I need help picking a chainsaw

Bushman5 said:
I'll be honest, that was a trauma course, that injury was simulating an actual chainsaw injury that the instructor dealt with weeks prior. They used cheesecake and fake blood to re-create the injury.

Having said that, i have patched up fellow saw runners in the woods, and i can attest that a chainsaw going thru a leg looks very similar.

point is, take the safety aspect real seriously. :)

I know it seems like i'm harping on the safety issue, but i do so for a reason....chainsaws are frickking dangerous, EVEN in the hands of long time operators. I just got word a client died last week using a saw, and he been running saw for years. He was 38. I cannot stress enough the importance of training, and also of having a chainsaw designed FAK (Israeli bandages) Both will save your life.
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i wont use a saw by my self im planing geting chaps and all the other ppe
 
Stay at an 18 in or smaller chain and the chains are built to help avoid kickback. The larger ones aren't. I have a Stihl 18" 24" and 32" and love them all. The 18 gets the most use.
 
I just dove in and upgraded my 359 to a 372XP- they are planning to discontinue the 372 so the time was right. Will sell the NIB 359 now and look for some of the older saws- 262XP, 261, 288...

I have cut the leather and edges of soles on my boots but that is it. I have two uncles that have terrible scars- one on his shin and the other by his eye- his goggles helped deflect the chain or he would be blind- his was a 14" small saw he was limbing with, kickback. He was one handing the saw... I am going to invest in a couple of log hooks to better position logs to prevent getting the saw all twisted up- also a 4 ton cable come along(they are around 50.00) to stabilize trees on a slope, induce lean when felling or roll a log for limbing. Keep cut limbs/branches out from under your feet to prevent tripping/stumbling. I love saws and cutting but is like shooting, you CANNOT take a mistake back.

2Door
 
rocketbomb said:
I second the suggestion above. Husqvarnas are pretty good, but I love my Stihls. Give them a little love, and they'll cut trees longer than you can. Others may be more knowledgeable about specific models, but we've got an 029 that works very well for what we do, sometimes trees up to 24". I think it has an 18" bar.

Just make sure you're very careful. Don't know if you have any experience with chainsaws, but if not you should find somebody who has some and learn at least a bit from them. There's a lot to learn, and cutting trees can be very dangerous. I also suggest not using it alone. Things can go south real quick.
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This matches my experience. I've yet to find anything to match a Stihl.

Despite my advanced years, I still have two -- they're very old and yet they still perform like champs.

Do be careful, though. Find someone to teach you proper technique. One solid afternoon and you'll be safe for life.
 
I am not a super heavy user of chainsaws but my favourites have been Husqvarnas.

I also like Jonsereds quite a bit, they have a similar feel in my experience.

Stihl are my third although I have also had very good experiences with Homelite, an underrated maker in my opinion.

I find Stihl saws to be very comfortable but pretty heavy and slow compared to Huskies and Jonsereds, which are buzzier and harsher but lighter and quicker.
 
Iv been felling for about 9 years and iv always used a Husqvarna and Stihl. I personaly prefer the Huskies.

If you can get a used Husky 45 with a 13-15 inch guide bar that will be more than enough for "home use". Its got enough power to cut what ever you need to but still light enough for a beginer to use safely.

Do not just pick up a saw and go at it. get some instruction or do a short course.
"Kick back" has already been mentioned but there is a whole lot more to worry about if you dont know what your doing. You also need to understand what the tree is going to do when you start cutting it, even when its on the ground.
Iv seen things i dont ever want to see again working in the woods, and those things happened to pros.
Really dont take any risks at all as a beginer, things can go wrong so fast you wouldnt believe it.

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Hey Guys...

Bushman...

Excellent advise....

I'll also second Husky and Stihl saws..

I run a Stihl saw and personally wouldn't use much of anything else...

They are going to cost you a little more,,however,, you get what you pay for as with everything in this world..

Don't cheap out on the saw..These other saws are good for a very short period of time, but once parts start wearing out,, it's much easier just to toss them out and get a new one..Skip that entire process and buy it once... You'll be Thankful you did in the long run...

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
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