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I hate chainsaws

33 IMP said:
Do any of you guys that use chainsaws sharpen your own chains? Or do you send them out, or just buy new ?
The only place I know of here that sharpens chains charges more than a new chain!?!
There must be a lot of dull chains around here somewhere.
Click to expand...
I used to use a saw file, now I use these little diamond stones that fit into my cordless drill. They work well, only take a couple of minutes for the whole chain.
1744557597257.png
 
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This is what I've used forever. I used to take four or five at a time to a pro to get sharpened till I got this.
shopping.jpg
 
I always had gas chainsaws until recently. I decided to give the Lowes brand “ kobalt” a try. 80 volts. 18 inch.
It’s a strong saw and good for homeowner use.
If you go this route and have a lot of trees to work on, get the extra battery.
 
I have a Stihl farm boss 50cc. It's ok, but if I used it more it needs more power!!! I use a dremel for sharpening.

This thread needs more pictures!!!

Screenshot_20250413_104545_Chrome.jpg
 
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Reminds me, I have a hook full of chains I need to run through my machine. It works really good if you get it set up right to just LICK the tip, but wrong you can destroy a chain in a hurry! I'll grab a picture when I do, can't find one in my mess of shots to post now.
 
kiwigtx said:
I can still remember their TV adverts.... "It's a Poulan Ed...." :lol:

I had a corded hedge until about 3 years ago..... always worried about slicing through the cord....got close once.

Now I have a Makita 18V hedge triller....much faster cutting and the head rotation is quick & easy. I always lube the blades after I finish....I'm sure that helps.
Click to expand...
I found that TV advert .............

 
Shania's ode to the Stihl Chainsaws......



Listen to the lyrics. :lol:
 
I love chainsaws. (insert a few Tim Allen man grunts here)

Pictures are great! These are stolen off the web but they are the models as I had/have used them :)

The saw I grew up with:

1744580171791.png

Pioneer, circa... 1960?....ish. We had 2 head units, one was for parts. "That looks heavy" I can hear you say.... I am pretty sure it weighed 50lbs lol. We had a much bigger bar on ours then this picture. 100CC give or take. We used it to cut up a BUILDING on the farm. My older brother got to do that, he had a massive grin for the first 2/3s. Then I think his arms got tired by the end of the day. I remember he got it started, walked over to the building, then stopped, looked at my Dad "how should I do this?" Dad responds "I don;t know, just start cutting that wall I guess." So my brother laughs, throttles the thing up and saws into the wall. We hauled the building away in sections that fit in the back of the 63 Ford to the dump.

The saw I bought for $10 at a rummage sale in town when I moved to my home in 2001:

1744580500282.png


I bought a new bar for it after year one, and that is when I discovered it had what the hardware store guy called a stihl "micro chain" on it. The kerf was pretty standard for the 12" bar, but the teeth were much closer together when he showed me a standard chain. This thing was a limbing machine, went like a "r%p3d ape" as my wife's Grandfather remarked. Not enough snot to cut actual trees down though. We had a large dead elm I knew was not going to go well with this a few years ago so I bought this one that I couldn't really afford, but, buy once cry once as I always say:

1744580733858.png

Stihl 661. Has the M-tronic, basically a self adjusting EFI. Brilliant. something like 91CC, I got a 24" bar with the "super 3/8" pitch" as Stihl calls it. It has the decompression button to start it. Starts EASY, ALWAYS. This is a pro grade saw. I got mine a few years ago, cost a tad under $800 back then with the case. I looked up what they cost now. YIKES. Wife thought I was crazy, then we cut that elm down. My Father in law thought it might be too big, make it dangerous. It was actually the opposite. It had enough power and bar that in my opinion it was actually much safer then trying to make a little saw do such a big job. Plus it was fun, WOW do the chips come flying out the side from the kerf/chain speed. This thing just rips.

So, 2 years ago, my trusty little Stihl 015 gave up the ghost. I was trimming a walnut branch that was borderline if I should have gotten the big saw out. Yes, I should have. I think I overworked that poor little Stihl, and being that old something let go inside and locked it tight on the spot, about 3/4 through that branch. Lucky for me, 2 weeks later at the local flea market I picked one of these up with a case for $40:

1744581082766.png


Runs perfect. Was in good to go condition when I picked it up. Not as quick on the limbs as the little stihl was, but this one has more snot to it. I know there is a bit of a following for old Homelite. My Grandpa on my Dad's side bought all Homelite way back from the 1970's. I am not sure how old this saw is, no anti kick and an actual metal toggle for "run" makes me think early 80's at the newest. It is very balanced and snappy enough for a 14" bar. Does use a lot of bar oil compared to the new Stihl, despite being smaller, but I brought almost 5 gallons of bar oil home from the farm when the homestead was sold so I am not too worried :)
This one will get a workout this spring, I need to trim some stuff in the yard and one of the apple trees is on it's last leg.
 
I haven't owned a Stihl saw personally yet but it will be my next saw. I hand them out to my guys and the ones that don't mind working love them.
This sign on my wall is a reminder stop buying crap. Haha
I agree with dadsbee
1744581819646795198801612019890.jpg
 
Detective D said:
I love chainsaws. (insert a few Tim Allen man grunts here)

Pictures are great! These are stolen off the web but they are the models as I had/have used them :)

The saw I grew up with:

View attachment 1836466
Pioneer, circa... 1960?....ish. We had 2 head units, one was for parts. "That looks heavy" I can hear you say.... I am pretty sure it weighed 50lbs lol. We had a much bigger bar on ours then this picture. 100CC give or take. We used it to cut up a BUILDING on the farm. My older brother got to do that, he had a massive grin for the first 2/3s. Then I think his arms got tired by the end of the day. I remember he got it started, walked over to the building, then stopped, looked at my Dad "how should I do this?" Dad responds "I don;t know, just start cutting that wall I guess." So my brother laughs, throttles the thing up and saws into the wall. We hauled the building away in sections that fit in the back of the 63 Ford to the dump.

The saw I bought for $10 at a rummage sale in town when I moved to my home in 2001:

View attachment 1836467

I bought a new bar for it after year one, and that is when I discovered it had what the hardware store guy called a stihl "micro chain" on it. The kerf was pretty standard for the 12" bar, but the teeth were much closer together when he showed me a standard chain. This thing was a limbing machine, went like a "r%p3d ape" as my wife's Grandfather remarked. Not enough snot to cut actual trees down though. We had a large dead elm I knew was not going to go well with this a few years ago so I bought this one that I couldn't really afford, but, buy once cry once as I always say:

View attachment 1836475
Stihl 661. Has the M-tronic, basically a self adjusting EFI. Brilliant. something like 91CC, I got a 24" bar with the "super 3/8" pitch" as Stihl calls it. It has the decompression button to start it. Starts EASY, ALWAYS. This is a pro grade saw. I got mine a few years ago, cost a tad under $800 back then with the case. I looked up what they cost now. YIKES. Wife thought I was crazy, then we cut that elm down. My Father in law thought it might be too big, make it dangerous. It was actually the opposite. It had enough power and bar that in my opinion it was actually much safer then trying to make a little saw do such a big job. Plus it was fun, WOW do the chips come flying out the side from the kerf/chain speed. This thing just rips.

So, 2 years ago, my trusty little Stihl 015 gave up the ghost. I was trimming a walnut branch that was borderline if I should have gotten the big saw out. Yes, I should have. I think I overworked that poor little Stihl, and being that old something let go inside and locked it tight on the spot, about 3/4 through that branch. Lucky for me, 2 weeks later at the local flea market I picked one of these up with a case for $40:

View attachment 1836477

Runs perfect. Was in good to go condition when I picked it up. Not as quick on the limbs as the little stihl was, but this one has more snot to it. I know there is a bit of a following for old Homelite. My Grandpa on my Dad's side bought all Homelite way back from the 1970's. I am not sure how old this saw is, no anti kick and an actual metal toggle for "run" makes me think early 80's at the newest. It is very balanced and snappy enough for a 14" bar. Does use a lot of bar oil compared to the new Stihl, despite being smaller, but I brought almost 5 gallons of bar oil home from the farm when the homestead was sold so I am not too worried :)
This one will get a workout this spring, I need to trim some stuff in the yard and one of the apple trees is on it's last leg.
Click to expand...
Inherited a '78 Homelite Super XL back in 1990...20" bar, case, same metal on off switch you mentioned, and ZERO safety features! Yes it's a bit heavier than the plastic bodied saws, and you DO have to 'know the right words' to get it started. I have been to multiple tree parties with it and it holds its own to this day.
Have been sharpening my own chains for 20 yrs with the Dremel chain saw sharpening kit. Takes just a minute or two, and I'm throwing chips like a beaver.
Using a fuel stabilizer has kept it problem free...even after prolonged sits. A shot of starter fluid does the trick if it's been a while
 
Detective D said:
I love chainsaws. (insert a few Tim Allen man grunts here)

Pictures are great! These are stolen off the web but they are the models as I had/have used them :)

The saw I grew up with:

View attachment 1836466
Pioneer, circa... 1960?....ish. We had 2 head units, one was for parts. "That looks heavy" I can hear you say.... I am pretty sure it weighed 50lbs lol. We had a much bigger bar on ours then this picture. 100CC give or take. We used it to cut up a BUILDING on the farm. My older brother got to do that, he had a massive grin for the first 2/3s. Then I think his arms got tired by the end of the day. I remember he got it started, walked over to the building, then stopped, looked at my Dad "how should I do this?" Dad responds "I don;t know, just start cutting that wall I guess." So my brother laughs, throttles the thing up and saws into the wall. We hauled the building away in sections that fit in the back of the 63 Ford to the dump.

The saw I bought for $10 at a rummage sale in town when I moved to my home in 2001:

View attachment 1836467

I bought a new bar for it after year one, and that is when I discovered it had what the hardware store guy called a stihl "micro chain" on it. The kerf was pretty standard for the 12" bar, but the teeth were much closer together when he showed me a standard chain. This thing was a limbing machine, went like a "r%p3d ape" as my wife's Grandfather remarked. Not enough snot to cut actual trees down though. We had a large dead elm I knew was not going to go well with this a few years ago so I bought this one that I couldn't really afford, but, buy once cry once as I always say:

View attachment 1836475
Stihl 661. Has the M-tronic, basically a self adjusting EFI. Brilliant. something like 91CC, I got a 24" bar with the "super 3/8" pitch" as Stihl calls it. It has the decompression button to start it. Starts EASY, ALWAYS. This is a pro grade saw. I got mine a few years ago, cost a tad under $800 back then with the case. I looked up what they cost now. YIKES. Wife thought I was crazy, then we cut that elm down. My Father in law thought it might be too big, make it dangerous. It was actually the opposite. It had enough power and bar that in my opinion it was actually much safer then trying to make a little saw do such a big job. Plus it was fun, WOW do the chips come flying out the side from the kerf/chain speed. This thing just rips.

So, 2 years ago, my trusty little Stihl 015 gave up the ghost. I was trimming a walnut branch that was borderline if I should have gotten the big saw out. Yes, I should have. I think I overworked that poor little Stihl, and being that old something let go inside and locked it tight on the spot, about 3/4 through that branch. Lucky for me, 2 weeks later at the local flea market I picked one of these up with a case for $40:

View attachment 1836477

Runs perfect. Was in good to go condition when I picked it up. Not as quick on the limbs as the little stihl was, but this one has more snot to it. I know there is a bit of a following for old Homelite. My Grandpa on my Dad's side bought all Homelite way back from the 1970's. I am not sure how old this saw is, no anti kick and an actual metal toggle for "run" makes me think early 80's at the newest. It is very balanced and snappy enough for a 14" bar. Does use a lot of bar oil compared to the new Stihl, despite being smaller, but I brought almost 5 gallons of bar oil home from the farm when the homestead was sold so I am not too worried :)
This one will get a workout this spring, I need to trim some stuff in the yard and one of the apple trees is on it's last leg.
Click to expand...
And Tim Wouldn't be Using a Battery Model, Kinda Like Drinkin' "Bud Light" !!!
 
This saw gives me a back ache just looking at it!

First saw I ever used. Only saw my Dad ever used. We had 60+ acres of wood on the home farm and he needed post and boards for all the fencing. He fell Popular for post and Oak for boards. It all went to the sawmill to be cut and then hauled back to have post holes dug and then all the boards nailed on while it was still green. Then once cured we painted everything with creosote. A lot of work. All the limbs were cut firewood length, split and used in the cook stove.

I learned to fell a tree watching him. Learned a lot from trial and error. This saw sounded like a one cylinder Harley Davidson and was as heavy as one too. You couldn't stall it out. He also showed me how to sharpen it. (found these pics on ebay)
s-l1200 (2).jpg

s-l1200 (6).jpg

s-l1200 (7).jpg


I found the little Poulan at a yard sale. Just needed a carb rebuild. The MS261 was given to me. It didn't run, needed a new coil $$$. Has way too much compression. First time I tried to start it, it kicked back, yanked the rope handle right out of my hand and the handle hit my forearm causing I nice bruise. Yes it has a compression release.

Watching a YouTube video, the girl who has the channel shows an easier way to start the high compression saws. She really knows small engines inside out. You only pull the rope two to three times slowly. Then place the switch in the on position and give it a short, quick pull. No choke!
20250413_191308.jpg


I had the one step below a Farm Boss (don't remember the number anymore) and it could sit for a couple of years and start on the second pull anytime I needed it. I had several other Stihl tools, weed eaters and they never let me down. Well made product and run quite too compared to other makes. (This saw was stolen from me and it really ticked me off)
 
Last edited:
"This is how Chuck Norris trims his toenails" - from the comments section.....



:lol:
 
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