I need to cut down 2 trees in my backyard. The trunks are no more than 5" in diameter, height of both is about 12'.

I know jack-diddly-squat about chainsaws, but now I need one. I went to Lowes and Home Depot websites to price them. Anywhere from $75 (electric) to $400.

Can y'all give some recommendations? I don't want to spend much money, but I don't want to buy a hunk of junk, either.

 

Dont buy a saw at Home Cheapo. I would go find a Stihl dealer and you can get a decent saw for about 250 to 300 and it will last a life time. My dad has a Stihl that is about 28 years old and is still going strong and starts when you need it the most.

 

I heat my home with firewood, so I have three chainsaws. I have a Stihl, a Poulan, and a Husqvarna. Actually, the Poulan runs quite well, but is not as powerful as the others: I feel Stihls are the very best.

If you are only looking at cutting these two trees down, why not rent a chainsaw for Home Depot---Get a 16" or 18" saw and rent it---that way you are only paying for the saw for the time that you use it. (Plus, if you dull the blade, they will have to sharpen it.) If you have other trees to cut down, I would look to get an 18" saw ---generally good for what you are going to do.

Stihls are the top of the line, but if you are only going to use it now and then for light work, get something less expensive.

Tim C.

 

As far as it goes, an electric saw would work. I always thought they were crap. But for something 5 inches in diameter, it'd work alright.

 

Tim, I will agree with you on if he only needs it to cut two trees down to go rent one. But I look at a good chain saw alot like I look at any of my guns. Will a cheap gun work yes but do you want to trust a cheap gun when you need it the most? While Stihl is a top shelf saw they have some inexpensive models that are pretty decent and wont break the bank like a saw that a logger uses will and are geared to the home owner that needs a good dependable saw.

 

You don't have a brush-axe laying round?

 

The electric will work fine for what you are doing and won't require the maintenance of the gas. However, you will feel like a wimp while using it, especially if the neighbors see you.

 

STIHL gets my vote!

 

I've got 2 Homelites, Poulan, and Stihl gas. They all work okay. With a gas saw, you'll need a gas can that you can mix oil and gas together. Unless you use it a lot, the gas will probably go bad before you use it. You'll also need chain oil or if yer like me, I use old motor oil and I have yet to wear out a bar. If you can find an old running Remington, they are far and away the best but they are for men, no boys allowed in that club. They are heavy and they are extremely powerful. Very reliable saws but parts are getting hard to find now. In my tool shed, the chainsaw that comes out the most is the Craftsman electric. You don't have to fool with old gas, fouled spark plugs, hard to start 2 cycle smoking noisy engines. Just plug it in and pull the trigger. Mine is good to about an 8" hackberry or a 10" cedar. It cuts just as fast and is far easier to use than any gas. No gas to mix, no hard starts, no noise, no smoke, and best of all, no maintenance other than chain oil and an occasional chain sharpening. If you need a good lightweight chainsaw for around the house, look at the electrics.

 

You can buy an ax for a few bucks and not have to worry about maintaining a chainsaw which can become frustrating and time consuming. An ax will only need sharpening and will work every time you need it when you need it. Come on you have 2 5" trees, there is no need for a chainsaw.

 

Never buy a Stihl! NEVER. I have worked with more of their products then what I'd admit to. I hate Stihl and their CS SUCKS!!! Husqvarna if you wanna spend the money. If not these say a 4" capacity but they're cheap and you could make it work and they have good reviews.

 

Rent one at home depot/hardware store, why buy if you don't use it often.

 

Thanks for all the replies, fellas. I think renting will be my choice. I don't want to buy junk, and I'm not willing to throw down $300 on a good chainsaw that I'll most likely never use again.

The two victims are the skinny suckers on the right side of the pic. This pic is 4 years old, so they are a tad bigger currently.

 

STIHL



Very realiable saw!! When I did forest fire fighting in college thats all we used! You can count on this saw! Its worth the money trust me

 

Based on what I see in the pic you posted, just go and rent one. You can cut down the trees, cut them down to size (depending on what you will do with them), and that should take very little time. If you are not going to use a chainsaw again, why buy one that will just sit around?

Tim C.