on May 8th, I cut wood every day for weeks with friends and neighbors, we're still not completely done. I watched a neighbor literally throw his 029 in a ditch w/ 2' of water standing in it and stomp off because he was so frustrated, his son in law couldn't get his MS290 started after about 2 hrs of cutting and he told me not long ago that it's never ran as good as his "cheap saw", another friend ended up taking his new 455 Rancher back to the dealer because it was running so bad. I am by NO MEANS saying they are junk brands, they aren't but they have problems too.

My friends are all saw snobs and continually tell me a Poulan isn't worth the effort it takes to throw in the trash. I have cut side by side and tried their Husky's, Stihls, Makita's and Echos for years and I have to say they have never once had the opportunity to tell me what a heap my saw is but I have gotten more than a few digs in on them when they were working on their $400 dollar saws while I just kept cutting. Maybe I have been the luckiest Poulan owner to ever walk the earth but my experience is to adjust the air and fuel screws so they idle smooth and run clean at max RPM, hit the chain a few licks w/a file after every tank, good 2 cyl. and bar oil and they cut as smooth, fast and dependably as anything comparably sized. I am certain that the "big 4 or 5" saws are truly higher quality saws, but for anything less than true commercial service, I don't think most people would ever see a difference.

[Steve C]

Originally Posted by Kernopelli

My first saw was a 14" 32 CC Craftsman/Poulan I got as a Christmas present in 1983. I used that saw religously....I cut firewood for sale, tornado clean up, downed untold trees, used it as a demolition saw and wore out untold 16" Oregon replacement bars and chains. After having it for about 10 yrs. I was out cutting miles from town and ran out of 2 cycle oil and thought "what the heck, I want a new saw anyway". I ran 4 tanks using 30 wt. oil in it that day and that saw lasted another 10 yrs of regular use. When it died, I was going to get a Stihl and my lovely wife surprised me with a new saw....a new Craftsman. Well, I've been trying to kill it for the last 6 yrs and the only thing I've done to it is replaced the sprocket ( my fault) and bar studs. I currently have a second Poulan that is an exact copy of my first Craftsman that I keep a Cannon 12" dime tip carving bar on.....it starts and runs flawlessly.

After the "inland hurricane" that came through S.Illinois on May 8th, I cut wood every day for weeks with friends and neighbors, we're still not completely done. I watched a neighbor literally throw his 029 in a ditch w/ 2' of water standing in it and stomp off because he was so frustrated, his son in law couldn't get his MS290 started after about 2 hrs of cutting and he told me not long ago that it's never ran as good as his "cheap saw", another friend ended up taking his new 455 Rancher back to the dealer because it was running so bad. I am by NO MEANS saying they are junk brands, they aren't but they have problems too.

My friends are all saw snobs and continually tell me a Poulan isn't worth the effort it takes to throw in the trash. I have cut side by side and tried their Husky's, Stihls, Makita's and Echos for years and I have to say they have never once had the opportunity to tell me what a heap my saw is but I have gotten more than a few digs in on them when they were working on their $400 dollar saws while I just kept cutting. Maybe I have been the luckiest Poulan owner to ever walk the earth but my experience is to adjust the air and fuel screws so they idle smooth and run clean at max RPM, hit the chain a few licks w/a file after every tank, good 2 cyl. and bar oil and they cut as smooth, fast and dependably as anything comparably sized. I am certain that the "big 4 or 5" saws are truly higher quality saws, but for anything less than true commercial service, I don't think most people would ever see a difference.

That was very well said.
Your experience has been exactly the same as mine. I don't know any professional loggers, the consumer saws seem to work for me just fine. I am trying to resist the 55cc Poulan with the 22" bar at TSC for $199. I have 2 smaller Craftsman/Poulans and the Husky 372XP. I always try to use the right tool for the job. I think a Poulan is what most people need but you don't get any bragging rights with it.

Since I am out of work perhaps I should contact them and see if they need a marketing person?

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/r...n-ideas-5.html

[Erik_in_Hoyt]

Steve, not sure what bar you have on the 372, but Bailey's has a bar & chain combo for it on clearance for $35. (I think 20 or 22")