If you heat with wood or have a lot of land to clear a chainsaw is an indispensable tool. It is a big purchase and and choosing wisely can save you money, time, and aggravation down the road. With that being said their is only two brands that I can really get behind and they are Stihl and Husqvarna.
A chainsaw is a big purchase and one I believe where you can be frugal but not cheap. A carefully thought out purchase of a quality saw will save money in the long run in repairs and replacement costs. I’ve been using a Stihl MS 290 for 12 years at work. It has cut hundreds of telephone poles and trees with only a few repairs. It has been dropped (once from about 20ft), throw, banged around in the truck, and yet it starts every time no matter the weather. The Stihl was a replacement for 4 Homelites that only survived a year each. A good saw is a “buy once, cry once” purchase.
The power a good saw offers makes it easier to get more accomplished in a given time. The saw does the work without taxing the user as much as a lesser saw. A quality saw can do the little jobs as well as a lesser saw but, really shines on the bigger stuff. The Stihl’s and Husqvarna’s have better ergonomics that ease operator stress and fatigue.
As far as aggravation a quality saw has a company that will stand behind it and parts will be available. I’ve found the lesser brands to change models often and getting parts can be a challenge at times. The big box store usually only stock parts for what is current, and chasing down parts can be frustrating. On the other hand my local Stihl dealer stocks parts for saws going back to the Stone Age, plus I’ve seen them service some truly ancient saws.
Like I said, a good saw isn’t cheap but it is worth it. A quality saw will provide a lifetime of service. I’m looking forward to many years of use out of mine and hopefully my son will one day be able to say “this one, was my Dad’s” to his kids.
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Two kinds of saws in the world. Stihl and Husqvarna! Definitely in the ‘buy once, cry once!” category. and truth be told, they arent all that expensive when you start doing comparative shopping. Excellent points in your post
Thanks, Nick. I’m glad you liked it, thanks for the comment.
Thanks for the comment. I think people get a bit of sticker shock at first, another $100 gets you into a Stihl or Husqvarna from the box store stuff, and they will last a heck of a lot longer!
My Dad had a big yellow McCullough chain saw that I believe a relative gave him back in the early 60’s. Got used alot, but when Dad’s MS got so bad that he couldn’t handle it, he couldn’t understand why Mom wouldn’t use it! It was so heavy that she couldn’t even pick it up! So for Mother’s Day, one year, she got a very small ( 8 inch bar) electric chain saw. She could saw a 4 inch branch if she did it carefully. Mom loved her little chain saw and was very sad when it wore out after 8 or 9 years. Of course she wasn’t cutting wood for heating, just for yard clean up and the occasional use of her fireplace. We’ve had a Craftsman since 1986 that got about 5 or 6 years of heavy use and now gets occasional use. It’s never been a problem yet, but we are aware that replacement parts are almost non-existent.
I bought a Stihl 025 (that’s right an 025, they call ’em 250s now but mine’s a bit older) off of Craigslist. Best purchase I ever made. I got it tuned up once and it runs like a champ. I burned up the Husqvarna I had, mainly because I didn’t know how to keep it properly maintained. The Stihl cranks every time I need it, it’s earned my loyalty.
I’d love a picture if you get a chance.
I purchased a small Stihl about two years ago after doing a lot of shopping around and discussion with small engine guys.
The independent shop that I bought from carried Stihl, Husqvarna, and Echo. They preferred Stihl for various reasons. I followed their recommendation just because of the relationship I’ve built with that store. I figure it was a good bet to purchase what they prefer to work on.
I would certainly recommend that you buy from a local dealer. They will know more about the products, and also be able to service you after you give them your hard earned money. The box stores sacrifice service and by doing so claim to save you money. However, when the time comes for a replacement part or to have it serviced don’t count on them to know anything about your investment.
I’ve noticed some of the cheapest chainsaws say “for occasional use only” in their manuals. This is because the parts inside are made smaller, thinner, or less tolerant to wear. Quite simply they wear out faster.
“If you buy quality the first time you’ll only cry once. “ –I’m pretty sure that quote is older than me, which isn’t saying much… But it sure is true. Like the blog by the way!
-Chris
Thanks for stopping by and for the kind words! I’m glad to hear that you took the time to research a saw before buying. Which model did you end up getting?