Hi! We need to clear quite a few fallen trees from our new property. Some have fallen naturally and some were cut by the previous owner a few years ago, and just left where they fell.

We read the "chainsaw" archives and had decided on either a 026, 026 pro or an MS 290-farm boss, all with a 16" bar and all by stihl.

Went to go look today and DH was told by the dealer that a 16" would be too short for him (he is 6' 3") and he would be better off with a 20" bar.

Never having used or owned a chainsaw before we thought we would ask you all what you think......Does your height determine the choice of bar size?

Thanks!

-- Lynn (ukextract@yahoo.com), December 29, 2001

Answers

Your height should only be a consideration if bending over is a real problem. I owned a Echo and Stihl and there are good things to say about having a long bar 24 to 30" with not bending over(but being a novice not too aware of Kick back and proper cutting techniques) I would just get the 20" bar and go with it, the 16 might prove to be too small for some of the larger logs that you encounter. To answer your question directly (NO)Your Height should not be the determining factor.

-- Mkapples (working4you@consultant.com), December 29, 2001.

That's a new one for a sales pitch!!!! With alot to cut you would be better off with an 18 to 20 in. to cut the bigger trees easier an faster but not because of his height.

-- David R In TN. (srimmer@earthlink.net), December 29, 2001.

I agree. I suspect it has everything to do with the amount of bending thats tolerable.

-- john (natlivent@pcpros.net), December 30, 2001.

The dealer must have a lot of 20" sawa in stock. The 16" should be fine. Everyone has to bend over far enough to use the teeth that the manufacturer puts on the body of the saw. These not only allow you to rest the weight of the saw on the wood to be cut, but it's the safe way to cut. The difference in the size of the body of the 20" vs. the 16" saw is probably no more that 1".

-- Paul (treewizard@buffalo.com), December 30, 2001.

I would say your strength would have more to do with length of the bar than your height. The fellow who sold me one had an old scar on his arm and he pointed at it and said never to hold the chain saw over your head parallel with your body as one way to avoid kickback. You can get in trouble fast with a bar that is too big for your ability (your stength) to handle it.

-- fred (fred@mddc.com), December 30, 2001.

Lynn, as I recall when I bought my Stihl the would "upgrade" the bar length for a few extra buck, check on this. You may not need to purchase a bigger saw to get a bigger bar. I use an 18 inch and have never had problems. Height has very little to do with the bar length.

-- tom (wysfarm@raex.com), December 30, 2001.

Lynn, if you have never used a saw before it sure wouldn't hurt to start with a shorter one than you might end up using in the end just to get used to the saw and how it works. I can't see how height has much to do with it except for bending, but if you are cutting wood your husband is going to get a workout, anyway! I use a chainsaw for a power saw in place of a circular saw in outside projects, so a short bar can be quite useful for that reason alone. For example, when you are fence building and are notching posts for braces you can't beat a chainsaw (unless you have one of the nifty new cordless saws), or if you are building a pole barn you can take that chainsaw right up the ladder and cut the poles off even once you have them set. Lots of stuff you can do with them that you wouldn't even want the longer bar for. My uncle even has the cutest little 10" bar saw that he uses just for cutting up small stuff. Don't get locked into the idea that a longer bar is a must. I think the 16" is a nice choice for an all purpose bar.

-- Jennifer L. (Northern NYS) (jlance@nospammail.com), December 30, 2001.

Just get one long enough for the trees you are going to be working on. I have a 30" and love it but I work on big trees and a 16" wouldn't get the job done.

-- Mel Kelly (melkelly@webtv.net), December 30, 2001.

we usualy use a 20 but its on a saw designed for a 16 gives us a little extra reach a saw designed for a 20 would have more power but we dont saw for a living . if you can aford the bigger saw thats great oh and iv been told if you cant hold the saw by the handle strait out its too big for you the old saws were very heavy and the new ones have so much more power to the pound , learn how to touch up the teeth and keep them sharp dont saw with a dull chain . oh and i have a small saw too and it is very handy a wife or smaller helper can use it while the big saw is busy and clear out the small stuff that is in the way and it is handy if you pinch your saw in a log to saw it out besides you should not work alone in the woods acidents do happen ihave had a few close calls that were not due to carelesness

-- george darby (windwillow@fuse.net), December 30, 2001.

We have cut 20 tons of pole length logs yearly and my husband uses a Jonserd 16" bar. He thinks it is the best saw on the market and the same saw for the past 22 years. If you are cutting trees 16" in diameter you really don't need anything bigger. We have even used this same saw on much larger logs and trees and still use the 16". If you have never used a chain saw before and get a bigger one you will get a heck of kick back and end of cutting your head off !! Saw a person one time get with a kick back on a 20" bar into his face !!! The bigger the saw the more damage it can do. Remember where a good pair of heavey pants, boots, goggles and gloves, helmet if you are a first timer. A 16" is a good all around bar...later when you are better at cutting get something bigger if you want. Be sure you get over 3.cc's . Good Luck and use Good Judgement and Be Very Careful !!!It's certainly no toy !!!

-- Helena (windyacs@npacc.net), December 30, 2001.

Helena is correct. A sixteen inch bar is plenty to handle and can cut upto 30" diameter trees. The longer the bar, the more contact area and more friction, so you need more power to use it efficiently, plus that extra length means its easier to catch on something unintended and cause an accident. If you need to regularly cut more than 30" diameter trees, you really need professional instruction in proper felling. Your salesman is most likely a jackass with too many long bars in stock. My rule of thumb is if you need to do occasional trimming/thinning, get a 2.5cubic inch to 3 cubic inch engine chainsaw with mini chain and 12 to 14 inch bar. If you cut your own firewood then a 3 cubic inch to 4 cubic inch engine saw with a sixteen inch bar should be adequate. If you want to sell firewood or heat a big uninsulated house, then I suggest a 4 to 5 cubic inch saw with a 16inch to 20 inch bar. Anything bigger than 5cu inch with bigger than 20" bar is professional logger saw and you really need training and help to safely fell something requiring that big of a saw. Cutting with the tip of a saw is not smart and just inviting kickback accident. If you are severely arthritic or cant bend over, do yourself a favor and hire the wood cut or have somebody do it on the shares.

-- HermitJohn (hermit@hilltop_homestead.zzn.com), December 30, 2001.

Countrysiders, I want to thank you all for your informative answers. We had an idea that the dealer was full of baloney but with his 25 years experience it was hard to disagree!

We will definitely go with the 16" bar on whatever machine we get. The stihl MS 290-farm boss seems sufficient for our needs, but they (stihl) are certainly expensive. I might just check on the prices for the Jonsered saws tomorrow.

Thanks again for your help.

-- Lynn (ukextract@aol.com), December 30, 2001.

I use my fathers 30 inch "farm boss" stihl. This particular model is not in existance- it was phased out (much to many woodcutters ire, so I have heard). My father had a 16 inch saw, but it was stolen. He used to insurance money plus some pocket cash to purchase the stihl. This saw is AWESOME>. I have personally cut 15 cords of topper stuff oak and poplar this year, and 5 last year. He cut all our household firewood for 8 years in PA, 11 in maryland. This saw is something over 24 years old. Keep it sharp and it would walk through anything out there. By the way, I weigh 135 andd stand 5 10- the saw isnt too much for me. Yesterday, I cut out an oak with a 5 foot in diameter trunk and 24 inch limbs. IF YOU HAVE THE CASH, buy the bigger one- you will new have to think- I coulda cut that log/ tree, if only I had the next size saw. Or, just buy the biggest engined saw and use a smaller blade, that way you can always upgrade if you have to. Recently, I was cutting logs out on some land owned by a former logger- he was helping me load and running a backhoe, while I cut. After watching me cut for the better part of an hour, he came up and stopped me, asking what kinda saw I was using. I showed him, and he took it for a fifteen minute "test drive." after he was done, he asked me where he could get one. I told him that this model was no longer made, so I have been told, and mine aint for sale. He told me that was a shame, that my saw, while a bit on the heavy side "was the cuttinest chain saw" hed ever run.

-- Kevin in NC (Vantravlrs@aol.com), December 31, 2001.