Help me pick a chainsaw

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Catt57

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I've always been partial to Homelite for a mid range saw. I just used an electric 16" Homelite to fell a Hedge tree that was 22"-24" at the base. Never bogged down and cut through it without a hitch.
 

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I ended up with a smaller (14" bar) Poulan back in the 2007 ice storm when I was in Moore, because well... that's literally all I could get my hands on. Shelves were bare. While a Stihl or Echo or real Husqvarna (not the cheaper Poulan/Weedeater/Craftsman analog model branded at Husqvarna) would be better, this gets the job done for the 2-3 times I year I dig it out. Has required little aside from replacing the bar once, the fuel lines and pick up filter and carb kit a couple years ago, and countless chains. Still runs well 13 years later.

It's a bit hard to start when cold, but does fire and works well there after and starts fine warm. From my experience with these saws in my days at Sears when I worked there, I recommend running a hair more oil than called for (mine notes 40:1, I run around 32:1) because when it's really lean on oil you can burn out the cylinders in those cheaper models pretty easily. So while there is the theory of "buy once, cry once" you can do alright with a cheaper saw if you just need a lighter duty cycle and you maintain it.

I will say that electric has a place, in that I really like using the 8" and 10" electric pole saws I've borrowed from my father and my neighbor in the past. They're lighter and easier to maneuver than a larger saw, and once we fell the limb you can work on it on the ground as you see fit (gas saw if a lot of work, or just use the electric for a few quick cuts). If you have a lot of taller trees, the small electric pole saws are actually really handy.
 

Seadog

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Stihl #1 echo #2 Shidaiwa #3 Husqvarna #4....everything else made today readily available is junk.

As you can see i prefer Stihl, but the little echo climber saws are pretty slick and Stihl stopped making the 200t so I ended up with the larger topping saw from echo.
2,View attachment 178630
What model is that little orange echo climbing saw? Looks like one I use to use when I worked for Wrights Tree service. Those are good little saws
 

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I've always been partial to Homelite for a mid range saw. I just used an electric 16" Homelite to fell a Hedge tree that was 22"-24" at the base. Never bogged down and cut through it without a hitch.

My fathers gas saw is a 20" bar Homelite he got for a steal as an open box (never used) at Lowes or Home Depot (whomever carries them) around 5 years ago. It's been flawless.
 

Parks 788

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I'd get a Stihl. IMO, if you live in a place like OK it's best to have two saws. Small, light, easy saw to use like an MS190 for light duty work everyonce in awhile. They with Oklahoma having a good staple of larger oaks, etc, an MS 362/462 would be on order for the large volume, hardwoods. If you can only get one then the MS362 or 291.
 

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OK, I've put it off long enough, and I have a LOT of treework to do now. I am torn between getting the Dewalt 20v max stuff for compatibility with my tools, and being slightly safer for my teenage son to learn on. I need a pole saw as well, and had planned on getting the blower for my wife to use around the pool and stuff. But, I have a lot of 2-stroke stuff to, stihl and echo edgers, weedeaters and blowers. I have heard good things about echo saws, and stihl is stihl, but I know husqvarna was good too. Are they still? I know I prob wont find in store, but I can order it, and have it here first of next week, cuz I dont see it drying up enough in the next few days for me to do the work anyways. TIA
Everyone that has mentioned Stihl, Husqvarna, and Echo have given you good advice. Also the one Fella that mentioned EPA run hours. That’s important for a long lasting saw. Never heard it that way. My old boss had just mentioned the industrial models. Guess it’s the same.
You can’t go wrong with any of those above saws.
 

rawhide

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I know from friends that Echo are good saws, but I've been a Stihl guy since the 90s when I was logging cedar trees.

My go to is a MS 290 with 18" bar used mostly for cutting firewood. It's at least 20 years old. Since getting older I purchased a 181c for trimming. Like @Cowcatcher I have found a shorter bar to be beneficial. I swapped the 16" bar on the 181 for a 14" and like it much better. And since climbing a ladder or a tree with a saw no longer appeals to me I have a 16' Stihl pole saw that is outstanding.

Currently have several large elm and hackberry piles that need to be cut up and am considering a larger saw but after handling a 391 I think I'll stick with the 290.
Now which log splitter to get?
 

Cowcatcher

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Stihl #1 echo #2 Shidaiwa #3 Husqvarna #4....everything else made today readily available is junk.

As you can see i prefer Stihl, but the little echo climber saws are pretty slick and Stihl stopped making the 200t so I ended up with the larger topping saw from echo.
2,View attachment 178630
You don’t need all them saws! I’ll help you out and that one that appears to be a 362 can come live at my house.
 

Cowcatcher

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I know from friends that Echo are good saws, but I've been a Stihl guy since the 90s when I was logging cedar trees.

My go to is a MS 290 with 18" bar used mostly for cutting firewood. It's at least 20 years old. Since getting older I purchased a 181c for trimming. Like @Cowcatcher I have found a shorter bar to be beneficial. I swapped the 16" bar on the 181 for a 14" and like it much better. And since climbing a ladder or a tree with a saw no longer appeals to me I have a 16' Stihl pole saw that is outstanding.

Currently have several large elm and hackberry piles that need to be cut up and am considering a larger saw but after handling a 391 I think I'll stick with the 290.
Now which log splitter to get?
My wife’s grandfather split his wood by hand for 60yrs. A few years ago for Christmas my wife and I gave him a 24 ton splitter. It was from Northern Tool and the Honda engine is probably what made me choose it. Another cool feature is that when the ram returns “home” it kicks the throttle down so it ain’t sitting there wide open. As soon as you hit the lever to split the next log it kick back up to full throttle. It’s really a very simply made feature that I should ad to this swisher splitter here at the ranch. Anyhow, my wifes grandpa has used that splitter a ton and told me last week it still fires right up and runs like new. It sure made his day and ours too when we gave him that gift. That reminds me, maybe this year I’ll buy him the optional splitter head that splits two ways in one cycle.
 

tyromeo55

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Exactly. I have a Poulan Wild Thang ........
Too lazy to look back but the person that said to buy the carbide chain know of what he speaks. You can cut forever with out needing sharpening. Not everybody can sharpen one though, and it's not cheap to get one done.
http://www.carbidechain.com/

I also have a Pulan Wild Thing 18" that I have had for over 15 years (if my memory is correct). Thought that if it ever died I'd look at a Sthil to replace it but the thing just keeps running. Ended up with quite a few chains that I keep sharpened myself and change out in the field in lieu of having to file them on the spot
 

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