Chainsaw choice
- Thread starter MT_mulies
- Start date
I have cut a load of wood with my Huskie . A lot of oak and pine. Got it in 95'.With a 24" bar.
I got a new Stihl 170 last year as the Huskie is just too heavy for limb work. 20"
It is a great little saw and can cut most anything here in NM.
It's the 3rd Stihl I've had. Wore out 2.
I have a big Echo too I got cheap.Nice saw,but not near the quality of a Huskie or Stihl
I got a new Stihl 170 last year as the Huskie is just too heavy for limb work. 20"
It is a great little saw and can cut most anything here in NM.
It's the 3rd Stihl I've had. Wore out 2.
I have a big Echo too I got cheap.Nice saw,but not near the quality of a Huskie or Stihl
Backpack Hunter
New member
- Jan 2, 2013
- 364
I use a Stihl MS250 with a 20" bar. Starts on the third pull when cold, first when warm. Strong enough to cut the entire bar length, but light enough to haul around.
It's not strong enough for pro use, but quite nice for extensive home use.
It's not strong enough for pro use, but quite nice for extensive home use.
Stihl 038 mag with 26 in bar, Bought it back in 1990 This saw has cut up well over a 1000 cord of wood and still working great, had one problem with ignition module when it was about 18 years old and stihl fixed it for free, You can run these saws all day and will not cause the numbness in your arms like most from the vibration.
wapiti_will
Member
- Dec 28, 2012
- 206
I have a stihl and a backup poulan. stihl starts and runs like a champ all the time. poulan is harder to start in cold high altitude conditions (had to spend time fine tuning it to get it to run well at altitude), but runs okay once warmed up.
I have a husky 450 that works great. For the amount of firewood I cut a year (2-3 cords) I don't feel like I need anything else. Starts easy and will go all day. I would definitely make sure any saw you buy has the anti vibration handle. Most probably come with that now but if buying a used saw you plan to use much I would steer clear of any that don't have it.
I also have a small Poulan that works great for limbs and brush but not anything big. It is cold blooded but once it gets warmed up it works fine. It's also cheap so if I get mad and throw it it's no big loss. My Dad says that's the reason they are all bright colored so when you do get mad and throw it you can find it again. He also calls it a "pullin" cause that's what you do a lot of trying to start it.
I also have a small Poulan that works great for limbs and brush but not anything big. It is cold blooded but once it gets warmed up it works fine. It's also cheap so if I get mad and throw it it's no big loss. My Dad says that's the reason they are all bright colored so when you do get mad and throw it you can find it again. He also calls it a "pullin" cause that's what you do a lot of trying to start it.
Elk_Guy503
New member
- Mar 10, 2016
- 4
Honestly buy whatever saw has the best dealer closest to you. Sounds like a cheap answer but I'm a Stihl guy and I'm lucky enough to have a great dealer close too. But if I still lived where I used to, I'd own more Husqvarna's. I'd still be a Stihl guy but... You get the idea. I also recommend the "pro" versions of saws. Regardless of brand they're built better and hold value better. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Stihl, Husqvarna, Echo or Jonsered.
I really like the husky saws because of better air filtration, less vibration, and less $ most of the time (than sthil). That being said I've owned several sthil and husky saws and sthil are good saws too, hard to go wrong with either. Also agree with getting the pro version, worth the extra $.
backcountry_hunter
New member
- Aug 8, 2016
- 213
If it's not too late...
I've generally made a living with a chainsaw. I have no personal biases going into this, just experiences. I honestly could care less what I drive, use, etc... in every day life, as long as it starts and runs I am a happy person.
With that said, my humble opinion is you would be hard pressed to find a better chainsaw in the world than a Husky 372xp. I have both stihls and huskys, which are essentially the same components as a Jonsered (all tilton group owned) only a far better air system. I can say with certainty that with todays gas (even the non-oxy with a 30 day shelf life) that my huskys have "tended" to be less finicky than my stihls. Stihls still make a fine saw, but I find myself wrenching on them quite a bit more than my huskys. A 372 is enough saw to run a 28" bar if neccessary or can be brought down all the way to 18" for firewood purposes (not sure what you plan on doing with it?). There's a number of chop shops out there porting and doing all sorts of other crazy stuff to saws these days but a stock 372 xp, wrapped, is probably the best thing ever....
Echo, Dolmar, etc... all make okay saws but really aren't (imo) in the same league as the big three (jons, husq, stihl).
I've generally made a living with a chainsaw. I have no personal biases going into this, just experiences. I honestly could care less what I drive, use, etc... in every day life, as long as it starts and runs I am a happy person.
With that said, my humble opinion is you would be hard pressed to find a better chainsaw in the world than a Husky 372xp. I have both stihls and huskys, which are essentially the same components as a Jonsered (all tilton group owned) only a far better air system. I can say with certainty that with todays gas (even the non-oxy with a 30 day shelf life) that my huskys have "tended" to be less finicky than my stihls. Stihls still make a fine saw, but I find myself wrenching on them quite a bit more than my huskys. A 372 is enough saw to run a 28" bar if neccessary or can be brought down all the way to 18" for firewood purposes (not sure what you plan on doing with it?). There's a number of chop shops out there porting and doing all sorts of other crazy stuff to saws these days but a stock 372 xp, wrapped, is probably the best thing ever....
Echo, Dolmar, etc... all make okay saws but really aren't (imo) in the same league as the big three (jons, husq, stihl).
