chainsaw

[hatidua]

While not as glamorous as certain other topics, if a person lives anywhere near trees, having a functioning gas chainsaw is a worthwhile investment.

When I lived in Florida, there were four different hurricanes that dropped trees that blocked my driveway and cutting them up was the only way I was going to be able to drive out of my garage.

Yesterday in Colorado we had a very heavy wet snowstorm that dropped about 15" of snow and downed trees/limbs/powerlines all over town, some of the downed trees within 30 yards of my front door were nearly 20" in diameter and laying in the street. Out came the chainsaw to clear the driveway.

A chainsaw is not as sexy as the latest SBR build, but they can be pretty handy in certain storm-related events.

[broylz]

if you have one for occasional use like these scenarios, id suggest a 18" and get an extra chain and a file to sharpen it with. used motor oil can be used in a pinch as bar oil as well. just make sure to store it empty of gas or use appropriate stabilizer. this is one of the tools i found that out the hard way on.

[Belmont31R]

See if you can get marine gas which does not have ethanol in it. Ethanol will eat up small engines and even older cars not made with ethanol in mind. It will rot the gas lines and in general is not good for small engines.

[kartoffel]

18" is a good homeowner size. Invest in a file or some Dremel stones and learn how to sharpen your chains. Keep a spare bar around too, especially if you're out of practice and more liable to pinch the bar.

Always wear PPE. Shooting glasses and earpro. Boots and long pants. Bring along a big digging iron or something that you can leverage around logs. Keep your chain out of the dirt if you want it to stay sharp.

Things to keep in mind if shopping:

1) The Husky saws you see in big box stores are not the same as professional Husqvarna saws, but they'll beat a Poulan or Homelite any day.

2) Stihl is the most popular pro brand for a reason.

3) Saws get heavy. At the end of a long day you'd probably be glad to have a lighter, shorter saw instead of the monster you saw featured in some timbersports advertisement.

[M2AP]

For years I've considered a saw part of my preps. I try to keep a good stock of chains, bars, pull-rope ect ect so that I can make any reasonable repairs.
I've been using a 16" Poulan for the last several years and it's held up well. I wore out the crankshaft sprocket twice. Now I'm looking at buying a 18" Stihl before the end of the tax year.
I used to use Sta-Bil, now I use Seafoam as a stabilizer after reading alot on outboard motor forums.

[DeltaSierra]

If you buy a saw, get a quality saw - NOT something in Wal-Mart....

There are two brands of saws:

(1) Husqvarna

(2) Stihl

I personally run a Husky, but I have run Stihls, and they are both really good saws (the next saw I buy will be a Stihl though.)

Don't skimp on quality. If you want a saw, make sure it is big enough for the job. Bigger is better in the case of a chain saw, as a small saw will bog down easily, and will not perform very well if used in large(ish) wood.

What I would recommend is that you purchase at the VERY minimum a 60cc saw, with a 20 inch bar, and then replace the 20 inch bar with a 16 or 18 inch bar (I know this sounds odd, but the shorter bar on a bigger saw is a really nice set-up if you are cutting medium sized hardwoods.)

Don't buy a Husky from a big box store, as they are NOT the same quality as a Pro-Grade Husky.

[extrication]

Love my chainsaws. I keep a Stihl MS260 w/ a 20" bar loaded with chipper chain and a Stihl MS 460 w/ a 20" bar loaded with Rapco Terminator demolition carbide chain. Remember Stihl two cycle oil has a stabilizer already added. I'll add a little Seafoam if the cylinder is showing carbon buildup.

[superr.stu]

20 inch bar, and then replace the 20 inch bar with a 16 or 18 inch bar (I know this sounds odd, but the shorter bar on a bigger saw is a really nice set-up if you are cutting medium sized hardwoods.)

This is huge! One of the only 2 modifications we make to the saws at the tree service is bumping that 20incher down to a 16. It's mind-blowing how a zippy Stihl will torque up and eat like a big husky. Also that 16inch bar can do about 95% of the cutting you'll encounter. One thing for people that don't cut a whole lot though is that the downsized bar is much more aggressive and you need to keep that in mind if you're fatigued (chainsaw to the head because you weren't wearing your big boy pants is a day ruiner).

[DeltaSierra]

This is huge! One of the only 2 modifications we make to the saws at the tree service is bumping that 20incher down to a 16.

What is the other modification that you make if might I ask?

Also that 16inch bar can do about 95% of the cutting you'll encounter.

If you aren't a professional, you shouldn't be cutting it if the 16 inch bar won't handle the job...

One thing for people that don't cut a whole lot though is that the downsized bar is much more aggressive and you need to keep that in mind if you're fatigued (chainsaw to the head because you weren't wearing your big boy pants is a day ruiner).

Precisely. I've never cut myself with a saw (although I have a couple pairs of chaps that are pretty sliced up...) but this is a very good point.

It is very easy to get tired after a few hours running a saw if you aren't used to that sort of work, and in particular, running saws.




I would suggest that if you are going to keep a saw for use in an emergency situation, you NEED to have good safety equipment:

Steel Toed Boots, preferably with an eight or nine inch height.

Chaps

Helmet with ear muffs and flip down visor

If you don't have this equipment, you are asking for trouble....

[kartoffel]

Good idea on the chaps and face helmet. Might as well gear up right. The last time you want to take a trip to the ER is after a hurricane or tornado.


16 inch bar is enough though? I had a huge old oak that fell over in my side woods. The bar didn't even go halfway. I wouldn't recommend novices felling larger trees, but bucking big logs is much easier with a longe bar.