The trappers chainsaw
 

What do you guys have for running your lines? I need to get one and need some ideas of what to buy.

I don't have a line but I do have a chainsaw and I do fall trees and other general chores with it. For me if you are falling trees for a living I'd buy a husky but for general work I would buy a Stihl. I think the general rule is if you are buying a big, powerful chainsaw, go pro model Husky. If you are buying to do general chainsaw work the smaller Stihl pro models are better that the Husky's.

I have a Stihl MS 291 with a 55.5cc displacement and a 16" bar. It's plenty powerful enough and still small enough to pack around easily.

It's not so much which brand, it's more NOT buying the cheap $300 homeowner grade saw. Ie; c-tire husqvarna. I've got a husky 350 and husky 353 for trapline, great all around saws. 346xp, 340 345 are good too.

Iam sure there's more options out there, don't know what stihls mid grade saw is.

The small husky's are made by poulan. My son had one and it was worthless from day one.

Well here are this trappers saws, Husky 340 and 345. Light weight and a good power, one step up from the cheap saws, but not as exspensive as the pro series.
The 340 has a 16" bar and 18" on 345. I prefer the 340 overall.

Nube don't waste your time on those beard trimmers. LOL

Got one hear for sale Husky 372 XPG. Heated grips and carb. 22 inch bar.

$500

http://i831.photobucket.com/albums/z...ps3fdf0e24.jpg

I bet she cuts lol

I know nothing about saws really. I want something to cut a pile of wood for the cabin but light enough and not overkill to clear trails. I see that they don't make 340's anymore that i can see. It looks like 435 and 440 is more in line with what I should buy without getting too crazy. i know everyone has an opinion on a saw so I thought i would see what you guys prefer for what i mentioned.

Nice saw! I have run a few of them, nice but very much overkill for a trappers saw. At the end of the day carrying a few extra pounds around to cut trails or make sets adds up quick.

i'm a stihl fan. your going to find that you need/want a bunch of different saws for different jobs.

clearing trail with a chain saw sucks. you'll need brush saw aswell as light saw to cut smaller trees. then you'll need a medium saw or 2-3 for falling trees/ firewood. then some large saws for milling(bridge building ect). chainsaw winches are also very handy.

eventually you'll have to many.

http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/...e/DSC_0071.jpg

Yup agree. Feel those extra pounds after bout 8 hours. Even with a 357. I cut enough trees to make Suzuki cringe. And I lived. I had enough. Firewood only now. LOL

I may add the 357XPG is the best saw ever made.

I used a Homelite XL for many years. At the time it was the lightest saw made and it did do the job, both for cutting firewood and for clearing deadfall.

If one could resist the temptation to smack oneself in the head with a hammer every time you used them, they weren't all that bad.

I could usually get it running with less then 200 pulls and in under 2 hours.

These days I pack a Husky 236. It's been good to me. One pull start and no issues. Now that's what a saw is supposed to be like.

I would agree. I currently use a 359 Husky. I was clearing trails after that big wind we had and was wishing for a lighter saw. Something in the 45-50 cc range would be nice.

Lol on the homelite keg! I have a couple of those I keep around, every time I feel like my arm needs a work out I go yank on em for awhile.

A nice compact saw , buy a arbours saw ,husky or Stihl . The Stihl is my favourite but pricey . Lots of power and compact.

Winch looks sweet any info?

X2, def interested in info on the winch and the milling rigs.

Sorry Nube, the only saws my BIL has right now are to big for AB wood.

just the standard chainsaw winch. the power head is a homelite xl.

it's always been good to me. starts right away, must just be me. with the pulleys, theres really nothing i can't move/drag/lift. use it alot in bridge building. a real back saver!

the milling saws are 660's.

http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/...DSC_0002-3.jpg

http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/...DSC_0003-4.jpg

http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/...e/DSC_0011.jpg

got a bunch of stuff to do this summer. can't wait! just wish some marten would sell.

nube just use an axe from the hall

lol

been running a jonsenred turbo 18 " bar. love it 5 yrs old and still runs new.. i cut a couple cords for friends and myself every year.

Heard josenreds are a good saw. I'm a stihl man myself got a 038 and a 240. 038 is about 20 years old and it only missed a beat when fuel line in the tank had a crack in it. I like a bigger saw because it's a lot easier on the back. Hate being bent over like a dog humping a football.

Chain saws
 

Nube, my partner and I have around 7 chain saws. All except one Stihl are huskies. If you are going to clear lines, build bridges and cabins you need 1-2 professional saws and possibly 1 lighter one for quad or skidoo. You have some very large timber on the Smoke lake line you are considering to purchase. Also will get saw caught in binding log, need second saw to rescue first saw. Hope this helps.

Hardly a trapline saw, but for heavier "beard trimming"....

I pull out the ol'e 181 Husky.
Some slight mods, heavy and loud but fun to run. :)

I prefer smaller saws when taking them along on the trail.

Great thoughts guys. It's nice to have all the experience here

here are my beard trimmers......the 353 did most of the work on this pile :sHa_shakeshout:
almost done.

always enjoy your milling pics bragg, one of these days iam gettin into that.......

chainsaw
 

I have 2 stihl ms 260, with 16inch bars, great little saw, just over 50cc and powerful enough and light enough for me. You might be able to find a used 1 around for pretty good price. they were also called an 026 back in the day. Its nice have 2 exactly the same as you can use change out parts and chains and such. Never had a problem with either. They updated the 260 now so i think its called a 261 its got a bit more jam but is a bit heavier. Also the husky 346xp is a great saw.

I think for $1000 you can get something in the size of a 440 and a smaller saw. Nothing worse then getting your saw pinched in a tree and not having a spare. Lol it even happens to the pros. Get a couple of wedges as well.

My vote is the Stihl 261, its the saw that most forestry services use. The older versions were 026, there are lots of those out there still working hard.

Stihl 261 light powerful will cut and tree in Alberta. Perfect saw. My guys are using them instead of their 361's.