Chainsaw Sizing

[Olympus]

Be prepared to be blasted for considering using a top handle saw without attending arborist school.

I guess I didn’t realize that was faux pas. I just picked one up and really liked it. Seemed like a great choice for walking trails and cutting back limbs.

 

[Turbys_1700]

I really loved my top handles Stihl...
Someone else did too...
That's why it was stolen...
I hate thieves...

 

[Egon]

Does the new chain match the saw sprocket?

 

[Olympus]

Does the new chain match the saw sprocket?

Yes

 

[Egon]

I did somewhat fall in love with a 12 top handle saw though. It felt awesome on the hand, was light and balanced, and seemed like a perfect saw to walk trails and prune limbs back. Maybe I値l start saving my money for one.


About forty five years ago I owned a Homelite XL2 dual trigger chain saw. That was the easiest handling saw I have owned. It was perfect for limbing and small stuff. Sadly, it wore out well before itç—´ time and was replaced by a Husquarna.

 

[HCJtractor]

I’ve always heard top handle saws are more dangerous. In my opinion, the best saw for walking around trimming limbs, clearing road and trail edges, limbing felled trees, and even the occasional bigger tree (up to 6”) is the Stihl Kombi System, with the saw attachment. It’s light, powerful, balanced, very safe, and perfect for trimming. You can reach high, up to 10’, and your hands stay far away from the blade or even briars. Plus you can use the same motor for many other attachments, like hedge trimmers, string trimmers, a light tiller, etc. We use them more than our big saws at our farm and hunt club. The only down side is the short chains wear pretty fast. I go through a dozen chains a year. It’s my most used tool. They just changed the design and went to a much narrower chain. Mine are the old style. I’m not sure how the new narrow version will work. The old one looks beefier.

My bigger Stihl of course, is the saw to use for felling trees, but any tree less than 5”, I use my Kombi. It’s much safer, especially for those who are inexperienced with chainsaws.

 

[newbury]

No warnings, no sensors, its easy to forget.
You have to re-adjust your habit to check chain oil when you change batteries.

The B&D 40V I had (lives with my daughter now), and both my Lynxx's have a plastic oil tank that you can EASILY see the level at a glance. No cap to undo to check like my Stihls.
So I check the chain oil every time I pick them up.

 

[HCJtractor]

As far as battery operated saws, I just can’t go that route. Even for occasional use, the big batteries just don’t last. Every battery goes bad, and they’re expensive. I have a highly rated battery operated handheld blower. It was great for a while (for me or my wife to blow the porch or patio, very light duty use) but now after less than two years, the battery won’t hold a charge. And the replacement battery is very costly. I’ve had good luck with my battery operated hand tools, especially the impact drivers, but I’d never buy another yard implement when a gas tool lasts forever compared to a battery powered one. Stihl makes a line of battery powered yard tools but the prices are crazy high. I just don’t trust the batteries to last.

 

[Olympus]

As far as battery operated saws, I just can’t go that route. Even for occasional use, the big batteries just don’t last. Every battery goes bad, and they’re expensive. I have a highly rated battery operated handheld blower. It was great for a while (for me or my wife to blow the porch or patio, very light duty use) but now after less than two years, the battery won’t hold a charge. And the replacement battery is very costly. I’ve had good luck with my battery operated hand tools, especially the impact drivers, but I’d never buy another yard implement when a gas tool lasts forever compared to a battery powered one. Stihl makes a line of battery powered yard tools but the prices are crazy high. I just don’t trust the batteries to last.

Agreed! Battery operated saws, trimmers, blowers are not something I’ll be owning. May work great for that first year, but how about 5-10 years later? They’re throw-away tools. Whereas 5-10 years for a gas powered tool is nothing. 5 years from now, will you even be able to find a replacement battery? What about 10 years? Nope!

 

[CobyRupert]

As far as battery operated saws, I just can’t go that route. Even for occasional use, the big batteries just don’t last. Every battery goes bad, and they’re expensive. I have a highly rated battery operated handheld blower. It was great for a while (for me or my wife to blow the porch or patio, very light duty use) but now after less than two years, the battery won’t hold a charge. And the replacement battery is very costly. I’ve had good luck with my battery operated hand tools, especially the impact drivers, but I’d never buy another yard implement when a gas tool lasts forever compared to a battery powered one. Stihl makes a line of battery powered yard tools but the prices are crazy high. I just don’t trust the batteries to last.

:thumbsup: I would rather buy a saw/drill/tool that I need to plug into an extension cord and/or portable generator before being frustrated by a battery that either isn't charged when I need it, or that may not take a charge, or if it does the charge doesn't last. Rinse and repeat.