The chainsaw thread...

[XXX-er]

I had a bar slip and throw a chain while I was limbing overhead. The chain brake caught it and the stopped chain landed on my face guard and hardhat with the saw still running.

At the time, I fixed the problem and carried on, but I still have anxious ruminations about it.

so you got no problem running an old saw with no chain brake right?

[Jethro]

I had a bar slip and throw a chain while I was limbing overhead. The chain brake caught it and the stopped chain landed on my face guard and hardhat with the saw still running.

At the time, I fixed the problem and carried on, but I still have anxious ruminations about it.

I am kind of puzzled how a chain falling off activated your chain brake. I have to push mine forward in a definite motion to stop my chain. Did you have some kick back which activated it?

Here is my little Skil 1712 which I can mtn bike with, strap to my dirt bike, and fit in my kayak. It’s not my go to landowner saw or firewood saw. It has worked fine for me for 25 years in light duty usage, often in neoprene river shorts or bike shorts, and sometimes river shoes. Definitely no face shield or muffs.

I will post a pic next. I can’t do it editing this post

[Jethro]

I can’t post a pic from my phone. Google Skil 1712 and see how tiny it is, and see if you use it. I bought a Stihl 020 AVP(?) to replace it, but it had carb issues and would run to full throttle with no control. It is a basket case in a storage tub for another time

[Jethro]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nqKO0h8Z7ew
My saw looks just like this one, but it has a sharp chain. It’s an awesome little saw I got for $20, twenty five years ago. It works well as a saw which I wouldn’t be distraught over if I swam kayaking and lost it. Or if a ranger confiscated it for unauthorized trail maintenance on seldom used legit trails. Or if I burned it up running 80:1 Amsoil saber in it, like my KTM 300. The saw says 16:1 oil, but it’s been going for years on a leaner mixture of better oil

[highangle]

so you got no problem running an old saw with no chain brake right?

Can't imagine why I would, outside of a hypothetical desert island scenario. Maybe a snap shot chance to rustle some beef off a Koch Brothers ranch...

[TacocaT]

one thing I find with the old saws is the anti vibration either sucks or is non existent. Those macs are a solid saw but wear you down twice as fast. Never had the chain brake grab on a kick back but I have slipped with the saw running multiple times and been happy it was on.

[highangle]

I am kind of puzzled how a chain falling off activated your chain brake. I have to push mine forward in a definite motion to stop my chain. Did you have some kick back which activated it?

Deadman throttle. Chain hit the chain catcher and the saw bogged from the brake. Rest of the chain fell on my face as I lowered it to see wtf.
I don't know if activating the brake when it throws a chain is a design feature or a lucky angel of the way the chain link caught the catcher. I remember I took a little nick on the back of the neck, but it was about the size of a shaving scratch.

I had dropped by a newer crew on my way back from a meeting. They were in drag up country, and I decided to pitch in so they could see the boss work up a steam.
Was brushing survey line up a steep hill when it happened. I turned around and showed the saw with the dangly chain to the instrumentman, with an unimpressed look on my face.

Fortunately, I had a hoogie in my vest, and some new bar nuts. The gunner had a new chain. We were back at it in 5 with a flipped bar.
Next morning, everybody in the org chart got The Saw Memo...

[LHutz Esq]

On a fire in my youth one of the fallers got a wicked kickback- cut his head open - bleed like a mother fucker- and the chain brake was working so it was the stationary chain that nailed him. Can you imagine what that would have looked like if the chain was moving? Non-chain break saws are ornamental only. Not to mention how much saws have improved in the last 30? Years or so. Why risk it.

[bodywhomper]

I’m not in the market for a new saw, but anybody seen or used the ms500i? It’s not supposed to be available until spring 2019, but described on their website.

[XXX-er]

79 cc is a big saw, its sposed to be the first fuel injected chain saw

[Core Shot]

Gas in a can.
Fuck ethanol

Great thread. Haven’t had a good saw since someone stole the husky and the stihl. Making due with a poulan or is that Putain de merdre?

It’s drooling so much oil the bar smokes. Not many hours on it. Sad.

But seriously, buy real gas if you live in a state that does not have ethanol free gas. I get a 5 gallon can at the cycle shop for $60. Hate to pay it, but chainsaw, hedger, pruner (anything not used weekly ) gets the real gas.
And it smells so sweet compared to the shit at the pump.
Tools start better, store better. It even cleans tools that suffered from shit gas.

[bodywhomper]

AV fuel also does not have ethanol, but it has lead. By me, it’s cheaper than the high octane fuel at the gas stations.

[Bruce Springskiin]

Chewing over the idea of getting a battery powered saw for stealth work and smaller brush cutting, choke cherry pruning, and cutting down Christmas trees. I already have a Stihl 261 I use for fire wood and bigger projects. I have been using a Stihl battery powered trimmer around the yard for two summers now and am pleased with it. And the next lawn mower will likely be battery powered.
Any one had good or bad experiences with the battery saws? I am leaning toward the Stihl 160 model.


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[Garth Bimble]

Chewing over the idea of getting a battery powered saw for stealth work and smaller brush cutting, choke cherry pruning, and cutting down Christmas trees. I already have a Stihl 261 I use for fire wood and bigger projects. I have been using a Stihl battery powered trimmer around the yard for two summers now and am pleased with it. And the next lawn mower will likely be battery powered.
Any one had good or bad experiences with the battery saws? I am leaning toward the Stihl 160 model.


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I've got a Ryobi electric...it's fine for small jobs and definitely more convenient than my gas saw but it just doesn't feel right compared to the gas so I rarely use it. Stupid I know but true.

edit: Just to clarify the Ryobi is battery powered, not some POS that you hook up to an extension cord. I still don't like it.

[DoWork]

Chewing over the idea of getting a battery powered saw for stealth work and smaller brush cutting, choke cherry pruning, and cutting down Christmas trees. I already have a Stihl 261 I use for fire wood and bigger projects. I have been using a Stihl battery powered trimmer around the yard for two summers now and am pleased with it. And the next lawn mower will likely be battery powered.
Any one had good or bad experiences with the battery saws? I am leaning toward the Stihl 160 model.


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Don’t let the swamp of sadness into your heart, man. Don’t do it.

[LightRanger]

Makita electric yard tools are the shit.

If I couldn't borrow bigass Stihls from family, I'd buy the electric for my modest chainsaw needs.

[rbtree]

Check out this review of several battery powered saws. https://www.drillpressview.com/best-battery-chainsaws/ Makita, Dewalt should be good... and the "Zombi" sounds powerful.. all are likely much cheaper than any of the Stihl saws... The Husqvarna 536Li is powerful, but expensive, and designed for arborists.

[riser4]

I keep looking at this:. https://cve2.stihldealer.net/product...c-saws/mse220/

[rbtree]

I keep looking at this:. https://cve2.stihldealer.net/product...c-saws/mse220/

But that requires a power cord... and is expensive, typical of Stihl...

Interesting, two of the images for this saw have the chain mounted backwards... lol.

[Garth Bimble]

But that requires a power cord... and is expensive, typical of Stihl...

Interesting, two of the images for this saw have the chain mounted backwards... lol.

$600 for a plug in saw? For that price it shouldn't matter which direction you put the chain on.

[riser4]

When I need my saw, it is typically for 5 min or less and it is usually within 50' to 100' of the house. I don't like to use the gas saw if I am not going to go through a whole tank. Stihl makes good shit if you buy their pro models. There are cheaper Stihl electric saws. I want something that will last. My gas saw is an .017. We've been through this before a few years ago in this thread. I ended up oggling the electric saw again today when I was looking up the hours of my local Stihl shop. The run selector level is having issues.
The .017 is nice because it's light and the right size for what I need. I ended up one handing a cut with it this morning as I was cutting a maple branch off my fence. I had a little bit of blow-down from the remnants of Flo.

[Garth Bimble]

When I need my saw, it is typically for 5 min or less and it is usually within 50' to 100' of the house. I don't like to use the gas saw if I am not going to go through a whole tank. Stihl makes good shit if you buy their pro models. There are cheaper Stihl electric saws. I want something that will last. My gas saw is an .017. We've been through this before a few years ago in this thread. I ended up oggling the electric saw again today when I was looking up the hours of my local Stihl shop. The run selector level is having issues.
The .017 is nice because it's light and the right size for what I need. I ended up one handing a cut with it this morning as I was cutting a maple branch off my fence. I had a little bit of blow-down from the remnants of Flo.

$600 seems like a lot to spend for 5 minutes of use every now and then. Based on my experience one of the cheaper battery operated models would probably suffice but you know what you need far better than I. I do know this though...a $600 tool that needs to be plugged in ain't worth shit when there's no electricity, and a good saw comes in real handy when the power's down.

[riser4]

$600 seems like a lot to spend for 5 minutes of use every now and then. Based on my experience one of the cheaper battery operated models would probably suffice but you know what you need far better than I. I do know this though...a $600 tool that needs to be plugged in ain't worth shit when there's no electricity, and a good saw comes in real handy when the power's down.

Right. So I have my gas saw. It's not going anywhere. When the zombie apocalypse, or the next power outage, comes, it will be ready. We had a 24 hr power outage with lots of down trees last October. We did a lot of saw work.

Im not yet convinced the battery saws are there yet for a few reasons. Sheer cutting power is one reason. Yes, I know they keep getting better. Another is battery longevity and the maintenance thereof. I am not sure a battery is going to be better for very occasional use. It could even be worse than gas. I'll let the battery technology get better.

As far as $600 for a plug in saw, ya, it's not an efficient spend. It's a dreamy spend. I'm better off spending that much to get a bigger gas saw. I'll probably go for a cheaper Stihl plugin. I like Stihl. However, who does make the very best plugin saw?

[kootenayskier]

My Stihl 261s will remain my workhorse saws, but I’m going to add a cordless electric saw to the mix (quieter, cleaner, lower fire hazard) when I’m convinced the technology has advanced enough. The new Milwaukee saw looks intriguing, particularly as I’m already invested in their tools/batteries.

[XXX-er]

My Stihl 261s will remain my workhorse saws, but I’m going to add a cordless electric saw to the mix (quieter, cleaner, lower fire hazard) when I’m convinced the technology has advanced enough. The new Milwaukee saw looks intriguing, particularly as I’m already invested in their tools/batteries.

great saw ^^ but so far in about 3-4 years I have blown 2 oiler drives, its an easy fix with a cheap part that fits in a slot on the clutch to drive the oiler but it happens out on the job so saturday i ran 2 tanks with no oiler, slacked off the chain fairly loose drip whatever oil I could drip on the chain, far as i could tell no damage to bar or chain.

The oiler drive seems to be the weak link on the 261, I run it about 50 hrs a year, maybe I should be running a bigger saw but it cuts well/ is lightweight to pack/sips fuel, I think i might buy a spare piece and just replace it premptively every 2 years or so

All the guys i'm cutting with are running smaller pro saws


as for you folks considering electric saws, if you don't need a chainsaw why not consider a manual saw like a bow saw or a Silky, I know foregoing power tools ... thats just crazy talk