Chain Saw Recommendations Please

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

I thought you said SWMBO was going to be reading this thread - sounds like you could be giving her ideas!

Note to self, delete that post...... and the one posted at 5:40PM

[grizzly63 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close grizzly63]

I've got the 61 model with a 20 inch bar, pretty old now,not bad for firewood but probably too big for track clearing/camping etc...and yep "bloodshot" was the colour in my mind!!!!

[ondaboat Coopers Pale Ale Find all posts View Profile Close ondaboat]

http://www.stihl.com.au/Products/pro...m?iModelID=542 its what i'd be buying if you weren't gunna do lots of cutting and wanted something compact.
I have a 230 & have done lots of cutting with this saw for the last 9 yrs, 4-6 tonn a year with no problems (geeze my wife loves burning wood).
In regards to "Bar" size they don't do anything smaller than 12 inches...............so be careful with that sort of length.

[Auss15 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Auss15]

Iv'e used Huskies and Stihls for the past 20 years in a commercial application. They are compairable to each other. I find the saws under $500 can be a little flimsy, they are fine for small trees and firewood but can struggle with some decent hardwood.

[stewy Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close stewy]

Only last week I picked up a new Husqvcarna saw.
I'm no Arborist, but it will come in very handy for the odd job around the home but will be mainly used on camping trips for fire wood and 4WD trails to clear the occasional tree lying across the track.
I'd only ever look at Stihl or Husqvarna as the cheaper saws just won't last.

Husqvarna have the new e-series saws out now, but some dealers still have stock of the older models and you still maybe able to get a good deal.
I picked up a 236 Husky for $300 which is a perfect size for the Prado, great for cutting HardWood and its size is comparable to the Stihl mini boss.
The Husky though has a slighly larger cylinder displacement of 34cm3.
The smaller saws will still do the job well.



cheers

[wooley Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close wooley]

i've never had much to do with smaller saws, will any of these fit in a standard drawer system; H~210mm?

[ondaboat Coopers Pale Ale Find all posts View Profile Close ondaboat]

the one main thing about a chainsaw no matter how big or brand is a sharp chain.

[ondaboat Coopers Pale Ale Find all posts View Profile Close ondaboat]

Draw Modification

i've never had much to do with smaller saws, will any of these fit in a standard drawer system; H~210mm?

Just cut it bigger with the new chainsaw

[wooley Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close wooley]

Just cut it bigger with the new chainsaw

you're an ideas man!

[LiveFreeAndRoam Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LiveFreeAndRoam]

MS 180 Easy2Start MiniBoss $569 , ouch, may have to collect on the SWMBO insurance first!

I bought mine this January and they stihl had a XMAS special running. I can't recall what I paid, but it wasn't that much. OTOH, I had 30 trees to cut down and the cost of the saw was easily offset when comparing it to the cost of having someone come in and do it for me. I showed SWMBO the savings and she was sold .

LFaR.

[BradLee Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BradLee]

I have husqvarna 136 which has been an excellent and long lasting saw, the good thing about Huskies is they guarantee parts availability for 15 years. While the Stihl is a good saw imo they are over rated and expensive.

At the end of the day the Husqvarna is a very "manly saw" (said with a deep voice)...

I have a Huskie 230. As long as the fuel mix is right and you don't run it upsidedown (LOL) its very reliable compact and yes...manly . Good size. Very capable but compact.

[jwb Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close jwb]

For occasional use my little Poulan 14" is perfect. Amazing how much it will cut with a sharp chain and for the infrequent use it starts exactly as per instructions. Best of all with the bar off it all fits in a modest size plastic tool box, so is clean and odour free to store in the back. Found that buying new chains from the US mail order is cheaper than getting them sharpened locally!

[ianafloat Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ianafloat]

I also vote Husqvana, my fatherinlaw has a small one and it has done a great job over the last 5 years, tough as nails

[rags Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close rags]

Have had a Dolmar 18" 36cc for about 15 plus years and have not had any problems,as with all my 2stroke power tools all Dolmar.I'm lead to believe that Dolmar made the 1st ever original chain saw 80 odd years ago ,but also note that the Dolmar has ties with the Makita tool co these days so will now have a cheaper range with the same item badge as a blue makita or orange dolmar. Have a good mate who is a Stihl dealer and tells me there is 2 types ,the cheaper home market range designed and built to compete with the cheaper end markets and then the good stuff for pro's

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]