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Chainsaws

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CB900F View Drop Down
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    Posted: 12 July 2004 at 13:49

Fella's;

My aging back & the never-ending run of time pretty much force me to buy a new chainsaw.  The Mac 52-1 I've been using is too heavy for me & the run of time has put it within the boundries of the graveyard.  It aint dead, but it aint far from it.

The top contender is currently the Stihl MS290 Farm Boss.  My local dealer is asking $339.95.  If at the same time I buy the saw, I buy the accessory kit, I get the case, 6-pack engine oil, gallon chain oil, spare chain, file & handle for $39.95 more.  It seems to be the best deal around.

The only other serious possibility so far has been the Husky saw.  It's $40.00 cheaper, but 3/4 hp light on power.  Not near as good a deal on the accessories either.  To get a Husky in the same power range, the price of the bare saw is up to around $385.00.

Is there a possibility that I'm overlooking?  If somebody mentions Craftsman, please show up while I'm load testing the .338.  Fair warning.

900F

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dakotasin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 July 2004 at 14:05

stihl. they work, and they work forever.

my only gripe about the stihl is that it is a heavy bastard... but, the weight is offset because they cut so well that you actually have to hang on to it for less time than you would a lesser saw - balancing out the weight issue, and saving on chain wear.

craftsman...

craftsman has great handtools, but anything power-driven (air, motor, whatever) is pure garbage.

Hunting is not a matter of life or death; it is much more important than that.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dakotasin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 July 2004 at 14:06
forgot to mention... might not be a bad idea if stihl has opened up their oiler holes... a day of heavy duty cutting will generally clog these shut, leaving the chain dry... something worth looking into.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bkcorris Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 July 2004 at 14:45
Poulan!!! lol, you know I'd be the one to say so. I do have one, I've had it for years, it runs great, was cheap, but doesn't have very much power. I do have a Stihl chain on it, and cuts better than any other and holds its edge very well, so Stihl holds my attention for now.

That said, My last boss had a husky and he fried the motor twice, I think it was because he was using synthetic oil and not enough, but he swore it was a design flaw, melted the piston twice. I've been looking at upgrading also, I'm not too worried about the weight though, I'm used to 23 pound Makita power hog chop saws at work, so most normal chainsaws are nearly a feather in comparison.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dakotasin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 July 2004 at 15:10

poulans actually do a very nice job at a very good price for light duty work. my brother has one, and we tried it out head-to-head against the stihl when we were clearing a shelter belt last spring. the poulan did very well for the money, but in the end it was soundly trumped by the bigger, more powerful stihl. the poulan overheats and shuts down when you start pouring the coals to it, and then it won't restart for a couple of hours. we had two such shutdowns in one day during the shelter belt work. but, it has yet to break, or blow the engine, or whatever.

also i don't think poulans have enough power to spin the more aggressive chains. but, a little work w/ a sharpening file can actually make a pretty serviceable little unit out of the poulan for very little money.

we still use the poulan for around the house kind of stuff, but for real work, its stihl.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kingpin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 July 2004 at 15:50
I don't really need a chainsaw, so I bought a Mac 14" less than a hobby saw. It works like a charm, and if I want, I can install a 16" bar and chain. It runs very good and, unless you fall off a ladder with it, it won't hurt your back running it. For the money though, I'd put it all on the line for a Stihl and not because their plant is a stones throw away. Actually it's about two miles. I have had one of their weed whackers for 6 years and never even changed the spark plug in it. I believe that it actually lives to eat weeds. GO STIHL!!!...Kingpin
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote HondoJohn6508 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 July 2004 at 16:14

STIHL...............period!!!

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bkcorris Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 July 2004 at 16:33
"also i don't think poulans have enough power to spin the more aggressive chains. but, a little work w/ a sharpening file can actually make a pretty serviceable little unit out of the poulan for very little money." Tell me about it, it is a nice little saw, but I really noticed a lack f power after putting the stihl chain on it. I got one without the kickback rakers  and it bites in bigtime. Mine has never shut down on me, and I've used it on some pretty hot days, but I usually mix the fule a little on the rich side to avoid engine problems as it is a cheap saw and I use it hard. I think being rich may take away a little power, but it sholdn't be much of a loss.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote CB900F Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 July 2004 at 17:37

Fella's;

I get the picture.  Stihl.  For those who didn't read closely.  My present saw is a Mac 52-1.  As in 1952.  You guys don't know what a heavy saw is.

900F

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Blkpwdernut Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 July 2004 at 01:20

CB is that the saw that the carburetor swivels with the handle? My grandfather had one of those, it would make a man out of you in a hurry  

 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote The_Mountaineer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 July 2004 at 02:53

IMHO - Stihl is the only way to go.

However, it's ironic you should inquire about the "best" saw. 

I was talking with a forest inspector that I work with from time to time, not too long ago.  He goes out on logging jobs to see if the loggers are complying, got their permits, etc.  In doing so, he sees a lot of chainsaws and the guys using them.  I asked him a while back which saw would be the best to get since our department is going to be ordering some.  All depends on your use but from what he said, "The Stihls and Husquavarnas are the ways most guys go."  He said the motors in the Stihls are a little better but the Huskies chains and components seem to be a little better.  So I suppose it depends on which one you'd rather replace parts to cause ALL of them are gonna wear out parts if you use it to any extent.

Take that for what it is, Stihl or Husky, though the HomeLites and Poulan's I've used worked well for light duty stuff like clearing trails and field edges as well as cutting firewood.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 July 2004 at 05:25

Stihl.

But I also have a Homelite 14inch bought at a blue light special in 1978.  I've used it very hard and it is an ultra light weight built fot light home use.  But it is so damn light it is the easiest thing to throw into the vehicle and go, and then you use what you have.

Heavy is bad, I finally gave away the 1950 Mac two man saw, it also converted into an electric generator.  heavy, tought to start, tough to use and dangerous as hell.  The looong chain ran in line with both guys heads.

Light is good.

BEAR

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 July 2004 at 05:27

I also got a Stihl hat with my saw purchase, says "Stihl" and has mallards jumping of a pond.  Make sure that dealer gives you the hat.

BEAr

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tikkabuck Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 July 2004 at 10:36

  CB - Stihl,mines like a Timex takes a lickin' and don't stop for nothing. My Dad always used Husky's and used them and used them and well ya know.

   We have alot of loggers back here and mostly all I see is Stihl. We also have alot of wind storms and the folks all pitch in to help and what you see mostly is Stilh's and Husky's.

  I can feel for ya with the back stuff it does get abit rough but my Stihl is not that bad at all on my back.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dave Skinner Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 July 2004 at 18:46

Stihl and Hooskavarnya. Ja, goot saws.

CAD CAM technology really was a huge factor in making saws good.

I had an O45 and liked it, put a long bar on it for bumping knots and jazzed up the bar tacker. Ran like a champ. I miss it now, my stepdad still has a little Husky I won in a raffle and gave to him.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Gunrunner Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 July 2004 at 11:19

 Never owned a Stihl myself but some friends have and it seems like they go forever.

 I have an Echo 16" that has worked great on jobs large and small. The large jobs just take longer. It's light enough so if I'm up a tree it's managable. Been through a couple of chains but that's about all I've had to replace.  Have an Echo hedge trimmer too, with big cutters that would chew through brush when needed. Also chewed through barbed wire when I got to close to the fenceline. 

 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote deaddog Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 July 2004 at 17:45

I had a huge 70' plus tree blow over in a storm this spring. My buddy came over with his Sthil Farm Boss and I with my Homelite. Our lumber jack contest was no contest. He could saw circles around me. Mine works good for branches and up to 5-6" trees after that it just "aint got the power".

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Triggerguard Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 July 2004 at 09:23

If somebody mentions Craftsman, please show up while I'm load testing the .338.  Fair warning.

Poulan!!! lol, you know I'd be the one to say so. I do have one, I've had it for years, it runs great, was cheap, but doesn't have very much power.

The last Craftsman chainsaw I saw WAS a Poulan!

I have a small Poulan, there aren't many big trees around these parts. Anything can cut cedar, so it's not like you need a saw with balls around here.  BTW, all my lawn department's equipment (trimmers, blowers, etc) are Stihl. Good equipment.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kingpin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 July 2004 at 09:43

Once before I ever operated a chainsaw, a friend asked me if I would help him cut some locust posts. I told him sure, and showed up with a bow saw and an axe. He laughed and got out the HomeLite chainsaw with a 24" bar and said we'd be using it. This was back in around 1973. His father needed 700 posts to string some New Zeland fence. Well, we went to cutting and he allowed me to use the chainsaw. It cut the hell out of things and I got real good at running it. It was an early model, made when steel was REAL cheap. I had things aching in places that I never knew I had. But then again, being a rookie saw man, what did I know? This saw weighed over 20 pounds. The engine was almost as big as a VW engine and made out of cast iron. After we had cut all the posts, I had a hankering to buy one myself and went shopping. I was quite impressed by a McCulloch (SP) of the same size, and the weight reduction of the new one. I didn't buy one until much later, but told my friends father what I had learned. With a huge shit eating grin, he said we did one hell of a good job on the posts that we cut, and he also mentioned the education that he gave a rookie about saws. We got even with him later though, we drank up a case of Johnnie Walker black label that he thought he had hidden. Anyway, my little Mac 14" will do what I want it to do, like clean up hurricaine debris. I still wish I had a Stihl. HomeLites leave me with unfond memories though......Kingpin

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