In the market for a chainsaw

[plinker]

Here's a site that has a ton of information on saws & tree work.

http://www.arboristsite.com/index.php


I myself have a Stihl 028AV .

 

[pl_silverado]

All i have to say about my Husqvarna, best $ 200 i ever spent, and looking through the northern catalog, i didnt do too bad cause it goes for $ 500.

 

[KeukaDan]

I have many Stihls and have had very good luck with them. The one Husqvarna that I have is an ok saw but it just isnt as nice as my Stihl's. That being said as long as you go with a "pro" brand you will be fine, the problems come when you buy something with a 30CC engine and a 22" bar for $150 bucks new and assume it will be a strong and powerful saw.

 

[eschoendorff]

I have many Stihls and have had very good luck with them. The one Husqvarna that I have is an ok saw but it just isnt as nice as my Stihl's. That being said as long as you go with a "pro" brand you will be fine, the problems come when you buy something with a 30CC engine and a 22" bar for $150 bucks new and assume it will be a strong and powerful saw.

I agree. when it comes to saws and outdoor power equipment, Stihl is the only way to go. There are others out there, but Stihl is the industry standard for a reason.

 

[george4]

Glad to read all the positives for Stihl. I have pretty much decided on a Stihl pole saw (101). Any experience with that model?

 

[W-Cummins]

So long Stihl. Anybody want to buy a chainsaw??

Where are you and how much do you want for it?

William....

 

[pl_silverado]

Its kinda funny reading through this thread again, i had bought the Husky 359 and used it for 6 months or so, and then sold it. It fouled plugs and was a pain in the **** to start over the winter.

I've jumped ship to Stihl, currently have an MS-260 and HT-101 pole pruner.
Looking to add a MS-660 to the collection in the near future.


So i guess the reason im reviving this thread is to agree with everyone else who said go with a Stihl

The good thing is, i sold the Husky for $ 150 more than i paid for it.

 

[Scout Driver]

I vote for Stihl! Bought a used one 5 years ago and haven't had a bit of trouble with it. Lots of places out there that do the parts and service if you need it though. Drive thru Minnesota at nite, every little town has a least one store with a light-up Stihl sign hanging outside or in the window!

 

[bushhawg73]

I have a small Stihl 018 for limbs, my father in laws Stihl 028 (pretty old saw) and a newer 036. The 028 runs great and the 018 makes limbing a tree a pleasure. The 036 rocks but it is heavy. I would go Stihl all of the way for a saw.

 

[stevejh82]

Glad you like your 260, I have one as well and think it is top notch. It is my go to saw unless I get into a large **** log and I grab the 044. The 260 is light enough to limb with, and powerful enough to work all day with the 16" bar at full capacity. Stihl fan all the way here...

 

[pl_silverado]

Glad you like your 260, I have one as well and think it is top notch. It is my go to saw unless I get into a large **** log and I grab the 044. The 260 is light enough to limb with, and powerful enough to work all day with the 16" bar at full capacity. Stihl fan all the way here...

Yea i like it. I have mine setup with an 18" bar and .325 chain. Its quick.
I do need to get something a bit beefier for the heavier cutting though, i stopped in at the local Stihl dealer today and checked out the 460 and 660. Both awesome, but i think im going to get a 660. Stihl trying to decide which bar size to go with.

MS-260 and MS-660 should suit my needs for years.

 

[ossaguy]

We sell both at the shop ,and as a mechanic that repairs them,I find the Stihl models way easier to repair.Dealing with warranty issues has been better with Stihl also,in our experience.

There were a couple of poorly designed Huskies made in the late 90's that made for a lot of new Stihl owners,and in our shop the last decade was great for Stihl sales.

Steve

 

[Shocker]

I have a Poulan Pro. Very happy with it. Works for what I do with it for a few years now.

 

[michael murder]

Stihl was the preferred at the fire department. We had some Huskies too, they held up pretty good but didn't really hold a candle to the Stihl. If you don't use a saw very hard a Husky is a nice tool. But if you use it everyday and for hours+ you can't go wrong with the Stihl.

 

[J.P.]

I don't know about the Stihl dealers in everybody else's towns, but our dealer usually sets aside the month of February for tune ups. You can bring your saws in for a free tune up (engine, chain sharpening, replace broken parts, etc.). That alone makes it worth the price. We have 3 blowers, a trimmer and 2 stihl saws on our farm. As Krodad says if its got a two-stroke engine, it's a stihl.

I saw Homelite mentioned as well. We've had a Homelite XL for about 25 years and its a good saw but its a tank. It runs okay but its very cold blooded. Doesn't start up like a newer stihl.

 

[Joe69]

I'm going to find out how good my old Homelite is, this summer. I've got some dead trees to cut up in my new woods. I'm planning to get a woodburner for my shop, so the wood will come in handy.

Joe

 

[chrislehr]

For me, a chainsaw so far has been a borrow when needed tool. I got a co-workers for a weekend a few months back to take down some branches over the driveway before they did on their own.

 

[Jack90210]

Its kinda funny reading through this thread again, i had bought the Husky 359 and used it for 6 months or so, and then sold it. It fouled plugs and was a pain in the **** to start over the winter.

I've jumped ship to Stihl, currently have an MS-260 and HT-101 pole pruner.
Looking to add a MS-660 to the collection in the near future.


So i guess the reason im reviving this thread is to agree with everyone else who said go with a Stihl

One of those brands is sold in "big box" stores.

One of those brands is not.

And around here there are a couple of good Stihl sales/service stores. I'm happy to support the local businesses.

Finally, there is a Stihl manufacturing facility in Virginia Beach. I don't believe that there is a Husq facility in this country.

 

[allapanoo]

My neighbor is an arborist with a pretty big crew and I asked him what I should buy and his recommendation was Stihl.

 

[devilphrog]

I have an old Stihl 009EQ and that thing is unstoppable! You cannot beat the level of quality of their saws and the rest of their power equipment. As well, their dealer support is usually really good!

Edit: I second the opinion of Jack. As a Norfolk, VA Beach local, support US Workers as their is a Stihl factory here in town! All of the guide bars are now made in the USA!

 

[Monte]

Dolmar
www.dolmarpowerproducts.com

 

[Jared]

I dont know about buying a stihl, looks like a evinrude with a bar and chain on it.

Just kidding I have used both huskys and stihls that just what i was told when I told someone I was looking at a stihl

 

[shadetree57]

I have an old Stihl that quit running. With all the praise they are getting here maybe I should see if I can fix it. It's about 27 years old so parts may not be available. The poulans I have do what I need them to do but the easy adjust chain on the Poulan Pro is a joke. Chain kept jumping off til I modified it.

 

[wendell]

Folks saying Stihl or nothing or Husky or die probably haven't run more than a few bottles of bar oil through either. As some one that's run a saw for a living (from 36+" bars to one handed climbers) , I can honestly say that both brands sort of ****.

old 088s used to have a TON of torque. When you bogged it down it would DRAG the chain through the wood. Super tough machine.

The older 374XP (?) had chain speed that would blow your mind. Always expected it to blow up. It never did.

These days they seem to have lost their brand identity. They sort of spin, they sort of pull but they're mostly the same. Buy the one with the best dealer support, put the shortest bar you can on it and make some chips.