Favorite New Chainsaw

[8ntruck 7,006]

I'm currently using a 20+ year old Craftsman 18" saw.  It works OK, but it is a hard starter when hot.  In the near future, I will be doing a lot of chainsaw work in our woods.  The old Craftsman does not give warm and fuzzy vibes for use like this.  So, I am considering a new saw.

 

I'm thinking along the lines of a Sthil MS 250 or a Husquvarna 440.  Comments? Opinions?  Love?  Hate?

 

Anybody out there have a DeWalt battery powered saw?  Would it be worth taking one of those out into the woods with the expectation of getting similar performance from a battery pack as from a tank of gas in t gas saw?

 

Come on, folks.  Let's get a good argument discussion going here.

 

 

Edited November 27, 2022 by 8ntruck

[lynnmor 7,306]

My newest of my seven Homelite chainsaws is 43 years old.  Take a look at the 43 year old battery power tools and ask yourself if that is what you want.  Wait! Even the 10 year old tools are in the trash.

[davem1111 2,030]

12 minutes ago, 8ntruck said:

I'm currently using a 20+ year old Craftsman 18" saw.  It works OK, but it is a hard starter when hot.  In the near future, I will be doing a lot of chainsaw work in our woods.  The old Craftsman does give warm and fuzzy vibes for use like this.  So, I am considering a new saw.

 

I'm thinking along the lines of a Sthil MS 250 or a Husquvarna 440.  Comments? Opinions?  Love?  Hate?

 

Anybody out there have a DeWalt battery powered saw?  Would it be worth taking one of those out into the woods with the expectation of getting similar performance from a battery pack as from a tank of gas in t gas saw?

 

Come on, folks.  Let's get a good argument discussion going here.

 

 

 

I have a Husky 440 with a 16" bar.  Nice when it runs, but I've had to take the carb out a few times for a good cleaning, which may not be unusual for any machine in the conditions these run in.  I also have an Echo 18", don't remember the model. It got better reviews than the Husky.

 

I wouldn't fault anyone doing any tree work having a battery powered machine as a "second machine", unless you're only doing really light stuff.  Heck, I usually take my Sawzall along for smaller branches and such. But I wouldn't go battery powered for anything serious or running into hours of cutting.  

 

Last fall I was working on a downed Ash tree that's about 3 feet in diameter, and wishing for a bigger machine than the Echo. And now I'm down to the lower part of the trunk that I left for this year, that's closer to 4 feet. Not really looking forward to tackling that part.  Will be getting some smaller stuff first.

 

[Snoopy11 5,714]

I have a craftsman (that I hate)... and an x-bull 60cc with 20 inch bar (that I love).

 

I actually have 2 x-bull chainsaws. Never had a problem with them, extremely powerful... and if you haven't seen the work I did at the pond, and on the pile that was made when the pond was dug... those chainsaws survived the ridiculous amount of work I did... and will fire right up today.

 

Don

[WHX?? 48,815]

I currently have  four saws in the herd not counting the ones for cutting ice.

Favorites are the old Homelites... @wallfish and @lynnmor  knows but they ain't exactly lite. Built like tanks and always if start if fueled right...and if yer back can take it. 

Go to is either a Husky 445 which I don't go out in the woods without or a older Stihl which never fails me either.

 Don't be a sally and cross anything battery powered off the list off the list unless you are Clark Griswold and just want to trim the newell post... well might be handy for limbing right @ebinmaine?  'Course I'm sitting in 80 deg with 10 outside... 

Edited November 27, 2022 by WHX??

[SylvanLakeWH 25,563]

I have the Dewalt battery saw. 

6 hours ago, WHX?? said:

Don't be a sally

 

Hi

My name is Sylvia, not Sally, and i have the Dewalt battery saw... I won't change, even if i have to, i guess...

 

It is a great saw, but has its purpose based on blade size and power. Use it all the time and it will easily handle up to 6"... blade / chain is excellent. All i need. 

 

No it is not same as tank of gas per battery. I have all Dewalt battery yard stuff so 5 extra batteries - just have them charged and by the tree - swap out as needed.

 

I also have their pole saw and it is perfect. Light, easy to use with 15' pole.

 

For true production tree work i'd have kept my Stihl and use the Dewalt for all trim work.

 

[ebinmaine 67,513]

7 hours ago, WHX?? said:

well might be handy for limbing right @ebinmaine? 

Thanks for bringing me in Jimbo.  

 

Edit: just realized this post is a bit lengthy but I want to give as much information as possible.  

 

Of note: My own usage and purchase of saws is VERY strictly limited by my

@)#($+&!!  fibromyalgia.

I can't handle the vibration of a gas engine on my forearms for very long. The weight of a saw is a MUCH more important consideration now. 

 

All above posts make valid points. 

 

We have 7 chainsaws. 

 

1. An older corded electric maybe 12", 14" bar? 

It's... usable... for wood up to 3" or 4". Rarely used now because of saw #7.  

 

2, 3. A couple older Craftsmen made by Homelite that were given to us. No chain brakes. Not going to be used on a regular basis by us. 

 

4. The only gas saw I've bought new. Echo CS 490. 49cc.  18" bar. Excellent saw. My go-to worker for felling trees and sectioning trunks larger than 12" or so.  It could be a tad more powerful but it's a perfectly good worker, just a little slow.  (I bought it a little small on purpose because my ridiculous body can't handle a larger saw for more than about 10 to 15 minutes.)

 

5. Echo 33cc about early 2000s vintage. 16" bar.    VERY low hour saw. It was close to new when I got it in a parts pile of Horse stuff from a local fella. 

Absolute best cutting chain I've ever had or seen. 

 

6. 12 to 15 years old Stihl MS180C.  31.8cc. 16" bar.  Another VERY low hours saw. 

 

Both the Stihl and smaller Echo are excellent for felling/sectioning trees under about 10" -12" and all limbing. 

They are my go-to saws for most cutting. 

Well balanced. Lightweight. Lower vibration. 

 

7. Trina's 2022 MODEL YEAR Kobalt battery powered chainsaw. 16" bar I think... 

Before THIS model year I would not have recommended a battery powered chainsaw because of short battery life.  

With a season of use behind us I'm impressed. 

It cuts great for its size.

Well balanced. 

MUCH quieter. Not silent mind you... 

MUCH lower vibration.  

 

 

I can honestly say having used it a few times and comparing it to both of my smaller gasoline saws I highly recommend it GIVEN THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES. 

Trina and I have compared her run time to mine with a fully charged battery vs a tank of gas. It's about the same. 

Batteries are expensive... But... You don't buy gas.

I've not compared costs for the electricity to charge the battery vs gasoline.  

You WILL need a fully charged spare/extra battery for every tank of gas you'd expect to use from a petrol saw. $$$$

Trina will not likely get another battery because our habits don't dictate the need at this time.  

 

 

@lynnmor raises an excellent point. Will it have a long term service life such as we expect from the Echos or Stihl? 

We. DON'T. Know. 

 

 

 

 

 

10 hours ago, 8ntruck said:

battery powered saw?  Would it be worth taking one of those out into the woods with the expectation of getting similar performance from a battery pack as from a tank of gas in t gas saw?

Trina bought her Kobalt because at the time of purchase the DeWalt was a LOT more expensive. 

 

Carefully consider your own current cutting habits. 

How many tanks of fuel can you use in a day?

You need THAT many batteries. 

Is vibration a concern?

Is noise a concern?

 

Most important:

Do you honestly expect and desire this purchase to be a permanent piece of machinery?

If yes, I can't recommend a battery powered chainsaw.... Yet.  

 

 

So what brand of gasoline saw?

Echo has come a long way and makes a great saw. They are less expensive than either a Husqvarna or Stihl...

BUT...

 

What do the LOGGERS use??

Ahhhhh..... Now there's your ultimate answer.  

 

Stihl. Hands down.  

Husqvarna is a reasonable second place.  

 

Bear. Out.  

🐻. 🤪

[wallfish 17,000]

How about a Comet saw from the 60s ? This thing is a BEAST !

 

April fools. Just thought it would be funny to take a pic with it there

[Zeek 2,286]

I had a craftsman that was faithful for years, but later became a problem. I sold it an bought this Atlas 40V. I bought the 40V saw over the 80V because it's less prone to overheating as I saw in some Tube videos. I have an 80V string trimmer, so I can also use the battery from that (40/80V). With those two batteries I can cut wood for hours or cut enough that I have to deal with it before cutting more. I have a gas Stihl WoodBoss as a backup.

 

I will never be without a battery chainsaw now that I have one. Zero issues. Fill it with oil, adjust the chain, that's it. What I like is you can continuously cut and sit it down without either letting it run or restating all the time. I also like if I just need to cut something minor, I can do it in minutes, no need to screw around with gas and starting.

 

I chose Atlas because I liked the blower. It is also 80V and blows better than my old Stihl blower. However, don't pay full price for Atlas. I bought a package with free c\charger, plus they were running a sale, plus I had another discount available, so it was worth it. Ego was my second choice, but I couldn't justify the battery cost.

 

Don't get me wrong, like I said I keep the Stihl for a reason. It's got a longer bar in case a large tree comes down.

Edited November 27, 2022 by Zeek

[Rob J. 1,942]

I bought a Stihl. Had it about 10 years now. Never a problem. 

[davem1111 2,030]

This is a great thread, and I think after reading over a lot of this, I'm going to ask "Santa" for a Dewalt 20V Max XR.  I already have a Dewalt drill, sawzall, and oscillating tool, and have 3 batteries and 2 chargers, so it makes sense to stick with that brand. My daughter's boyfriend and I did a lot of tree trimming on the dam last fall, and between my Husky 440, my Echo, and his Husky 445, we had a heck of a time getting any one of them started and keeping them running. As I write this, my right shoulder is sore since I pulled something rock climbing, and I can't imagine needed to pull-start one of those machines right now. I'll still lean on those for anything "big", like maybe over 9-10" in diameter, but aside from some firewood cutting, most of the trimming is smaller and the Dewalt 20V should be able to handle that just fine.

 

I also forgot to mention in my previous post that I have a Husky weed whacker with the 6" chainsaw and extensions.  I don't know how long it extends to but it's "long enough" for most of the trimming I want to do, or should be attempting to do safely. Thankfully that weed whacker has been pretty much an easy start, good running machine (knock on wood).  I also have one of those extendable poles with the little "pull the rope" lopper, which is great for pruning the fruit trees, branches less than an inch or so in diameter, etc.

[ebinmaine 67,513]

23 minutes ago, davem1111 said:

between my Husky 440, my Echo, and his Husky 445, we had a heck of a time getting any one of them started and keeping them running.

Dave, what are you folks using for fuel?

 

2 stroke engines do NOT like ethanol/ or other alcohol and the carbs should really be serviced every 2 or 3 years max. 

[davem1111 2,030]

24 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

Dave, what are you folks using for fuel?

 

2 stroke engines do NOT like ethanol/ or other alcohol and the carbs should really be serviced every 2 or 3 years max. 

 

I almost exclusively use the Husquvarna pre-mixed canned fuel. I think maybe once or twice I bought a non-Husky can from Menards or someplace, but only under duress.  I haven't mixed my own 2-stroke fuel in many years.   I assume that the cans have no ethanol in them...  So here we're talking about no ethanol and probably having to service the carbs every other year at least.  Too many gasoline engines, too many carbs to keep clean.  Which reminds me, I need to make the rounds with the STA-BIL.   Generators, tractors, push mowers, etc.

[Achto 27,577]

I've spent many hours with a Husqvarna 445 and 440  with 18" bars  in my hands with very little trouble. I suggest stepping up to the 445, just a few dollars more, some times the same price. The little extra power is nice.

 

An electric is ok if you just need to do some trimming from time to time. If you are going to actually cut some wood, like a truck load or 4 in a day then I think an electric would be absolutely useless. On average I figure that it takes 3 tanks of gas in a chain saw to fill a full size truck bed ( 8ft box that is, not these tiny little 5.5 or 6.5ft boxes that they put on todays trucks )

 

Edited November 27, 2022 by Achto

[WHX?? 48,815]

I know Husky throws in a bit of extra warranty if you buy a can or two of their fuel. 

[Skwerl58 704]

I have two Husky's, a 350 and 445. The 350 is around 20 years old and the 445 around 10 years old. They both have been really good saws. Both have 18" bars and I use them to cut our firewood. I use full synthetic oil and only premium non-ethanol fuel.

[EB-80/8inPA 1,641]

I seem to be deficient in the saw collecting sphere, having only one - a Stihl 029 Farm Boss. It’s dead reliable.  Always mix my fuel: 100% 91 octane gasoline with PRI-G stabilizer and Lucas injection cleaner.  One of the most reliable ICE machines I’ve ever owned.  Purchased it used from a friend about 15 years ago.  It came with an 18” bar which is big enough for what I do.  I added a 16 incher for trimming (smallest they had).  Those 2” make a bigger difference than one might think.  Heard good things about Huskies and Echoes, too.

 

Don’t get an old McCulloch, whatever you do.  They need frequent repairing and finding parts for them is impossible.

 

There’s a YouTuber named wranglerstar that’s done a bunch of comparison videos you might find worthwhile.

 

Good luck!

Edited November 29, 2022 by EB-80/8inPA

[rmaynard 15,461]

Stihl. I've owned one since 1980. Never fails me. I live on a heavily wooded lot (oak trees) which are all dying. I've had probably 10 different tree service out here over the last 40 years to take down the dead ones, and not a one has used anything but Stihl. That says volumes to me.

[Mickwhitt 4,625]

Stihl.  I have a 14 inch bar petrol model which manages all the work I need to do with ease.

But I also have a Stihl GTA26 battery trimming saw with a 4 inch bar.

That thing is truly amazing and gets more use than the petrol one for preparation work and stripping branches after dropping them.

Oh and a Stihl pole machine that takes various heads, one of which is a 12 inch chainsaw.  

I just love the orange tools. Lol 

[ebinmaine 67,513]

1 hour ago, Mickwhitt said:

orange

🍊

 

My favorite color.  

[8ntruck 7,006]

I stopped by the Sthil dealer today and looked over the saws.  I was planning on getting an 18" saw until I picked up a 20" Farm Boss.  The extra 2" of blade length feel like they will be a real back saver - won't have to bend over as much.  Later, I stopped by an Echo dealer to look at the offerings there.  The comparable saw there was $50 cheaper, and had a 5 year warranty instead of Sthil's 1 year warranty.  However, the Echo saw felt 'clunky' compared to the Sthil.  Felt heavier, too.

 

Still need to get to a Husky dealer to heft their 50cc 20" saw. 

[ebinmaine 67,513]

10 hours ago, 8ntruck said:

Echo dealer to look at the offerings there.  The comparable saw there was $50 cheaper, and had a 5 year warranty instead of Sthil's 1 year warranty

 

2 things there. 

 

1. When I bought my Echo saw a few years ago they were on sale in the area. It was well over $100 less than a comparable Stihl or Husqvarna. 

For $50 I'd buy the Stihl.  

 

2. Make VERY SURE you understand, follow, and document your warranty.  With the overly easy common availability of ethanol destroyed gas the dealers are (understandably) getting really adamant about the warranty procedure being stringently followed.  

 

 

[D_Mac 8,619]

i will start by saying I am by no way a saw expert but I can talk about saws that I have owned. The first saw Stihl 361 a beast of a saw they are pricey but if you need a really good saw ... its a really good saw. Powerful and reliable. The second saw might get me kicked off here. Its in my garage I rarely use it but it starts every time and is ok for lite duty. Says JD on the outside but I believe its a Homelite. < ducking>

[lynnmor 7,306]

28 minutes ago, D_Mac said:

i will start by saying I am by no way a saw expert but I can talk about saws that I have owned. The first saw Stihl 361 a beast of a saw they are pricey but if you need a really good saw ... its a really good saw. Powerful and reliable. The second saw might get me kicked off here. Its in my garage I rarely use it but it starts every time and is ok for lite duty. Says JD on the outside but I believe its a Homelite. < ducking>

 

 

 

 

I believe that you have a Techtronic Industries saw, they make or made cheap junk under the Homelite, Ryobi and John Deere names.  The current crop of "Homelite" saws are not something I would consider, my opinion is that Homelite died years ago.

[D_Mac 8,619]

Like I said I am no expert on saws. I was told by experts that the Stihl saw was a good one before I purchased it. I sold it for 4xs what I bought it for after I used it for a year. The JD saw I bought many years ago. Even before I bought my first Wheel Horse. It clearly is not built as well as the Stihl and has been hardly used. That Stihl has cut a lot of fire wood while the green one has only been used to cut a handful of branches. The green one has gone years without use, then when I need it for a small task it always starts. Never had to do anything to it so that's why I'm not even sure who actually made it. I will say even though it looks new it isn't a new saw. I bought it used maybe 15 yrs ago? I will agree it is cheap saw but I wouldn't go as far as to call it junk. Maybe if it was used more it would show its true colors. So far it hasn't ever been used long enough to break a sweat but it has always started easily and done what's asked. I paid 50 for the green one and only 100 for the Stihl. I do wish I kept the orange one and sold the green one.