best chainsaw?

   / best chainsaw? #61  
Heck, who knows? Really. I've a 180 Stihl for my wife and daughter (both in the 5'5"-5'6" and 120-125 lb range}, but I like it alot for trimming. In truth, its' 16 inch bar and "micro-teeth" chain will cut through 12" oak quickly and with minimal vibration. For bigger stuff I use my other chain saw, a 18" Sears (42CC), and for the huge (to me) stuff I borrow my neighbor's 22" Husquvarna, which must be 20 years old (but well cared for).
Last week, I rented a 34' lift, in order to trim some tree limbs I couldn't access with my front end loader platform (see attached photos- dumbed down to under 100kb). All of us preferentially used the Stihl (even my 19 y/o and 6' son), because most everything was less than 12" and it is so light (? 8 lbs fully loaded with gas and oil).
That early morning at a bit less than 40 degrees, I started up all 3 chainsaws, because if you're on a lift it can be a bit frustrating when your chainsaw won't start. Stihl took 3 pulls, Sears about a dozen (and a few curses), and the Husqvarna about the same. Did they all work - yes - which cut the fastest - the Stihl (and I'd had all chains sharpened by the same repair shop during the prior week) - but the difference wasn't immense, and the limb thickness addressed by each saw was different - check with me in 10 years (very much hope all of us on this forum are alive and well), and I'll give you a progress report.
 

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   / best chainsaw? #62  
Thanks Daryl!

28Red
/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
   / best chainsaw? #63  
Around here lot of the tree trimmers are using Echo small bucket saws. Main reasons they say are
1 Price lot cheaper than Stihl
2 Start a lot easier
3 better handle set up
4 goes back to #1 cheaper to replace if dropped from the bucket
 
   / best chainsaw? #64  
I like Stihl.

I used an old homelite back in the 70's - what a piece of junk. Every time it ran out of gas, it was hard to start back up.

Since then I've owned 028 woodboss (stihl have), 034 super (a lemon), 009 (stihl have), and more recently purchased a MS250 (OK for homeowner use as it is light) and just purchased the 360 pro.

The only thing better than having a good saw to use when you need it - is having a good tractor to use when you need it.

I'm sure there are other good saws out there too - I just haven't used one yet.
 
   / best chainsaw? #65  
Like others have said, you won't go wrong with the Stihl or Husky, but the dealer/supplier is important! For my modest needs I bought a Husky Rancher 55 because my local farm/ranch store (Big-R) has a big inventory of Huskys and all the parts, tools and safety items.

Just keep up on the maintenance (sharpening, grease, oil, cleaning, bar flipping) and you'll be happy with any quality saw you pick.
 
   / best chainsaw? #66  
1bush2hog:

I see that a few posters on this thread said they have or had Stihl 028's.

Actually, that's my saw of "choice". I have a 28WB the 075 and the 090. The 75 and 90 are way too big for anything but felled work and the 90 is way to big for one person to handle.

My 028 is around 30 years old and still (pun) going strong. I have the 028WB with the stirrup heating coil. Makes for warm hand's in cold Michigan winters. I probably gone through 10 bars and drive sprockets + 20 or more loops of chain. Never a motor problem except a new diaphragm in the carb one time.
 
   / best chainsaw? #67  
I have a Stihl 029 and 025. Looking at a small echo for tops or as has been called a bucket saw.

The 025 starts hard. Has since the day I bought it. Wifey bought me the 029 for my birthday one year. Gotta love that kind of woman. It always starts without a problem.

Miss the MAC's. I had a few Mac's years ago but got to where you couldn't get parts. At one Point in their history Singer owned them and then they just became a tax write off for the investors.

Shame.......

Tom
 
   / best chainsaw? #68  
I can assume then Daryl you don't make many plunge cuts. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
   / best chainsaw? #69  
Slamfire:

Don't do much cutting at all anymore. Just use the 028 around the farm. The 075 and 090 are sitting dry and greased, under the bench, waiting for my estate sale. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
   / best chainsaw? #70  
Cisco - clicked on the attachment hoping to see your FEL platform. Any chance you might have a picture of that? I'm considering adding/building one myself. Thanks.
 

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