Any chainsaws in your shop?

[WingZombie]

Another Stihl owner here MS 290 with a 20" bar.

I've got an MS310 with the 20" bar...just one short step up. It's a great saw, but heavy when you're running it all day and total overkill for the OP.

What I love is I can let it sit for a year and it will start within 2-3 pulls every time.

 

[elba]

I had a Stihl and it died....after 30 years of use ! Great saw .

 

[jives]

I just bought a 16" Remington electric with the primary purpose to cut down the growing brush forest of chokecherry trees. Most are too big to brush hog, and the local rental yard wanted nearly $500 for a day's rental of a skidsteer with a mulch attachment. Went with the electric, because for $75 I could get the job done and would not likely use the saw for years. Yes, I have to drag the generator in a trailer behind my garden tractor and the cord is a bit of a pain, but the saw works better than a $75 saw should. I'm flush cutting the stumps (then spraying with RoundUp), many about 5-6" diameter. Also slashing through the multi-stemmed trunks.

 

[Jazz1]

My 009 Sthil is a camp saw but very capable and 20 years old . My Sthil 045AV is 30 years and is a real workhorse. It's a landing saw so it can run full throttle all day as that's what it was designed to do.

 

[Jhoff310]

I have several Stihls, and Echos. For what you're going to use it for I have to agree with everyone else a Remington electric... no fuss. If you're dead set on a gas saw I highly recommend an Echo CS-310 with a 16" bar. Its on 31cc, light, easy to use, 5 year warranty (which is hard to beat...I've beat the hell out of mine, and they still fixed it).
I'm not a husky fan (personal thing) I know their saws are good quality, just not my first pick. I'll use an old homelite before I use a husky.....like a ford guy saying I'll push a foreign junker with square tires before driving a chevy

 

[Kevin54]

I have a barn full of Stihl products - 4 Stihl chain saws, pole saws, hedge clippers, blowers,etc. I also have one Jonsered chain saw. I have a few bigger saws for rare, bigger jobs but 90% of the time it's either the Stihl MS192 climbing saw or the Jonsered. The MS190 stores easy on the tractor, starts quick and with an aggressive chain is great for most quick jobs. The Jonsered 2258 Turbo is my favorite though - in my opinion, much better power, vibration insulation and balance - I don't feel worn out after extended use.

I really like Sthil's distribution model of using dealers instead of the big box stores and that goes a long way in my purchasing decision. Jonsered used to be the same but now they sell thru Tractor Supply.

If you get the Stihl - one thing I've learned with all of their produts, when you start cold with the choke on - as soon as it pops once - immediately switch the choke off and pull again, it will fire right up - try to keep starting with the choke on - you'll flood it.

Good luck.

^^^^THIS^^^^

I'm a fan of Stihl. Every product I have owned by them has served me well. I have used a MS250 with a 18" bar for quite a few years now.

That is what I have is a Stihl MS250 with the 18" bar. I love it. I had an 18" Poulan and it literally fell apart when cutting up some Hedgeapple trees. Where the isolation spring is, it all fell apart. The Stihl is far superior and cost just a little more than the Poulan.

 

[sberry]

The Poulan is a very cheap saw. I like the idea of the electric too. We have used all of the big 3 and back in the day the rest of them too.

 

[Nowater]

A lot of choices, and to those who suggest an electric saw, I have a small electric chainsaw for use in the shop. It came from a yard sale and owes me absolutely nothing!

I am looking for a gas model because one way to get lumber for turning is to follow your ears to the closest chainsaw and ask for some pieces for lathe work. Once people see how much wood they have, they usually agree to just get rid of some of it at no cost to them. Offering to buck up what I want is my strategy, and this way I don't have to ask for the use of their saw--and I would rather use my own tool that I am familiar with!

So far the advice seems to range to buy from the local shop that can service what they sell.

What do you guys do when you put your chainsaws away for a while. If I use gasoline preservative in the fuel, what else do I need to know. There is one place that sells non-ethanol fuel in the area. Do I need to worry about the alcohol in the gasoline?

Thanks again for your time.

 

[Streetbu]

YES! Ethanol is a big PITA. There are two different routes to choose. Either buy the non-ethanol and still treat it for storage, or buy regular ethanol and treat it ALL the time with MARINE Stabil. NOT the red Stabil, the blue MARINE Stabil. I run a small engine shop and see it EVERYDAY. I have had ZERO issues with my own equipment doing this. And yes go to a local small engine shop and buy whatever NAME brand they have, Stihl, Husqvarna, or Echo. Don't get a Poulan, they are homeowner junk. Don't get the cheapest saws either of the "big 3" make either, you don't need a commercial saw for what your doing, but you need something mid-grade so it will last decades.

 

[Throbbin Rods]

I bought a Husqvarna 55 15-16 years ago to clear my house lot. Karen bought a Stihl with the EZ start. On hers you just gently pull the rope and winds up a spring and then spins the motor over. Few pumps of the primer bulb and it fires right up. We use the canned premixed non-ethanol fuel. We don't cut a ton but with 15 acres we keep busy enough for weekends.

 

[icenfire01]

Three pages and no one has posted this yet?!!!? I thought this was Garage Journal

 

[bwringer]

Thanks for explaining further what you're doing!

The canned pre-mixed fuel is great stuff, and you won't use enough where the cost makes any difference.

 

[Angelfire]

Regardless of which saw you end up with, learn to sharpen the chain yourself. A very simple job that makes a world of difference. I typically will run the saw in the morning, then over a break for lunch, will give it a quick sharpen.

 

[77Mini]

I have stihl saws and really like them. I have heard Echo is a good saw also. I'm sure it would be a fine choice if that's what is available locally.

 

[sberry]

The Echo is an OK saw, fine for a guy not headed out to cut down the National Forest. Which one is the Husky clone,,, Echo may be owned by the same company? I saw one someone bought at a box store, the covers/cases looked like they came from the same mold.

 

[cashishift]

Stihl, premum fuel + stihl synthetic 2 cycle mix = a pleasure to use.

 

[George G]

My first saw was a Spartan 34, I've had it since the early 80's. Still runs like a top. I have two Poulan Wild Thing's. One I bought new about ten years ago. That's the one I use the most. Others the I have, I picked up at auctions. I have two Poulan Pro's. Then I have a Shindaiwa 357 with a 12" bar that I use just for ground work, cutting roots or anything else thats below grade. I've probably got less invested in all these saws than the cost of one Stihl.

 

[jake00]

Everyone recommending the electric saws ... You guys realize that chaps won't stop a electric saw right?
http://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/electric-chainsaw-and-chaps-warning.36621/

And for the occasional user (not much experience time w machine) I wouldn't chance it.

 

[rick carpenter]

I got a Stihl MS170 homeowner saw for Christmas. It's the lowest priced Stihl, and homeowner saws sometimes don't get much respect but I'm very pleased with it.

 

[Roddyo]

A used 488 shindiawa could be a fairly cheap solution.

 

[77Mini]

I got a Stihl MS170 homeowner saw for Christmas. It's the lowest priced Stihl, and homeowner saws sometimes don't get much respect but I'm very pleased with it.

I have an MS170 also. They are great little saws for the small stuff. It probably gets more use then my big saw. I would buy one again in a heartbeat.

 

[rockinacummins]

I have a Husqy 440. I love it. Wood is our only heat source in the winter.

I like echo saws as well. I would guess you would never have an issue with it!

 

[MScott]

I have a Stihl 180MC with a 16" bar. It is very light, has Easystart and is surprisingly powerful for such a small saw. I use it for limbing and carry it on my ATV to handle any dead-falls I encounter. I have actually cut trees in the 18-20" range and it works great.

 

[raddksn]

full fleet of pre-emission XP's ported and brazed exhausts. 346,372,390. Started running XP's and sold every pro stihl I had except the tree ms200t
saw.

I run a 372xp love it! What's up with brazed exaust