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Message
re: Best gas 16 to 18 inch chain saw recommendations
Posted on 5/22/25 at 10:07 am to VanRIch
Posted on 5/22/25 at 10:07 am to VanRIch
Are you filing down the depth guides appropriately as well? With the correct tools, its easy to do. First tooth, count the number of strokes to get it sharp. Go slow, only one way, etc. Same strokes on every tooth, then use a depth gauge file guide and file all the depth gauges down. That's all there is to it. When I've watched someone else who "couldnt figure it out" it was always either the depth gauges were way too high or they were just sawing away with the round file till it "feels sharp"
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Posted on 5/22/25 at 10:09 am to bluemoons
The pro grade saws are great but not nearly worth the money for homeowner or light farm usage.
The mid range saws are a lot of machine for hurricane cleanup and working around the camp.
Pro-line saws are excellent and better, no doubt about it. That's an expensive machine for something that will sit on a shelf in the garage for 23 out of 24 months.
The mid range saws are a lot of machine for hurricane cleanup and working around the camp.
Pro-line saws are excellent and better, no doubt about it. That's an expensive machine for something that will sit on a shelf in the garage for 23 out of 24 months.
Posted on 5/22/25 at 11:12 am to DownshiftAndFloorIt
Shindaiwa 591. 59.8cc engine $450.
Echo Timberwolf CS590 59.8 cc engine $450.
Have been around for 30 plus years.
Made in Japan
Still MS 261 50.2 cc engine $730.
No thanks on battery or electric.
Cutting firewood/clearing land.
Not trimming rose bushes
A $300 saw won’t get it done for long before it is done. For little less than $200. more you have a saw that will run all day, start when hot tackle large trees if necessary.
Echo Timberwolf CS590 59.8 cc engine $450.
Have been around for 30 plus years.
Made in Japan
Still MS 261 50.2 cc engine $730.
No thanks on battery or electric.
Cutting firewood/clearing land.
Not trimming rose bushes
A $300 saw won’t get it done for long before it is done. For little less than $200. more you have a saw that will run all day, start when hot tackle large trees if necessary.
Posted on 5/22/25 at 12:14 pm to VanRIch
You should sharpen it every tank of gas or two. Rakers too. 2 swipes with a flat file on the rakers. Watch Bucking Billy Ray on YouTube or IG. Follow the guide line on the tooth.
This post was edited on 5/22/25 at 8:22 pm
Posted on 5/22/25 at 1:01 pm to VanRIch
quote:
I have a stihl and it’s been a great saw. My only issue, and it’s no fault of the saw, is I can’t not seem to properly sharpen the damn chain. I’ve had YouTube up and watching and did it exactly as they explained (evidently not) and it still doesn’t throw the long shavings off. I just get saw dust. I usually just buy a new chain after a couple years.
Buy this and don't look back. So easy and fast and sharpens and files the rakers in one step:
Stihl Chainsaw Sharpener
Posted on 5/23/25 at 10:25 am to Ncook
Go to Abita Lumber and talk to them about what you need. They are platinum level sales and service for Stihl. Then get your service done there. I had trouble trying to go through another group which is known for green tractors and it was a disaster. I have a couple of Stihl saws and they are great.
Posted on 5/24/25 at 5:31 pm to bbvdd
quote:
I have a 16 inch Husqvarna from HD, do not buy one of those
That is the problem. What model did you get? Husky pro models are not the same.
Posted on 5/24/25 at 9:11 pm to Ncook
Echo
Posted on 5/25/25 at 12:00 am to GREENHEAD22
Echo and Shindaiwa owned by same parent company.
Echo weed eaters and Shindaiwa back pack blowers and chain saws.
They just run and run year after year after year.
I know Stihl makes great equipment but we had a brand new Stihl gas hedge trimmer that was the hardest starting piece of junk.
New Stihl carb made no difference.
Every time I saw it I wanted to take it out back and put a .45 slug through it !!!!
Echo weed eaters and Shindaiwa back pack blowers and chain saws.
They just run and run year after year after year.
I know Stihl makes great equipment but we had a brand new Stihl gas hedge trimmer that was the hardest starting piece of junk.
New Stihl carb made no difference.
Every time I saw it I wanted to take it out back and put a .45 slug through it !!!!
Posted on 5/25/25 at 1:03 am to turkish
quote:
If you really want the best in that size range, it’s a Stihl MS261.
I do forestry work professionally. We do fuels management on public/private lands in NW nebraska and the black hills area.
We have 7 chainsaws, all Stihl. We wont bother with anything else. Too much time wasted.
They are way overkill for occasional use. If you are just going to use it once a year, get something cheap.
This post was edited on 5/25/25 at 1:04 am
Posted on 5/25/25 at 1:05 am to Ncook
quote:
Stihl gas hedge trimmer
Any thing Stihl that is not a chainsaw is a waste of $.
Posted on 5/25/25 at 5:39 am to CastleBravo
quote:
Any thing Stihl that is not a chainsaw is a waste of $.
No, they have the best backpack blowers on the market.
Weedeaters are great as well.
Posted on 5/25/25 at 4:12 pm to Ncook
Trifuel has been good for me, expensive but have had zero carb problems.....but I do drain the tank when I put it up for a while.
Posted on 5/25/25 at 5:32 pm to bbvdd
I second the Stihl sharpening tool. Does a great job. That and keep your chain out of the dirt.
Posted on 5/25/25 at 6:38 pm to CastleBravo
Stihl.
(Echo and Homelite years ago worked well for me)
I have an 18” and 26” and I do a lot of chainsaw work on my 80 ac semi-forested farm.
They are indestructible and reliable.
My only complaint is they can be a pain in the arse when the chain jumps the bar, but once you get use to re-chaining the bar it becomes easier.
But DO NOT waste money on a small battery operated chainsaw. They’re ok for your wife pruning bushes and trees of up to 3” in diameter, but more than that, forget it.
(Echo and Homelite years ago worked well for me)
I have an 18” and 26” and I do a lot of chainsaw work on my 80 ac semi-forested farm.
They are indestructible and reliable.
My only complaint is they can be a pain in the arse when the chain jumps the bar, but once you get use to re-chaining the bar it becomes easier.
But DO NOT waste money on a small battery operated chainsaw. They’re ok for your wife pruning bushes and trees of up to 3” in diameter, but more than that, forget it.
Posted on 5/25/25 at 10:09 pm to TheLoupGarou
quote:
But DO NOT waste money on a small battery operated chainsaw. They’re ok for your wife pruning bushes and trees of up to 3” in diameter, but more than that, forget it.
I’ve already explained what I did with the Ego battery powered chainsaw I have, but I’ll remind you that I cut down 40’ water oak, then cut it all up for fire wood with two 5.0ah batteries.
I’m not going to say it’s better than a commercial grade Stihl, or echo, or husky, but it can without a doubt do the job for any weekend warrior. I wouldn’t go buy one if you didn’t already have other equipment (batteries). I already had the blower, trimmer, edger, pole saw and had two batteries so it was an easy decision to get the chainsaw. And I was very skeptical of it, but it worked great. It’s perfect for occasional use. I would without a doubt have a gas chainsaw if I was using it regularly.
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