Chainsaw Recommendations wanted

[Kathy]

I'll tell you what I'm going to use it for & maybe you can tell me what brands & size I should look into further.

I will be using it to
1. clear paths for driveway, well & septic areas and a cabin site. This is the wooded area I'll be working with:




2. Firewood for the woodstove

3. Chunking up larger downed trees that were felled when the logging was done 13 yrs ago. I'm hoping to use much of it for firewood and crafts.

I'm short but sturdy. I can still handle 50# feed sacks with no problem but I'm not sure how heavy a chainsaw normally is.

I'd like a good brand that can endure some heavy work without breaking down every few days. In the past I'd had a Husqvarna and it was a very reliable saw.

So what do you recommend for a mid 50's homesteader who needs to clear paths & areas and get that wood cut for winter?

Thanks for your suggestions,
Kathy

[dirty]

i had a poulan that i used for six years, never did a thing to it except sharpen or replace chains. i ended up selling it when i moved this last summer. when i got here i went out and bought another poulan. I've already cut a couple of cords with it. people up here tend to look down on poulans. the brands of choice seem to be stihl or husqvarna.

I've heard bad things about poulans. i just tend to stick with brands that have worked for me.

[antiquestuff]

Husgvarna and Stihl are both generally good, Husqvarna is a little more affordable than Stihl though.

[Kathy]

Will the salesmen be the ones to recommend a specific size such as bar length?
Do I need to take them some measurements of the trees that I'll be wanting to clear out?
Thanks for the advice, I'm sorry if I'm asking obvious questions.

[bbird]

Didn't Stihl buy out Hugsvarna or vice versa? Hmm, mind is drawing a blank but there was a major chainsaw that either quit or got bought out in the last few years.

I'd buy a 20 inch or smaller Kathy. It's hard to tell by your pictures but the tree trunks don't look too big and the hardest thing and most dangerous thing about a big chainsaw is the feeling of trying to control it. I'm tall and big but my arms get darn tired from the vibrations of a chainsaw. I'm also one who thinks the hardest thing to do with a chainsaw is start it, lol.

I think we must have four chainsaws around here and dh has a love/hate relationship with each one! Investing in a chain sharpener will also save you lots of time and money in the long run.

[antiquestuff]

You could try a one person crosscut saw as well. Slower but there are benefits...

[dirty]

admin said:

Will the salesmen be the ones to recommend a specific size such as bar length?
Do I need to take them some measurements of the trees that I'll be wanting to clear out?
Thanks for the advice, I'm sorry if I'm asking obvious questions.

no you don't need to measure the trees. nothing in the pictures seems large. plus if you run into large trees, save them. they take to long to grow.

you just need to go hold the saw in your hands. get a feel for what you'll be comfortable with.