Can you tell me about chainsaws?

paysensmom

DIS Veteran
Joined
Jun 26, 2007
Messages
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We live in a house that has an outdoor woodstove and my husband needs a chainsaw of his own. I don't know a thing about them. What is a good one? Where to get it and what size we need.
 
A Sears Craftmans 16 Inch is a good starter.
Should be under $200.
Easy to learn and use.
Great warranty, he should get several years out of this...
It was my first.
 
We live in a house that has an outdoor woodstove and my husband needs a chainsaw of his own. I don't know a thing about them. What is a good one? Where to get it and what size we need.

A lot depends on the size of wood/lumber he is cutting...radius, diameter, circumferince (sp) he intends to saw. Stihl is top quality, but a bit more $$$ than others.
 
Stihl chainsaws are excellent. I'll have to ask my husband what size his is. He had others before he bought this one, but this one has lasted a long, long time (at least 20 years).
 

Sthil ms290 is a good saw. The main thing is to use fresh gas and fuel stabilizer (something like starbrite startron). When done, run it out of gas before storing it.
 
Sthil ms290 is a good saw. The main thing is to use fresh gas and fuel stabilizer (something like starbrite startron). When done, run it out of gas before storing it.

Another vote for Stihl.
AND excellent advice! :thumbsup2 Prevents lots of headaches :)
 
I thought it was worth mentioning that he will probably only use this for two to three years tops.
 
Stihl chain saws are a little bit more money then the big box places but they last a long time and are easier to use.

All it takes is one snowstorm to burn up anything you get from a big box store. Usually anything from the big box store are not designed to be repaired.

I suggest your husband going to a local dealer and talk to the sales rep. A good rep will talk with your husband and help him pick a chain saw that fits his needs (Bar length, engine size, usage, weight, ect)

If you want to get this as a Christmas present, you could get him the NEEDED safety gear. You need to have a helmet, earmuffs, face shield, and a safety chaps (legs). Having all of the safety gear is especially important for novice chain saw users.
 
Stihl chain saws are a little bit more money then the big box places but they last a long time and are easier to use.

All it takes is one snowstorm to burn up anything you get from a big box store. Usually anything from the big box store are not designed to be repaired.

I suggest your husband going to a local dealer and talk to the sales rep. A good rep will talk with your husband and help him pick a chain saw that fits his needs (Bar length, engine size, usage, weight, ect)

If you want to get this as a Christmas present, you could get him the NEEDED safety gear. You need to have a helmet, earmuffs, face shield, and a safety chaps (legs). Having all of the safety gear is especially important for novice chain saw users.[/QUOTE]

This Exactly ... My brother is a medic with the Fire Dept and was just saying yesterday that the chain saw injury calls have already started.. that and the turkey fryer fires! Chain saws are like guns.. they are perfectly safe as long as you make sure you understand what you are doing and use the saftey gear available to you.

and my DH votes for the STHIL as well..
 
thanks, guys. I am getting DH a Stihl (also recommended by an outdoorsy friend of our who has worked a farm and land for many years) AND the safety gear.
 
Sthil ms290 is a good saw. The main thing is to use fresh gas and fuel stabilizer (something like starbrite startron). When done, run it out of gas before storing it.

My husband killed his 2 year old Stihl because he didn't use the stabilizer. Luckily he bought a three year extended warranty and they sent him a full-price check to cover a new one, but that took about 6 weeks. REpair guy said he is seeing this more often with the addition of the ethanol in fuel.

Stihl chain saws are a little bit more money then the big box places but they last a long time and are easier to use.

All it takes is one snowstorm to burn up anything you get from a big box store. Usually anything from the big box store are not designed to be repaired.

....
This Exactly ... My brother is a medic with the Fire Dept and was just saying yesterday that the chain saw injury calls have already started.. that and the turkey fryer fires! Chain saws are like guns.. they are perfectly safe as long as you make sure you understand what you are doing and use the saftey gear available to you.

and my DH votes for the STHIL as well..

DH is also a medic and already this morning - onechainsaw injury (not sure why being 80+ degrees - likely a bonfire tonight) and 2 turkey frying calls (no injuries I don't think, just fires.)

GO with a Stihl.
 
Don't use the word "kill" and "chainsaw" in the same sentence. We have several but they scare the heck out of me. ;)
 
I picked him up a Stihl 290 18 inch with all of the safety gear! Thank you all for the input! Got it at a local shop too :cheer2:
 
paysensmom - Good Luck with the saw! :)
I hope it keeps your family warm for many years!
 
I picked him up a Stihl 290 18 inch with all of the safety gear! Thank you all for the input! Got it at a local shop too :cheer2:

That is a nice choice and good job getting all the safety gear. It scares me when I see someone using a chain saw searing short and flip flops.
 














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