Chainsaw Recommendations

RalphVa · Oct 31, 2020

Jo D said:
Purchasing a chainsaw for my husband. We are not professionals, just homeowners who have some smaller trees to cut down (after the tree guys cut the big ones down) and want something that will last and be useful. Hurricanes come through plenty so we could always fins ourselves cutting something unplanned. It will probably see action a few times a year. We are looking at an 18 inch which is more than we need right now, but want to be prepared if we need bigger. We are looking to spend around 400and the following have come into play. Stihl Farm Boss MS 271 (recommended by my yard guy and what we think we want to go with) and then a Husqvarna 440 rancher by the guy at Tractor supply (which seemed cheap in comparison) or Jonsered CS 2245. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance!

My wife has had 3 sixteen inch battery chain saws. I would never, as a casual sometimes user, buy a motor chain saw again. Wife cannot start a motor one.

The latest is a Stihl MS 120 with 36 volt battery. Its chain oil indicator isn't as good as the one on the Kobalt 40v ones, but they went into factory recall. Stihl cuts great. Uses a smaller tooth chain than the Kobalt did.

Ralph

Toyboy · Oct 31, 2020

Note:
I would never buy or use a saw made in China period !! To each their own....

ptsg · Oct 31, 2020

Toyboy said:
Note:
I would never buy or use a saw made in China period !! To each their own....

What's not made in China these days?

happysawer · Oct 31, 2020

Toyboy said:
Note:
I would never buy or use a saw made in China period !! To each their own....

I looked at a brand new STHIL CM800 i have a picture posted in this thread it's close to $2000 US i have found many people logging using the chinese made Holzfforma G660 Blue Thunder a 92cc chainsaw cost $265 US, sure many say they are poor quality but they also say they will do the job and when they fail mostly after 3 years of hard service, they just spend another$265.
you devide $2000 by $265 and you can buy 7 G660 for the price or $265, if the logger can keep cutting for just one year he is far ahead in his game.
Myself i am no a logger have no reason to buy a STHIL CM800 also no need for the G660 but if i was working as a logger needed a big chainsaw and all i could afford was the G660 you bet i would buy a G660.
====
Like the Colonel told the Sergeant in the movie "The thin red line" You don't have to tell me i am right will asume it.

rademamj1 · Oct 31, 2020

I could not find the Holzfforma G660 Blue Thunder at $265 price. Did find it on sale at $375 at a farm store nearby my house. It is a big sized chainsaw. Also, I think Amazon has it on sale at $365 price. Also, many reviews on the G660 recommend replacement of the carburetor within first month of ownership, as a safety precaution due to mainly severe fuel leakage during use. They were not recommending a rebuild, but complete replacement of the carburetor.

My experience suggests during heavy use, the G660 may need to be replaced every year.

happysawer · Oct 31, 2020

rademamj1 said:
I could not find the Holzfforma G660 Blue Thunder at $265 price. Did find it on sale at $375 at a farm store nearby my house. It is a big sized chainsaw. Also, I think Amazon has it on sale at $365 price. Also, many reviews on the G660 recommend replacement of the carburetor within first month of ownership, as a safety precaution due to mainly severe fuel leakage during use. They were not recommending a rebuild, but complete replacement of the carburetor.

My experience suggests during heavy use, the G660 may need to be replaced every year.

JimP · Oct 31, 2020

Jo D said:
Purchasing a chainsaw for my husband. We are not professionals, just homeowners who have some smaller trees to cut down (after the tree guys cut the big ones down) and want something that will last and be useful. Hurricanes come through plenty so we could always fins ourselves cutting something unplanned. It will probably see action a few times a year. We are looking at an 18 inch which is more than we need right now, but want to be prepared if we need bigger. We are looking to spend around 400and the following have come into play. Stihl Farm Boss MS 271 (recommended by my yard guy and what we think we want to go with) and then a Husqvarna 440 rancher by the guy at Tractor supply (which seemed cheap in comparison) or Jonsered CS 2245. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance!

I've been using a Stihl 260 Pro with a 16 inch bar for heavily for years. In that time its needed minimal maintenance. I added a Stihl MS441CM a few years ago to fell bigger and more difficult trees. The 260 is my go to saw for most work. Plenty of power, easy to start and light enough to use for hours. The 16 inch bar is plenty for most uses, don't forget you'll be doing a lot of cutting on smaller branches where the longer bar can be more cumbersome. In my area many tractor dealers also sell and in house service Stihl products. No one discounts Stihl so try and find a close dealer your comfortable with. If you buy Stihl premix oil when you buy the saw, Stihl used to double the warranty length. You don't need to buy Stihl branded chains or bars. Aftermarket is significantly cheaper and just as good. Baileys online is a good source and their branded chains in a 10 pack go on sale every so often. They are $10-12 vs 20+ for a Stihl chain.

As others have said BUY SAFETY GEAR now, especially chaps and a helmet. I like Labonville (online) full wrap chaps, not a fan of their helmets. Baileys also sells chaps and helmets.

I think Tractor Supply has changed the brand of chainsaws they sell over time. I don't see a service department so they must contract out service and I wouldn't expect them to carry any parts.

Randy Gann · Oct 31, 2020

I second the advice on chains from Baileys online. Good quality and great prices. Also if you’re thinking about getting the Stihl 2 N 1 chain sharpening tool. You can save a few bucks and buy the exact same sharpener online made by Pferd. I think Pferd makes the Stihl version. Stihl saws are like Apple Mac computer products, only sold at authorized sales service centers and prices the same everywhere. On last comment on safety. I like to wear my steel toe boots when handling firewood. Not just when cutting wood but any time there’s a chance I might drop a piece of wood on my foot! Can you tell that was a lesson learned?

two_bit_score · Nov 1, 2020

happysawer said:
My next evergreen bush trimming project is going to be next week as soon as my Sun Joy electric Pole Chainsaw arrives, for years have asked many living next door, to please help me and trim your everygreen bush that is now hanging over my wood fence.

Never once have any of them responded with any help, tried using a standard pole snipper but it can only cut limbs around 1 inch in Dia. So i just decided to get a pole type chainsaw and attack their bush from my side of fence.View attachment 675059 View attachment 675060

Is one pic the 'before' and one the 'after'? Which is which?

.

spitter · Nov 1, 2020

I bought a 056 magnum in 83 and a 021 t I bought in 95 . I cut at least 3-4 cords a year and heavy prunning on 5 acers of wooded property . Never had a break down just general matinence. Buy good quality once and never worry about it. I have a neighbor who says he will never pay more than $250 for a saw . I said but you buy a saw every 2 years. He says he will never spend over a grand on a saw I said you spent way more than that.:confused3::drink: