Favorite chainsaws

Murphydog · July 20, 2012, 01:53:55 PM

Do you guys out there have a favorite make of chainsaw?I like Huskys but STIHL seem to be the main seller over here in England

clww · July 20, 2012, 01:56:11 PM

O my! Jump right in and open a BIG can of worms!

How many minutes are there in a day? That's close to how many different ideas you'll hear. My profile gives away my favorite.

Caloren · July 20, 2012, 02:41:05 PM

I've liked Husky's since I used my first one in 1972, but my three main saws now are Stihl's. Two main reasons for this:
1. Store in town [Ace Hardware] sells, services, and has parts for Stihl.
2. Most of the loggers and pro users in this neck of the woods use Stihl. See a pro Husky once in awhile.
Loren

lumberjack48 · July 20, 2012, 02:47:51 PM

1960 though 1970 i ran Homelite, McCulloch and Pioneer.

1970 though 1985 i ran Husqvarna, Jonsered, Stihl and Partner.

1985 though 1989 i ran Stihl

1989 though 1996 the wife and crew ran Stihl [ Favorite is Stihl ]

Bogue Chitto · July 20, 2012, 03:43:19 PM

Lot of people use Stihl down here Washington Parish.

Dave VH · July 20, 2012, 03:49:01 PM

I'm a Stihl guy. (but to be honest, I've haven't given anything else a chance)

Shotgun · July 20, 2012, 04:17:43 PM

Welcome to the Forestry Forum, Murphy. This forum is almost 12 years old. Your specific question isn't the first time around the block on this one, surprise, surprise. A prudent search will turn up lots of responses, and will probably get you a lot more information than your new (?) question. It's a Chevy/Ford thing, by the way.

Glad you're here. There's lots to view. You might even learn a thing or two.

Norm

Al_Smith · July 20, 2012, 04:42:14 PM

Oh it's not a bad question just a little leading .In response though as far as I'm concerned the ones that run are my favorite .The ones that don't are my least favorite but they all did at one time and likely all could again given enough time and tinkering .

T Welsh · July 20, 2012, 05:00:38 PM

I,m a Stihl guy. My favorite is a mid 90,s 044. Rebuilt once and lightly ported and gasket matched. Tim

Full Chisel · July 20, 2012, 07:12:21 PM

Quote from: T Welsh on July 20, 2012, 05:00:38 PM
I,m a Stihl guy. My favorite is a mid 90,s 044. Rebuilt once and lightly ported and gasket matched. Tim

Welsh about covers it. Add the pair of 066 spikes with D-P muffler gently gutted and that's a chewy recipe. I'm retiring mine briefly and my 026 for some inward polishing. M-Tronic will take up the slack. 026 is gettin some new parts. We'll keep ya posted.

blademan1130 · July 20, 2012, 07:31:49 PM

I started my career with Husky. Used them for a few years, then switched to Stihl and never looked back. I depend on them to make a living.

Murphydog · July 21, 2012, 06:57:03 AM

Thanks guys,i guess Stihl wins,we have a few Stihls and one huski,but thats just used as a spare.

Dixie Feller · July 21, 2012, 07:14:19 AM

I started out w/Husqvarna about 15 years ago.I tried a couple Stihls along the way,but never saw a reason to make a brand change.Now all my saws are Husky except a couple Jonsereds and some old homelites that were my Dads.

nmurph · July 21, 2012, 07:15:42 AM

I like Chevy!!

Al_Smith · July 21, 2012, 08:19:22 AM

Everybody is entitled to an opinion .

Full Chisel · July 21, 2012, 02:07:02 PM

Quote from: nmurph on July 21, 2012, 07:15:42 AM
I like Chevy!!

I like Dodge. And Ruger. And Black Angus.

John Mc · July 21, 2012, 05:11:28 PM

If you look through past history, the chainsaw that "wins" this debate varies. It's not because the relative quality of the saws has changed. It's more a function of who bothers to answer this question. In reality, there are a number of very good brands out there that make good saws in the pro and mid-range categories (as well as companies that make decent saws for "occasional use).

Which is best depends on your personal needs and priorities, even among pros. Power to weight ratio may be more of a priority for those getting up in years. A young buck in good shape may be more interested in a solidly built saw that will last, but may be willing to put up with a little extra weight if it saves some $$. Even those who prefer one manufacturer will probably grant that in a certain size range, another manufacturer may have the edge.

Unless you are doing all your own work on your saws, Haveing a great dealer will make more of a difference than whether you are using Husky, Stihl, Jonsered, Dolmar (and the list goes on). Sometimes even if you are a great chainsaw mechanic, a good dealer in your area will swing to to one brand or another.

As others have said, it's a Ford vs Chevy thing.

I prefer Husky or Jonsered, but that's just because I've got 2 great dealers in my area for them. If they weren't here, I'd go with Stihl, since that dealer is pretty good. If we had a good dealer in our area for Dolmar, I'd try them - some of their saws seem like a good value for the dollar.

tyb525 · July 21, 2012, 05:20:03 PM

Stihl 038 Magnum. I have used other saws, I like the way Stihl's "feel" better than huskys. But if I wanted to I could like a husky. Dolmars look nice too, wish there was a dealer nearby.

T Welsh · July 21, 2012, 06:13:03 PM

Any saw that runs and operates the way it is intended is a good saw!!!! I have tried a lot of brands over the years and all of the top 4 manufactures have a good line up. Reliability,good dealer back up are what sells me! I make a living with my saws and I want rock solid reliability and sound engineering behind my tools. Stilh has proven that to me for 25 years. Guess who invented the modern chain saw? Andreas Stihl. Tim

Full Chisel · July 21, 2012, 07:43:33 PM

Quote from: T Welsh on July 21, 2012, 06:13:03 PMGuess who invented the modern chain saw? Andreas Stihl. Tim

Poulan was originally an independent American company based in Shreveport, Louisiana, founded as Poulan Saw Co. in 1912 by chainsaw pioneer Claude Poulan. (I don't know how modern they were. Today a piece of junk.) But pre-dates Stihl.

Ron Scott · July 22, 2012, 06:11:04 PM

1961-1967: McCulloch
1967-1981: Homelite
1981-1995: Stihl
!995- 2007: Husky
2007- 2012: Husky and Stihl

The favorite saw usually depended upon the local dealer and what make was readily available and the saws of choice by the major loggers in the area.

Full Chisel · July 22, 2012, 06:24:11 PM

Quote from: Ron Scott on July 22, 2012, 06:11:04 PM
1961-1967: McCulloch
1967-1981: Homelite
1981-1995: Stihl
!995- 2007: Husky
2007- 2012: Husky and Stihl

The favorite saw usually depended upon the local dealer and what make was readily available and the saws of choice by the major loggers in the area.

Good point. Around here, between 1961-1981 if they had something besides a Homelite or McCulloch, that would have been exotic.

beenthere · July 22, 2012, 07:03:20 PM

I bought my first Stihl 041 in 1975. That saw is still a running saw, but I upgraded to a Stihl MS361 in '04.
Better to have the safety brake but mainly the anti-vib suspension.

Many a friend and acquaintance has since switched to Stihl after being around this saw when cutting trees and bucking up logs. A great dealer in the area helped that along a lot as well.

JOE.G · July 22, 2012, 11:13:04 PM

My Local dealer sells, Husky and Stihl, Around here we have a bunch of loggers, and most seem to run both saws, Me my self like Huskys better, But I also don't make a living with mine, not saying if I did it wouldn't be a husky but I just don't know it may be Stihl.