Which chain saw?

[Tractorgirl]

First, after spending several months lurking, I have to admit thoroughly enjoying the information/banter on the board. Thanks!

My husband and I recently bought 116 acres in West Virginia. We will need a tractor eventually (and would love input on that in the future for tending to 25-30 acres of meadow) but have a more pressing need for a chain saw for some of the downed timber/dead trees. I've been looking at the Stihl line but would love input on which brand, features, etc. Any input would greatly be appreciated.

Thanks!

Rhonda

 

[Gomez]

Have you checked this thread?


<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=rural&Number=53290&page=&view=&sb=&o=&vc=1#Post53290>Who makes a decent chainsaw?</A>


Good Luck

 

[dmccarty]

All RIGHT a Tractor Girl!!!!!!! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

We don't have enough Tractor Girls on TBN so welcome.

If you search through TBN especially the Rural and maybe the
Safety forums you will see some LONG discussions about
chainsaws.

The usuall result of the discussions are that the top brands
are Stihl and Husqavarnas(sp). There is another brand but
I can't think of its name and its seems to be available only in
certain areas.

Some people swear that the lower cost brands work just fine
and others just swear at the lower cost brands. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I have a Stihl 046 which is a big saw but it depends on how
large and how many trees you have to cut up.... I have never
had a problem with my saw and I use it on average once a
week for an hour or so. I also have a Stihl leaf blower and
brush cutter. I have USED that brush cutter. I did notice
it has a leak in the fuel tank from where I dropped it once.

Other than the leak all of the Stihl equipment has worked
perfectly. Just feed 'em clean fuel, oil mix, chainsaw oil for
the 046, keep the filter clean, and change the spark plugs
when they get hard to start. They just work.

With the chainsaw I would strongly encourage you to read
the discussion about safety. Get a chainsaw helmet with
ear and face protection. Buy the safety chaps and use them.
I wear boots with good safety toes.... The chaps and helmet
might cost $100 combined. You cant get out of the
Emergency room for $100......

Welcome Again,
Dan McCarty

 

[JohnMiller3]

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=rural&Number=53290&page=&view=&sb=&o=&vc=1>Who makes a decent chainsaw...?</A>

 

[gobbler]

Another long-time Stihl user here as well. 028 & 009 chainsaws and two different trimmers/brushcutters.
As far as Stihl goes (as well as the other name brands) , there are plenty of dealers around the country for support.

Jim

 

[RobertN]

As others have mentioned, search for the older threads on chain saws; there is some great info.

My opinion... The fire engines at our station run Husky and Stihl; they have to be perfect when the going gets REALLY tough. I have and do own both. I have used other saws, but none have compared in quality to Husky and Stihl. For working on some acreage, you want good equipment, since you'll definitely get some use out of it.

In picking between the two brands, it boils down mostly to which features you like, and the overall "feel" of the saw, how it fits you and the job you will do. You'll be using it a lot, make sure it is comfortable to work with.

Most good saw shops have some wood you can cut; try the saw out before you buy it.

 

[looch]

<font color=blue>There is another brand but I can't think of its name...</font color=blue>

I'm guessing you mean Jonsered. That's what I have - a 2149 which is 49cc. It's a little small, but perfect for what I use it for. It's bascially a red Husqvarna, both companies are owned by the same entity. I probably would have bought a Husqvarna, but the Jonsered dealer lives right across the street.

 

[dmccarty]

pbenven,

Yep, Jonsered, is the brand I could not remember.

Thanks,
Dam

 

[art]

We sell Stihl and Husquvarna and have for over 20 years,they are both good saws. For the most part the even number Stihls are prosaws and the XP's are the Husky pro saws. The pro saws turn more RPM and have more horsepower than the "home owner" or semi-pro saws. They have had less warrantee work needed even with more cutting being done with them.

 

[shade2u2]

My wife has a Stihl 029 FarmBoss (or 290 as it may now be called) with a 20" bar & it is a fantastic saw. I thought that it was mine, but my wife loves to use it & refers to it as her saw without hesitation. Hopefully she will let me barrow it sometime. It is the smallest of their midrange saws.
here is some information...
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.stihlusa.com/chainsaws/290.html>http://www.stihlusa.com/chainsaws/290.html</A>