Next chain saw?

glad i stumbled onto this post.. just coming here to ask the same thing. finally bought a splitter and it has rained since..lol. so today i go back to split some wood to stack. i have a craftsman saw and man the thing was bogging oll over it self. took forever to cut the biger logs and the chain is sharp. i need something to go through this oak a little better and faster so i can keep up with the splitter...lol.

We have 2 Stihl 361's and couldn't be happier with their performance. I also just picked up a Stihl 230 C-BE to replace an old Craftsman. It's a very nice little light weight saw. The easy start system and chain adjustment feature on this saw are great.

I agree with johnsopi, why does a home owner/user need to have a dealer so close by? From what I read on this thread many may not be in the tree trimming business, but their saw has no way of knowing that. For that crowd, the professional saw, and I suppose given the investment, a deal/shop near by (especially with the price of gas, don't want to drive an unnecessary miles) may be a good idea.

I hear this dealer comment on lots of forums, especially on the yard/garden forums, tractors, lawn mowers, tillers, that sort of stuff. I've had tons of those tools, and a few chain saws too, and I've never wanted to take one (not once) back to a "dealer" or to another repair shop.

skinnykid said:

I guess the plus (for me) to having a dealer/ service man so close by is when shopping you can get the knowledge you need on the one brand that you have in mind rather than going to a big store where they have many different brands and really don't know the equipment well.

And if anything would break, chances are they have the parts and knowledge to fix it in a timely manner.

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The Stihl dealer we use is literally less than 5 minutes from our place. There have been several times that we have shown up there in the middle of the day for a quick fix, chain sharpening, etc. and then gone back to work. For the amount of wood we cut, we appreciate that convenience.

Husky. If you are going to cut up wood with the best buy a Husky, if you are going to wear a tie while cutting up wood then buy a yuppie saw. Worked in the wood's for many years, men ran husky's, yuppies ran the rest.

Chain sharpening. Are you kidding me?

Some people have trouble doing self service gas filling of their car.

Fredman said:

Chain sharpening. Are you kidding me?

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What's your point?

The point? Good thing you have a dealer near by. Most of us sharpen our chains ourselves, and in less time than it takes to get in the car, never mind driving somewhere...that's the point I got, could just be me. Then too my chains could be sharper and better balanced, I'm sure, but I'll DIY anyway.

Jerry_NJ said:

The point? Good thing you have a dealer near by. Most of us sharpen our chains ourselves, and in less time than it takes to get in the car, never mind driving somewhere...that's the point I got, could just be me. Then too my chains could be sharper and better balanced, I'm sure, but I'll DIY anyway.

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Do I sharpen them myself...on occation yes. But, it seems kind of pointless when the dealer we use will sharpen our saws and do a quick cleaning for absolutely nothing. If I had to drive any distance to do it, it wouldn't be worth it. But since he is right here, why not.

Every tank of gas you should take a couple of swipes across each tooth. It is easier on the saw and you then trying to cut with a dull saw. Blowing out the air filter and blowing out all the dust that has gathered around the engine and chain and bar. Don't forget to grease the tip of the bar and flip the bar when putting on a new chain.

Fee after sale service, that's a 'point".

Putting someone down because they have a shop sharpen their chains deserves a smack upside the head.
Put the macho crap back in the closet or take it to another forum.
I know a few companies that sharpen their own, and a few others that take their chains in in bulk for sharpening, even if just for the mere fact, they don't have the extra time to sharpen chains after a long tiring day.
Can one sharpen their own? Sure. If they don't does that make them less a wood burner or person? Not in my book.
Gotta love the manly, manness that flows from time to time when talking wood burning & equipment.
I use a Dremmel to sharpen mine, wanna come here and give me crap about it?
Guaranteed its done before your 1/4 way around with your file. And yest they have em that hook to your battery of your truck even.
Nuff said. Sheesh

Fredman said:

Every tank of gas you should take a couple of swipes across each tooth. It is easier on the saw and you then trying to cut with a dull saw. Blowing out the air filter and blowing out all the dust that has gathered around the engine and chain and bar. Don't forget to grease the tip of the bar and flip the bar when putting on a new chain.

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Eastern or western UP? I am below Ironwood.

I cut and split with a pocket knife :kiss:

I use a 350 Husky with a 20" bar and this works great for me! I take my chains in to be sharpened by the shop, and they do a great job! We cut allot of downed elm, and this stuff is loaded with grit and sand. I can get 1 pickup load or maybe (1 1/2) if I am really careful, before I switch to a sharp chain. On the way back home, I drop off the dulled out chain, and pick it up next time I'm through town. The saw is great!, and the Husky chains hold up pretty good, considering what I'm putting them through. In my opinion.

I looked long and hard at the Stihl, and the Husky. I chose the Husky because of the people in the dealership/ hardware store/ repair shop. It boiled down to the personality of the people in the store, and their reputation of good quality work. Both are great tools and both will serve well. You really can't go wrong with either one, assuming comparable service. in my opinion.

( ;-) I use a toe nail clipper when the saw is in the shop)

My old man used a grinding wheel saw sharpener to sharpen the neighbors and his chains, but I wouldn't let him touch mine. If you want to use a dremel, go right a head. The problem with that is that you are heating up the chain and you are taking the temper out of it. You will have to sharpen it more often than if you would do it by hand. A dull knife will do more injuries and that goes along with a dull saw too.

skinnykid said:

Fredman said:

Husky. If you are going to cut up wood with the best buy a Husky, if you are going to wear a tie while cutting up wood then buy a yuppie saw. Worked in the wood's for many years, men ran husky's, yuppies ran the rest.

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WHOA!

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Guess I'm a "yuppie". Cool, I always wanted to be one!
BTW, I don't need a hatchet, a pocket knife or a toe nail clipper. I just look at the tree and it falls, splits, stacks and loads into the stove!