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maldaly
Trad climber
Boulder, CO
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May 16, 2007 - 06:47pm PT
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I'm a Husky guy, too. I was a professional logger for a few summers and ran a Jonsered 910E and I never, ever had to wait for the saw. Husky bought Jonsared and it's hard to find any Jonsared parts so go Husky. I bought a 345 e last fall for a firewood saw. It's light, it always starts and it cuts fast. I got mine for arond $300 with a whole bunch of accessories like extra bar, 3 chains, lots of oil, a case and a t-shirt. go to www.northerntool.com
Saw Safe,
Mal
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Kartch
climber
belgrade, mt
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May 16, 2007 - 07:02pm PT
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Dang feelio you were a Bonneville Shot. Did Mark Atwood ever roll w/you. He was my engine boss in Cedar. Did a few tours w/ the Cedar shots myself. They were the funnest fires to work, with the best people but it was hard with the wife.
Cheers.
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Hawkeye
climber
State of Mine
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May 16, 2007 - 07:05pm PT
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i have a little husquvarna. it is one sweet puppy. it dont take too much training just common sense...
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feelio Babar
Trad climber
Sneaking up behind you...
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May 16, 2007 - 07:09pm PT
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I know Atwood. Good hand, solid guy. Worked with him on an engine in Skull Valley.
yeah...shot work is tough on the relationships.....and the knees.
"see ya in October Honey!"
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jstan
climber
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May 16, 2007 - 07:28pm PT
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At ten inch you don't hardly need no saw. Pruning sheers and a double bit ought to about do it. You fire up a Husky and the landowner will be on you toot sweet.
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Jude Bischoff
Ice climber
Palm Springs
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May 16, 2007 - 07:37pm PT
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I've had the same Stihl for 20 years and it still starts on the second pull and cuts like a champ. I replaced the bar and chain every firewood season. Now I heat with gas. Fire up the thermostat and open a Sierra Nevada.
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atchafalaya
climber
California
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May 16, 2007 - 09:13pm PT
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ran stihls and huskys for two summers in Oregon. The stihl was my favorite. Ditto on chaps and keeping the chain sharp.
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Zander
Trad climber
Berkeley
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May 16, 2007 - 09:17pm PT
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Stihl or Husqy. I've got one of each. Both great.
When I was 17, I cut firewood after work to make extra money. For some reason the saws seem a lot heavier now. I big wall pirate should have no trouble using the saw safely. Memorize the manual. Wear your safety gear. Dust mask, glasses and, yes, include the ear protection. I don't hear as well as I used to.
Zander
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Landgolier
climber
the flatness
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May 16, 2007 - 09:39pm PT
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If you're not cutting anything over 10", and especially if you're not felling upright trees that thick, the next to smallest stihl is all the saw you need. Quoth the eldest daughter at the stihl dealer that my family has been going to for 4 generations: "That little 'un is just for fruit trees, but that next 'uns got enough shiit in its britches to get the job done." Keep in mind that the big boys burn more gas, which is a PITA to carry back in to something like a trail project.
OTOH, we bought a larger stihl a while back, and they've gone to a windup spring starting system that is probably the most dangerous feature I've ever seen on anything mechanical (and I'm the guy who ran himself over with a tractor because of a poorly designed clutch linkage, and took his first aid fall onto a recall-era blue alien). You pull the cord, that winds the spring, and that turns over the motor. The only problem is that this Rube Goldberg process introduces a lag, so that it starts about a second after you pull the cord, which is just enough time to do something dumb. Great for weedeaters, which is what I think it was designed for, but supremely dangerous for a saw IMHO. You kind of train yourself around it, but it's still dangerous as hell unless you're a good boy scout and start it flat on the ground every single time. It does start a little easier, which I appreciate, having fought some old McCulloughs that had you about half worked and buzzing on ether fumes before they cranked. However, I wouldn't buy one of these things again, especially if a bunch of different people that all think they know how to use a saw are going to be using it. Not sure how far down the product line this charming little "feature" goes, it may only be for the bigger ones.
Be careful out there, as my uncle told me a long time ago, every man in his life will do one stupid thing with a chainsaw, and if you live through that you will always respect them. The trick is to put yourself in that mindset without going through a close call. Also, any old logger will tell you it's not the log you see that kills you; awareness of your surroundings while you work is as important if not more so than just being safe with the saw.
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johnboy
Trad climber
Can't get here from there
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May 16, 2007 - 09:59pm PT
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Get a husky and don't look back.
I've totaly heated our house with wood for 35 years now and sold many, many loads of wood to boot. 20 of those year with a husky. Stihls are heavy, cumbersome, and slow cutters.
Disclosure edit:
Anything can be dangerous, try to be 10% smarter than what your working with.
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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May 16, 2007 - 10:05pm PT
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I have a Stihl, got it when I lived in the woods of western Massachussetts. Great saw, still use it after about 20 years... Debbie hauls it off for opening day at a biological preserve she sits on the board of, she doesn't use it, but it is attracts all the guys who line up to use it.
Be careful out there, those things cut everything really well, and body parts are no problem!
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WBraun
climber
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May 16, 2007 - 11:06pm PT
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Are you guys sure you know how to use a chain saw?
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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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May 16, 2007 - 11:34pm PT
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I ran a tree crew for awhile and also used both Stihls and Huskies. I found the Huskies leaked as well. I personally preferred the Stihls. For home use I've had an 046 forever and it runs as fine today as the day I bought it.
Keeping your blade sharp and lubed is THE WORD - the quickest and easiest way to have a bad experience with a chainsaw is to run them dull. Get the Stihl helmet with a face screen and ear protectors or one similar. If you don't get leg protection be sure you're never wearing pants that fit tight to your leg - if you catch pant fabric you need to be able to get it away from your leg in an instant, tight jeans will dig in instead. Also, always be aware of the plane of the blade and anytime any part of your body intersects that plane.
Try some literature along these lines if you've never used one...
Werner, it's got to be ugly when that thing kicks...
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MisterE
Social climber
Across town from Easy Street
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May 17, 2007 - 01:09am PT
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Husky or Stihl are the best. The chaps are a good call. Save your clothing and protect your legs. Also, a pair of heavy duty boots and gloves are key.
Learn how to use the file that comes with your chainsaw, it will make your life easier and safer with regular application.
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Blowboarder
Boulder climber
Back in the mix
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May 17, 2007 - 01:40am PT
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Feelio nailed it, watch the tip, the saw cannot kickback if you keep the rounded part of the tip out of cutting contact with everything.
I'd take an 044 over any saw in the world, including an 046. Battle tested time and time again.
Also, the only real Shot Crews come from Region Six.
But you all already knew that!
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Euroford
Trad climber
chicago
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Topic Author's Reply - May 17, 2007 - 09:12am PT
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damn i just new i'd get some good advise in this place! thanks guys and keep it comming. i'm pretty busy over the next two weeks, so i have a bit of time for research/shopping before i get onto the next project.
i hate being an uninformed consumer, yall are a fantastic help!
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ralph_teh_klimber
climber
ralph town
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May 17, 2007 - 11:39am PT
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There is only one true chainsaw manufacture and that is Stihl. Tho for your recreational usage I would not buy one, they are the industry standard and have been for almost 100 years.
Find a small Husquavarna limbing saw, weighs about 14lbs and will cut anything you need to on your bike trails.
Tho i think for being stuck in the midwest go with the cheapeast saw you can find. All 2strokes work on the same principle so maintenance will be routine no matter who you buy from. Durability is your issue and with less the prolly 20 hrs a year usage you could justify the homelite from home depot.
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tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
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May 17, 2007 - 11:52am PT
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I been cutting and heating 100% with wood for 35yrs. I run a husky 350. good saw. If you buy new the husky manuel is verey informative. My Gf has a husky 36 that is light but still pleanty of saw for what you have in mind
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feelio Babar
Trad climber
Sneaking up behind you...
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May 17, 2007 - 12:14pm PT
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Yo Blow!
No doubt Region six is gorgeous country, and has all the fun "big" cuts..but until you've seen a Great Basin desert fire running at 50+ MPH plus across the sage foothills..babay...ya ain't lived! Besides...hiding in the woods all day is light duty...106 in the crucible with no shade, is where real shotcrews line out!
Cheers and here's to all the shot crews...tough work, no matter the region!
Was on 30-Mile after the burn over when they ordered the world...gorgeous place...sad and avoidable accident.
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Blowboarder
Boulder climber
Back in the mix
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May 17, 2007 - 12:19pm PT
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Feelio, 30 mile is less than 40 miles as the crow fly's from where I grew up. Tragedy indeed. I guess the Okanogan Type 1 team decided not to learn from my near miss in '98 that led to me getting out of the game. When the sh#t hits the fan, and everyone is too busy covering there ass to answer teh really hard questions, well f*#k, I can kill myself quite easily and funner.
I've been sequestered in Region 4 hell (Callyeenee, Nevada anyone?) and props to that, all fire is fun, as is poking sh#t at other shot crews.
Stay safe!
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