what chainsaw to buy for camping & 4WD trips

[JBE]

I’m wondering what types of chainsaws people buy for their camping and 4WD trips. Basically, I’m looking for something which will do for firewood cutting, but also for track clearing, if need be. A mate of mine has a Stihl MS260C, which we had on trips. I like it as it is reasonable powerful, not too small and not too big, but it is quite expensive for something that will only be used on camping and 4wd trips.
Stihl currently have a promotion for the Farmboss 180 and I think it might just be the right tool for the job. Is Stihl the knees bees, or is it worth looking at other brands as well?
Let me know what you think.

Cheers
Joachim

[coxy321]

I'll get in early here and throw my vote in for Husky (Husqvarna, that is).

Whats your budget?

I take a fairly large saw camping (20"), but it also gets used for cutting wood on the farm.

[uninformed]

imo id look at ebay usa and look for used:

husky 346xp
dolmar 5100s

if you want new and dealer support, see whats in your area. Look out for Dolmar and Solo also.

Husky and stihl are good, in that size I like the husky for weight balance and power....air filtration is better on the husky

you will pay the most for anything stihl

Serg

[Ezookiel]

I'm undergoing the exact same questioning.
I'm weighing up between stihl and husqvarna.
At the moment I'm inclined to say,
"Nah, I don't want no other stinking chainsaw" (still remember those ads).

I was reading on a chainsaw thread recently in one of the 4wding forums, a whole thread on chainsaws, and many were turning against Stihl due to where they're now being made, but others still swear by them.
I don't think you can go wrong with either of those two brands, and yes they do seem a lot of money for something that will really only sit amongst the camping gear for the vast majority of the year. Well, that's the problem that I'm having at any rate.

I have managed pretty well with just a really good Fiskars axe for the moment, and it's about the only exercise I get when camping, so will keep doing it the old way until I have bought the tyres, UHF, and Rhino lining first.
But it will be Husqvarna for me I think.

[UNLUCKY]

i also asked myself this question 2 years ago, on the farm we had huskys. but for home and camping dutys i couldn't part with that much coin. i ended up buying an ebay special for arg machinery, 62cc 20inch bar, cut heaps of wood with this in the last two years hasn't missed a beat. would recommend this saw.

[80's_delirious]

I bought a Stihl 009 (compact and powerful for its size) about ten years ago for my contract carpentry/framing business.
It got daily use for several years, and also cut a shitload of hard seasoned iron bark, bluegum, redgum etc for firewood every year. It got chains sharpened almost daily, reasonably regular services ie filter screen cleaned, plug checked and thats about it. started straight away every time.
It has sat unused for most of the last 5years or so. I used it recently and it still started up after just 5-6pulls.

It is one of the best value tools I have ever purchased

[ajsr]

an ms260c is one of stihls pro series saws and has their long hour engines, they are a great saw ,light and powerfull for their size but expensive and probably hard to justify for a 4wd saw.
ms 290 farm boss is probably a better option they are similar power, a little larger but a little bit heavier and quite a bit cheaper.A very good saw though.
stihl , husky , echo all good saws reliable and easy to get parts for.

IMO I like stihls ( I have 4 ms260c's) I think ergomonicly they are the best to use all day but any of the above 3 are top saws

[RN]

Mate bought a cheap chinese brand jobby...$180 light weight and cuts well.

My Stihl 076 is too heavy, kicks like a mule when starting. Great for the big stuff but over engineered for the camping wood.

[sloshy]

I bought a Stihl 009

X2 Great little saw

[deano86]

hey guys just wondering how long should u expect a saw to last with just the odd use around the home and camping sorta stuff?

[rockcrawler31]

I recently bought a second hand Dolmar. It's a fairly old model but it's as reliable as can be. I got it for 260 off ebay and to be honest i really can't fault it. I've been giving it a proper flogging this year collecting about 6 tonne of firewood so far.

[JBE]

Thanks for all the replies guys. My budget was originally around the $500 mark. I thought, a saw with a 40cm bar would do for firewood cutting and the occasional track clearing. My problem with ebay was that everything that ticked all the boxes was interstate or someone put in a crazy bid.
Cheers
J

[coxy321]

hey guys just wondering how long should u expect a saw to last with just the odd use around the home and camping sorta stuff?

If it gets looked after, expect 15+ years. If the owner doesn't maintain it, or gives it a hammering when it does get used, expect to be replacing parts on it every year.

Like anything, if you look after and respect the machinery, it will serve you well.

[jaztaz]

Anything with Stihl written on it.
I used Stihls religiously when I used to fall hardwood in Tassie for a living & never had any dramas, even with warranty issues.
Tried Huskies & thought they were a bit fragile & their warranty sucked.
Still have an 044 that is 16yrs old & going just as good as the day I bought it.
When I go bush I put on a 16" bar so as to not take up too much room but it also comfortably runs a 22" bar for when it's firewood time.
Something around 50-60cc with a 3/8 chain should be plenty versatile for you.

[guchev]

Anything with Stihl written on it.
I used Stihls religiously ....
Something around 50-60cc with a 3/8 chain should be plenty versatile for you.

Agreed. Stihl gets my vote. Have 2 x 660's and smaller farmboss. Use them all the time...no problems at all

[bru21]

got a sthil 18" for a wedding present from the boys!



It will get a hiding during shed construction!

[RUFF]

Ive got a Sthil MS311 Farm Boss http://www.stihl.com.au/products/produc ... odelID=656" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Can't fault it at all. 20" Bar. Cost me $1k.It also came with a starter kit that had a 12V sharpener,gloves,goggle,ear muffs,spare chain and 1ltr of bar lube. But payed for itself the first day as I had a heap of timber to cut up from felled trees on my property that would have cost me more than $1k to have removed. Starts first go every time. Has a decompresion valve for easy starts. Does 2 tanks of fuel to a tank of bar lube.

[brad 93hilux]

I just sold a old homelite chain saw that i have owned and used alot over the last 10 years, still running and has done heaps of cutting...

I think if you look after it most saws will last, considering my old cheapie spent most of its life rolling around the ute while camping.. been worth it. Though i did run a sthil chain.

But ill be getting a new one soon and will be going a husky, personally i think they are better quality but i do like sthil...

Brad

[jaztaz]

Most important, do a course in chainsaw usage.
They don't cut you, they remove flesh from your body when they bite. Get some cut-proof trousers as a minimum & learn how to sharpen it properly as the rakers aren't always your friend.
Have seen lots of horrific injuries, even by very experienced operators.

[RUFF]

Most important, do a course in chainsaw usage.
They don't cut you, they remove flesh from your body when they bite. Get some cut-proof trousers as a minimum & learn how to sharpen it properly as the rakers aren't always your friend.
Have seen lots of horrific injuries, even by very experienced operators.

x2

And the biggest thing that kills chains is hitting the dirt. it only takes 2sec to send a chain blunt.

[Patroler]

I'd say anything stihl or husky, they are both probably as good as one another and dealers are plentiful - in the cheaper models they are both pretty plasticy, but thats why they are cheap and light.
Probably id go for something 50cc or so and preferrably with a 3/8 chain, youll find the 3/8 will hold an edge in crappy wood and stretch less than .325 or 3/8LP or whatever stihl calls its smaller chain.
As usual the more you spend the better the product.
Sometimes you can get stuff 2nd hand for a good price, e.g. i picked up a late model 066 for 550 and it retails at 2000, even if it needed a piston and rings i'd be in front.
Got a mint 08S (later model orange paint) for $80 from the same guy, its probably one of the most bulletproof saws, often favoured by hire companies, its in too good a condition for me to beat up in the back of the car considering what people pay on ebay for them!
If i had to buy a new saw i possibly would spend around 800 for something like a husky 350 or stihls equivalent (ive got a 350)

[coxy321]

Most important, do a course in chainsaw usage.
They don't cut you, they remove flesh from your body when they bite. Get some cut-proof trousers as a minimum & learn how to sharpen it properly as the rakers aren't always your friend.
Have seen lots of horrific injuries, even by very experienced operators.

x2

And the biggest thing that kills chains is hitting the dirt. it only takes 2sec to send a chain blunt.

Followed by leaning on a blunt chain, which in turn will destroy both your chain and bar = $$$. I see it all the time - people not bothering to stop and touch up the chain, which means next time they go and get a "proper" sharpen, they need to take off a heap of metal to get off the peening. One young feller only got three sharpens out of a new chain before if was read its rights.

I've also seen plenty of split bar from people levering the saw with a blunt chain.

[jaztaz]

I've also seen plenty of split bar from people levering the saw with a blunt chain.

Roller nose bars do tend to split if you don't do the right thing by them, stick with a solid (bull nose) bar, you can keep them tidy a lot easier & they are more reliable.

[80's_delirious]

hey guys just wondering how long should u expect a saw to last with just the odd use around the home and camping sorta stuff?

if its a quality saw and you look after it, indefinitely.

My uncle has a stihl saw he picked up in a second hand junk shop, he has had it around 20yrs, it still runs perfectly, gets regular use for firewood plus light farminig duties, tree clearing etc

[Guy]

I got an old 032av Sthil a few years back, from a dealer that he got as a trade in. With three new sthil chains, sproket, and plug lead delivered ($30 by aus post) for 300 + postage.
I have done tonnes of work with it ..literally .. 30+ tonne over the past few years I would say .. I am looking at a larger saw now becasue I want a 3/8th chain .. But the little one will have a place in the supplies for camping.

[Dirty]

I managed to get a hardly used MS230C (or might be MS260C would need to head down the shed to check) from eBay for $375. Just waited for a while and at that price couldn't pass it up.

It came with a 12" bar on it which is short for a saw this size, but it also allows it to fit in the back of the truck. Would make working on larger fallen timber for track clearing a little harder, but for cutting camp firewood it is the perfect size.

- David.

[uninformed]

to all those that have saws and dont use them often:

when finished using, tip all left over fuel out, start saw and let idle untill it stops due to no fuel.

bad fuel mix can kill a saw.

clean air filters often.

Serg

[AFeral]

One of these's should do the trick !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtQ-9Xdqsdc" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[crunk81us]

Been cutting hard firewood (ironbark, bulloke) since i was 12, always used stihl. Now 29 and that saw is stihl goin! but it's Dads...

I recently bought my own saw for $200 brand new, it's a cheap red chinese job, Sanli is the brand name. my brother who's chopped more wood than me (and always sworn by stihl) threw the stihl on the back of the ute after trying mine. it's light, has as much or more power than the 022 stihl and is balanced beautifully. it can be used safely with one hand, due to it's balance and weight. (I wouldn't recommend using a saw one handed to anybody!) It is a small saw only about 14 inch bar. but seriously if it's for camping how big and heavy and expensive does it need to be? It came with an american made bar and chain which are holding up well. I would say it's done 30 hrs now (i don't use it much) and i have done 1 touch up sharpen. and a quick service and tune up which gave me even more top end power.

If u have money to burn then buy a stihl.

[uninformed]

Been cutting hard firewood (ironbark, bulloke) since i was 12, always used stihl. Now 29 and that saw is stihl goin! but it's Dads...

I recently bought my own saw for $200 brand new, it's a cheap red chinese job, Sanli is the brand name. my brother who's chopped more wood than me (and always sworn by stihl) threw the stihl on the back of the ute after trying mine. it's light, has as much or more power than the 022 stihl and is balanced beautifully. it can be used safely with one hand, due to it's balance and weight. (I wouldn't recommend using a saw one handed to anybody!) It is a small saw only about 14 inch bar. but seriously if it's for camping how big and heavy and expensive does it need to be? It came with an american made bar and chain which are holding up well. I would say it's done 30 hrs now (i don't use it much) and i have done 1 touch up sharpen. and a quick service and tune up which gave me even more top end power.

If u have money to burn then buy a stihl.

if looked after the same, Stihl are no better or worse than Husky, Dolmar and Solo....

some Stihl stuff is made in china.

It has been reported and proven that the castings and fit and finish on pistons and cylinders of stihls biggest selling pro saws are far from what they use to be....but stihl has a marketing dept that rivals Toyota...if not better

on the other hand the fit and finish of the new Solo's and dolmars is second to none. Husky still making nice stuff....

Dolmar offer as a option heavy duty filters....best on market...Husky is good off the shelf and dont need to be modded.

dull chain, bad mix or wrong ratio and clogged air filter will kill a saw in no time.

I only own Husky's but would have no problem owning Dolmar, Solo or stihl...just knowing which ones to look at