I rarely need a chain saw but my outdoorsy daughter wants me to cut some oak and cedar logs into 12" or so diameter by 2" or so thickness plates for centerpieces at her wedding reception. I'll need a chainsaw to do this ...

I don't own one so I will have to borrow, rent, or buy a chainsaw. It looks like I'll have to pay $75 to $100 for a rental ... If I can find a decent one in the $150 range I might just buy one.

Recommendations?

Thanks!
Rocket out ...

Stihl 170, just under $200

I have one you can borrow.

Let me toss out some of the brands that I can find locally ... I checked Lowes, Home Depot, and Tractor Supply and found no source for Stihl locally.

Husqvarna
Poulan
Echo
Ryobi

Comments?



THANKS! I may take you up on that but hey, this may be a good excuse for me to add to my tools if I buy one!

For what you want to do a cheap $49 electric one from Harbor Freight would do just fine, unless you actually need to take it to the woods to cut said trees...

If that is the case I would get the Stihl 170 for a few more bucks than a Poulan. The Stihl 170 is what I am going to buy for the cabin. I've read good stuff about it.

There are Stihl dealers all over. However if the big box stores are your option, then get the Husky.

I would only buy a stihl or husky. I was given a poulan pro and the husky is night and day better. I can only imagine what a stihl is like.

I just found a Stihl dealer in Huntsville ... Hill Lawnmower & Chainsaw

Go to the Stihl website and plug in your zip code. I have an ACE hardware just up the road and they have the MS 170 for $179

Husqvarna make a decent saw, so does Johnsered sold at TSC. Gonna be hard to beat a Stihl though. Hill Lawnmower on Andrew Jackson is your Stihl dealer in HSV. I've got a Stihl MS160 that was less than 200 that I've been very pleased with.

Ok I'm leaning hard towards

#1 Stihl
#2 Husqvarna

I'm heading to our hunting club this weekend and I'll be looking for a good 12" thick log or two (hardwood or cedar) that I can get 17 custs of 1.5" to 2". If anyone has such laying around and want it removed from your property ...


If I succeed I'll probably go to Hill and buy the Stihl ... hey that rhymes!

Just incase you did not know, the worst thing for a chain saw is to hit the ground with the chain.

You may want one of these too if you are not good with a file (I am not).

http://www.harborfreight.com/electric-chain-saw-sharpener-61613.html

DO NOT buy a Poulan if you have any hard core cutting to do.In chainsaws you get what you pay for.

I just went through this. I researched chainsaws till I got sick of looking at them I went into the husky dealer to just buy one. The dealer was also a echo dealer. He quickly directed me to the echo line. Turns out tech has s big sales promotion at the end of the year. I walked out with the echo timber wolf. It's a beast but heavy. The dealer said unless I wanted to drop $600 or more on a husky I was just buying a glorified knockoff. The echo was $400 before tax at ever place I checked. I bought it that day for $300. I had enough of the $150 Walmart saws . The echo cranks great and actually idles when I am not sawing.

i have owned both ,had better luck with echo

Mine was money VERY well spent!

For saws...Stihl, Husqvarna, Jonsared, Shindaiwa, or Echo. I have a Poulan Pro that I have run through the ringer several times and it's taken it and asked for more, but from what I've seen, it's the exception to the rule!

I've worn out a couple of poulan pros that were gifted to me. One of them lasted about 4 years though - that's pretty good for me due to always having to use the stupid things.

I currently have a very small and light echo for limbs and a rancher 455 husky for real stuff. Neither of mine are the highest tier - both are middle tier. Meaning you can't buy them at a big box store. I have not managed to tear either of them up. "knocks on wood". Both idle when I am not cutting but the rancher will walk away from you if you set it down idling so you have to pay attention.

I bought the Stihl MS170 from Hills 2 years ago and have given it a pretty good workout, very pleased! I don't think you will regret that purchase.

I have two old stihls (20-30 years old) they work great but im sure they are not made that way anymore. I just finished putting a new carberator and fuel lines on a poulan wild thing. Interestingly Poulan was originally made in Shreveport La. They are a part of the huskarvana family now and the parts I just got are Husky parts. The wild thing runs and cuts like a scalded dawg now. I also have a small 14 inch Echo for trimming and it cuts great. If you are going to cut small stuff get you a 12-14 inch and it will not work you to death. But if you want one to last you will need to invest in it and always treat the non ethanol gas and crank and run it minimum every 6 months. I learned this the hard way with the poulan. Oh and something I learned from my dad, God rest his soul, It doesn't matter what type of saw you have, if the chain is dull, it wont cut. I had to learn that the hard way too. SO buy an extra chain or learn to sharpen it in the woods.

I have both sthil and echo and they have both been good saws. The echo is a top handle arborist type saw and that little thing is awesome. Yeah it's out of your price range but I just wanted to brag on the little thing, lol!