Chainsaw Recommendations

[Hay Dude]

I like the Makita saws. Made by Sachs Dolmar. You get a large Makita service/parts network.
My Makitas (20in & 24in) have been great.

 

[Jo D]

Thank you ALL for all your thoughts, suggestions, advise, Good & bad chainsaw stories. We went this morning and purchased out saw. WE went with the Stihl 271. We (he) did waver back and forth a little bit due to the weight, but since it is not likely to be sun up to sun down work, hubby decided that was the go. What we will be doing is mostly going to be in our own yard, and can be at his own pace. We were there a good hour and a half Id say. They only had the 20 inch bar in stock, and I can say Im not sure where the logic came in, but he decided to go with that and order the 18 inch bar (which will be in tomorrow - we could have bought and paid and just gone back to get it tomorrow, as it is we still have to to go the 18 in bar). He is planning to swap it out and put the 18 on but said this way if he ever needs it he has the 20 ?!?!??!. We got a gallon of the premix and I think a gallon of oil. I believe they said the smallest bar that can go on that saw was a 16, so I will likely buy that at some point so we have it. We checked into the files, so we dont have to bring it in every time ($15 a shot if you take the chain off the bar before you bring it in). Extra Chains, the file kit, another bar, a case etc are all being given as gift ideas to my daughters. Once they tell me what they are buying I will go out and but the rest. I cant thank you all enough. It made it a much more educated experience and he is happy with the final decision.

Frankenkubota, Cute reference to CARY, but this set of **** Yankees landed in Fayetteville. Then again he wasnt the Suit n tie type of guy, he was Electrical/Construction, we landed here in 92, and remember Fran quite well. I have learned since living here, you're Yankees if your here to visit, but **** Yankees as soon as you decide to stay. You were one of my first responses, if not the actual first. My first thought was how the heck did my husband end up on the same forum.... Your Profile pic is his FB profile pic. I know its silly, and there are probably millions of people with it, but it just really jumped right out at me.

Wish all of you the best of luck with everything, Until we meet again.
Jo D

 

[happysawer]

Thank you ALL for all your thoughts, suggestions, advise, Good & bad chainsaw stories. We went this morning and purchased out saw. WE went with the Stihl 271. We (he) did waver back and forth a little bit due to the weight, but since it is not likely to be sun up to sun down work, hubby decided that was the go. What we will be doing is mostly going to be in our own yard, and can be at his own pace. We were there a good hour and a half Id say. They only had the 20 inch bar in stock, and I can say Im not sure where the logic came in, but he decided to go with that and order the 18 inch bar (which will be in tomorrow - we could have bought and paid and just gone back to get it tomorrow, as it is we still have to to go the 18 in bar). He is planning to swap it out and put the 18 on but said this way if he ever needs it he has the 20 ?!?!??!. We got a gallon of the premix and I think a gallon of oil. I believe they said the smallest bar that can go on that saw was a 16, so I will likely buy that at some point so we have it. We checked into the files, so we dont have to bring it in every time ($15 a shot if you take the chain off the bar before you bring it in). Extra Chains, the file kit, another bar, a case etc are all being given as gift ideas to my daughters. Once they tell me what they are buying I will go out and but the rest. I cant thank you all enough. It made it a much more educated experience and he is happy with the final decision.

Frankenkubota, Cute reference to CARY, but this set of **** Yankees landed in Fayetteville. Then again he wasnt the Suit n tie type of guy, he was Electrical/Construction, we landed here in 92, and remember Fran quite well. I have learned since living here, you're Yankees if your here to visit, but **** Yankees as soon as you decide to stay. You were one of my first responses, if not the actual first. My first thought was how the heck did my husband end up on the same forum.... Your Profile pic is his FB profile pic. I know its silly, and there are probably millions of people with it, but it just really jumped right out at me.

Wish all of you the best of luck with everything, Until we meet again.
Jo D

You do understand that you will need the right length chain for each bar? you can't put a 20" chain on a 18" bar, and do i understand correct your dealer charges $15 dollars to sharpen one chain? that is really high my dealer charges $8 a chain, it's a good thing you bought some sharping files.

 

[Jo D]

You do understand that you will need the right length chain for each bar? you can't put a 20" chain on a 18" bar, and do i understand correct your dealer charges $15 dollars to sharpen one chain? that is really high my dealer charges $8 a chain, it's a good thing you bought some sharping files.

Yes, that is definitely understood . We purchased with the 20 " bar/chain installed on it and we ordered the 18" bar which will be in tomorroew, 18 chain was purchased today. Perhaps the confusion was when I said he was planning to swap out to the 18 and put the 20 up for when (I think if) he needs it. There is another authorized service/repair location in town, Tractor Supply,(just not sales) I may contact them to see what they charge. And yes, correct 15 to sharpen if we bring in off the bar, if we bring it in on the bar its higher, but I didnt get that price. I also thought it sounded high. Lucky for me, he doesnt mind sharpening on his own. Me, Id go nuts doing that

 

[happysawer]

Yes, that is definitely understood . We purchased with the 20 " bar/chain installed on it and we ordered the 18" bar which will be in tomorroew, 18 chain was purchased today. Perhaps the confusion was when I said he was planning to swap out to the 18 and put the 20 up for when (I think if) he needs it. There is another authorized service/repair location in town, Tractor Supply,(just not sales) I may contact them to see what they charge. And yes, correct 15 to sharpen if we bring in off the bar, if we bring it in on the bar its higher, but I didnt get that price. I also thought it sounded high. Lucky for me, he doesnt mind sharpening on his own. Me, Id go nuts doing that

Was that the Ace Hardware where you bought the chainsaw and charges $15 for sharping the chain if removed from bar?

 

[Toyboy]

Yes, that is definitely understood . We purchased with the 20 " bar/chain installed on it and we ordered the 18" bar which will be in tomorroew, 18 chain was purchased today. Perhaps the confusion was when I said he was planning to swap out to the 18 and put the 20 up for when (I think if) he needs it. There is another authorized service/repair location in town, Tractor Supply,(just not sales) I may contact them to see what they charge. And yes, correct 15 to sharpen if we bring in off the bar, if we bring it in on the bar its higher, but I didnt get that price. I also thought it sounded high. Lucky for me, he doesnt mind sharpening on his own. Me, Id go nuts doing that

Keep it out of the dirt and you won't have to sharpen that often. A sharp chain will cut a lot of wood before needing touching up.
Excellent choice also of saws also, and buying the premix fuel is a great idea IF your only going to use the saw occasionally throughout the year.
I've got the feeling that you folks are not new to chainsaws so all I can say is enjoy your new saw. Take care of it and you'll be able to pass it on to the next generation if there is one. LOL

 

[Egon]

On a contrary note touch up the chain every tank or two. That way you will cut a lot more wood.

 

[newbury]

Thank you ALL for all your thoughts, suggestions, advise, Good & bad chainsaw stories. We went this morning and purchased out saw. WE went with the Stihl 271. We (he) did waver back and forth a little bit due to the weight, but since it is not likely to be sun up to sun down work, hubby decided that was the go. What we will be doing is mostly going to be in our own yard, and can be at his own pace. We were there a good hour and a half Id say. They only had the 20 inch bar in stock, and I can say Im not sure where the logic came in, but he decided to go with that and order the 18 inch bar (which will be in tomorrow - we could have bought and paid and just gone back to get it tomorrow, as it is we still have to to go the 18 in bar). He is planning to swap it out and put the 18 on but said this way if he ever needs it he has the 20 ?!?!??!. We got a gallon of the premix and I think a gallon of oil. I believe they said the smallest bar that can go on that saw was a 16, so I will likely buy that at some point so we have it. We checked into the files, so we dont have to bring it in every time ($15 a shot if you take the chain off the bar before you bring it in). Extra Chains, the file kit, another bar, a case etc are all being given as gift ideas to my daughters. Once they tell me what they are buying I will go out and but the rest. I cant thank you all enough. It made it a much more educated experience and he is happy with the final decision.<snip>

Glad you decided on the Stihl. A really good file kit is the Stihl 2-in-1. As you can see in my sig I've a few saws. The 2-in-1 is definitely worth it.
You could probably go down to a smaller bar than 18 since you have the 20. It reads like you know how to use the saw so a couple of pointers - GET CHAPS and ear protection for everyone who will be near the saw, not just the operator (see pic)!! Think of getting a pack of felling wedges.

 

[Randy Gann]

Congratulations on the new saw. Do take the time to check out Baileys Online for all your related equipment. They sell safety PPE, axes, wedges, anything you could need. You mentioned $15 for chain sharpening. At Baileys you can purchase a 72 drive link full chisel chain for $18.

 

[PILOON]

Over the years I've owned a number of chain saws, from early Cobra, a few Mac's Homelight's and now a powerful Jonsered turbo.

All to say my everyday favorite is my little Stihl 009 !

That was a pawn shop buy for a mere $40.00, (etched codes suggested it was mere months old).
I suspected an arborist quit the trade as it was one of 4 that the pawn shop had.
(The hook to hang from a belt kind of confirmed that)
He apologized in that he had no gas for me to try it out but I bought based and compression and general overall condition.

Ok, it is a noisy little beast but what a work horse.
One downside is that it has no anti vibration technology but for my casual use I don't see a problem, besides I already suffer from Renaud syndrome.

Local arborists have offered me serious $$'s for it but no sale.
It always starts on second pull (slow first to 'prime').

Heck I recently hired a guy to cut/trim trees (LOL getting a bit aged) and he offered to take that 009 for the day's efforts.
NOPE! it's a keeper.

One secret is that I know how to sharpen, I like minor 'touch ups' every 2nd tank fill plus occasional raker trimming as required.