Chainsaw

[messmaker]

The Stihl 290 with an 18" bar. I picked it up at lunch. Sadly, I have a class this evening (well, not REALLY sad - it's a WW class), so I won't be able to try it out until Sunday (Sat is part 2 of the class). I've got some big hunks of Osage Orange that are about to be downsized.

Thanks again for all the advice.

And no, no personalized instruction from the Stihl dealer. They did gas/oil it up, and start it in the back room. So, now I have a saw with a little room to grow into, and a cool Stihl ballcap. Next up will likely be a Granberg G777 small log miller.

Very solid choice. It is a nice saw with good power.

[SARGE..g-47]

Congratulations and ditto JS on the tip about not touching that Bar Tip as that is a guaranteed way to get hurt. Experience lumber-jack use it but most of us aren't experienced lumber-jacks. And even with experience, that Tip is very dangerous indeed.

Another thing to mention is maintain balance. Don't lean over anything to get to something with the bar. Get a good footing and think it through from start to finish to assure balance during the entire cut.

Again... enjoy!

[mpauly]

Congrats on the stihl. I looked at the same saw, but couldn't justify it for my home needs. I did pick up that same husky though and it's been great. Starts easily every time and only on one occasion when I had to cut up a dead tree that fell in a storm did I wish that I had something larger to get through it's 28" diameter trunk.

I'm not sure what the Stihl came with, but my husky came with a very non-aggressive anti-kickback chain. It's OK for the smaller stuff, but when getting through the big stuff I wanted for something more aggressive (and yes I kept it sharp).

Definitely spring for the Stihl chain lube, it's far and above anything else I've tried. Maybe a couple bucks more a quart, but worth it. Just remember to keep it topped up.....don't ask me how I know (darn small oil reservoir).

Michael

[Crash2510]

good choice of saw

have used both stihls and huskies

can't go wrong with either one

be careful with you new power tool

[sparkeyjames]

Can't go wrong with a Stihl. Being in a suburban area and only have a few trees to trim plus some stumps to rid myself of I got the 180C-BE. Has all the bells and whistles Stihl offers. Easy pull start, easy chain tensioning, auto chain oiling and anti kickback chain sprocket at end of the bar. Only thing I don't like is the bar and chain on the 14" model I have is a Stihl only custom chain slot size and the only place to get a new chain is from a Stihl dealer (read pricey). Luckily I have the chainsaw sharpener kit from Dremel which works like a charm. Cutting out stumps dulls chains rapidly. Other than the custom chain size I have no other complaints. It starts every time and cuts wood like butter when the chain is sharp.

[JimD]

I have a McCullough that has a 14 inch bar. I have cut some pretty big trees by going from both sides. I learned to use a chainsaw right by working at our former church with a guy who heated his house with wood for several years. This was in Pa and he had to cut multiple cords per year. He used a little Stihl, about the size you bought or maybe even a bit smaller, and a big one with a 24 or 30 inch bar (I do not remember exactly). The main thing he taught me is to just lower the saw into the wood. Do not rock it back and forth. If you do not have to lift up on the saw, let less than its full weight be on the bar, your chain is dull and you should stop and sharpen it (or change to a sharp one). The chain should take shavings, not dust.

All I use to sharpen is a round file with a little metal guide clipped on. Takes maybe 5 minutes to sharpen the chain.