What chainsaw would you buy your 14 yr. old

[wdfccf73]

I've never owned anything other than a Stihl and consider myself a die hard Stihl guy, As silly as I know that sounds to all of you. LOL

I got to cut some wood yesterday and let my 310 have some fun. My oldest son (he's 14) took some real interest, he said "dad your 025 is going to be my saw some day". That got me thinking, What would be a good starter saw for him?
He's tall but really slim, he's a sports nut and athletic. I gotta take minute to brag a little, He shoots 85 % from the free throw line! Ok, I'm done... :hmm3grin2orange:

Anyway, I'm thinking of getting him a saw and chaps. Any comments or suggestions?
Thanks, Chris

 

[ChrisF]

That 025 he mentioned would be a decent startersaw, in my opinion. Can learn how to watch the tip of the bar and how to maintain a sharp chain just as fine on that as any other saw, and there's no need to toss a huge saw in his hands just yet.

 

[dingeryote]

It sounds like your little 025 is already heading that way.

Start collecting some donor carcasses for parts, cuz him bieng new and a Kid, it will get thrashed like a rented mule for a bit as he learns.

Also start looking at a replacement for that 025, and start dropping Christmas hints.:hmm3grin2orange:

Just don't let the kid think it's his yet.
The fear of getting blood on, or tearing up Dads saw, needs to be maintained as long as possible LOL!!!

Good luck to ya, and keep on keeping that kid on the good path!

Stay safe!
Dingeryote

 

[HEAVY FUEL]

Yep, he gets the saw handed down and YOU get a new one.

 

[indiansprings]

I started my son out when he was 13/14 with a 028 Wood Boss.

Depending on his build and strength, get him a saw thats not under powered for what he'll be cutting. Depending on what you want to spend you can pick up 260/026 usually reasonable as well as 290's. If you don't cut alot I'd prolly pick him up a clean used 290 and put a 16" bar for it and spend what I saved on chaps and eye protection. I'd make sure whatever I bought had a chain brake.

With good instructions/lessons from Dad you'll have alot of fun going to the woods together.

 

[Trigger-Time]

I've never owned anything other than a Stihl and consider myself a die hard Stihl guy, As silly as I know that sounds to all of you. LOL

I got to cut some wood yesterday and let my 310 have some fun. My oldest son (he's 14) took some real interest, he said "dad your 025 is going to be my saw some day". That got me thinking, What would be a good starter saw for him?
He's tall but really slim, he's a sports nut and athletic. I gotta take minute to brag a little, He shoots 85 % from the free throw line! Ok, I'm done... :hmm3grin2orange:

Anyway, I'm thinking of getting him a saw and chaps. Any comments or suggestions?
Thanks, Chris

Free throw's WIN ball games!!

If money isn't to tight a new MS261 would last him a life time.
And maybe your grandson could start with it one day.
I'm sure he would let old dad use it also


TT

 

[computeruser]

Good suggestions so far.

A kid with a 45-50cc/16" saw can help out a lot around the property, and has enough saw to tackle most skill-appropriate tasks - small felling, storm cleanup, helping the neighbor remove overgrown shrubs, stuff like that. Make sure he has easy-to-sharpen Oregon chain, too, not hard-as-nails Stihl stuff that is a #### to fix with a file if your rock it out badly. Easy to sharpen speeds up the learning curve and makes touch-ups more likely, which is part of the process of developing good technique.

The obvious disclaimer re: PPE would apply for a 14 year old, particularly as to steel toe boots. Good safety habits are best learned by screwing up and hurting oneself, and are second-best learned by starting young and being consisten; I'd vote for the latter choice, if at all possible.

I started off with a 30cc Homelite and a Stihl 011 in high school, and got by for a long time with a Stihl MS290 and an Echo CS3000 top handle. Suburban storm clean-up, some pruning, small removals, and trail clearance were all handled nicely with the 290/3000 combination.

 

[SawTroll]

That 025 he mentioned would be a decent startersaw, in my opinion. ......

If you want to scare him away from using chainsaws, I agree.

It is a low-quality vibration monster, very fit to do just that!

 

[derwoodii]

My boys 12 n just got him started using saws, an 025 as well.
I told him when he can fuel it, start it, strip the bar n clean it all easy then learns sharping, well its his.
I got a pair of small size chaps that will be his as well.

 

[valtra6350]

I got a 346xpg as my first saw when i was 14. (Maybe an little more expensive saw than you thought)
Make sure to buy safety equiment to.just as important as the saw...

 

[Scooterbum]

If you want to scare him away from using chainsaws, I agree.

It is a low-quality vibration monster, very fit to do just that!

Come on SawTroll lighten up for pete's sake.


I started with a Homelite XL12. That 025 would be smooth as silk compared to that old homie.

025 looks like a good choice for him.

 

[SkippyKtm]

Come on SawTroll lighten up for pete's sake.


I started with a Homelite XL12. That 025 would be smooth as silk compared to that old homie.

025 looks like a good choice for him.

I gotta agree with ol' Scoot on this one, although I don't care much for the 025's myself (I have a 346xp), Sounds like its a logical choice -since wdf is a Stihl man and he already has a 025 and all.
Sounds like that little saw will probably get a good thrashing, I wouldn't want to see a nice 346 or an 026 get treated that way after all...

 

[056kid]

the 025 will work great, but I would look at older saws. more maintenance, a little more dangerous, and alot more "real", I think it will make his foundation stronger.

 

[gilraine]

If you want to scare him away from using chainsaws, I agree.

It is a low-quality vibration monster, very fit to do just that!

And yet people have been using this family of saws for years happily... just because it is not a 346 or 361 doesnt mean that it should go to the scrap heap..

 

[REJ2]

I've never owned anything other than a Stihl and consider myself a die hard Stihl guy, As silly as I know that sounds to all of you. LOL

I got to cut some wood yesterday and let my 310 have some fun. My oldest son (he's 14) took some real interest, he said "dad your 025 is going to be my saw some day". That got me thinking, What would be a good starter saw for him?
He's tall but really slim, he's a sports nut and athletic. I gotta take minute to brag a little, He shoots 85 % from the free throw line! Ok, I'm done... :hmm3grin2orange:

Anyway, I'm thinking of getting him a saw and chaps. Any comments or suggestions?
Thanks, Chris

Kudos on the chaps. REJ2

 

[Kwdog75]

I say no chainsaw until he get a job and buys his own. He will respect a lot more if he paid for it.

 

[gemniii]

In response to the title of the thread:
Any dang saw he wanted as long as he told me who his mother is!!!:hmm3grin2orange:

(Let's see, 14 years ago, 1996, where was I traveling, Germany, Korea, Serbia? Wait, that quick trip to Alaska? Hair color?)

But realistically, I started my four (3 boys and a girl) on an 021, because that's what I had. If I had had a smaller, say even electric, saw I would have started them on that, after they learned the carving knife.

And to the OP - pass it down, I've got my Dad's circa 1960's Craftsman to restore eventually. Just handling it brings back good memories.

/edit - and to the OP - Get him an 880, and let him grow into it while you keep it operational. Also a nice diesel dually.

 

[056kid]

I say no chainsaw until he get a job and buys his own. He will respect a lot more if he paid for it.

Hes 14. he cannot legally work

 

[Kwdog75]

he can't use the lawnmower to mow the neighbour's lawn or help his dad split and stack wood till he saved up enough money for a saw?? Please!

 

[056kid]

So he has to wait all winter, then spend the next summer mowing to get a powersaw?

Sounds like a good way to turn him off to the whole idea.

Your in vehicle & gun territory with that plan..