Anyone ever purchase one of these? We've got an older one that we've put some money into, but don't really trust it anymore, and want something more up-to-date and smaller. I'm trying to clean out a grove by myself on a family farm. We had a tornado come through in '92 and with my grandparents age, no one has done any work to any of it.

Any suggestions? I'd like something that isn't too heavy duty. Most of the stuff that I would be cutting is only volunteer trees that are 6-8" in diameter, but there also is some other trees in there (probably from the early 1900's) that are huge and have been knocked over.

Thanks

STIHL.............16" or 18" bar.

Any idea on what those weigh?

Thanks

I got a Stihl 025,with a 16" bar, great little chainsaw. It's pretty lite, but if your going after those bigger tree's, you'll need a bigger one. Probably wieghs about 10 pounds, it'll tear up 6-8" trees no problem. I've had it for about 3 year's, fires right up every time I need it. Go down to the Stihl rep in your area, and talk to them. When I was looking, Stihl felt the best to me, and if you want it to last forget about the home improvement cheapie's.

I bought the Stihl Farmboss and added a 20" bar and loved it! Great chainsaw and not real heavy. Do yourself one favor tho... get rid the stock anti-kickback chains if you have any common sense at all and know how to use a chainsaw! When I went to the stihl full-chisel chains, it was like night and day! I was cutting 12" - 14" pine trees in less than 1/3 the time! Best $20 I ever spent!

Good luck.
BC

I would go Husqvarna if I was to go buy a new one. But my dad has a stihl that I have cut a lot of trees with no probs. The reason for husqvarna is in my opinion they are easier to work on.

Get the shortest bar that will do the job. It will be lighter and have fewer links to sharpen when the time comes. Also, less chain is less parasitic drag. There is no advantage to having a bar longer than you really need. The Husqvarna saws are a pretty good value for the money. If you get about 40cc, it will cut those small trees in no time.

a polan wild thing is a great saw for the price! i think 129. bucks with the case ,file,oil,gloves. they have an 18 " bar and will work great for a part time clearing project. and its not a back breaker to crank or work with. if the trees you are wanting to cut are larger than 2 times the length of your bar you will need a longer bar and bigger saw.

I bought a Husky 272XP in 1994 used it to clear my lot and use it still for a tree here & there for firewood , the only thing I've done to it in 11-1/2 years is spark plug and filters. Great saw :thumbsup:

go to a tool rental rent a stihl for a day, go rent another brand if you can find a place that rents another brand. you'll like the stihl much better. most brands work good when new the rental will give you the fill of how it will proform a year or two down the road.

I also have a Poulin Wildthing with an 18" bar and it's been a great saw. Our house is heated by wood only so my saw sees a fair bit of use and in the 3 years I've owned it, it hasn't skipped a beat. I know names like Stihl, Husqvarna ect put out a good product but when I was shopping for a new saw I couldn't warrant over double the price for the name. I'm very happy with my wildthing and it's paid for itself twice over. I'd buy another one if this one ever wears out.

I'm on my second Poulan Wildthing. As mentioned already, it's a good saw for the money, but I did wear out my first one in about 6 years of "home owner" type use. This includes serious cutting of about 4-5 days / year at our cabin plus keeping the wood pile stocked for weekend fires in the outdoor fire pit at home. I consider this saw to be for home owner type of use, not a professional grade continuous duty saw. Having said that, I'd probably buy a third one when #2 is done.

I've alway had sears stuff till one day I just decided to go and buy a Stihl leafblower. WOW!!! So light and powerful. I didn't realize how bad the sears stuff was till I tried this. My dad borrowed my new leafblower cause his wasn't working, then he went out and bought a Sthil as well. Ever since my leafblower pruchase I've had my eye on their chainsaws, and they are phenomenal.

I would not buy anything but a Husky. Bailey's has a Husky 350 on sale for $299.

I'm on my 2nd poulan also, the first was crushed by a falling tree, long story don't ask. I have cut down/up over 60+ 40ft plus tall trees since the tornado wiped out my 2 acre wooded lot 3/4 years ago. I have the larger one with the 21" bar and have cut up trees so wide across the base that the bar didn't reach through. Kick A$$ saw for the money. Not much in the way of service on them in my area, but at a couple hundred a pop, if it is very screwed up toss it and buy another.

I bought a Poulan after the storm a few years ago. Got LOTS of use for oh about 10 days since then it's sat in the garage for 3 years. I didn't really shop around much, since chainsaws were in high demand then and I heard a rumor that a local hardware store had a couple and I ran and bought one. The 16" bar is about right for most things. The only thing I couldn't do with it was cut the 3 ft trunk, but I left that to the pro anyway

i have used a echo cs4400 for the past 7years with no problems at all it has a 18 bar also i use it intermitely but when the hurricanes blow through it gets abused luke

a polan wild thing is a great saw for the price! i think 129. bucks with the case ,file,oil,gloves. they have an 18 " bar and will work great for a part time clearing project. and its not a back breaker to crank or work with. if the trees you are wanting to cut are larger than 2 times the length of your bar you will need a longer bar and bigger saw.
I've got the Poulan too. I cut about two cords of wood a year it does fine. Doesn't vapor lock when refueling hot like my Mac did. Need to keep track of the bar oil, the auto oiler is pretty generous. I did up grade to an Oregon chain and use the stock one for a back up.

Wow, Poulan's sounds pretty popular!

I got the 16" McMulloch out and played with it a little today. It's sat for awhile and took awhile to get it started. Once I got it started, it ran great. Starts good and easy too. It's an older model Power Mac 610, doesn't have the chain brake. I found that it worked good sawing vertically, but horizontally I had issues cutting. I had to cut by pulling instead of pushing, in order to get enough pressure to cut. The weight isn't a big deal, although newer ones maybe weigh less. ???

I'm curious, would a model with a longer bar cut better? Or what do you look at in a model? I know a good chain beats anything, but i'm still curious if a longer bar would help or make the issue worse.

Thanks

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned it ... but pick up a good used Stihl 026! The Stihl numbers are a little deceiving, but the 026 is actually a Pro Model ... and has substantially more power than bigger saws, and weighs nice and lite.

My dad, brother, and I cut about 15 cords per year ... brother and dad both got good deals on their 026, and it is the perfect first saw. Stick with a 16" bar, and it will do fantastic.

Resale on an 026 is great, you can cut your whole forest down ... and still get every penny you spent to buy it!

Now for an odd-ball ... I actually run a Makita:-) Not quite as much power as the 026, and a little heavier ... but mine actually has a fuel injection option. Unbelievable! The other saws we usually start/warm-up before going to the woods ... mine I throw on the truck. One pull with the choke out, and second pull it starts!! I have never, ever seen another saw come close to that ... regardless of temperature, or even the first of fall.

Anyhow ... definitely look around E-bay or something for an 026. I think they go for like ~$300 used. Use it a while, then resell it ... you'll get your ~$300 back. And not kill yourself cutting wood.

P.S. Careful on the full chisel chains ... they will definitely cut a lot faster, but don't fool yourself into thinking your a pro your first winter out. There are plenty of other dangers to watch out for. Stihl won't even sell a saw with a full-chisel installed (not even a Pro Saw), and our local guy says they're not even allowed to add them to the saws anymore. Mind you, you'll always be able to buy them separately ... but this gives you an idea on Stihl's consideration of this.

I also have the Poulan Wildthing, you can't beat it for the money. I've had it for some 6 years or so and it never misses a beat and is easy starting. Chains and bars are also cheap. As others have said, there are better saws out there for the professional, but for the homeowner, the poulan can't be beat.

Bill

I've got the Poulan too. I cut about two cords of wood a year it does fine. Doesn't vapor lock when refueling hot like my Mac did. Need to keep track of the bar oil, the auto oiler is pretty generous. I did up grade to an Oregon chain and use the stock one for a back up.

yeah I'd forgotten about that. Gotta keep a close eye on the bar oil on mine too.

STIHL.............16" or 18" bar. best on the market

Chainsaw conparisons (http://www.compfused.com/directlink/154/) :D

I got a Poulan Wild Thing off the internet, as I wanted to order a CD through the site anyways. Got it late-midweek, and first got to try it out today. I've already had the covers off, as the idle screw fell out and inside it. I didn't know that it had a high-idle on it every time it starts, so I backed the screw out trying to get the idle down. While shaking the saw upside down to try and get the screw out, a small spring fell out, that I don't know where it goes. And somehow one of the screws from the outside got inside it from the bench while trying to take one of the covers off. Found out where it was when the engine wouldn't crank over. It was lodged in between the recoil starter and the body of the saw. Got the idle and bar set last night, and got to try it out today. More power, bigger bar, better cutting, and lighter weight than the other one we have, but that's to be expected when you're dealing with something almost 30 yrs old. The only thing that I have against it is that it must oil a lot, as the inside of the saw by the chain drive really accumulates with debris. But, it's a great performing saw for a great price. Would recommend!

Just remember like most everything else you get what you pay for. Up here I see mostly husqvarna, jonsered, or stihl and people up here cut a lot of wood.

Worked great for years. Just lately I don't seem to be getting oil coming
out to the chainbar anymore. I took the chainbar off and see where the oil comes out but it doesn't seem to be working right.
What should I look for?
I took the little black rubber hose off the fitting and oil then comes out the hole but doesn't seem to go through the hose to go to the chain.
Hmmmmmmmmmm

Anyone have this problem?
First time I have had this problem.

Just going off of a guess for parts here, but maybe a valve that lets the oil out is plugged, or a tube aiming at the bar is pinched or plugged. Not sure how the bar is oiled on a chainsaw. Sounds like more disassembly and/or investigation is in order.

If you have a good number of large tree's (oak, ash, poplar, maple, etc, not scrub trees like box elder) contact the school to see if there is a woodworkers club around there....... they might come and help you out if you give them the big tree's to "lumber out".

Husqvarna, no question, the best saw I've ever used.

Your going to have to change the plastic oil pump for your bar.
Had 2 wildthings.
Got a husky after the hurricane will never go back gave the others to my son.
Those wildthings will have sawdust coming out while the husky is spewing chunks! I see why they call it the FEMA saw.

Stihl all the way. The 026 mentioned earlier will cut very nice. It has been replaced by the 260 and 260 pro....the pro version having a magnesium block and being lighter and having adjustable bar oiling not mention another 1k of engine rpm. Stihl modified its home owner work horse saw a few years ago the 029 now a 290 farmboss and added adjustable oiling....cheaper than a 260 without the some of the pro features but a great saw for the price. Very few saws come with adjustable oiling and it is key to low cost operation saving bars and chains when cutting dirty blown down wood. I would also recommend not buying a saw in a box but get it from a dealer that will set it up and make fine adjustments to it in a test block of wood and you wont have any issues. Most chainsaws requiring some tuning to get them perfect right out of the box. Unless you making a living with the saw I would opt for the 290 farmboss, use the extra dough to get the factory hard case for storage...or make them throw it in for free on the deal. Just for reference...the even number saws from Stihl 260,280,360,440,460 are stihl's pro saws,(In Chevelle terms the SS) you will see a price difference in them. Huskys are nice saws also and their pro saws end in XP after the number...I own one of them as well. But I almost always find myself using my Stihl's. You wont be disappointed. If the tree's form the 1900's are huge you might need a saw a little bigger...Tell your dealer what your doing he will hook you up.

Stihl 440 !!!

Here is a real mans chain saw V-8 Saw (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OhA6AOuui8)

Just wanted to report in as I was doing some searching on here about chain saw reviews.

My Poulan never did any bar oiling this last time out, more than likely ruined the freshly sharpened chain. Although, it is a picco, so it probably doesn't take much abuse, and isn't too aggressive. Pretty much left me up to muscling and burning the cuts, when I was on a time schedule. Was trying to replenish the log and kindling supply for my grandpas wood burner, as he had been burning with it prior to Christmas, and the little bit he did have wasn't lasting as it was so dry.

So i'm out on a hunt for another saw for the spring season. Thought about just getting a different bar with an aggressive chain, but would still have to fix the oiling issue. Probably would want to get a smaller bar. Don't think much of the lack of power that this saw has. Starts hard, and shuts off if you don't play with the throttle in between cuts.

So any updates out there since we last discussed saws?

I have an Echo 4400.Pretty happy with it.

Husqvarna all the way mine is going on 35 yrs. & still going. I realize this is over a yr. old but had to put in my 2 cents anyway.

a polan wild thing is a great saw for the price! i think 129. bucks with the case ,file,oil,gloves. they have an 18 " bar and will work great for a part time clearing project. and its not a back breaker to crank or work with. if the trees you are wanting to cut are larger than 2 times the length of your bar you will need a longer bar and bigger saw.

That's what I have for around the house, Gets used maybe 8 hours a year. I replaced the chain with an Oregon. Always starts, doesn't vapor lock when hot and cuts through pretty large stuff like butter. Have had it for 5 years. If you are going to do more cutting like every weekend during the summer for firewood, etc. get a Stihl or Husky

Marry a woman with an axe.
Signed;
Paul B.