chainsaw recommendations

[birdmove]

I don't suppose any of the chainsaws actually have a fuel shutoff valve to the carb?

Jon in Keaau/HPP

[Tink]

Really no need for one that I see. Tanks are so small you can easily drain what's left back into your gas tote, then start up saw to empty the float bowl on the carburetor if you are worried about the fuel going bad. Bgiles- Good to "see" another surviving faller!

Community begins with Aloha

[Malapuaao]

Husqvarna. In last ten years this one saw has outlived at least 5 other saws.

I have had Stihls but have had either engine troubles or cheap plastic trigger break or something with both saws and trimmers.

Echo is worth considering too.

aloha

[1voyager1]

Back in the '60s I made part of my living with chainsaws.
I have not been a frequent user since.
I still think that anything less than a 24" is not a real tool.

But, for general small yard jobs and from the size of the trees on our lot, I went with an inexpensive Homelite 14" from HD.
I've had it over 2 years now and have used it much more than I thought I would because of Iselle, the Kona Wind, and the Ohia sudden death problem.
It has and still is serving me well.
I had one problem with it that I thought might be a bad coil, turned out that the resistor spark plug had an early failure.

Over 2 years of moderate use and the chain is still reasonably sharp.
But, that is more due to a lack of pilot error than anything else.

[BillyB]

I second Echo. Hone Depot often has one that was "borrowed" for a weekend at a discount.

I have both and like the Echo better. The gas tank is bigger, it has a primer bulb, and starts easily.
Seems like Shihl is trading on the name, for lower end saws at least. The gas tank is small, it is hard to start when hot having run out of gas. I had to add a shut off switch because the one attached to the trigger didn't work (poor design). On the plus side the chain adjustment is great.

For a home owner you don't need the expensive cache brand of what the pros use.
.One more thing you can get chains for the Echo off the shelf, I have to order my Stihl blades ot get them at a reasonable price.

[knieft]

quote:

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Originally posted by AKpilot

I am looking at a 16 or 18 inch saw, basic yard work, a little orchard pruning from time to time.......

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Sorry to go against the trend, but you don't need much to do what you are taking about, certainly not an 18 inch.

I have (and still have) a Stihl, but it remains unused since I got the battery powered buzz linked below. I even used it after Iselle to run up and down Kamaili Rd backing out the debris. It certainly wasn't going to take care of the monsters laying across the road at that time, but I have used nothing else to take care of our own six acres of orchard since the purchase.

You still have to mess with chain oil, but otherwise it does the trick. I have plenty of batteries and the six-port charger so maybe that makes a big difference, but you may want to consider it, or a similar electric chainsaw.

I'm not saying the the size of your chainsaw--like the size of your truck tires, or stereo speakers, has any relationship, inversely or otherwise, to the size of Donald Trump's hands--but the cheapo Ryobi gets used around our property.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-ONE-Lit.../206110127

YMMV,
Kirt

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

WHHAATTTT???
(relaying comment from someone who used their chainsaw for too many years without ear plugs)
Don't forget to buy a good set of hearing protectors with your saw, if you don't already have them for your weed wacker and lawn mower. You'll be glad you did when you turn 65 years old.

"How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives." -Annie Dillard

[knieft]

quote:

---

Originally posted by HereOnThePrimalEdge

WHHAATTTT???
(relaying comment from someone who used their chainsaw for too many years without ear plugs)
Don't forget to buy a good set of hearing protectors with your saw, if you don't already have them for your weed wacker and lawn mower. You'll be glad you did when you turn 65 years old.

---

Oh yeah. It's much quieter. An MUCH lighter.

Cheers,
Kirt

[kalakoa]

the battery powered buzz

I like the part where it doesn't burn gas while it's idling.

Depot also sells the chain: PowerCare 10" Y40/0.43 -- packaging doesn't mention the fit, but it's cross-compatible with the Ryobi pole pruner.

[birdmove]

I've been using a small Black and Decker with rechargeable lithium batteries.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004JMZH1W?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

We already had a couple of their weed whackers that use the same batteries. It works all right, but one needs a mess of batteries. We have 6. It's an 8" chainsaw. I had been using it pretty heavily, and finally burned it up. I bought it in January 2015, and it has a two year warranty. They are sending me another one. I was on my second chain. I've taken down some Ohias that were a good 10" diameter with it, so I have treated it pretty roughly.

Actually, the weed trimmers work very well. They have a low and a high power setting. We use it on low, and our newest, and biggest battery goes a long time, like 45 minutes to an hour on the low setting.

Jon in Keaau/HPP