thoughts on the saw for a beloved older man.

[CoreyB]

Can't really go wrong with a Dolmar 421 or Makita equivalent. Great AV, good power for a 42cc saw, relatively light weight and a 6 year old girl could start one. They are pretty bulletproof too. You can use it all day long without fatigue. My retired dad loves mine so much I rarely get to use it.

Ask @fordf150 for a price.

I sure do like the way Dolmars start. 421 is a Pretty solid little saw.

 

[David Young]

I know everyone thinks it's terrible but. At an age I don't think safety chain is all that bad.

You age. Your eyesight goes and grip strength. You want grandpa to have a kick back prone chain?

I think a bunch of good saw have been mentioned. 40-45cc can do a lot of work.

Newer is nice for the ease of use. And the easy start was designed for this demographic. 251. Can have it I think. I thought new dolmarkitas had it if so a 421 would be great

 

[Dub11]

My father passed on at 86 years of age but cut firewood until he was 84 .His old Mac PM 610 got a little much for him .My 024 Stihl was the ticket,he loved it That old Mac resides in my shed now,the last saw he ever owned .

I would put that on the mantle

 

[Spike60]

As dearly as I love my large displacement saws, lately I've had to rethink wtf I'm doing to my elbows and shoulders.
I've become more interested in collecting the small fellows.
For example a Stihl 012 and a Husky 335xpt.

A lot of us are doing that, so you have plenty of company there.

A lot of this is much like any other physical activity and falls under the "use it or lose it" rule. Many of us start and/or use saws of various displacements every day, so we are "staying in shape" for saw use. A regular user will always have that advantage over the occasional user, but the problem gets worse as you get older.

 

[2manyhounds]

This is the reason I now have a spare we'll maintained, very low hour ms390. For the last 3 years I'd get a call to come fix this darn saw, and then he'd just smile at me and grab it after it was started, just couldn't get the snap into it anymore, so this spring when he called I stopped by the shop and brought my 180 over just to see. He grabbed it started it right up,he really liked the "new fangled" starting as he called it, and was happily cutting away. Long story short, I bought him one that night. He traded the 390 for it cause I'm the only one that can start it anyway.

 

[dustinwilt68]

Buy a 2152 and put a 346xp kit in it, pro saw for cheap, if you need 1 I would be happy to help, my dad is a Stihl guy and his 026 will be the last saw he ever gives up, parts are plentiful and cheap, either is a great saw. If you go new the 421 is great also. Dnt think I am helping.

 

[heartwoodlover1001]

Tell me more of the 2152 hop.up? Also have seen many good things of the makita. What of the 50cc class of professional grade? Thanks everyone for the detailed answers, many many things to absorb.

 

[Carhartt]

I am a Stihl guy but the Husky 445 has a decomp in it for the older shoulder. Usually start pretty easy. They get the job done also.
A maintained MS180 works fine also and easy to pull with it being on the light side also.

 

[heartwoodlover1001]

So carhartt what if he is used to more along 044, but I would anticipate the needs to be a little lighter, more antivibe, and maybe easier starring? I guess anything decompression would alleviate the later???

 

[Lightning Performance]

044 replacement. Better AV. MS361 clean done for sale adds. Easy to start comp around 160-170 in those saws. Pulls 16" 8pin - 25" 7pin. Pro decomp saw." Muff mod. End of story. Or, bigger carb ported with no machine work. They are very handy smooth medium sized saws.

I'm wanting to run ported MS241 and 261 in M-tronic and carb.

 

[Philbert]

What and where is he cutting?

If it is mostly small to midsize stuff brought to his house (farm, barn, shed, etc.) a corded electric saw is a good choice: very easy to start; almost zero vibration; low noise; lighter than most gas saws; very little maintenance; etc. I love using mine in the city, where I am always within 100' of an outlet. Talking about a good electric saw, not one of the $30 ones. Typically, these can handle up to 16" wood.

https://www.oregonproducts.com/pro/products/corded/CS1500.htm
https://www.makitatools.com/products/details/UC4051A
http://www.husqvarna.com/us/products/chainsaws/414el/967256101/
https://www.stihlusa.com/products/chain-saws/electric-saws/

If he needs more portability, some of the better battery saws (suggested earlier) work well on green wood in the 6 - 8" range, and occasionally up to 16". Again, get a good one. These saws keep getting better, and more powerful all the time.

If he is reluctant to use something that is not a 'real' saw, go rent one of the corded electrics at Home Depot and let him try it.

(If he is cutting big logs, deep in the forest, then these would not be good choices)

Philbert

 

[7sleeper]

Electric saws are great!

I am a big fan of my Makita 2000W electric saw.

7

 

[Al Smith]

My father had a corded electric sold by Sears and Roebuck that had belonged to his father .It really didn't do all that bad .One thing about it,it always started .

One contractor I worked for did a small amount of line work.We carried an electric Skil on the line truck .It didn't do all that bad .Every so often on creosoted southern pine poles the pot lickers left too much root swell on the butt end and it's nearly impossible to stuff 22" of pole in an 18" hole.Cut about a foot off ,simple as that .

 

[Nitehawk55]

Was up at my son's on the weekend , that little 421 is an awesome saw for the size !

 

[CoreyB]

Was up at my son's on the weekend , that little 421 is an awesome saw for the size !View attachment 64148

I am really glad I finally got one. Just a great little "work" horse. Most who ever use one really like them

 

[Nitehawk55]

That's all hard maple we had to cut , son used one of his 028's but was really impressed with the power and weight of the Dolmar . It's stock except for muffler mod .
With the 3/8 picco chain it was one angry little saw throwing chips all over....hahaha .
I brought up my Echo 600 as well but never used it , the 421 was all I needed for the size we were cutting .

 

[Milkman31]

I wouldn't trade my echo cs400 for all of the 170/180 and I love my stihl saws!

 

[Locust Cutter]

If he's used to fairly light weight, power, wanting a gas saw and good a/v etc, then new: MS241cm, Husky 545 or 550xp (or the J-red versions), Dolmar 421 or a Echo CS490. Varying price points, but all are good tools and will be easy to start and live with. Used - Husky 346xp, 350 or 353, Stihl 024 or 026 Pro, Shindaiwa made a good 50cc saw and John Deere (via Efco) made a nice 52cc saw that's a kick to run.

I have 4 or 5 brands of saws in the barn and have different favorites in the different sizes. For 40-50cc saws I really like Huskies, but I am VERY impressed with the MS241CM Stihl, especially ported but you're talking some $$$ at that point. Unless it's a surprise, take Him shopping and let Him try some different things and see what works for Him. Doubtless, like the rest of us, he'll know when he's found it whatever "it" happens to be.

 

[heartwoodlover1001]

Awesome suggestions, will keep a look at the ads, as well as the other options around. Something will arise will keep eye peeled, maybe even go to a forum event. Really kinda excited. Thanks all.