Me needum new chainsaw

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Haynie

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Joined
May 20, 2011
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3,515
Location
Page Arizona
My sawing needs today were more than my little electric chainsaw could handle. It really was a POS and if it was not free I never would have owned it. It served its purpose for very lite pruning but cutting up trees turned into a very dangerous process. Got the almond cut up and the rest of the apple. but the others will have to wait.

I know there are folks here who wield chainsaws on some big ol trees so I feel you folks will have an informed opinion. I just need one for general around the house use-occasional tree felling pruning and limb clean up. A 14-16 inch bar is all I need.

Oh yeah don't want to break the bank. Need money for kits and lathe tools too.

Thanks for your advice in advance
 
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I'd recommend a Stihl MS 290 Farm Boss, it's around $380 with a 16" bar.

we got one that is over 20 years old that is still running great.
 
I haved a 455 rancher Husqavarnna with an 18" blade and my SIL has a Sthil with a 12". That cover most of my needs. THe 455 is larger than you need if your not going to use it constantly. I had a Husqvarnna 350 that was great saw until I dropped a tree on it. Some thing in that range has enough power for 12" material and isnt so heavy you wear yourself out carring it around. I would not recomend POulan Or homelite if youwant to use it more than once. The new ones have been value engineered to where they are not decent saws anymore.
 
I will also say Stihl. Having used Stihl, ECHO and Husqvarna all in the same day, Still is definitely the best. It has plenty of power and it weighs a lot less. Should last about as long as a Husqy, the main difference I've found between Husqvarna chainsaws and Stihls is the Stihl is lighter and a bit easier to manage. The Husqy is heavier, but it has more power and it REALLY cuts into some stuff. The ECHO didn't deserve to be called a 2 cycle piece of equipment.
 
Stihl ms 290 or the Husky 455 racher good home saws with good power I think both are 50-55 cc's.Look for a used one first,look for a home owner that bought to big a saw(the guy that needs the best just to do a little job).Many good brands other then husky/Stihl like solo/mikita/echo and others alomost all are German made.I have a Mikita 90 cc that has been a good saw but a bear to start with its high compression.Victor
 
If you are just going to use the saw around the house, why not go for a bigger electric... if you're going to use it away from the house, go with the recommendations above... I bought a 16" WORX from Lowe's a few weeks back... it's a great saw, works around the wood pile nicely, plenty of power and zips right through the cherry, hackberry, walnut and oak that I'm currently working... I've split several good sized logs and hasn't slowed it down.... just make sure you have big enough extension cord to handle the load....
 
I got a Poulan 18", on sale some two years ago. It's still running strong.
It gets average use. Dropping trees, pruning around the house to cutting wood for our bonfires at the seasonal camp site..

When I first got it, the idle was off. A bit of tinkering and it runs fine. I've seen it as low as $109 at Lowes. Cheap is right, but I don't cut wood for a living. Still, you get what you pay for... Good Luck.
 
I thought about a bigger electric but the cord is one of the things I find dangerous. The final straw for the one I have now was the chain flying off the bar nicking the cord. I think electric is out
 
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