What is the good Chainsaw for clearing?

[MAX-24-Dean]

I remember seeing Echo, who carries those?

ECHO-USA | Professional-Grade Handheld Outdoor Power Equipment
Go to the link and click on store locator in the upper right hand corner of the page.

I have a couple of Echo saws in the 40 to 50 cc range. good saws for small to medium sized work.
Also, My Echo saws have not ever had a problem in 15 years of constant use.

 

[kenmbz]

Sounds like you need to do a lot of knockdown. Florida is a 12 month growing season so I get where you are coming from.
Tractors pull well from the draw bar.
40-50 cc saw
and some rm-43 or your preferred equivalent.

Start on the bigger invasives as they will keep you from doing anything else if left unchecked.
Keep us in the loop as some really helpful members from Florida may be able to chime on on what they did.

 

[Jrasband]

Stihl 261. I like it cause it is light, yet very powerful. Important to keep the blades sharp or you will wear yourself out and the saw. Every tank or 2 blades should be sharpened.

 

[big bubba]

these are the Stihl candidates for your work i'd suggest:
https://thehardwarestorefayetteville.stihldealer.net/products/chain-saws/professional-saws/ms261/

https://thehardwarestorefayetteville.stihldealer.net/products/chain-saws/professional-saws/ms462cm/

recommend 16" & 25" bars respectively. i'd stickw/the heavy duty bars w/replaceable end or tip
also recommend ordering extra spike dogs for the sprocket covers for balanced cutting support. regards

 

[kenmbz]

I have two dogs and replaceable tip.
Agree that they are both quite useful in the big trees.

 

[Egon]

What is required is a D8 with a brush rake. The chainsaw sounds good but it is not the proper tool for what is required!

 

[dodge man]

I own a Stihl 261 also. I like it and lots of good feedback on it also.

 

[jthibodeau89]

I went with the Husqvarna 562xp with 24" bar. Starts on 3rd pull when cold; first pull when warm. Have several sharp spare chains when you start cutting for a day..

 

[jigs_n_fixtures]

The name brand pro grade saws are all pretty close to the same for reliability, and cost for the same capability.

Last I knew, Echo, and most homeowner saws are pretty much all made by MTD and don’t vary much. I’m not aware of anything that could be called a Pro-Sumer class chain saw.

Number one thing is get a couple of spare chains, and stop to change chains as soon as the one on the saw gets dull. It is lots easier to tune-up a slightly dull chain than one that is really dull.

And as a chain gets dull it is a lot more likely to decide to bounce over and whack you in the leg so it can take a break, than a nice sharp saw.

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

after many many decades of cutting wood I find there are many truths when it comes to chainsaws.... you know those little 40 - 80 cc engined machines we want to run at 13,000 - 15,000 rpm.... often without proper warm up, often with gas that has sat for much longer than it should, often after sitting for many many months with little TLC....

My own Rules that I live by:
1) buy the best saw you can afford. Yes I have owned entry level saws such as Poulan that have worked super and lasted an unbelievable amount of time but my experience is somewhat rare. You get what you pay for.

2) Maintenance is not the same as fixing a saw that doesn't run well. So I change plugs frequently as getting timing clean on something that sparks 200 - 250 time per second !!! is pretty special, fresh fuel only (I will dump fuel before I use old fuel), clean air filters and fuel filters regularly, and replace the gas lines/fuel pickup line/primer bulb EVERY YEAR. I am amazed how many people come to me with saws not running well that have never changed the fuel pickup line even once when many brands want them changed annually.

and my saws almost never let me down.

Brands... I have strong preference for Stihl as my local dealer treats me well and keeps huge inventory of spare parts but there are many good brands out there..... I even had a Poulan Pro that I probably cut 100+ cords of 18" rounds with only because it was given to me as a gift. It finally met its final resting place as I couldn't get an OEM replacement ignition module for it.

Most fondly remembered was Pioneer P65 but that brand disappeared almost 40 years ago when swalled up by Husqvarna.
My favourite all round saw today is a Stihl 261c which is a commercial saw with electronic engine management. Great all around saw for a guy who cuts mostly Jack Pine as rarely get anything greater than 16" diameters. Jury on my end still out whether electronic engine management will give me 200+ cords of of 18" rounds but so far so good.


on the western edge of a chainsaw is clearly my happy place. My wife knows she comes second when its saw time.