Chainsaw gift for husband

[Debdowns2]

Hi All:

I am completely out of my league here, but you seem like the right bunch to ask where to begin learing about getting my husband a chainsaw for Christmas.  We live on a small 7 acre proprty with trees everywhere and falling down all the time.  He cuts them up for firewood and needs to cut trees down to stay ahead of the "tree-falling" issues!  He has a desk job but was raised a farmer with an outdoorsman desire to work!  He wants a Stihl...what is a good model for this purpose and can I find any used saws that I would feel good about buying without seeing first?

Thanks!

[Tom]

Welcome to the forum, Debdowns

You will not only get some opinions as to saws here, but have found a good place to hangout.  You and your husband will find something of interest here from tree felling to cooking.   'Course it might not be the thing to do to tell him about us until you find your saw, but it sure would be a second Christmas Present to introduce him to us.

I know you will get some good advice so I'll mosey along now and let these guys get to work.

[beenthere]

Welcome to the forum.

If a Stihl he wants, get him the MS361.  20" bar

I have it, and for an all-around saw, it is in my opinion the best. Should be around $550 (mine was $500 3 years ago).

I had a desk job too, but at 68 still work well with the MS361. There are bigger saws, and smaller ones. If this isn't right for him, he should be able to make a good trade back with the dealer.  But it should impress him when he opens his present...

I'd add, get him the safety chaps and hard hat at the same time...it will say "I love you, just as you are, in one piece".

[Nate Surveyor]

Get a light weight saw. The smallest logger saw that stihl makes. I don't know the model num, but the new ones are super light.

Ask advice from your local stihl dealer. I have heard great reports on their newest line of light weight small loggers saws.

There won't be any used ones out there, for sale at much less cost than new. Figure on at least 400 bucks for one of the better saws.

N

[rebocardo]

> any used saws that I would feel good about buying without seeing first

Not unless you bought from a Stihl local dealer, if you buy from E-Bay it might end up being an expensive mistake.

If your husband does not have it, a few things you might consider are things to make it easier and safer for him to work.

$50 chainsaw chaps
$40 chainsaw helmet with face screen and ear muffs
$20 chainsaw gloves
$100 chainsaw boots

One tool he might like above all else is a Logrite Peavey to help move things that need to be cut. The 60" is about $150. I worked a long time using metal bars and such, this was a tool well worth the money.

Considering he has a desk job, then this is only part time stuff, so a Stihl MS-250 might be light enough and cheap enough for a limited amount of firewood. This saw is targeted more towards a home owner. I have one because it can cut with an 18" bar and it is still light enough to do a lot of limbing of trees into firewood without being tiring.

If all you heat by is firewood and need 10 cords a year, then maybe something else would be better. Though on seven acres, you are only going to be able to cut out 2-3 cords a year without stripping it bare, so a consumer type saw makes sense because you are not going to use it much.

The other thing is what diameter are the trees and what type? That pretty much determines what saw you need. If most of the trees are between 10-20" then the saw above would be okay with oak and pine. If you have oak trees 36" across at chest height, you need a much better saw.
 





Go to http://www.baileys-online.com/ and order a catalog or browse their on-line store.

[Urbicide]

I would also suggest the Stihl MS-361. It is a pro-quality saw that will last him many years with proper usage. The fact that you are researching your prospective gift here first rather than relying on a saleman's pitch indicates to me that you are  pretty smart. The better grade of Stihls are designed to last longer, have a better power to weight ratio, and are easier to service than the typical Stihl consumer grade saws you see advertised in the local newspaper. (The better Stihl's have white handles, btw, for a quick visual reference, as opposed to the black and the orange handles.) Good luck to you in your quest.

[Kevin]

The 361 is a good size for an all around Stihl felling/limbing and bucking saw.
Check with your dealer for a chainsaw course to go along with it and as already mention the safety equipment.

[SawTroll]

Welcome to the forum.

If a Stihl he wants, get him the MS361.  20" bar

I have it, and for an all-around saw, it is in my opinion the best. Should be around $550 (mine was $500 3 years ago).
...

I totally agree, for an allround saw (but would prefere an 18" bar, if possible) - but we don't know how large those saws are.............

It is my favourite saw, and one of very few Stihls that I would want to buy.

[Debdowns2]

Hi Guys:

Thanks very much for this advice.  So, what I have learned is this:

Stihl white handle with safety chaps and har hat/face screen important!  Cost is important though...and this all adds up doesn't it.  The Stihl MS361 and MS250 were mentioned.  A friewnd said an 029 Farm Boss as well.  Your bthougths on that one?

The trees aren't just on our property  as we live on a wooded path that is partially managed by the state and partially by the federal government.  We help keep some of the dead wood cleared.  My husband is a VERY strong 300 lb guy as well.  DOes that factor into the weight choice issue?

Thanks,

[SawTroll]

A MS361 should classify as a very light saw then.   

The 250 and 290(029) are "homeowner" (orange handle) saws, and imo not good choises.

[Dan_Shade]

the 290 is a fine saw for most folks.  the 361 probably costs 2x as much as the 290, of course you get what you pay for, but the 290 should give your husband years of service.   

why not take him down to the store and both of you talk to the salesman?  that way you can decide for yourself what suits your needs best. 

The safety stuff is a real good idea, and I feel it's more important than the saw, but some folks don't use safety gear.  If your husband wouldn't use the safety gear, no use spending $75 on a good set of chaps.  I've always figured that $75 for chaps is better than a trip to the ER.  I really like my hardhat/faceshield/earmuffs combo too...

[Ianab]

Get a simple sharpening kit too 

A sharp MS250 will cut more wood than a blunt MS361 

Cheers

Ian

[thecfarm]

Welcome to the forum,Debdowns2.Someone on here once said they could not afford chaps,someone else said they cost about as much as a co-pay for a emergency room visit.Good luck.

[Chris J]

+1 for you & your hubby going to a knowledgeable dealer.  A honest dealer, one who puts matching his customers with the appropriate chainsaw for their needs over his profit margin, can be a big help.

Good luck, & please let us know what your husband gets.

[aaronak]

IMO The best saw for your husband is going to be the saw he feels the most comfortable with.

Knowing you are educating yourself by participating in this forum in general may make him more comfortable making the decisions he needs to make with the saw.

Buying the basic safety gear mentioned already may be a good start and then picking out the saw he feels comfortable with next, whether its new or used. Being a 300 pound guy he may need to try out the saftey gear to make sure its going to protect him.

Having the safety gear will be the beginning of the excitement of having a new saw, safety gear, and a wife who supports him, and wants him back at home when hes done, safe and sound, and in the office in the morning.

After its all been said and done, he may decide to buy a different saw after using the saw he/you may pick, for even better decisions. And still have your support, or know you realize why hes picking out another saw.

I used to have an old john deere saw I bought for $150, then I bought a brand new Husky 353 which was stolen, but buying the safety gear, a video, reading the owner's manual, going through all that for my education was the best part of buying a saw IMO.

Now I own a "dead but trying to revive" an old 041, and a 441 Stihl, and have been using Stihls on my Uncle's farm in Washington, or at my cabin in Southeast Alaska.

So far the best, hardest working partner I have ever had helping me pick out a saw, safety gear, watching the felling video, and even helping me to carry gear, tools, and split wood, has been my mother.

Good luck Deb!

[scsmith42]

Hi Deb, and welcome to the forum.  Your husband is a lucky guy to have a wife that is researching as much as you are to get him a great gift.

I too live on a farm, and up until a couple of years ago did most of my projects/chores on nights and weekends.  As such, I really appreciate a high quality tool that won't let me down when I need it.

The 029 Farm Boss (now the 290) is a very good saw, but as mentioned before it's a consumer grade saw, not a professional grade.   Stihl's consumer grade products are still pretty good though - much better than a Poulon or the other consumer grade saws.

If it comes down to budget, as a gift I would select a new 290 over a used 361.   For starters, there's nothing like opening the box on a shiny new toy, uh I mean tool, and you also have the warranty, etc. 

If you can swing the budget on the 361, go for it.  It's a great, professional saw that he'll cherish for years.

RE the chaps, etc, if your husband is inclined to use them, then buy them.  He'll want a 2.5 gallon fuel container to store his pre-mixed fuel in, and a couple of spare chains are also beneficial things to have. 

Ditto the comments on the sharpening kit - most folks sharpen their chain multiple times during the day if they're using the saw a lot.

Good luck, and let us know how things turn out.

Scott

[KY CUTTER]

Come on guys, you know what he really wants is the NEW HUSKY 346XP 50CC.  It would be perfect.   

[oldsaw]

Deb, get him the chaps, gloves, headgear, and permission to "shop" for a saw.  Keep him safe, show him you love him and want him to stay in one piece.  You can tell him too.

What the heck, go shopping with him.

Mark

[Dave Shepard]

oldsaw, that is exactly what I was thinking, get the important stuff, and let him pick out the toy I mean saw.


Dave

[ladylake]

The 361 will cut way faster than the 290 and is built way better, but the 290 will work too. If your going to keep it for lots of years I'd go with the 361. Get him to use Stabil in the gas as gas goes bad fast nodays. Also try to get gas with no ethonal thats why it goes bas faster.   Steve

[Ron Scott]

I agree with getting him all the necessary safety gear for Christmas along with a gift card to obtain the saw he prefers at the local recommended independent dealer. He will realize that you are placing importance on "safety first", a necessity for any chainsaw user.

[Warbird]

Hi Debdowns2.  Welcome to the greatest forums around.  As someone else said, you get what you pay for and this is very true with Stihl chainsaws.  I run an MS270c and have liked it very much.  I heat mainly with wood and cut 5 - 10 cord of wood per year.  The 270C has been a great saw but I've been wanting to upgrade to the MS361 very much.  It is, in my opinion, the best firewood cutting chainsaw that Stihl makes.  It is a whole lot of saw and it costs a lot, but it is a saw for life if you take care of it.

All that being said, I also like the suggestion someone made of getting him the safety gear for under the tree and telling him he's got X-amount to spend on a saw.  Up here in Alaska, a brand new MS361 costs over $600... so take that into account.

Good luck!  I hope you and your husband will continue to post here.  Merry Christmas!

[Nate Surveyor]

REAL men don't use safety gear (tongue in cheek!)

I don't like gloves, and a few splinters once in a while are ok with me.

I have cut my own leg TWICE with my saw. I have tracks across my knee cap, on my left leg. Cut it in almost the same place both times.

Once was cutting briars, and once was cutting a dozed over log, which acted like a spring, and threw the saw into my leg.

As I said, REAL men don't use safety gear!



Nate

[PC-Urban-Sawyer]

REAL men don't use safety gear (tongue in cheek!)

...

As I said, REAL men don't use safety gear!



Nate

And the LUCKY ones live to brag about it! 

[johncinquo]

The 029 is gonna get you a "uh, thanks"  The 361 is gonna get you a "THANKS!"  The 046 or 460 is gonna get you a set of diamond earrings.   

[Debdowns2]

Hi Guys:

Thanks for all this.  I was set on the 029 (290) because of price but everyone is telling me the 361 is a must except the guy in the store who says 290 is fine!  Do all Stihl dealers carry the orange and white handled saws?  These at my dealer are all orange.  Should I keep looking for the white handles?  They are upwards of $600!

[Debdowns2]

Me again...and the 290 comes with a 20 inch bar...is that good or Ok for him?

[Polly]

      very important use fresh gas oil mix each time saw is used  when putting it away for extended time drain gas tank and run saw till it stops           saw will last a lot longer start easier and run better       

[beenthere]

Deb
This dealer may just have the 290's in excess, and trying to move them out of his inventory. I was told a similar story by a larger Stihl dealer, when I asked about the MS361.  He said they were not available yet. When I went to my smaller Stihl dealer, he said he could get them the next day....ironic thing was that his were shipped through the larger dealer..

But you need to deal with who you have available...

[Ianab]

The dealer is probably just trying to match the saw to the customer - part time firewood cutter - ms290 is a good option, and cheaper than a ms361.

The 361 IS a better saw, more power, less weight, more durable.. but do you need the extra quality for a firewood saw?

The ms290 is a good reliable saw for the sort of guy that just needs a good reliable saw 

I would rather send a guy out to cut firewood with the 290 AND all the extras (Chaps, helmet, wedges, sharpening kit, fuel/oil can, spare chain) then just a 361. Cost is probably the same 

18" bar is probably a better option on a 290 though.

Cheers

Ian

[Sprucegum]

Keep in mind -this is his first saw, not his only saw   

Get the less expensive model (029 & 18" bar) this time.
If(when) he really gets into sawing he will be ready to make an informed choice on a second saw that fits him and the type of cutting he does.

Merry Christmas

[little Bark]

Good Morning Deb,

In my area where you live it may be a little diffrent.  There are saw dealers ( local harware stores Truevalue ect. ) and then there are SAW DEALERS local small engine repair shops/ Commerical Outdoor equipment dealers.  The local hardware store is not going to stock the saws the guys are talking about.  You need to visit your local small engine repair shop He may have a mix of both homeowner and comerical saws.  ( The shops in my area are setup this way ) It may still be diffrent where you live.  I personally own a homeowner grade saw and there are times that I am happy w/ it and there are times I whish I had the better saw.   To wrap this up I always get the job done but it always seems to take me longer then what I tell my wife. ( I always get home late ) I'm not saying that a good saw would solve that but at least I can think that in hope that I will someday own a fine tool such as a MS361

[Furby]

Keep in mind -this is his first saw, not his only saw   

I didn't see that anyplace, how do you know that?
First post says he cuts them up.

[Danny Dimm]

I'm not real familiar with the smaller model saws but for sure stick with a saw made for industial purposes. Stihl and Husky both make fine saws and have a huge dealer infrastructures. Given his size, the weight of the saw won't be an issue. Some have recommended 18 to 20 inch bars. I hate small bars. Harder on the back and kick backs tend to be more violent. You are also forced to be that much closer to your work. I run 28" bars for the most part. 046 stihl, 575 husky, and 066 stihl, all ported and modified. But then again I make my living with them. A good filing guide is a must. Filing a saw freehand is a skill that takes years to perfect. A guide will keep you cutting like a pro first time every time. Easier on the saw and the operator. Chaps are a must as well. I feel naked with out them if I'm doing any amount of work and I've got 25 years experience. They have saved me more than a few times. Hope this helps and one more thing. Don't work alone. Or at least have a way to make contact every hour or so.

[sawguy21]

Hey Danny, welcome to the zoo er forum. Pour a coffee and pull up a chair, you sound like you have some experience to share.

[Sprucegum]

Furby her first post said "he cuts them up" it didn't say how, I assumed the big guy was using a stone wedge and a dino-bone. 

Its easy to say "get the best saw" but you still gotta count yer coin before you go to the store.

[Furby]

Agreed!
I used a Polun Wildthing for many years and still think about getting another from time to time as the cost can't be beat. Even though they are junky saws.

[rebocardo]

>  used a Polun Wildthing for many years

Me too, it was my first gas chain, I had been using mostly an axe and saw before that (had an electric 14" Remington though). Chainsaw is much faster     Though the axe always starts on the first swing   

From the looks of it, within the last two years the Poulan has gone way down in value.  You see a lot of refurbs at certain mail order places and now Home Depot for $99. I bought mine new for $160 at Home Depot a while back.

My Model 2375 Poulan Wildthing I ran probably 200+ hours before it died and my return on investment was less then $1 per hour while charging $25. These newer ones have a funky chain tensioner and I already have had one customer return it for a Husky 350 when I saw him struggling with a loose chain. Shame they had to change an okay saw into a bad saw 
 

[Nate Surveyor]

If you are gonna use the wild thing, at least get the WILD THING song to sing along with! (jes kidding!) I think that they play WILD THING real loud, while building that saw! (is poulan a sponsor here?)

Seriously, Deb downs, please tell us what you finally did do with all the advice, and the need of a saw for hubby!

Nate

[SawTroll]

Me again...and the 290 comes with a 20 inch bar...is that good or Ok for him?

A bit much bar for that saw, take an 18" instead - or preferably a 16".....

[Danny Dimm]

Over twenty years logging. About 15 of that falling. All over the province. From Ft Nelson to Boston Bar. Mostly doing the small mill thing now. Tree huggers got to me. Don't cut em down much any more, I cut em up.

[TexasTimbers]

Wel you got plenty of advice deb. All true gents want to help a damsel in distress.

Why not consider the chainsaw alone for the Christmas gift, and he can add the saftey equipment from his next paycheck or towo or three. It is not unusual/wrong/cheap to give the main item as the gift. You shoulkd not feel obligated to get all of the necessary ancillary items immediately. If you go that route (letting him add the other equipment as he can afford it), and can afford the MS361 by itself, that's what I would suggest you do because as you said he is also going to be using the saw to fell trees. Using a 290 to fell is not going to make him happy. He can fell with the MS361 and the saw will make him much happier to use than the 290, especially a big man likes to use all the tool he can get tomake the job easier and quicker.

I don't own the saw but have never heard one solitary bad review on it. In fact, even though I favor Husqvarna's, I want an MS361 also. If you read reviews from owners they don't just like these saws they swear by them.

[Paul_H]

Hey Danny, welcome to the zoo er forum. Pour a coffee and pull up a chair, you sound like you have some experience to share.

I've known Danny and his dog named Diesel for about 7 years now.He lives over the hill from me about an hour and a half away but is well known around here as a good faller and handyman.He dried the boards for the floor in my house here and was a big help when I first got my own kiln.

He sawed some logs up for us with his Lucas too before we bought the MD and some of that wood is in my house here as window casings and mouldings.

Welcome Danny,glad you finally got here 

[Tom]

Hey Danny.  welcome to the forum.

Paul's word is good enough for me.  Hope you enjoy running around with us. 

[Danny Dimm]

Now I'm feeling all warm and fuzzy.

[Paul_H]

I haven't seen you for a couple of years but you were fuzzy then or did you clean up some .

[limbrat]

Ms Debbie  I would do as some have advised and give him your blessings on getting a new saw and show him this thread as research, but i would let him get his own saw.

A long time ago i ran into a friend that needed a little cash so i bought his 9.8 outboard boat motor from him. I had a bass boat and a couple of piroques that i used but nothing that the little outboard would fit. I never ment to keep the motor and sold it back to him when he got caught up, but i made a comment to my wife that i needed to get a small boat for the motor. Monday i went to work Friday when i came home parked in my spot was the small boat that my wife had bought. It was a fine boat in its day but its day was about 30yrs. earlier. It was probably the first fiberglass model that skeeter ever built and had major but not very visiable problems.  So now she dont buy my toys/tools and i dont buy non of her stuff for her.

[sawguy21]

  This time of year I get women wanting to buy toys a saw for their hubby. They are usually drawn to the least expensive model because they have no idea what they are looking for. I often make the sale with the guarantee that if he does not like it, he can bring it back after Christmas to exchange for a more suitable model. Yesterday, I told one that her buying tools for a man is like him buying her shoes. She had a good laugh.

[thecfarm]

At least they try.That means a lot.Good that you help them out.I'm buying my wife a sewing machine.She had to pick it out.I did get her a gift certicate at a sewing store for her birthday.She could get whatever she needed for material and thread or whatever.She had more fun trying to stretch that certicate out with sales and the 40% coupons than anything else I ever gave her.She would come home and show me her great buys.

[Debdowns2]

Hi Gang:

I went with the 029 and he was so surprised!  He understands all the references to the 361 but said our trees are not that big and he does not use it enough to warrant the extra cost.  Perhpas he was being poilte.  I got him the chaps and he laughed at first but is now wearing them!  Of course, he has used it already!

Thanks to you all for the help.  I gave this site to him and you may hear from him soon!

Debbie

[beenthere]

Debbie
Thanks for the update, and glad to hear he likes your choice. 
HNY

[Nate Surveyor]

Yeah, I was wondering what happened.

The 029 looks like it would be a good saw. Probably a good choice.

New saws usually cut faster, just like new shoes make kids run faster!

Now, keep warm!

Nate

[ErikC]

I also have an 029. With my other saws around, it gets ignored sometimes, but every time I use I think "sure cuts nice, and light too!"   Good Choice!!!

Erik

[sawguy21]

I am glad to hear he is pleased. Make sure he wears those chaps, they could save him.

[oldsaw]

I am glad to hear he is pleased. Make sure he wears those chaps, they could save him.

He can laugh now, but sawguy is right.  He won't be laughing if he is hemmoraging everywhere, or comes up one leg short on the way back from the emergency room.

Safety first.

Mark

[SawTroll]

Yeah, I was wondering what happened.

The 029 looks like it would be a good saw. Probably a good choice.

New saws usually cut faster, just like new shoes make kids run faster!

Now, keep warm!

Nate

'

       No, they don't - runin saws are better - 10-20 tanks should do......

[Nate Surveyor]

Sorry. I plum fergot to remind you to start it!

N

[sawguy21]

That is funny.

[Nate Surveyor]

Seriously, after thinking about it, I think Saw Troll above may have been trying to remind us that the saw will run better, and have more power AFTER the break in period.

All I was doing was being silly about the fun of a new toy. (faster etc)

I have run all kinds of 2 cycle engines. Model airplanes, 2 stroke motorcycles, and liquid cooled 2 stroke motorcycles.

There is a fascinating pile of info to be learned about tuning 2 strokes, and what happens when you change the gas/oil ratio, and the viscosity index of the propellants used in them.

For now, I think you should run this saw at the factory specs. I suspect it has already been run at the factory, and partially broken in already.
If you run 32:1 mix in it now, it will thicken the mix, and force it too lean. And it is designed for the 50:1 mix (Aren't all newer Stihl saws like this one set up at 50:1?) Anyway, I think it is.

Any good advice you can give them about this, would probably be helpful to them.

Mine advice is to stay away from too rich of mixes, and follow the mfr. advice.

Another thing that may come along is that sometimes the catalytic converters will clog up after a while. They may need advice on cleaning it out. On my 4-wheeler saws (I carry a stihl 018 on all 4-wheelers, just to remove logs across the road, and debris from property corners) both of them needed the exhaust systems cleaned out. But this is a different saw.

I'm trying to repent of my smart alec ways, and get them some practical advice.

Say, did you know that maturity and age are NOT even roughly connected?



Nate