Chainsaws

My cheapie plastic chainsaw has failed again, so I'm now looking for a durable unit (all-metal?). In fact, I'd like a small light unit (16 inch bar) for trimming up trunks and a larger unit (20 inch bar) for regular tree cutting. Any recommendations???

Thanks

Stihl, Husqvarna, Dolmar. These are all good, I have still never seen a Dolmar. I have a Stihl, runs like ^aped ape. I have cut up piles and piles of trees and logs with this saw.
What cheapie saw do you have now?

Stihl MS260 is probably the saw you want, if the price tag doesn't scare you, ~$450. It will do 16"-20", nicely. It's less than 11 lbs and is a professional model. The MS250 is only ~$350 and will run a 16" or 18" bar, but it doesn't have all the features of the more expensive one. I bought an MS250 this spring and am very happy with it.

Husqvarna saws are probably the best value on the market. They are a tough saw and not as pricy as the Stihl's. I bought the Stihl because I have wanted a Stihl for 15 years...

I have a Stihl MS280 and a Dolmar P5100.

The Dolmar is ten times the saw. Search over at arboristsite.com.

we have sold saws for 40 years including stihl and husky and you better bet the husky is by far the better saw

I"ve got several saws , Homelite Super XL-925 super strong , heavy saw , takes 2 men and a boy to start it.....Poulan 2550 , absolute krap.....Sears H47G ,strong ,heavy ,real loud.....Echo CS-346, easy starter, light , 5 yr. warranty, no problems yet....

I have a Stihl 026 (old version of 260) and it has heated my house for about 20 yrs. I have a 20" bar on it. I now also have a 028, 044, 041. I like the 044 and 026 the best their sizes compliment each other.

Based on what you said I would say something like an MS250 and a MS441 would work. I have had experience running the 250 and have ran the older version of the 441 (038magnum). I have ran a Husqvarna 257? and when it works it's a nice saw to use but you can get going too fast and it stalls half way through the cut cause your pushing it too hard and it stalls and takes about 30 pulls and alot of p!ssing around to get it going again. I'm not too sure about Stihl having an all steel unit and I'm not so sure your arms would like that either. Not too many companies have a saw without plastic. The 038 doesn't have much plastic in the areas that it counts but the 250 does and it's holding up fine.

DO NOT BUY A CUB CADET CHAIN SAW. We paid over $400 for one a couple of years ago and it is a piece of junk. We've been very pleased with the Stihls - half the price and run great.

I have run cheap Polin, 550, Super XL & 330 Homelites, Stihl 046 etc. I sent my 17 yr old son to TSC Sat and he came back with a Husky 340 that is a very little saw but I am very impressed for the dollar. I have no idea why I got two big trailer loads of dirty, dumped on the gravel and skided odds and ends junk lumber. I cut both the tandem loads with that little saw and still did not sharpen it. In the evening the sparks flew every single cut and I did not sharpen the darn little saw. I have cut firewood since 1971, and the only sorce of heat all those years and unless it was getting very late in the evening, I always sharpended the saws every tank of gas---regardless. This dumb little saw is still at the point that I would not think of sharpening it. And yes I understand if you all think I'm smoking somethig--and my son keeps telling me that I don't need to tell him again how surprised I am with how sharp the chain is staying. I think I filled the tank 9 times so far.. Go figure. It seems to have decent power for its size also.

By the way I did tell my son to get a Poulin unless he thought a different name brand was worth the extra money. I admit I was a little upset that he spent $269.00, but I had to get started and did not have time to exchange for a cheaper saw. It may fly to pieces tomorrow, but I must say I'm very impressed so far. So maybe tearing out road ditch trees with a trackhoe isn't all that bad.

I find that the $150 Poulans with the 18" bars are reliable and durable- the only way I've killed 'em is by actually dropping a tree on my spare. At their price, you can have 2 and rotate them in use, or get both sizes you want for about the same money as a Stihl.

Anyone had any luck with powered pole saws? I need to do some branch work but the thought of climbing with a chainsaw freaks me out- the falling limbs might not all be of wood!

More than likely your saw is a Poulan in Husqvarna covering. They are owned by the same company and a lot of the little saws are actually Poulan saws.

I have a friend that has a small sawmill has used all kinds of saws.Buys most of them at yard sales if the people show him they run. mostly craftsman, poulan. The last one he bought for a spare is an echo and now his others are the spares.

I have two huskys, a model 61 and a model 36. the 36 needs a gas line at present, it is ordered. I used the model 61 tuesday evening to cut up a pine tree that had fallen. they have both been sitting for 2 or 3 years, the 61 started right up and ran great. I have cut a lot of wood with it in the past, bought in 1988. I still recommend huskys.

frank

Huskys & Jonsereds are basically the same saw. I have had a Jonsered for a few years now and it runs great. The only issue I have ever had was a crack in the fuel line. Plenty of power for the size of the size of the saw and their Turbo system keeps the air filter really clean. I have run Stihls before and I thought they worked great as well. Used to run a 46 Magnum and it did anything you wanted it to. It was almost too much saw for just light firewood work.

What ever brand you get, buy from a power equipment dealer NOT a big box store (talking about Husky's here).

I truly believe the Husky you get at Home Cheapo is not the same as you get at a dealer even if it has the same model number on the cover.

Pluse the service and support considerations.

Cub Cadet (name only) was bought out by MTD. They are not to be trusted