Chainsaw recommendations

[husky390]

I'm looking to buy a chainsaw that will last me for years. For now, it will be used once or twice a year during hunting season but if our plan works out, my wife and I might buy a house with a wood burning stove where I'll need it to cut firewood to keep the house heated. I know nothing about them as I grew up in Phoenix and there wasn't a need for them. Right now I'm looking at Stihl and Husqvarna with a budget of about $500. For those that use them on a regular basis, what model, displacement and bar size would you recommend?

 

[Beastmode]

Unless you are a small engine mechanic I would stay away from Husqvarna. They are a better running saw (when they are running) than stihl. For all around reliable saw I don't think you can beat a stihl 391 with an 18 or 20 inch bar. It's a good all around size for small projects and still big enough to cut some bigger rounds when you need a it too. Not sure what they go for right now but should be around your price range.

 

[husky390]

Thank you.

 

[MontanaMarine]

I bought a Husqvarna 455 Rancher 8 years ago when we put in a woodstove. I cut up about 5 cords of firewood per year. So far it's worked like a champ.

Besides the normal lubrication and checking chain tension, all I've had to do is change out the air filter every couple years, and sharpen the chain once a year. I run all the gas out of it when I'm done for the season.







Shane

 

[bootleather]

I run husky and cut firewood for a living for over a year. About 8 cords a week. Never had any mechanical issues that weren't simple fixes. For under 400$ any husky or stihl 18" bar will be plenty. Bigger rounds require splitting. I was always trying to do as little splitting as possible. So that's all the size you need unless your doing falling.

 

[flyinsquirel]

I'm a Husky guy, but would gladly run a Still any day. For once a year I would get a little 40-45cc saw with around an 18" bar. For keeping a home in firewood I'd go with at least a 65cc and a 24" bar.

Baileys online has good prices on Husky's.

 

[Jason Snyder]

I have an old Husqvarna that my dad bougth when I was in high school. 28 years later it still runs like a champ.

 

[mt100gr.]

I have always run Stihl. Had them for fire crew and trail crew for the USFS and have owned a few for work and personal uses. I have had great luck with the mid sized saws for firewood. 291/029 up to 360/361 and 390/039. For big felling the 44 or 044 is hard to beat to. These size/model/numbers may be out of date for current new saw models but I would not hesitate to buy another Stihl. If possible, get the PRO version of whichever saw you choose. On the older saws, the PROs had high and low adjustable carb jets for air/fuel mixture...not as big of a deal unless your work elevations change quite a bit. I have also used/borrowed the occasional husky and have no complaints with their performance either.

 

[AK Troutbum]

I don't think you can go wrong with either a Husky or Stihl I have had a Husqvarna for about 10 years now and use it annually without any issues. I've also been using a Husqvarna snowblower for the past 12 to 15 years now without a single issue.

 

[Travis Bertrand]

I don't know how big of a saw your looking at but the Stihl 271 is a great saw. It's smaller but on a pro chassis. It's perfect for my needs around the house and limping up trees for firewood.

 

[Broken Compass]

I wouldn't trade my stihl 044 for anything. Its big enough to cut anything I need but not so big it leaves me with a sore back after a weekend of cutting. You can find used ones in your price range.

 

[Trr15]

I don't think you can go wrong with either a Husky or Stihl.

Agreed. Pretty much a Ford vs Chevy conversation. For what it's worth, my father-in-law owned and operated a moderately sized logging company for 25 years and swore by Stihl.

 

[land cruiser]

+1 for stihl, love mine

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

My husquavarna's have done me well but I think stihl's are a better product and less finicky. When my husky's aren't running I borrow my step dad's stihl and it was always running.

 

[Browtinemt]

+1 for either Husky or Stihl, both great saw makers. Find a good shop that can service whichever saw you buy. A 20" bar is a happy medium for weight and not having to bend over so much to limb. I have a husky, but I've had much better performance out of the stihl chains. I would highly recommend getting the chain binding chaps to wear while you cut as well.

 

[direwolf]

Stihl

 

[mtswampfox]

Kind of like rifles you can have more than one. Loved the stihl farm boss with 18 and 20 inch bar. Have a small echo limbing saw that fits in the tool box on my honda rancher and gets used at least once a week here on the plantation. Never went to the woods cutting firewood without two saws as would get one stuck and have the backup to get unstuck. Fwiw. Husky as others have different grades of saws, you get what you pay for buy the pro grade and have a much better saw.

 

[Kevin Dill]

Close your eyes and pick a brand. The exact saw is more important to your future satisfaction than the label it wears. Here's food for thought: If you know where you'll be living you might want to go with the saw shop/dealer who is 1) closer and 2) known for solid and timely service. I have a landscape company and we own a lot of equipment dedicated to service and maintenance. The inside of my equipment building looks like a Stihl dealership. I think we own about 40 different units by Stihl, but I'm not a Stihl loyalist. I mainly go with them because of local availability and support. I am very loyal to my small engine guru and his shop...a Stihl dealer. If he carried Husky then I would go with that lineup.

 

[Tony Trietch]

Close your eyes and pick a brand. The exact saw is more important to your future satisfaction than the label it wears. Here's food for thought: If you know where you'll be living you might want to go with the saw shop/dealer who is 1) closer and 2) known for solid and timely service. I have a landscape company and we own a lot of equipment dedicated to service and maintenance. The inside of my equipment building looks like a Stihl dealership. I think we own about 40 different units by Stihl, but I'm not a Stihl loyalist. I mainly go with them because of local availability and support. I am very loyal to my small engine guru and his shop...a Stihl dealer. If he carried Husky then I would go with that lineup.

Good advise^^^^^^^
I run a Husky, but would have no problem with a Stihl.

 

[tttoadman]

I have one of each. No complaints. To me the issue is chains. I don't sharpen chains. I have all my chains ground(easy for a guy in OR). I can cut oak all day with one chain as long as I don't drag it in the dirt.

A small Stihl for small work. My husky with a 32" bar was bought new by my Dad in 1982. It has had the carb replaced once. The engine has never been torn apart. I have to stand on it to start it even today. The guy at the saw shop tried to convince me it was not worth putting a $100 carb on it about 4 yrs ago. I think he just wanted my kickass saw for himself.