Advice on Purchasing a New Chain Saw

[TNTreeHugger]

a lot of good thoughts, advice and opinions in this thread. overall, the replies imo are kinda interesting. well, imo. I am by choice not commenting on this saw or that saw... although I do have my opinion(s)...

but speculation aside, I can give you one bit of advice and this is a fact! you would be wise to take it, too. and not just imo... as in fact.

get this book! start here! read it for a working knowledge of its content and subject... then educated and informed... then... begin your quest for a saw that will help you. if you want my opinion... I do not feel $200 is a good budget for a good saw. my sthihl dealer is a very large exp'd shop, sales and repairs... all kinds of OP-E equipment... and they wont sell the MS-170 deal!

http://www.amazon.com/Homeowners-Complete-Guide-Chainsaw-Confidently/dp/1565233565

this is an excellent book. 8 1/2 x 11... paperback, a rock solid book on the subject of chain saws for the homeowner. you can consider getting it thru local library system or buying a copy as it is both informative and a good reference...

even if all the advice and opinions are rock solid... they are speculative at best. this book is not speculative. it is cheap, and it is factual.

good luck and best wishes for successful arborist activities and wood cutting...

ps: every thot of a b/f with a chain saw... ?

More excellent advice! TY!
I just bought the book on Amazon. I want to know everything there is to know, and how to do it, about a chain saw before I operate one. Sure as heck don't want to loose an eye, or worse!!!
You guys are great!


About the b/f with a chain saw... are you making me an offer?

 

[CoreyB]

ps: every thot of a b/f with a chain saw... ?

About the b/f with a chain saw... are you making me an offer?

Man you all make it hard to contain my inner juvenile.
I mean the comments are endless. B/f with a big saw, long bar, and good at moving wood. Man I am such a 13 year old. Glad I got that kept on a leash.

 

[moondoggie]

More excellent advice! TY!
I just bought the book on Amazon. I want to know everything there is to know, and how to do it, about a chain saw before I operate one. Sure as heck don't want to loose an eye, or worse!!!
You guys are great!


About the b/f with a chain saw... are you making me an offer?

BL &TN sitting in a tree. ....

 

[TNTreeHugger]

Some great advice on this thread.

Here's one of the free instructional videos available on Youtube


Enjoy your new saw, safely.

Just watched the video... learned something in the first 60 seconds: It's Hoosqvarna (like hoot), not Husqvarna(like cup). I've been saying it wrong all these years. lol
Good video. great saw - it cut through that wood like a hot knife through butter.
Going to find more videos on Youtube.

 

[MountainHigh]

BL &TN sitting in a tree. ....View attachment 504405

LOL - just showed wifey that picture!

 

[hseII]

Just watched the video... learned something in the first 60 seconds: It's Hoosqvarna (like hoot), not Husqvarna(like cup). I've been saying it wrong all these years. lol
Good video. great saw - it cut through that wood like a hot knife through butter.
Going to find more videos on Youtube.

We say it Hooskee, or sonofabiscuit,
depending on if we are trying to start one. [emoji6]

The homeowner Huskys are for the most part rebadged Poulans, as the same company owns both, and is a more economical way of getting brand H into Johnny Consumer's,( or in your case Jill Consumer's), hands.

Not that the homeowner Stihls are leaps and bounds about the others, but you probably don't want to start servicing and repairing Outdoor Power Equipment.

That's where the local Stihlership comes in.

Lowes & Home DePot may sell a brand, but they don't offer service.

Our local Husky dealer would rather work on Huskys he sells, and I can't fault him for that.

Edit:
I changed
O
P
E
to Outdoor Power Equipment, because that's what a chainsaw is.

 

[MountainHigh]

Just watched the video... learned something in the first 60 seconds: It's Hoosqvarna (like hoot), not Husqvarna(like cup). I've been saying it wrong all these years. lol
Good video. great saw - it cut through that wood like a hot knife through butter.
Going to find more videos on Youtube.

Ya, but you won't find too many people in North America pronouncing it Hoosqvarna.
I've heard Germans pronounce Stihl closer to Shtiel/schteel, but your local store will probably look at you sideways if you or I call it that.

The saw in the video is a 357 XP pro saw. Yes they do cut very well but it would be more than you need/want, especially to start with. Even a small saw like you are looking for, can cut great on smaller wood, as long as you learn how to keep a sharp chain. A very sharp chain is key.

 

[hseII]

Ya, but you won't find too many people in North America pronouncing it Hoosqvarna.
I've heard Germans pronounce Stihl closer to Shtiel/schteel, but your local store will probably look at you sideways if you or I call it that.

The saw in the video is a 357 XP pro saw. Yes they do cut very well but it would be more than you need/want, especially to start with. Even a small saw like you are looking for, can cut great on smaller wood, as long as you learn how to keep a sharp chain. A very sharp chain is key.

Along with good fuel and bar oil.

Treat it like a car that you are still making payments on, and not like a borrowed mule, and you will be good.

 

[moondoggie]

LOL - just showed wifey that picture!

Mine too

 

[CoreyB]

Just to give you an idea. This is a 30cc saw. They can cut lots of wood.

 

[7sleeper]

I understand that I am a little late to the discussion but I might add I see the 170 as a BAD choice!

WHY? Simple reason, it is the by far cheapest saw Stihl has to offer. Second it does NOT have a easy start mechanism. Further there are in my eyes MUCH better alternatives. And last, if it is your intention to keep the property and saw for a longer period, I would recomend assaw in the 35-40cc class. It is a MUCH more universal saw at allmost the same weight.

Personally I prefer to research well first and invest my money once and get a better package than any stupid Stihl 170 could ever offer.

7

 

[dougand3]

any stupid Stihl 170 could ever offer.

Don't beat around the bush. Tell us what you really think. LMAO.

 

[BGE541]

Just worked on a buddies 170... POS. All I have to say but whatever you get play safe and have fun.

 

[MountainHigh]

Don't beat around the bush. Tell us what you really think. LMAO.

 

[moondoggie]

We say it Hooskee, or sonofabiscuit,
depending on if we are trying to start one. [emoji6]

The homeowner Huskys are for the most part rebadged Poulans, as the same company owns both, and is a more economical way of getting brand H into Johnny Consumer's,( or in your case Jill Consumer's), hands.

Not that the homeowner Stihls are leaps and bounds about the others, but you probably don't want to start servicing and repairing Outdoor Power Equipment.

That's where the local Stihlership comes in.

Lowes & Home DePot may sell a brand, but they don't offer service.

Our local Husky dealer would rather work on Huskys he sells, and I can't fault him for that.

Edit:
I changed
O
P
E
to Outdoor Power Equipment, because that's what a chainsaw is.

I disagree. To some of what you posted. My 445 came from a box st0re. The local stihl dealer has replaced two sprockets, and one carb. Over the last 5 years now. He may not want to work on them but he does and has never complained to me about it. I understand you saying buying from a dealer is better, but not always. My 562 came from the worst dealer I ever met. I did find a great husky dealer 2 hours away. One other thing the ms251 is absolute junk compared to a 445. Ms251 is slower, weaker, and rattles your brains and all of your joints. That s all

 

[Michigan Escapee]

I forgot another thing: a good set of steel toed boots, if you cut a lot or at the very least good boots with plenty of traction/deep tread. You don't want to slide on the mud with a chainsaw in your hand. Your safety gear will run more than the saw, but you don't want the alternative. If you want to know why all this gear is needed, ask there guys here for some pictures of their saw injuries. Not for the faint hearted, heck some of them will make the stout hearted puke.

No, I don't believe that the fibers should cause any permanent damage to the saw. You just have to untangle the strands, from the chain, clutch and bar. Believe me, any damage potential to the saw is better than damage to you!

I am not going to say fear but a very, very healthy respect of any chainsaw is a good thing. A very good thing.

Steel toes aren't so hot, you can get composite toe protection that does a better job without mangling your toes, or freezing them on a cold day.
http://www.safeshoes.com/safety-shoe-news/composite-toe-vs-steel-toe/

These ones are pretty good, and go down to girly girl foot sizes. Although, you'll need a conversion chart for male to female sizing.
http://www.shiekhshoes.com/t-sizechart.aspx There's one on the site, but it may glitch depending on your ad blocker setup.

Wearing these not only improves foot safety, it tends to make the local high ons, and general ne'er do wells find other places to be. It makes them think you're going to burn their drug stash, and tase them for some reason.

Chainsaw chaps, not all are created equally. What will choke out a 30-70cc saw, might not work so hot if you have an electric saw, battery, or 120/220v. The warnings on the newer chaps say as much, but if you're shopping at a dealer with some safety orange chaps that have sat on the shelf so long they are yellow, you might not get that info. Also, anything with visible UV fading is gonna have some problems, as it might turn to dust rather than poofing up and jamming the chainsaw.

The other big thing is, don't get so loaded down in safety gear that you cannot move or see. Yes, the chainsaw will cut you up and make you bleed out a bit. NOT AN ISSUE IF YOU ARE CRUSHED BY A 3 TON LOG! Being able to run like hell is extremely important. If you are working a pole saw, head protection is needed as well as gloves, not so much on the chaps as these serve little purpose. Bucking, or felling in muddy conditions, try to avoid this. Wear your chaps, keep mud from getting packed in your treads, use your wedges, all that happy crap. If you have other people around who won't leave you alone every time you put on ear protection, it may be time to issue a few fatal beatings, and chain them up in the basement. Also, you should not have people loitering in areas that may serve as your escape route.

Think it won't happen? I've had people come up, stand under, and stare a tree branch, a BIG tree branch, while I was using the pole saw on it. I've also seen certain "professionals", where one was in the bucket, and the other on the ground. His partner in the bucket dropped a branch on his head, and more than a few on the fence under it, their chipper shredder, etc. Two Idiots Logging has real world parallels I'm afraid.

Although, their worst snafu was in leaving about 6 cords of lumber laying on the side of a hill. Leading to both the neighbor, the client, and the city getting into conflict. I'm tempted to name names on that one, but I might need some suicidal tree monkeys for something, in the event their last snafu does not get them sued out of existence.

 

[hseII]

I disagree. To some of what you posted. My 445 came from a box st0re. The local stihl dealer has replaced two sprockets, and one carb. Over the last 5 years now. He may not want to work on them but he does and has never complained to me about it. I understand you saying buying from a dealer is better, but not always. My 562 came from the worst dealer I ever met. I did find a great husky dealer 2 hours away. One other thing the ms251 is absolute junk compared to a 445. Ms251 is slower, weaker, and rattles your brains and all of your joints. That s all

I wasn't defending the MS170/180 honor, I assure you.

It seems you proved my point for me, as you seem to have a similar dealer situation near you: the Stihl shop, you can deal with.

Not so for the Husky shop.

What happened to the real Homelite & McCullough chainsaws?

A lot,
But one of the major issues is that They tried to go Box store, and it cost them in the end.

Maybe the Husky & Echo brands can handle it with the Internet in existence, but one would think that the lessons would be learned from the past, once Great, North American companies.

 

[hseII]

Steel toes aren't so hot, you can get composite toe protection that does a better job without mangling your toes, or freezing them on a cold day.
http://www.safeshoes.com/safety-shoe-news/composite-toe-vs-steel-toe/

These ones are pretty good, and go down to girly girl foot sizes. Although, you'll need a conversion chart for male to female sizing.
http://www.shiekhshoes.com/t-sizechart.aspx There's one on the site, but it may glitch depending on your ad blocker setup.

Wearing these not only improves foot safety, it tends to make the local high ons, and general ne'er do wells find other places to be. It makes them think you're going to burn their drug stash, and tase them for some reason.

Chainsaw chaps, not all are created equally. What will choke out a 30-70cc saw, might not work so hot if you have an electric saw, battery, or 120/220v. The warnings on the newer chaps say as much, but if you're shopping at a dealer with some safety orange chaps that have sat on the shelf so long they are yellow, you might not get that info. Also, anything with visible UV fading is gonna have some problems, as it might turn to dust rather than poofing up and jamming the chainsaw.

The other big thing is, don't get so loaded down in safety gear that you cannot move or see. Yes, the chainsaw will cut you up and make you bleed out a bit. NOT AN ISSUE IF YOU ARE CRUSHED BY A 3 TON LOG! Being able to run like hell is extremely important. If you are working a pole saw, head protection is needed as well as gloves, not so much on the chaps as these serve little purpose. Bucking, or felling in muddy conditions, try to avoid this. Wear your chaps, keep mud from getting packed in your treads, use your wedges, all that happy crap. If you have other people around who won't leave you alone every time you put on ear protection, it may be time to issue a few fatal beatings, and chain them up in the basement. Also, you should not have people loitering in areas that may serve as your escape route.

Think it won't happen? I've had people come up, stand under, and stare a tree branch, a BIG tree branch, while I was using the pole saw on it. I've also seen certain "professionals", where one was in the bucket, and the other on the ground. His partner in the bucket dropped a branch on his head, and more than a few on the fence under it, their chipper shredder, etc. Two Idiots Logging has real world parallels I'm afraid.

Although, their worst snafu was in leaving about 6 cords of lumber laying on the side of a hill. Leading to both the neighbor, the client, and the city getting into conflict. I'm tempted to name names on that one, but I might need some suicidal tree monkeys for something, in the event their last snafu does not get them sued out of existence.

Hey Hey Hey!





Don't talk about us like that.


TIL, LLC
Idiot #3

 

[TNTreeHugger]

I understand that I am a little late to the discussion but I might add I see the 170 as a BAD choice!

WHY? Simple reason, it is the by far cheapest saw Stihl has to offer. Second it does NOT have a easy start mechanism. Further there are in my eyes MUCH better alternatives. And last, if it is your intention to keep the property and saw for a longer period, I would recomend assaw in the 35-40cc class. It is a MUCH more universal saw at allmost the same weight.

Personally I prefer to research well first and invest my money once and get a better package than any stupid Stihl 170 could ever offer.

7

Can you be more specific - what would you recommend?

 

[hseII]

Can you be more specific - what would you recommend?

Echo 3xx would be a reasonable alternative if you have a dealer.

The other options will be more $.

I like ECHOs, but we don't expect you to become a service tech.

That's why the Stihl line was recommended originally: after Sale support.