The Porsche Of Chainsaws

[Schrup]

I don't have a need for a chainsaw yet, but I'm a huge Stihl fanboi. Here's my arsenal.

[Superman]

I grew up in a logging town. Never heard of Solo chain saws but then....I've been a city slicker for nearly thirty years now.

Back in the day (before Solo?), fallers used only Husqvarnas or Stihls. Mostly Stihls. These guys fall and buck timber up to sixteen hours per day. They typically take 3-4 saws to work each day. Chains get sharpened throughout the day. "Consumer" chain saws wouldn't last a week.

I don't loan chain saws. Porsches are tractors compared to chain saws. Chain saws are extremely high-performance, high-precision machines. Sure, they are darned robust. But they MUST be used properly. They MUST be properly lubricated and adjusted. Most folks either don't understand this, or don't know how.

The V8 chainsaw is cute. Perhaps my favorite events at competitions are the crosscut events. Those long, manual saws. One guy on either end. The teeth on some of those crosscut saws are three inches deep. Those things don't make sawdust, they make wood chips. It is pretty darned impressive how quickly they can get through a log, when properly sharpened and professionally handled.

[Porsche_monkey]

The reality is for most 'urban work' an electric chainsaw is the best.

Flame away....

[KFC911]

I'd bet I've been in the vicinity of electricity less than .01% of the time I've ever used a chainsaw, and those HUMONGOUS trees would have laughed out loud if they saw a cord. The only two times (I can recall), were the two 4.5'+ hardwoods that the "pros" dropped, but my dad & I "worked up". I bet you have an electric mower too...just pickin' .

[Rot 911]

Originally Posted by Porsche_monkey

The reality is for most 'urban work' an electric chainsaw is the best.

Flame away....

I actually have one of those pole saws with the 10" electric chain saw on the end. It is amazing how well it works. You can also quickly detach the chainsaw from the pole and use it as a regular chain saw. However you are limited by how many extension cords you own.

[notfarnow]

I will be buying a chainsaw in the spring to replace my wimpy little Homelite. My neighbor wa saying to buy Stihl too, but not sure what models is good to get used.

I wish I could get a chainsaw safety course locally. I do kinda get the heebie jeebies sometimes.

Originally Posted by Kurt V

However you are limited by how many extension cords you own.

A 10' extension cord is only a buck at the dollar store. Get 10, zip tie 'em together so you don't fall off the milk crate you use instead of a ladder, and yer good to go!

[911 Rod]

I've had a Stihl 036 for years. Great saw if you are cutting logs.
I would suggest 1 size smaller for general use.
It gets very heavy when you are limbing.

[911boost]

My dad and I use Stihls. Have had them for years. Keeping the chain sharp is about the most important thing (well besides lube).

[Rusty Heap]

Lets see, I own 4 chainsaws, ALL stihls..............a hard used 35 year old 015 that stills runs fantastic and has NEVER seen a new piston or rebuild, two 028 with 20" bars, and a 036 with a 24" bar.

Loaning out a chainsaw is like loaning out your wife, or P-car.........you just don't do it......

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by notfarnow

I wish I could get a chainsaw safety course locally. I do kinda get the heebie jeebies sometimes.

Jake, if I was to summarize what we were taught on the course, it is never have your face in-line (over) with the blade. If/when you get a kickback it will come up fast and if your head is slightly to the left of it, the blade will come up past your right shoulder and do no harm. It's important you do this. Most people don't.

The part of the blade that causes the kickback is the top half of the end of the blade.

Shrup, I think you can put a polesaw (chainsaw) extention on the end of that trimmer beast. Fun and safe.

While talking chainsaws. Please remmember to shake the can of 2-stroke fuel to get the oil mixed in before fueling up the chainsaw. I sinks to the bottom. Also give the chainsaw a shake too, to mix what's in the fuel tank.

Sorry if I'm starting to sound like your mother, it's just that these things are ferkin dangerous.

Have fun

[Tim Hancock]

I am kind of partial to grandpa's old 7 foot saw.

[turbo6bar]

Originally Posted by notfarnow

I will be buying a chainsaw in the spring to replace my wimpy little Homelite. My neighbor wa saying to buy Stihl too, but not sure what models is good to get used.

Stihl 026 is a great 3HP saw to get. It is currently labeled MS260, I think.

Another hot one is the Dolmar 5100. It is also around 3HP or more.

Stihl is good, but there are other good brands. Don't listen to supe. Those loggers eat bear scat, so the brain is a bit off kilter. It is kinda like Honda vs Toyota vs Nissan. They're all good, but everyone has their favorite.

[Superman]

Originally Posted by turbo6bar

Don't listen to supe.

Listen to me. Just don't believe what I say.

I just looked up a poll. You know how reliable they are. Anyhoooo....

Husqvarna - 41%
Stihl - 40%
Johnsered - 7%
Echo - 4%
All Others - 8%

I'm not a logger, and have not lived with loggers for thirty years. I'm just sayin'......I've never seen a Homelite, Johnsered, Echo or McCulloch chain saw in any faller's pickup truck. Ever. I've only seen Stihls and Husqvarnas. The fallers who like Husqvarnas say they like the SAE machining (as opposed to metric), and they like their reduced vibration.

I'm with Bill. With chain saws and firearms, I am probably more careful than almost anyone you know. I see people cutting stuff with the tip of a chain saw, and I have to look away. I've seen "chain saw bites." They're not pretty.

[glewis80SC]

The LAFD uses the Stihl 046 for our ventilation/rescue saws, they are really reliable and durable. They start every time and take a lot of abuse, the video shows some of the crap they can take. They can get choked out with heavy smoke during ventilation opps. but there is no way around that.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJPt_1VAUVg

Another quick video, thats me holding the Stihl where the group of 3 guys come together, we had just cut the hole that the camera pans to at the end of the video, great saws!!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=annB1JRXsdI

[turbo6bar]

I must admit Husqvarna does have great vibration dampening. My Efco has similar spring dampening and it is much smoother than the Stihl units. You can't go wrong with Stihl or Husqvarna, but do buy one of their premium models. The slight premium is petty after a 20+ year holding period.

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by Superman

...

Back in the day[], fallers used only Husqvarnas or Stihls. ...

Can't be too far back.

Back in the day (before) nobody would use a furrin' chain saw.

Everybody used Mac's*

* it's "a cutting saw!"

There was another alternative brand that was pretty big, but fergit what. I'm sure mac is out of business now - they couldn't compete with the medium quality Germany and Swedish stuff, much less the high quality brands.

A Tip - take a big saw and put a short bar on it. It'll last forever.

AND be extremely careful - these are very dangerous machines - once they cut thru bone, nerve, or blood vessels it is nothing like a knife or axe wound. Everything for a 1/4" thickness is just gone. There may never be proper regrowth even if the $50,000 medical procedure manages to save your arm, hand, foot or leg.

[SlowToady]

Husky makes awesome saws, and they seem to hold up a bit better than the current run of Stihl saws. We use a Stihl Farm Boss around the farm, and literally parts of it are starting to fall apart, namely the black plastic parts they use to hold it together (the plastic case). We've had it to the dealer and had those parts replaced, but they keep breaking. It's definitely had it's fair share of use, though. Gone through a couple tens of thousands of trees (no BS). So far the Husky has a bit more power (torque), and cuts better. Also, it's been holding up better, probably going to stick with Husky until something better comes along.

Solo also makes great saws, although we don't have one. Maybe that'll be the next saw if the Stihl and Husky ever actually give up the ghost.

PS: WATCH THOSE BAR TIPS! I narrowly missed getting a bar tip (on a running saw) across the forehead over the summer. If you start feeling fatigued at all, go do something else.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

I am kind of partial to grandpa's old 7 foot saw.

Those things are a LOT of work! I must've run 5 miles on a small tree once, 7' at a time running from one end of the saw to the other (it didn't come with instructions) . They sure don't make 'em like THAT anymore...please tell us you don't still use it.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by glewis80SC

The LAFD uses the Stihl 046 for our ventilation/rescue saws, they are really reliable and durable. They start every time and take a lot of abuse, the video shows some of the crap they can take. They can get choked out with heavy smoke during ventilation opps. but there is no way around that.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJPt_1VAUVg

Another quick video, thats me holding the Stihl where the group of 3 guys come together, we had just cut the hole that the camera pans to at the end of the video, great saws!!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=annB1JRXsdI

You guys have my everlasting admiration. Here's another LAFD video at an insane fire:

[JTO]

Two Stihl saws; an 029 with an 18" and an 036 with a 24". The 029 is 30+ years old, the 036 is 20 years old. Absolutely dynamite saws. I have cut a lot with these.
And as Supe says, the loggers use Stihls or Huskys.

Troy