New chain saw

rwise

Captain
Joined
Jul 5, 2001
Messages
3,205
which one and why? I will use it to cut fire wood, the last *new* saw I bought was a homelite and before that was a McCullolch (and the last McCullolch I will ever own!)

Edit: I shoud add that I am 65% disabled so nothing to heavy, 14" - 18" bar
 

SpinnerBait_Nut

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
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Aug 25, 2002
Messages
17,651
Re: New chain saw

Richard, I have always had good luck with Homelite.
From saws to weedeaters.
 

JRJ

Commander
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Sep 11, 2001
Messages
2,992
Re: New chain saw

I would look at Stihl and Husqvarna. Coming from Homelight and McCullough, you're in for a pleasant surprise. They start easy and won't put your hands to sleep. Good power to weight. Have fun, be careful.
 

wildmaninal

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jul 14, 2007
Messages
1,897
Re: New chain saw

(and the last McCullolch I will ever own!)

That's to bad I have a great running McCullolch in the shed I was thinking about selling, picked it up for $20 :D, plus I have another for parts just in case I need a part due to the fact they are out of business and parts can be hard to find. I had a chance to by a homelite the other day for $25. I haven't seen any thing wrong with any of the brand out there, it's all on how you take care of it just my opinion. But you want to know the better selling one around here is a Husqvarna if you have the money to spend on one. Lord somebody will come back and quote me now probably. I wished I could afford a gas powered chop saw myself, there's your high dollar equipment.
 

Hoss the Hermit

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Aug 7, 2007
Messages
454
Re: New chain saw

My old Homelite died 3 yrs. ago (after 20 yrs.) told my wife I was gonna go get it fixed, came home with a new Husq. Wish I'd done it 19 yr. earlier
 

Bondo

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Re: New chain saw

I would look at Stihl and Husqvarna.

Ayuh,.........

Stihl is my 1st Choice,.......
Although the Husky is also a really nice package too......
 

gss036

Commander
Joined
Jan 18, 2003
Messages
2,914
Re: New chain saw

Just make sure you use the saw mfg oil, whatever you buy. I burnt up a Husky 359 this spring, even using good oil, guess I ran it too hard w/o taing a break. Had to put a new throat, bearing and piston in it, now runs great. I used a Sthil 032 for the past 25-30 years, it finallt got where it wouldn't start, no compression.
 

jimr

Senior Chief Petty Officer
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Mar 21, 2004
Messages
723
Re: New chain saw

I got an old mac that was refurbed for christmas about 8 or 9 years ago runs good. Last year I bought a puolan pro and its ok wish I had added some $$$ and got a stihl. A guy I work with cuts wood and runs a stihl he said dont get one with the quick adjust chain the suck.
 

jimyoung

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 28, 2007
Messages
214
Re: New chain saw

I once had the oppurtunity to use an electric chain saw....a little heavier than my old craftsman 16".....but very easy to use.
 

kwikk9

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Apr 4, 2006
Messages
189
Re: New chain saw

I got an old mac that was refurbed for christmas about 8 or 9 years ago runs good. Last year I bought a puolan pro and its ok wish I had added some $$$ and got a stihl. A guy I work with cuts wood and runs a stihl he said dont get one with the quick adjust chain the suck.

Nothing says Christmas better than a refurbished internal combustion engine under the tree!
 

Kenneth Brown

Captain
Joined
Feb 3, 2003
Messages
3,481
Re: New chain saw

If you want cheap get the Poulon Wild Thing. I've had 2 so far. The first one ran for over 4 years of HARD work and give very little trouble. The second is not what the first one was but has still been a decent saw and a good deal for the price. If you don't mind spending a little bit more I suggest a Husky 455 Rancher. It might be a tad heavy but it does have a compression release for easy starting. I flat out love my Husky. My Dad has an older Stihl that can handle a 36" bar. When he puts his 20" on I can stay up with him with my 18".
 

turfman

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Sep 28, 2007
Messages
169
Re: New chain saw

Stihl all the way. If you can find Echo at a dealer( not home depot ) that would be the second choice. Huskys aren't what they used to be. If you can find a used husky that is 10yrs old or more then buy it ( also pioneer)

turfman
 

SS MAYFLOAT

Admiral
Joined
May 17, 2001
Messages
6,372
Re: New chain saw

I do a lot of cutting and use 3 saws. I've got one small Stihl (6 lbs) for when I'm up in the tree, a Poulon Wild Thing for trimming 6" to smaller, and then my Stihl MS310 for 6" and bigger.It has two blades, a 20" and 24". The Wild Thing probably gets the most use. I call it my throw away saw since they are realitively cheap. I like my MS310 Farm Boss since it has a larger guage chain than the Poulon.

Just depends on how much your going to cut and how many years you want to do it. After 5 years of burning, it is getting not so fun any more for me:D

I do suggest getting one those small chain sharpners that look like a small chop saw. I have about 2 dozen chains that I use. When one gets dull, I change the chain. Once they get hot, the chain will never hold a good edge again. I've got one of those sharpners and I can do a 20" chain in about 3 minuets.
 

bassboy1

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jun 23, 2006
Messages
1,884
Re: New chain saw

STIHL without a doubt. We used to have the old homelite chain saw and weadeater, way back when, and when dad finally got the STIHL 26" saw and trimmer complete with the brush cutting blade (we have cut 3 inch diameter trees down with that - very handy), all has been well. I won't say we baby ours either. Poor tools, and trucks, at my house get used and abused.
 

Bob_VT

Moderator & Unofficial iBoats Historian
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26,064
Re: New chain saw

Ayuh,.........

Stihl is my 1st Choice,.......
Although the Husky is also a really nice package too......

100% agree!!! and limit myself to 16" bar for ease of use.
 

Lone Duck

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Oct 17, 2007
Messages
868
Re: New chain saw

Sthil is the only company that makes all their own saws. How ever, they are difficult to repair compared to others ,You have to take more parts off to get at the problem.jonsered and husky are far easier to fix. In most cases you can set them on a stump and do your repair. However what they call their consumer saws are made by puland . In my view puland ,homelite, mac etc. are like bick lighters. When they Quit, heave them. If you can't fix them yourself. mechanical labour and parts are getting expensive these days. So my choice would be a husky or a jonsered One model up from the consumer they offer. In other words the smallest professional saw. Use stabil in the fuel and mix your oil in a separate container not in the saw. Do not use dyed fuel as in time it will clog the carb passages, some of them are smaller than a human hair. I think all the chains now days have a line on the back top side of the tooth , that is your sharpening angle. Keep the chain out of the dirt.:D
 

wildmaninal

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jul 14, 2007
Messages
1,897
Re: New chain saw

My father has a John Deere Chainsaw, works great, his has a pretty long bar on it. He uses it for logging mostly. They say nothing runs like a deere.
 

rwise

Captain
Joined
Jul 5, 2001
Messages
3,205
Re: New chain saw

ah looks like Sthil is the number one choice followed by husky! I had a Sthil years ago was a good saw, but things can change. Anyway I ask a couple of friends here what they would recomend, and that was very close to what is here cept 2 of them handed me a saw and said this one runs you can have it! So now I have a running homelite and craftsman saw :cool: so I supose I'll get a carb kit for the other homelite I had already and fix it while I use the other 2. Oh ya I have a remingtom electric also but I dont concider it a chainsaw, its just something to chop BBQ wood :D very handy though, thanx all ya'll
 

Barnacle_Bill

Admiral
Joined
Feb 8, 2004
Messages
6,469
Re: New chain saw

I had a small McCullough for many many years and it finally died last year. Went with a Stihl and so far so good. Seems like a very good saw.
 
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