I finally broke down for my country property and bought a new chainsaw, a Stihl MS 391 (Link: https://www.stihlusa.com/products/chain-saws/farm-and-ranch-saws/ms391/)
Mine has a 25" bar, with 4.4Hp. It was the best/biggest I could do at this time.
I take care of some property out in the country, a bit over 10 acres, and while I don't do much there every day, when I need something done I need it done in a big way. I just mowed today for the first time this year. I tried mowing about a month ago and got stuck in the mud. I had to have the Amish neighbor bring the draft horse and pull me out. Thanks to the ongoing rain this year today was my first real mowing. A few years ago I bought a Bad Boy Outlaw commercial grade mower, which is what I needed today. So this is always my issue with country property, I might not need it a lot but when I need it, I need it.
Thus the drive for a bigger chainsaw. My dad has a nice Stihl with a 16" or 18" bar, but when I have three (3) trees come down in a bad windstorm I can get the job done with is but golly gee whiz it takes a lot of work.
So I finally decide to take the plunge and buy it today, take it out, and try it for the first time on a hardwood tree that fell last year. While it went through it OK I hit the log my cutting limb was leaning on and had a bit of a kickback. It wasn't horrible but I could tell that when that bad boy wants to move - it moves! I have been chainsawing since I was 16 cutting firewood with my dad and have felled over a dozen trees in my life so I'm not unfamiliar with the use of chainsaws.
But this one has opened my eyes to a whole different world! It is heavy, it is powerful, and it is honestly a bit intimidating. I am certain I will get used to it and master it as I have the others I've used but I must admit to being a little overwhelmed for now. I've always treated chainsaws with respect but this one is going to get a LOT more! I do have faith that with the 25" bar there won't be much that I won't be able to handle a bit easier.
At least I'll have plenty of firewood for this fall and winter.
Regards,
Doug
Mine has a 25" bar, with 4.4Hp. It was the best/biggest I could do at this time.
I take care of some property out in the country, a bit over 10 acres, and while I don't do much there every day, when I need something done I need it done in a big way. I just mowed today for the first time this year. I tried mowing about a month ago and got stuck in the mud. I had to have the Amish neighbor bring the draft horse and pull me out. Thanks to the ongoing rain this year today was my first real mowing. A few years ago I bought a Bad Boy Outlaw commercial grade mower, which is what I needed today. So this is always my issue with country property, I might not need it a lot but when I need it, I need it.
Thus the drive for a bigger chainsaw. My dad has a nice Stihl with a 16" or 18" bar, but when I have three (3) trees come down in a bad windstorm I can get the job done with is but golly gee whiz it takes a lot of work.
So I finally decide to take the plunge and buy it today, take it out, and try it for the first time on a hardwood tree that fell last year. While it went through it OK I hit the log my cutting limb was leaning on and had a bit of a kickback. It wasn't horrible but I could tell that when that bad boy wants to move - it moves! I have been chainsawing since I was 16 cutting firewood with my dad and have felled over a dozen trees in my life so I'm not unfamiliar with the use of chainsaws.
But this one has opened my eyes to a whole different world! It is heavy, it is powerful, and it is honestly a bit intimidating. I am certain I will get used to it and master it as I have the others I've used but I must admit to being a little overwhelmed for now. I've always treated chainsaws with respect but this one is going to get a LOT more! I do have faith that with the 25" bar there won't be much that I won't be able to handle a bit easier.
At least I'll have plenty of firewood for this fall and winter.
Regards,
Doug