Best and worst chainsaw?

[ClinchfieldPaul]

I have 3 Huskys. Starting with a consumer 350 from Lowe’s and after putting a more aggressive chain on it and putting an aggressive filing it did fine but not enough power for the filing. I than got a 562XP and the saw with a skip link chain will go through wood like butter than like “Tool Time” I wanted more power so I purchased a 572XP. Another sweet saw but I find myself going to the 562 unless I have bigger wood. Bars are 18”, 20” and 24” respectively.

 

[Bearcat81]

My first Stihl lasted 43 yrs-parts no longer available (carb)-my next was a Stihl Farm Boss .....ez choice.

 

[MJZ]

Wow. That's incredible

 

[bcarlson]

My first saw was a Jonsered 49 back in 1983. In 5 years cutting 12 cords per year of popple, birch, and pine for heating my log house, it was all worn out, but parts no longer available to rebuild it. In 1988 I bought an Echo CS4600, still cutting the same amount of wood each year, and it's STILL running fine today, 36 years later! Only parts ever needed were 3 bars and probably 25 chains, and a couple starter ropes. It's got to be the toughest saw I have ever seen!

 

[OzarkChris]

If you have a son or grandson about 10 yo., give him a chainsaw with no safety gear and have him start cutting trees. Let's see how long it takes for the mother of the son to come at you like your nuts.
Report back to the group.
I'm not advocating not putting kids to work but just not put them in situations that increase their likelihood of being maimed or killed.

But, when I was 10 they didn't have safety gear - or if they did it wasn't available where we lived.

I really think that is the real issue here. No safety gear, no seat belts, etc! Those were days that are so much different than today. Call it work ethic, call it stupidity but back in the '60s (or earlier) I was taught by my "elders" to get stuff done and be safe doing it. I recall soaking my corks in used oil (hydraulic and/or motor) to waterproof them - went through a bunch of socks until the oil stopped leaching out. I would imagine doing something like that today would get you thrown into either the looney bin or jail. Yet, here I am today with both feet still attached - although I still, to this day have cravings for a shot or two of 3-in-1 oil .

I'm guessing it all comes down to perspective. Setting chokers at 10 and throwing bales during hay season were normal for almost everyone I knew back then. Never thought about it being child labor!

Fortunately, I'm still seeing this going on out here where I live now. Our neighbor is a good sized cow farmer, his grandsons & great grandsons are driving trucks, tractors, skidsteers, hauling trailers, etc - whatever it takes to get the job done. Trucks and other equipment may need blocks on the pedals and something to sit on so the youngins can see out the windshield, but that's just part of growing up.

Please don't get me wrong, I just can't imagine having a 10 year old driving a vehicle in the city - although I do hear instances of this on the news frequently, but that is a totally different thing!

I believe, from personal experience, that these young men & women that help their parents, etc on the farm learn to grow up quick and develop a great work ethic, but also become the envy of non farmer kids because of all the "Fun Stuff & Cool vehicles" they get to play with. Afterall, who needs a Tonka truck if you have the real thing!

 

[tradosaurus]

But, when I was 10 they didn't have safety gear - or if they did it wasn't available where we lived.

I really think that is the real issue here. No safety gear, no seat belts, etc! Those were days that are so much different than today. Call it work ethic, call it stupidity but back in the '60s (or earlier) I was taught by my "elders" to get stuff done and be safe doing it. I recall soaking my corks in used oil (hydraulic and/or motor) to waterproof them - went through a bunch of socks until the oil stopped leaching out. I would imagine doing something like that today would get you thrown into either the looney bin or jail. Yet, here I am today with both feet still attached - although I still, to this day have cravings for a shot or two of 3-in-1 oil .

I'm guessing it all comes down to perspective. Setting chokers at 10 and throwing bales during hay season were normal for almost everyone I knew back then. Never thought about it being child labor!

Fortunately, I'm still seeing this going on out here where I live now. Our neighbor is a good sized cow farmer, his grandsons & great grandsons are driving trucks, tractors, skidsteers, hauling trailers, etc - whatever it takes to get the job done. Trucks and other equipment may need blocks on the pedals and something to sit on so the youngins can see out the windshield, but that's just part of growing up.

Please don't get me wrong, I just can't imagine having a 10 year old driving a vehicle in the city - although I do hear instances of this on the news frequently, but that is a totally different thing!

I believe, from personal experience, that these young men & women that help their parents, etc on the farm learn to grow up quick and develop a great work ethic, but also become the envy of non farmer kids because of all the "Fun Stuff & Cool vehicles" they get to play with. Afterall, who needs a Tonka truck if you have the real thing!

I would bet the majority of "elders" didn't tell their kids to be "safe doing it" or if they did say that didn't elaborate what "safe" meant.

When someone says "good old days" there was very little "good" or "old" about those days.

 

[kenhar]

I would bet the majority of "elders" didn't tell their kids to be "safe doing it" or if they did say that didn't elaborate what "safe" meant.

When someone says "good old days" there was very little "good" or "old" about those days.

My dad lived through the the great depression and when he would hear someone refer to the good old days, he would say " these are the good old days".

 

[OzarkChris]

I would bet the majority of "elders" didn't tell their kids to be "safe doing it" or if they did say that didn't elaborate what "safe" meant.

When someone says "good old days" there was very little "good" or "old" about those days.

Being told not to kill yourself, or "Do your best not to get hurt or hurt the ___" (equipment) to me was being told to be safe. Not a slam against you, but I am curious, why do you seem so touchy, for lack of a better word, about days gone by?

I can think of many more things back 50, 60+ years ago that were, to me, much better than the equivalent today. For example, I can remember many, many days taking off on a bicycle and being gone most, if not all day long and the folks never thought twice about it. No X-box etc, just good, hard playtime.

I still believe that good, hard work never really hurts anyone - unless it was illegally forced on them (which does NOT include parents telling their kids to do their chores!) In fact, I believe, doing those chores actually builds character and a sense of responsibility!

 

[airbiscuit]

I knew that picture would provoke comments. I didn't let my own son use a chainsaw at 9 1/2 (but he probably did at 13). My dad grew up in a log cabin with a dirt floor. When he was in 8th grade, his father (my grandfather) died. He dropped out of school to run the family farm and sustain the family. He made sure his 6 brothers and sisters graduated from high school.

We lived on our own small, dirt poor dairy farm (23 cows). We scratched out a living, but everyone had to help with the work. I drove a tractor (John Deere B) with a hand clutch and a baler at age 6. By the time I used that chainsaw, I had been watching my dad use it for 5 years or so. He taught me how to use it, how to stay clear, and about kickback.

My whole life, I was observing how things get planned, done, and fixed. I learned a lot. We never really thought about work being a burden - it was just a thing you did. So ya, I used a chainsaw at 9 1/2, but I was probably safer and more deft with it than many of the weekend warriors out there.

 

[ultrarunner]

My dad lived through the the great depression and when he would hear someone refer to the good old days, he would say " these are the good old days".

Mine too... he reminiesed of being able to not have to lock your doors or getting sued as a business because the public restroom sink was a half inch too high and the police actually came when called...