re: Help me with a chainsaw purchasing decision

Don't forget to get that extra stuff I posted. Stihl 2 cycle oil and bar oil is some of the best. Don't get any of that organic crap, just get the stuff in the orange bottles.

Those sharpening kits are pretty handy. They have guides that set the file at the correct angles so you can't mess it up. The saw should be peeling off little strips of wood, not creating dust.

Make sure your chain doesn't hang off of the bar, but also don't put it too tight because it will bog down. Adjusted correctly, it will keep the chain from spinning while the saw is idling. Ask the shop to show you what's right.

Get them to adjust the bar oiler correctly. It should just barely be spitting out oil when you aren't cutting something. Set up properly with stock Stihl stuff, you'll run out of fuel with a little bit of bar oil left so you can fill both at the same time.

If you don't have one, get a wedge to stop your saw from getting pinched when you are cutting stuff on the ground.

Please don't use ethanol gas, and those things of oil mix come in 1gal, 2gal, 2.5gal, and 5gal sizes. Just pour it in and fill with gas

Get a bar sheath. I think they have them in 14 and 16" sizes. A box is kinda pointless unless it is free

Eta: Wear steel toed boots when you are cutting. Honestly, the only other safety stuff I've worn was sunglasses.