Youth/ Beginner chainsaw

[66Fleetside]

Have a 13 year old son who has started a little firewood business with a buddy of his. I’ve been doing all the felling/bucking, they split/stack/etc.

Thinking about getting him started on a chainsaw. My MS362cm will be too much for him. We will of course take a lot about safety and PPE and such and go slow with this.

What I ~should~ probably do is just get him a ms170. Stihl dealer/parts support in my area is far and away the best. That saw has been around a long time and has a generally positive reputation.

But I’m not always Mr. Practical. I’d kinda like to go a different route. Curious what you all think about the Husqvarna 120 Mark II and 135 Mark II?

(What I really want is to get the little Dolkita 43xxxx. But dealer support here is completely non-existent).

 

[davidwyby]

Very cool.

Pretty sure I know where there are a couple NOS Dollies for sale, I posted about it somewhere. I'd avoid homeowner huskies, I fixed a 450 for a friend and didn't like working on it. Running it, OK I guess. Exception maybe being older ones. I like my old Jred 2050s...and I have a 3-4 of them. You might see what guys around here have around.

 

[Sagebrush33]

I like David's suggestion. Let em get his feet wet with a good used saw.
Later he can reward himself with a new saw from his earnings.

 

[JimBear]

Echo makes some good smaller saws

 

[Sagebrush33]

Echo makes some good smaller saws

Large dealer network too.

 

[66Fleetside]

Good point on the Echo. Quite a few places that sell those around here.

Problem with a small-ish used saw is that folks tend to want nearly new prices for them. I scratch my head all the time at asking prices for beat up ms170s.

 

[USMC615]

MS180...good little saws.

I offered up a damn near brand new one as a raffle prize choice a couple of years back and the fella was just as happy as he could be with it, albeit I think it was geared for use by someone else. Kinda like this instance.

 

[FederalQ]

Check Home Depot’s website for their used rental tools. There is usually a Makita chainsaw that size for sale. There’ll be plenty of support here if any problems occur. Incidentally l recently purchased a NOS Dolmar ps421 from SE Missouri and it is a professional quality saw. Good luck!

 

[Woodslasher]

Have a 13 year old son who has started a little firewood business with a buddy of his. I’ve been doing all the felling/bucking, they split/stack/etc.

Thinking about getting him started on a chainsaw. My MS362cm will be too much for him. We will of course take a lot about safety and PPE and such and go slow with this.

What I ~should~ probably do is just get him a ms170. Stihl dealer/parts support in my area is far and away the best. That saw has been around a long time and has a generally positive reputation.

But I’m not always Mr. Practical. I’d kinda like to go a different route. Curious what you all think about the Husqvarna 120 Mark II and 135 Mark II?

(What I really want is to get the little Dolkita 43xxxx. But dealer support here is completely non-existent).

I'd say MS250 as opposed to a 170 if you feel the need for Stihl, my MS250 is an awesome little saw. A muffler mod really helped it, though, so you could teach him how to open the exhaust too.

 

[Nutball]

I'd prefer an Echo 352 with a 16" Stihl .043 bar and chain (takes some modifications to fit), sort of the best of both worlds as far as build quality/reliability/fixability and cutting performance. The carb and difficult to work on design is my problem with the Stihl 170/180, but I'm not a fan of the .050 oregon chain on 30cc saws or the low quality bars the little Echos come with.

 

[Woodpecker]

I'd say MS250 as opposed to a 170 if you feel the need for Stihl, my MS250 is an awesome little saw. A muffler mod really helped it, though, so you could teach him how to open the exhaust too.

Could step up to an echo 501 for a pro style chainsaw at the same price point.

 

[Woodslasher]

Could step up to an echo 501 for a pro style chainsaw at the same price point.

I'd say MS250 as opposed to a 170 if you feel the need for Stihl, my MS250 is an awesome little saw. A muffler mod really helped it, though, so you could teach him how to open the exhaust too.

Yeah, Echos are cheaper than Stihls, which is why I specified the "if you have to have a Stihl" bit. Of course, a good used saw would be even cheaper I would hope.

 

[Duce]

Is he a big strong 13 year old, why not just get a 261, 550. Saw will last and cut easy with a sharp chain, no struggling. Every saw is dangerous.

 

[66Fleetside]

I'd prefer an Echo 352 with a 16" Stihl .043 bar and chain (takes some modifications to fit), sort of the best of both worlds as far as build quality/reliability/fixability and cutting performance. The carb and difficult to work on design is my problem with the Stihl 170/180, but I'm not a fan of the .050 oregon chain on 30cc saws or the low quality bars the little Echos come with.

What kind of mods to fit the stihl bar to the echo?

 

[Nutball]

I haven't fitted one to a 352, but probably the usual drilling new tensioner holes and making new oil passages. I've done it a lot for the 2511t.

 

[TX_Welder]

My dad got me my first saw for Christmas when I was 14. A poulan wild thing. I still have it 20 years later. Still runs like a champ.

I traveled all over the neighborhood on my four wheeler with that saw chopping firewood and cleaning up trees. Between that saw and a lawnmower I made good money through my teenage years.

261 gets my vote if you want to stay with stihl.

 

[66Fleetside]

261 would be sweet. Not wanting to get in too deep with this first saw until I see how his business works out.

He’s 13 and attention span is mighty short.

 

[Stump Shot]

261 would be sweet. Not wanting to get in too deep with this first saw until I see how his business works out.

He’s 13 and attention span is mighty short.

Saws like the Poulan Pro PP5020AV , Husqvarna 455 Rancher or MS271 Farm Boss would get him into adulthood, he'll outgrow a little saw right quick.

 

[Nutball]

I think I only put one summer on my Poulan 3816 when I was 16, then borrowed dad's 359 and soon after bought a chinese 365 (I thought was real) for $275 shipped. At that time I'd admit dad's 372 was a bit much for me in terms of kickback with the 28" bar, but I knew how to stay within my limits.

It can be nice to have a little saw around anyway, and he can grow into the 362 you already have.

 

[Catbuster]

How big is he?