economy chainsaw

[slowrev]

I went to TSC today to brows and see what pres/ day sale tuned up. Found they sold the poulan wild thing with 18" bar for the same price as the 16" bar.. so, I got the P- wt, 40cc eng and 18" bar.. came with a case.

Picke dup a gallon of bar oil, and a pack of oil mix, and it's very own 1g gas can to mix the fuel. Also grabbed a new blade file and , most importantly, a set of husqavarna chainsaw chaps...

Soundguy

You did not get Stihl chaps ?

 

[slowrev]

Stihl and Echo oils have stabilizer in them for what it is worth.

Chris

So does the MTD/Poulan oil.

 

[montanaman]

You did not get Stihl chaps ?

TSC sells Husky so they have Husky chaps.

 

[Soundguy]

Yep.. i got the only ones they had. i figured they were a good name..and would be better than nothing.. right?

soundguy

 

[dmccarty]

Soundguy,

If'n you don't have another saw, get a second bar and chain. When the bar gets pinned you swap off the bar and chain, put on your spare and free the what is stuck. I got pinned twice on Monday. Both times the saw cut faster in a softwood and the tree pinned it. The first time it was a limb that was pretty long but I was able to lift it enough to free the saw which pomptly fell to the ground! I had put a "nest" of branches to catch the saw but it swung out farther than I had thought.

The second pin forced me to take the motor off the bar/chain, walk back to the house and get a hand saw. It was a softwood tree of some kind, which is what got me in trouble, so it was easier to just saw through by hand. But I have been pinned a few times where a chainsaw was required to free up the chainsaw. A second bar/chain is cheaper than a second chainsaw.

I also find the chainsaw helmet with face screen and ear protection a must have. It has saved my head once but it really helps when topping out a tree or wading in brush. At a minimum it helps keep chips from flying into your face. I have both a helmet version as well as one with just the face shield and hearing protection. I always use the helmet now. The helmet is a bit warmer but running a chainsaw runs you. I was working in 30-40 degree weather with a stiff wind one day this weekend. I was drenched in sweat. I have worked in 15 degrees with that Sthil and been soaking wet.

These saws, like the tractor still amaze me with how much work they do. In three tank loads of fuel I cut up close to a cord of wood into rounds, cleared up a half fallen tree and brush as well as cleanup some small trees for a tractor trail. I have a good 2-3 tanks left out of the gallon of fuel I bought. If I had to do this with handsaws and an axe I would still be out there working!

Not to mention using the JD to haul the logs back to the house.

Later,
Dan

 

[montanaman]

Yep.. i got the only ones they had. i figured they were a good name..and would be better than nothing.. right?

soundguy

Just watch those "box stores." They suck you in with the price of the saw and then charge a premium on the accesories. Most of my safety gear is priced much lower than what TSC has and my chains that are of the best quality available, are much cheaper than the chains that Home Depot sells that are made in China.

Many people see my Stihl sign and think they can't afford to shop here, when the truth is that if they are looking at a mid-grade saw at the box store, I can usually save them money on a saw that I am qualified to service for them.

I can't match Poulan prices and don't even care to but if they are looking at a mid-level saw at Lowes or Home Depot, I generally can offer more saw at the same or better pricing and I can even answer questions that they might have!

Ken

 

[Soundguy]

I'm deffinately getting ear muffs ( have them).. but am also considering a face shield with the mufs built in.

I always have the option of a hand saw or an axe... If I'm close to power or my genny, i could use one of my 2 electric saws in a pinch as well.

I will be buying a 2nd blade so i can keep 1 sharp all the time.. might just get the blade/bar set for just a few more bucks and be set already..

thanks for the advice

Soundguy

Soundguy,

If'n you don't have another saw, get a second bar and chain. When the bar gets pinned you swap off the bar and chain, put on your spare and free the what is stuck. I got pinned twice on Monday. Both times the saw cut faster in a softwood and the tree pinned it. The first time it was a limb that was pretty long but I was able to lift it enough to free the saw which pomptly fell to the ground! I had put a "nest" of branches to catch the saw but it swung out farther than I had thought.

The second pin forced me to take the motor off the bar/chain, walk back to the house and get a hand saw. It was a softwood tree of some kind, which is what got me in trouble, so it was easier to just saw through by hand. But I have been pinned a few times where a chainsaw was required to free up the chainsaw. A second bar/chain is cheaper than a second chainsaw.

I also find the chainsaw helmet with face screen and ear protection a must have. It has saved my head once but it really helps when topping out a tree or wading in brush. At a minimum it helps keep chips from flying into your face. I have both a helmet version as well as one with just the face shield and hearing protection. I always use the helmet now. The helmet is a bit warmer but running a chainsaw runs you. I was working in 30-40 degree weather with a stiff wind one day this weekend. I was drenched in sweat. I have worked in 15 degrees with that Sthil and been soaking wet.

These saws, like the tractor still amaze me with how much work they do. In three tank loads of fuel I cut up close to a cord of wood into rounds, cleared up a half fallen tree and brush as well as cleanup some small trees for a tractor trail. I have a good 2-3 tanks left out of the gallon of fuel I bought. If I had to do this with handsaws and an axe I would still be out there working!

Not to mention using the JD to haul the logs back to the house.

Later,
Dan

 

[Soundguy]

I plan on getting a oem poulan bar and chain as a spare. i looked at the generic ones and they look cheaper and onl;y save you a couple bucks..

Soundguy

Just watch those "box stores." They suck you in with the price of the saw and then charge a premium on the accesories. Most of my safety gear is priced much lower than what TSC has and my chains that are of the best quality available, are much cheaper than the chains that Home Depot sells that are made in China.

Many people see my Stihl sign and think they can't afford to shop here, when the truth is that if they are looking at a mid-grade saw at the box store, I can usually save them money on a saw that I am qualified to service for them.

I can't match Poulan prices and don't even care to but if they are looking at a mid-level saw at Lowes or Home Depot, I generally can offer more saw at the same or better pricing and I can even answer questions that they might have!

Ken

 

[tallyho8]

Though I reccomend that Poulan for you in your case, their oem chain does not cut nearly as well as most replacements but may be safer with less kickback for an amatuer.

 

[thingy]

About 30 years ago when my buddy about bleed to death cutting timber and saw caught him on calf,I said I gotta get me some of them chaps they sell,,well never did,,and,[knock on my head again],never have went to hospital to get stiches,,,my current carhardt coveralls have two places in leg where saw has nicked,,,course down in fl. you don't need carhardts,,yeah,,dangerous,,shorts and chaps oughta be real fashion setting,,before long all the hip hopwers will be wearing them,,like carhardts,,,,,,,,last saw I bought is an echo,,pretty good saw,,,but you gotta keep in reved up,,not much low end I guess you'd say,,,two poulans equal one husky echo sthill,,,,,,[generally speaking],,main reason is you can't find any poulan mechanics???,,just mecanics selling the three big brands,,they will work on poulins but boy do they make a fuss,,echos made in canada,,stills in va.? where is husky made? where is poulan made,[probably china or mexico],,not that thats got any thing to do with it,,my tractors made in china,,wish I had more money and I';d buy one made in japan,,wait,,that didn't sound right!??,,,thingy

 

[slowrev]

I'm deffinately getting ear muffs ( have them).. but am also considering a face shield with the mufs built in.

I always have the option of a hand saw or an axe... If I'm close to power or my genny, i could use one of my 2 electric saws in a pinch as well.

I will be buying a 2nd blade so i can keep 1 sharp all the time.. might just get the blade/bar set for just a few more bucks and be set already..

thanks for the advice

Soundguy

Soundguy.
I bought some ear goggles from HF for $1.99 on sale. Liked em so well I went back and got 4 more pair Works fine and pretty comfortable. I also keep a medicine bottle full of the little yellow foam plugs in my chainsaw case.
I now have eargoggles hanging by my bench grinder, chainsaw, etc...I keep them in 1 gal sized ziplock bags to keep them clean.

Ben

 

[scott_vt]

I also keep a medicine bottle full of the little yellow foam plugs in my chainsaw case.

Ben

Mornin Ben,
Yep, and I keep a medicine bottle full of Advil in there for my back after runnin that thing all day

 

[Soundguy]

I nicked myself once with my electric saw.. i had jeans on.. cut the jeans up but left no mark on me. I've decided to quit playing russian roulette with them now that I got a gas saw..

soundguy

About 30 years ago when my buddy about bleed to death cutting timber and saw caught him on calf,I said I gotta get me some of them chaps they sell,,well never did,,and,[knock on my head again],never have went to hospital to get stiches,,,my current carhardt coveralls have two places in leg where saw has nicked,,,course down in fl. you don't need carhardts,,yeah,,dangerous,,shorts and chaps oughta be real fashion setting,,before long all the hip hopwers will be wearing them,,like carhardts,,,,,,,,last saw I bought is an echo,,pretty good saw,,,but you gotta keep in reved up,,not much low end I guess you'd say,,,two poulans equal one husky echo sthill,,,,,,[generally speaking],,main reason is you can't find any poulan mechanics???,,just mecanics selling the three big brands,,they will work on poulins but boy do they make a fuss,,echos made in canada,,stills in va.? where is husky made? where is poulan made,[probably china or mexico],,not that thats got any thing to do with it,,my tractors made in china,,wish I had more money and I';d buy one made in japan,,wait,,that didn't sound right!??,,,thingy

 

[Jstpssng]

I nicked myself once with my electric saw.. i had jeans on.. cut the jeans up but left no mark on me. I've decided to quit playing russian roulette with them now that I got a gas saw..

soundguy

Has anyone seen the pain reliever ad (percadin?) with the guy out cutting wearing sweat shorts?
I wish I'd taken a picture of the chaps I was wearing years ago... they were almost in two pieces. Some days you really should leave the saw in the shed; I'd worked a 36 hour weekend, then drove 5 hours to my regular job that Monday morning. About an hour into the day the Partner 5000 went through the chaps like butter, cut my jeans, and left a scar on my kneecap. i don't want to think what would have happened without them.

 

[Bedlam]

I prefere this handy lightweight myself.

YouTube - chain saw with a V8-Motor

 

[slowrev]

I prefere this handy lightweight myself.

YouTube - chain saw with a V8-Motor

Mount that on a backhoe boom, no chaps needed.

 

[JRobyn]

Some of my kin tend to snicker a bit when I put on my chaps. I remind them of something I read once somewhere on this forum to the effect that the "typical" emergency room charges for a chainsaw injury are about $10,000. That usually shuts em up.