What Chainsaw do you run?

I'm not running my Husky 365sp right now. I backed onto it in the woods this morning...buried the blade and broke the hand guard for the chain brake. Grrr. Didn't put it far enough off the trail I was clearing. As I realized I couldn't see the saw I stopped and went forward, then realized my error. Could have been much worse however.

Cheap fix, but have to wait for the parts (I bought 2 just in case). Never happened before, but who knows? (that plus age and stage). That leaves only 3 work saws between 2 households instead of 4. A new Husky 365, Stihl 032, Echo 68 or something, all with 24 inch bars. How will I get by, sigh.

 

its a real struggle. I had a large branch snap last week. I only used 2 of my 3 says, the MS170 and MS261 were called upon, I almost fired up the MS400c but wasn't really worth it. the 261 was ripping and hungry.

 

So tempted to get a mid sized saw. Been looking on Craigslist but nothing has caught my attention

 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CjIWtRnjkfz/?igshid=MDE2OWE1N2Q=

 

Poulan Pro 50CC 20" bar

 

Using the saw today to clear some downed trees from the driveway edges. What is everyone using to sharpen chains?

 

I use either my Dremel and a file or, more recently, the Stihl 2 in 1, listed below.

 

Round file

 

Pfred 2 in 1 (they make the Stihl ones too).

Works great. Consistent results, but you must watch tooth length as chain ages. Sometimes I find myself filing harder on one side than the other...more material taken off makes the teeth on one side of the bar a mm or two shorter. Result is not best when bore cutting. Chain has to be to spec and sharp to bore cut properly.

 

Man, deadheading stumps is torture on chains!

 

Harbor Freight has a electric chain sharpener something around $35 paid for it's self by the 3rd chain worth every penny, it is crude but works like a champ I cut a tremendous of wood and there is no way you can get a chain sharper with a file. Usually I touch up the chain after a day in the woods and you can just take a tiny amount of metal off. I don't usually talk up stuff like that but by God it works! It is pretty crude so you will need to match up the chain pitch and mark it don't trust the markings.

 

Stihl :
MS261cm w/ 20” bar and a carbide tooth chain.
MS462cm w/28” bar, one tooth smaller sprocket and carbide tooth chain.

 

The Stihl sharpener is better than I could have expected. I used to file by hand but that thing is nice. I didn't want to spend that much for my little saw and got a knockoff on Amazon, works just as good

A-KARCK Chainsaw Sharpener for 3/8" P Saw Chain, 2 in 1 Easy File Chain Saw Sharpener

$21 A-KARCK Chainsaw Sharpener for 3/8" P Saw Chain, 2 in 1 Easy File Chain Saw Sharpener

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08H1PN1MG

 

I've heard about carbide chains. Even priced them years ago, that was scary. I thought they were primarily for firefighting...cutting through roofs to vent smoke.
How often, and how do you sharpen the teeth? Send away or by self?

 

last year when I chopped up about 3-4 cords of wood, I only needed to change the chain after dealing with some stumps that had been uprooted. Needs to be sharpened with a stone. A buddy has a stone wheel sharpener or I can take it a local shop that has a stone wheel sharpener.

 

Too many pages to read through so sorry. I have a 24" Husqvarna Racher 460. Does anyone have any insight whether or not it could safely run a 42" bar for an Alaskan Mill? I already have a baby 18" Poulan Pro, so I'd rather not have to get a third saw if I dont have to.

-J

 

From my research I would say no. A 395xp might even struggle with that.

 

Well, that's what I suspected. I bought the saw before I knew enough about Alaskan Mills and have already used said saw to fell said tree that I now intend to slab. Ill keep looking.

-J

 

I have the same saw.
No way at all, would I ever consider using it as a mill.
The 24” bar alone is already taxing it.

 

The rancher won’t pull a 42” not for long anyway…You will want 90cc or more. Or a professional 80cc model. Stihl 661 is 91 cc’s I believe.