Homeowner chainsaw rec.

[coobie]

I have a friend who is looking for a good homeowner saw. I'm a Stihl guy but I doubt they want to spend that kind of money. Any opinions on a decent "bang for the buck saw in today's market?
Thx

ECHO !!! Second choice Dolmar.

 

[RandyT]

Curiously, what vintage were those saws? Late 90s/early 00s maybe?
I ask because that's roughly when I bought my Echo and it needed the carb replaced (warranty) after very few hours of use. Apparently around that time emissions regulations were being imposed on small engines, and the manufacturers didn't quite have it down yet, and they ran too lean. The replacement carb on mine has been just fine.

Early to mid 2000's. Replaced a lot of fuel lines on the 021-025 and the 029-039 series over the years due to line cracking where it comes out of the top of the tank and makes that hard bend that didn't get cooked. Several more Stihls running too lean around the 2010 era that I had to adjust for people.

 

[EddieWalker]

i'll have to look into those blades. Every Christmas we get a live tree that needs some trimming once it gets home. I've tried the sawzall with demolition blades, but it usually hangs up an inch or two into the tree.

Porter Cable makes the blades. Seems like those are the only blades they make, or at least it's the only blade by them sold at Home Depot and Lowes.

 

[txdon]

I had a tree company come to take down some large oak trees with their booms. They only use Echo now and they have used then all.

 

[MossRoad]

PORTER-CABLE PC76R 9-Inch Pruning Reciprocating Saw Blades, 3-Pack - - Amazon.com

Found 'em. Thanks!

 

[gemutlich]

"...By the way, this young couple bought a property with some big trees on it they will have cut down but then they will process."

Wondering, does this young couple have any experience with chainsaws, let alone felling, limbing, bucking, etc...?

For someone just starting out, there's a whole learning curve and it can end up badly in a real hurry if they're not carefully taught. That said, man I've been running saws of every size and mfgr since 1976 and would have no problem recommending they pick up an 028Super (Stihl) from craigslist. Affordable, and just a rock solid workhorse. Great firewood saw.

Turn 'em onto www.OPEforum.com good actually useful info there and a solid "for sale" subforum that reputable sellers have dependable saws going for reasonable money.

 

[dragoneggs]

I am a mower repair shop that sells Dolmar/Makita, but work on all brands. the saws i work the most on are Stihl. the saws I see the least are Echo and Dolmar, and the Saws that I send to the boneyard the most are Husqvarna and their associated other brands (poulan, mcculloch, husqvarna names)

Not surprising that you see more Stihl's. They are the largest producer of chainsaws in the world. If you factored that in the repair frequency by brand might point you elsewhere.

 

[dragoneggs]

Not really on topic, but if you have a cordless sawzall, there are pruning blades for them that are fantastic!!! When I need to cut off some branches from a tree, that's usually what I grab first. Even better, I'm very comfortable with my wife using it. And of course, she loves it and will create a pile of branches that takes me hours to clean up!!!

I have turned more and more to my Dewalt 20v sawzall, to the point my beloved Milwaukee electric sits in its box full time now. Whether it be indoor demo or outdoor pruning. Same thing pretty much with the rest of my corded tools. I wouldn't be surprised if a cordless chainsaw is in my near future!

 

[EddieWalker]

I have turned more and more to my Dewalt 20v sawzall, to the point my beloved Milwaukee electric sits in its box full time now. Whether it be indoor demo or outdoor pruning. Same thing pretty much with the rest of my corded tools. I wouldn't be surprised if a cordless chainsaw is in my near future!

I was looking at a cordless chainsaw at Lowes the other day and was debating with myself over something like that instead of the sawzall for quick pruning projects. I don't want to spend the money on it right now, but I can see it being more attractive on the future as technology gets better and prices get lower.

 

[RandyT]

Not surprising that you see more Stihl's. They are the largest producer of chainsaws in the world. If you factored that in the repair frequency by brand might point you elsewhere.

I had considered that since Stihl is about 33% of the market, so should amount to about 1 out of every three saws that I work on. In reality I see about 50-60% of my repairs to be Stihl.

 

[Deere Dude]

"...
Turn 'em onto www.OPEforum.com good actually useful info there and a solid "for sale" subforum that reputable sellers have dependable saws going for reasonable money.

Cool site! Thanks

 

[EddieWalker]

PORTER-CABLE PC76R 9-Inch Pruning Reciprocating Saw Blades, 3-Pack - - Amazon.com

Found 'em. Thanks!

I think they come in three packs at Home Depot or Lowes. I have several with me all the time. They come in really handy when digging trenches and cutting off roots. The dirt destroys them after awhile, but not so quickly that you can't get a lot done with a single blade.

 

[/pine]

I know we live in a "powered" world...especially with the newer battery technology...but for those that still don't mind using a little elbow grease...they make folding handles that will secure just about any standard reciprocating saw blade...most of the pruning blades are a little too long to fit in the fold up slot but they still take up a whole lot less room than a cordless tool and the one I have still fits in the little, under the seat tool box that came with my b series tractor...

 

[dragoneggs]

I had considered that since Stihl is about 33% of the market, so should amount to about 1 out of every three saws that I work on. In reality I see about 50-60% of my repairs to be Stihl.

Maybe because Stihl's get used more? In other words... rack up more hours per saw vs. others? Not trying to argue, just curious and trying to be fair.

 

[RancherGuy]

I have had Husqvarna, Craftsman and Poulan. I have two ranches now with lots of trees and only use Huskys; nothing else. I always have two on hand ready-to-go, should one get unexpectedly pinched while cutting. I have owned 350, 350, 450. I tried a longer bar for a while but found that 18" bar works best for power and hauling it around. Super reliable for me.

 

[MossRoad]

I think they come in three packs at Home Depot or Lowes. I have several with me all the time. They come in really handy when digging trenches and cutting off roots. The dirt destroys them after awhile, but not so quickly that you can't get a lot done with a single blade.

Cutting roots sounds like a really good use. The few times I've pushed over locust trees to get the stumps out, seems like a 20' spider web of roots comes out of the ground from all directions. An ax works, but you have to put a log behind them first or they just bounce. I'll give them a try. Thanks again.

 

[MossRoad]

I know we live in a "powered" world...especially with the newer battery technology...but for those that still don't mind using a little elbow grease...they make folding handles that will secure just about any standard reciprocating saw blade...most of the pruning blades are a little too long to fit in the fold up slot but they still take up a whole lot less room than a cordless tool and the one I have still fits in the little, under the seat tool box that came with my b series tractor...

Jab saws? I think they're called. For jabbing a saw through drywall.

 

[/pine]

Jab saws? I think they're called. For jabbing a saw through drywall.

:thumbsup:
Yes, I was not familiar with that name but a quick search verified...the one I have is about 20 years old...Think it was called "vers-a-saw" or something like that...

Also there are reciprocating saw (pruning) attachments that fit on certain 2 stroke power trimmer heads...they also use the standard "sawzall" blade connecting tang...

 

[QRTRHRS]

I just got my new HF Insider Monthly. They have that Lynx 40V saw at 20 bucks off again so I just may take them up on one. I have two big trees close to the house we bought last spring to take down before they leaf out again. I have to tie off several branches to swing them away from the house. I had a third tree that I did that way with my ~20 year old 029. Minimal noise, no pull on the starter rope and ease of tying the saw off while I reposition sound pretty appealing.

 

[TractorGuy]

Pulled the old Craftsman out of the shed today. Felled 4 trees with the backhoe. Filled the saw with gas and oil. Fired up on 2nd pull then started on first pull each time after that. Cut all 4 trees up and hauled to a burn pile. Ran my first Craftsman saw for 20 years.