Chainsaws....

Vdubchaos

Lifer
Nov 11, 2009
10,408
10
0
Noticed we have been spending WAY too much money on Firewood last year. Between our fire pit at home and Camping we blew at least $500 last year alone.

Since we enjoy fires and have them quite frequently I figured it would be a good time to invest into a chainsaw.

I've been doing research past few weeks and it seems like people are saying Stihl or Husky saws. I'm def going to stay awy from Stihl (mostly due to my experience with "German engineering".....long story.....).

Husky seems to have gone downhill as of late as well (it seems). I believe they bought out Poulan and their saws have some pretty horrible ratings (mind you Husky reviews aren't too great either).

So I'm looking at Echo CS400. i have a Echo weedwacker (5 years old) and I love it. Echo also has a 5 year warranty and I have a dealer/service close to me (which most likely won't be needed anyways as I'm a big DYI and like to fix/repair stuff myself).

I'm almost ready to pull the trigger on it but figured I would get some more feedback from peeps around here. Also wondering what other gear I should get other than Chainsaw, Maul, wedges (metal and plastic). I'm thinking Timberjack won't hurt.

Also any recommendations on spots to collect wood? Obviously after storm is a great (side of the road/cleared trees). I also spotted few forests in my area with down trees etc. But more I look into permit/state/private programs, it seems pretty expensive.

PS. I already have the safety gear (chaps, HD gloves, Helmet etc).

TIA

UPDATE: I went ahead and picked it up today (local service/parts/sales center). Home depot had it for the same price but decided to support local/small business.

They ended up giving me a sweet deal too. They had a package deal for $349( that included Echo Case/chain oil/hat etc).......for $299, so that was nice.
 
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adairusmc

Diamond Member
Jul 24, 2006
7,095
78
91
I have owned both husky and a stihl, and they are both the only saws I would ever consider, but I do prefer my husky.

My husky is my big saw, a 460 rancher model with an oregon power match bar, and a skip tooth chain. It makes short work of any tree I want to take down. I bought the husky because that is that the local forest service fire crews around here use year round, and the general consensus from them is that they have fewer problems with then and they last longer.

Having a good wedge, maul, and axe is always important when cutting fire wood.

As far as where to go, I am surrounded by national forest so that is where I prefer to go, and I just look for standing larch or lodgepole where I can find it (I try to avoid white fir) that is close to a road. Fores fires are a great place to get wood, typically the fires have left the trees dead but they are still standing, unless it was a hot fire.

The government shut down last year was a bonanza for fire wood cutting, since the local forest service law enforcement was shut down and had no reason to go buy permits.
 

skimple

Golden Member
Feb 4, 2005
1,283
3
81
Have a Stihl and love it. Used it to clear 9 50' Austrian Pines in one week two summers ago and it never quit.
 

alien42

Lifer
Nov 28, 2004
12,772
3,166
136
when it comes to splitting logs, there's nothing like a grenade log splitter, they are cheap and no other wedge compares.

that one single tool saves me tons of time and effort every winter.
 

Vdubchaos

Lifer
Nov 11, 2009
10,408
10
0
Thanks for the info all. Keep em coming

I have owned both husky and a stihl, and they are both the only saws I would ever consider, but I do prefer my husky.

My husky is my big saw, a 460 rancher model with an oregon power match bar, and a skip tooth chain. It makes short work of any tree I want to take down. I bought the husky because that is that the local forest service fire crews around here use year round, and the general consensus from them is that they have fewer problems with then and they last longer.

That's what I hear, but mostly about saws from 10-20+ years ago. Lot of loggers/tree cutting services around here use Stihl/Husky as well but they are mostly older ones. And they get them fixed rather than buy new ones.

Newer ones seem not as good as the old school ones from what I'm gathering.
 

iRONic

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2006
7,810
3,097
136
Also any recommendations on spots to collect wood?
You got a pickup truck? I live in Windham and I'm surrounded by trees, fallen and dead standing. Come and get 'em.

You can't have my 25 year old Poulan chainsaw...
 

iRONic

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2006
7,810
3,097
136
when it comes to splitting logs, there's nothing like a grenade log splitter, they are cheap and no other wedge compares.

that one single tool saves me tons of time and effort every winter.
Before I converted to gas that's what I used. Gas-powered hydraulic unit. I harvested trees/logs all summer and then rented the splitter for a weekend in the fall. ~$45 plus gas... Usually split & stacked three cord for the winter.
 

highland145

Lifer
Oct 12, 2009
43,973
6,334
136
The guy that worked on my hedge trimmer said that Husky is using polan parts in the husky equipment....Not good in his opinion.

That said, I have a husky weed eater and blower that I've had no problems out of.
 

Vdubchaos

Lifer
Nov 11, 2009
10,408
10
0
You got a pickup truck? I live in Windham and I'm surrounded by trees, fallen and dead standing. Come and get 'em.

You can't have my 25 year old Poulan chainsaw...

I have a minivan. I'm in New Haven county though, from what I understand state doesn't want firewood going from west to east (insects etc).

But that offer sounds tempting......thx BTW
 

iRONic

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2006
7,810
3,097
136
I have a minivan. I'm in New Haven county though, from what I understand state doesn't want firewood going from west to east (insects etc).

But that offer sounds tempting......thx BTW
Fuck the state and their stupidity... Offer stands, man.
 
May 13, 2009
12,333
612
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My brother has an echo and I a stihl. We paid around the same price. When he brought his over and we were taking down a tree my stihl made his look weak. He even mentioned he's going to buy a stihl next. We were both cutting a large oak tree into fireplace size logs and it wasn't even a contest. My stihl was cutting through it like butter. His echo struggling and slow.

And I've had it about two trouble free years and have cut probably 10 cords of oak trees in total with it.

I have the ms 290 farm boss.

To not even consider a stihl is a huge mistake.
 
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highland145

Lifer
Oct 12, 2009
43,973
6,334
136
My brother has an echo and I a stihl. We paid around the same price. When he brought his over and we were taking down a tree my stihl made his look weak. He even mentioned he's going to buy a stihl next. We were both cutting a large oak tree into fireplace size logs and it wasn't even a contest. My stihl was cutting through it like butter. His echo struggling and slow.
Similar chain sharpness?
 
May 13, 2009
12,333
612
126
I have a minivan. I'm in New Haven county though, from what I understand state doesn't want firewood going from west to east (insects etc).

But that offer sounds tempting......thx BTW

Btw firewood is heavy. I'm talking 3/4 ton pickup truck territory heavy. Not to mention when it's green it's nearly twice as heavy. Unless you want to invest in some equipment you clearly don't have (truck, trailer, heavy homeowner/semi pro level chainsaw) I would stick with having it delivered and stacked neatly at your doorstep for the little bit of money you're currently spending.
 

iRONic

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2006
7,810
3,097
136
Drop me an email at rockadelicatgmaildotcom if you wanna come by.
 

Vdubchaos

Lifer
Nov 11, 2009
10,408
10
0
My brother has an echo and I a stihl. We paid around the same price. When he brought his over and we were taking down a tree my stihl made his look weak. He even mentioned he's going to buy a stihl next. We were both cutting a large oak tree into fireplace size logs and it wasn't even a contest. My stihl was cutting through it like butter. His echo struggling and slow.

And I've had it about two trouble free years and have cut probably 10 cords of oak trees in total with it.

I have the ms 290 farm boss.

To not even consider a stihl is a huge mistake.

290s are out of my price range though. Heck none of the "farm/ranch" Stihl saws are in my price range.

only the Homeowner saws and even the stihl dealer told me to go with Echo.....

MS211 is in the price range and it has 16" blade (vs 18") and smaller motor (36cc vs 40cc of Echo)

I'm also not planning on cutting huge oak pieces. Nothing bigger than 12" or so.
 

SearchMaster

Diamond Member
Jun 6, 2002
7,791
114
106
I have a ~15 year old Husky 55...I hate the damn thing. HATE IT. I spend more time trying to get it running properly (it starts and runs ok but the chain slips constantly) than I do cutting with it. I've had it serviced and replaced the chain and bar (and kept the chain sharp) but the problem persists and I'm sick of it.

I actually bought a Slickdeals special 14" electric Homelite for $30 a few months ago, and I've gotten more productivity out of it than I got out of that Husky in the last 10 years. I obviously don't cut a lot these days but it has vastly exceeded my expectations for the cost.

All the people I know who use a chainsaw often use a Stihl.
 

echo4747

Golden Member
Jun 22, 2005
1,979
156
106
Noticed we have been spending WAY too much money on Firewood last year. Between our fire pit at home and Camping we blew at least $500 last year alone.

Since we enjoy fires and have them quite frequently I figured it would be a good time to invest into a chainsaw.

I've been doing research past few weeks and it seems like people are saying Stihl or Husky saws. I'm def going to stay awy from Stihl (mostly due to my experience with "German engineering".....long story.....).

Husky seems to have gone downhill as of late as well (it seems). I believe they bought out Poulan and their saws have some pretty horrible ratings (mind you Husky reviews aren't too great either).

So I'm looking at Echo CS400. i have a Echo weedwacker (5 years old) and I love it. Echo also has a 5 year warranty and I have a dealer/service close to me (which most likely won't be needed anyways as I'm a big DYI and like to fix/repair stuff myself).

I'm almost ready to pull the trigger on it but figured I would get some more feedback from peeps around here. Also wondering what other gear I should get other than Chainsaw, Maul, wedges (metal and plastic). I'm thinking Timberjack won't hurt.

Also any recommendations on spots to collect wood? Obviously after storm is a great (side of the road/cleared trees). I also spotted few forests in my area with down trees etc. But more I look into permit/state/private programs, it seems pretty expensive.

PS. I already have the safety gear (chaps, HD gloves, Helmet etc).

TIA

Go ahead with the echo chainsaw...I have 2 echo chainsaws: both have been trouble free for years. From about 1995 -approx 2005 I use two cut 8-10 cords per year of firewood (switched to coal in 2006 after the free source of logs i used get dried up) In fact .. when I bought my first computer .. I set it up and realized i didn't have a mousepad so I used a the owners manual from the chainsaw as the temporary mousepad. I needed to create a screenname... couldn't think of one so thats where the "echo" in echo4747 came from
 

Vdubchaos

Lifer
Nov 11, 2009
10,408
10
0
Btw firewood is heavy. I'm talking 3/4 ton pickup truck territory heavy. Not to mention when it's green it's nearly twice as heavy. Unless you want to invest in some equipment you clearly don't have (truck, trailer, heavy homeowner/semi pro level chainsaw) I would stick with having it delivered and stacked neatly at your doorstep for the little bit of money you're currently spending.

I've had the minivan filled with dirt etc and sure it does bottom out......it still hauls.

I'm not going to fill it up completely anyways (still need room for wheel barrel/saw etc.)

I'm not worrying about that and I'm not talking about truckloads of wood, just enough for occasional (once a week fire).

When we go camping I will be cutting in the area of the camp (surrounding areas) etc once the van is unloaded.

The goal is to not spend 60-80 bucks every camping trip on firewood.
 

Vdubchaos

Lifer
Nov 11, 2009
10,408
10
0
Go ahead with the echo chainsaw...I have 2 echo chainsaws: both have been trouble free for years. From about 1995 -approx 2005 I use two cut 8-10 cords per year of firewood (switched to coal in 2006 after the free source of logs i used get dried up) In fact .. when I bought my first computer .. I set it up and realized i didn't have a mousepad so I used a the owners manual from the chainsaw as the temporary mousepad. I needed to create a screenname... couldn't think of one so thats where the "echo" in echo4747 came from

hehe

Yea I've had good luck with Echo and every landscaper I talk to raves about it.

Right now the biggest swaying factor is 5 year warranty. And personally I don't really care about the years, I care about the company that's willing to stand behind it's product (I value that).

Clearly Stihl/Husky don't do it as much (2 year warranty)

I value that.

I also have a feeling that lot of people that complain/have issues with random brands are just not taking care of their equipment properly......
 

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,391
1,780
126
Husqvarna (smaller saws) or Stihl (larger saws).

I've had a Husqvarna for over 16 years and it's been great. Stihl has been one of the better options for years. I typically recommend those for larger jobs as they have a lot of extended bars, but some of the Husqvarna Rancher saws have enough power to do most jobs.

I've not owned anything from Echo. I know I saw Echo at Home Depot, but to me, they're less proven and I've not seen too many other dealers than HD locally.

For a 16"-18" bar, try Husqvarna out. You can get refurbished models easily from most Northern Tool locations for $150-200 depending on size. You know they've been tested out and are less likely to have problems out of the box.

More sales can be found in store. Here's their online selection:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/category_husqvarna-reconditioned?
 
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