New to the chainsaw world

[rick_saws]

Decisions, decisions . . .

I think I have gotten caught in the hype of the name thing that goes with STIHL. I do like the look and feel of their saws but I wasn't aware that there are so many other saw manufacturers available. I wish a little saw fairy would come down and say "For $350 buy this saw, it is the best saw for the money".

I was making the same decision as you a few months back - I'm thinning a few acres of mid-sized trees. (I cleared my home site with an old Poulan that finally died.) I went with Stihl because there's an excellent dealer a block from work. The 270 is a good saw for the job and it's in your price range - $360 for an 18" bar.

I chose the 280 instead because the extra 5 cc's was worth $70 to me. Plus, if you're pretty new to saws, the 280 has one less thing to worry about - you won't have to fool around with the H screw on the carb. Here's a picture of the 280's IEM system:
http://www.stihl.us/chainsaws/IEM.html

Good luck and let us know what brand and model you pick!

- Rick

 

[rreidnauer]

Plus, if you're pretty new to saws, the 280 has one less thing to worry about - you won't have to fool around with the H screw on the carb. Here's a picture of the 280's IEM system:
http://www.stihl.us/chainsaws/IEM.html

Hmmm, I like having the final say in my mixtures. Additional computer gizmos always worry me. But if it's coming out of Stihl's R&D room, it'll probably work out alright. That system should make for efficient mid-range ratio control, though, it don't mean much with a saw, since you're typically either at idle or WOT in the cut.

By the looks of things, saws are getting real close to electronic fuel injection.

 

[GASoline71]

I've been moving the last few days so the computer was boxed and I was having withdraws from this site already...

I go through withdrawls once in awhile... but it sure ain't from this place!

Gary

 

[SawTroll]

. Plus, if you're pretty new to saws, the 280 has one less thing to worry about - you won't have to fool around with the H screw on the carb. Here's a picture of the 280's IEM system:
http://www.stihl.us/chainsaws/IEM.html
....

I would have picked the one without the IEM, and without the QCA, but that's just me.......