I have a friend that just bought a house with 2.3 WOODED acres. Got a deal casue the guys was trying to expand the back yard cut about 10 18" dia. white pines down and left them felled on the ground?? Did not buck them up or even cut the stumps off even. I want to help him clean it up for his new daughter arrives to play in the yard. Neither of have a saw up here, and he does need to buy one. This will be a medium size job, But he is not going to log this property. Will a Poulan or McCulloch with a 20" bar do or should he just get a used Husky, Stihl, Echo, efco, Tanaka, etc?? Does not have $400 to throw at a saw seeing he JUST bought the house! I have a 26" bar Olympaic down in New York, but don't want to bring it up to New Hampshire?
Chainsaws with 20" bar
shortlid
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I have a friend that just bought a house with 2.3 WOODED acres. Got a deal casue the guys was trying to expand the back yard cut about 10 18" dia. white pines down and left them felled on the ground?? Did not buck them up or even cut the stumps off even. I want to help him clean it up for his new daughter arrives to play in the yard. Neither of have a saw up here, and he does need to buy one. This will be a medium size job, But he is not going to log this property. Will a Poulan or McCulloch with a 20" bar do or should he just get a used Husky, Stihl, Echo, efco, Tanaka, etc?? Does not have $400 to throw at a saw seeing he JUST bought the house! I have a 26" bar Olympaic down in New York, but don't want to bring it up to New Hampshire?
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6,564 Posts
For a 1 time major job and a few others that may pop up from time to time, no need to spend big money on an Echo, Stihl, Husqvarna, etc unless he wants to keep it around for many many years. Since he may be strapped right now for cash, a cheaper saw will do IMO. McCulloch has a newer model 18" saw out that's out right now thats yellow and orange, but I can't seem to remember the model number. It's sells for around $160 and has 45 cc's I think it was, with a chrome lined cylinder which will help extend the saw life. Again, you'll get great features and really long life for most home/landowners buying a top grade saw, but for 1 time uses (per say) or occasional jobs, Homelite, McCulloch, Poulan/Craftsman will serve the purpose well enough.
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3,954 Posts
Not worth to buy polan My Dad bought it and it work great until later it start worse won't start easy due compression was 85 psi. We did follow their instruction for oil with gas for mix.
You won't believe that cheap chain saw will last to 50 hours by Epa
I would choose stihl or echo but they cost about 250 dollars for medium but do not buy stihl's cheap chain saw that sold about 170 dollars that is from china.
You won't believe that cheap chain saw will last to 50 hours by Epa
I would choose stihl or echo but they cost about 250 dollars for medium but do not buy stihl's cheap chain saw that sold about 170 dollars that is from china.
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1,233 Posts
I got a McColluch with 20 inch bar for 20 bucks. Works awesome best money I have spent. Just needed a new chain and I was set to go!
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6,564 Posts
Not sure I understand your comment Milwaukee. Stihl is and always has been a German made saw. What I'm not sure is if that they're imported or built here, like Echo is. Almost every pro service in my area I've ever seen use Stihl. Sometimes, small Echo's for topping or limbing, but the serious falling comes from mostly Stihls. Husqvarna and Echo are quite popular too with the discerning home/landowner. I believe the post was started to ask wether or not the new owner of the property needs to spend $350-$450 just to section up some trees the last owner left. Any new saw $150-$200 range with a 18-20" bar/chain should handle the task with still useful life in it. Using a quality oil, sharp chain and periodic maintenance will help ensure this. Personally, I'd opt for the top brands knowing the tool will still offer many good years after this one particular job has been done. My .02
I agree with xdiver86, you are cutting white pine, not oak or walnut, only a soft wood a 16 inch should do nicely.
cut down 1 side of the log, do not cut all the way through! stop about 4-6 inches from the ground. Then move down the log and make another cut, then move down the log.
After a while go to the other side of the log and cut that side.
One word of caution, if you do go to the ground and hit a rock, the saw will try to cut crooked. Don't fight it, that's why you bought an extra chain when you bought the saw. Put on the new chain, next trip to town take the dull chain and have it sharpened for the next time.
Another thing to buy if they have it is a plastic wedge. when making the final cut. after you get 4-5 inches down, slip the plastic wedge in the very top of the log. Tha that way the log sill not close on the top and pinch the chainsaw bar.
:wwp:
cut down 1 side of the log, do not cut all the way through! stop about 4-6 inches from the ground. Then move down the log and make another cut, then move down the log.
After a while go to the other side of the log and cut that side.
One word of caution, if you do go to the ground and hit a rock, the saw will try to cut crooked. Don't fight it, that's why you bought an extra chain when you bought the saw. Put on the new chain, next trip to town take the dull chain and have it sharpened for the next time.
Another thing to buy if they have it is a plastic wedge. when making the final cut. after you get 4-5 inches down, slip the plastic wedge in the very top of the log. Tha that way the log sill not close on the top and pinch the chainsaw bar.
:wwp:
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34,863 Posts
Wile a 20" saw is handy, and he may need it for other work in his yard[storm damange etc] I nice 16, or eaven 18" will do the job, and be cheaper. The big saws are sure nice, but I have found they are realy not a good "only saw" Its nice to have a small 12-16" saw for trimming, and limming. Lot nicer then swinging that big saw/bar around!!!
BTW I picked up a Chraftsman 16" saw for the wife to use.[all of mine were old, and had no safty stuff on them] and wile it has held up OK, its realy pretty cheasy. Think its mane by Polen. Agean....it works, but next time I will pony up the extra $100 or so and get a nice one.
BTW I picked up a Chraftsman 16" saw for the wife to use.[all of mine were old, and had no safty stuff on them] and wile it has held up OK, its realy pretty cheasy. Think its mane by Polen. Agean....it works, but next time I will pony up the extra $100 or so and get a nice one.
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Agreed. A 16" bar/chain is more apt to cover most jobs you'd encounter on a regular basis. This is why I've always owned at least 1 of this size. Since 18" trees was the intended initial job, a 16" saw will be more than enough to handle it. I'd personally look for the largest engine/bar combo I could fine with these brands incase you have to one day tackle a tougher wood like oak, etc.
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Haven't really looked at their site, either-(but I will--be interesting) -I just know it's a big place, right off the interstate in Chesapeake/Va. Beach--more than just a warehouse---
the man I know here that has a repair shop gets his parts/saws from there.
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19,831 Posts
Here's what I see on a quick scan:
******
STIHL Incorporated is one of seven manufacturing facilities in the STIHL Group. The Virginia Beach complex is located on over 100 acres with 1 million square feet of manufacturing and warehouse space. STIHL Incorporated employs over 2,000 people nationwide in a variety of positions from product assembly, manufacturing engineering, sales and marketing, and finance.
STIHL Incorporated began manufacturing at the Virginia Beach Facility in 1974 with the assembly of the 015 chain saws. The manufacturing area was expanded in 1983 and again in 1990 and in 2004 to its current size. In October of 1996, STIHL opened a new 50,000 square foot warehouse. In 2004 another warehouse facility of 135,000 square feet was opened to house finished goods for world wide distribution. In 2005 more space was added to the manufacturing facility. Projects in 2007, including the Guide Bar plant, will put over 1 million square feet of property under roof.
The chain saw is the cornerstone of our industry, but today we also manufacture a variety of handheld outdoor power equipment.
STIHL Incorporated is ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 registered and is a member of many associations.
ISO 14000 Statement
STIHL Addresses Worldwide
:fing32:
******
STIHL Incorporated is one of seven manufacturing facilities in the STIHL Group. The Virginia Beach complex is located on over 100 acres with 1 million square feet of manufacturing and warehouse space. STIHL Incorporated employs over 2,000 people nationwide in a variety of positions from product assembly, manufacturing engineering, sales and marketing, and finance.
STIHL Incorporated began manufacturing at the Virginia Beach Facility in 1974 with the assembly of the 015 chain saws. The manufacturing area was expanded in 1983 and again in 1990 and in 2004 to its current size. In October of 1996, STIHL opened a new 50,000 square foot warehouse. In 2004 another warehouse facility of 135,000 square feet was opened to house finished goods for world wide distribution. In 2005 more space was added to the manufacturing facility. Projects in 2007, including the Guide Bar plant, will put over 1 million square feet of property under roof.
The chain saw is the cornerstone of our industry, but today we also manufacture a variety of handheld outdoor power equipment.
STIHL Incorporated is ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 registered and is a member of many associations.
ISO 14000 Statement
STIHL Addresses Worldwide
:fing32:
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264 Posts
I have a Homelite, I think 'EZ 2' with16" blade I bought about 8 years ago. I cut up a $!t pot of pine with it then, some up to about 24 inches or so. Then after hurricane Charlie, before the next hurricane came thru I had to take down an oak tree. Limbs were broken off about 30 to 40 feet in the air, and hanging too close to the house, with no way to get them down. I could not get my NEW Poulan 18" to run, so my trusty homelite took it to the ground for me. The tree measured 34" --not a typo, thirty four inches-- diameter!! that saw has cut a lot more wood than it was made to cut.
Long story short....A good saw does not have to be expensive, or long, to do a lot of cutting. I silll like my 'Homey'!!:bannana:
Good luck!
Long story short....A good saw does not have to be expensive, or long, to do a lot of cutting. I silll like my 'Homey'!!:bannana:
Good luck!
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739 Posts
If I was going to purchase a cheap saw for a few uses, I'd go with an 18" bar or smaller. I made the mistake of buying a Poulan Pro with a 22" bar a couple years ago. The only way that saw would cut anything was with an 18" bar. 20 was rough, and 22 just stopped most of the time. I retired that saw for an Echo cs670 and haven't looked back.
As far as Stihl, they offer some great saws, as well as some not so great ones. All lower end saws with a Stihl sticker have a Redmax engine under the plastic. Stihl's engines do not meet EPA standards for the US market. Stihl's products are sold all over the world, and they were not about to change everything for our market alone. As of 2 years ago, after Echo turned them down, they contracted Redmax to manufacture for them. This arrangement gets them enough EPA credits to continue to offer their engines on the high end of their equipment. I'm not knocking Redmax (much) but they do not have the outstanding reputation that Stihl does.
As far as Stihl, they offer some great saws, as well as some not so great ones. All lower end saws with a Stihl sticker have a Redmax engine under the plastic. Stihl's engines do not meet EPA standards for the US market. Stihl's products are sold all over the world, and they were not about to change everything for our market alone. As of 2 years ago, after Echo turned them down, they contracted Redmax to manufacture for them. This arrangement gets them enough EPA credits to continue to offer their engines on the high end of their equipment. I'm not knocking Redmax (much) but they do not have the outstanding reputation that Stihl does.
I have a Homelite SXL AO which I bought in 1983 for $300. It has never let me down, except normal wear items. It has plenty of power for my largest bar which is 24", even in hardwood it cuts like crazy. I also have a 16" and 20" bar. All my chains are the full chisel non-safety type. I sharpen them a few times each by hand .. then take them to a pro when they start cutting bad. With a new sharpened chain, and the 24" bar on .. the chips FLY !! ( I was always told to say chips, if its saw dust... it needs to be sharpened )
I also have a echo 14" light weight saw which is nice for limbs and a saw to climb with.
Don't confuse the older homelite saws with the newer homelites.. They are junk IMHO...
I also have a echo 14" light weight saw which is nice for limbs and a saw to climb with.
Don't confuse the older homelite saws with the newer homelites.. They are junk IMHO...
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4,950 Posts
Any chance your friend could rent one for a day or two? After the initial cleanup is over he could start saving to get a good saw such as a Stihl or Echo?Stihl has a real nice product selector on their web site to help in matching the right saw to the buyers intended usage.http://www.stihlusa.com/productselector/saw_selector.html
I don't think that's correct. Redmax does not manufacture anything for Stihl. Also Redmax is owned by Husqvarna. They bought the line from Zenoah Komatsu in January. Stihl has also produced units just for the US market only though not in saws the FS90 trimmers are a US markey only unit that was designed as a replacement for the FS85 that did not meet EPA phase 2 requirements. As for Echo, they have recently entered an agreement with Shindaiwa to share technology. Last but not least, this isn't a knock to any of those brands, they all make quality products.
All Stihl chainsaws sold in the US except the MS200, 200T, 441, 460, 650, 660, and 880 are manufactured in VA Beach. The exceptions listed are still made in Germany. All the trimmers are US made, all the blowers except the BR 380 and 420(brazilian made as of this year) are made in the US also. If the S/N begins with 1 it's a German made unit, with a 2 it's an American made unit, and with a 3 it's a Brazilian made unit.(this doesn't work for really old units but works fine for stuff over the last 8-10 years or so)
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739 Posts
Zooropa I was repeating what was told to me by the owner of a Stihl dealer in WNY. Although he was using it as a sales technique, I was not interested in a saw, or any part of a saw manufactured by Redmax. I had cash in hand, and was looking for a new Stihl right up until he told me that. I left his shop and went to the local Echo dealer who confirmed what he had said, telling me that Echo turned Stihl down 2 years ago (This was in Setp. '06) and Redmax was Stihl's second choice.
That's what prompted me to buy from him, and I have absolutely no complaints.
That's what prompted me to buy from him, and I have absolutely no complaints.
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