20 Best Chainsaw For Milling (2022 Updated)

I ordered this for my husband. He enjoys making small boxes and has never had the equipment to cut into boards. When he saw this, he was so excited and wanted me to order it. Shipping was fast, and he opened the box and put it together the day we received it.

He has already cut several boards and is excited about cutting more. Definitely worth the money.

I bought this with no experience using chain saw mills and I’m very pleased. It was easy to assemble, the directions for cutting logs were simple and straight forward, and it works great. I bought this after several strong thunder storms swept through the area and knocked down a number of trees.

I have milled one medium sized white pine log into boards and have many more fallen trees in my neighborhood to start working on, so I will soon have a shop full of freshly-milled lumber. There is nothing like building something out of wood you milled yourself.

A couple pointers. First, you’ll need to make or buy rails as guides for the first cut. You can use a straight plank or a pair of 2x4s; no need to buy the pre-built rails (the directions for the mill give you enough info to figure out how to make rails yourself).

Second, buy a rip chain from Granberg Int’l. Typical chain saw chains are made for cross-cutting and don’t work well for ripping long logs (you will get very tired pushing the saw through a log without a rip blade).

Third, use a full-face visor or, better yet, pick up a logging helmet with a built in visor. Milling produces a lot of saw dust and using a full-face visor allows you to focus on cutting rather than clearing saw dust from your face.

It’s also a good idea to use logging chaps. You’ll feel a lot more comfortable having your legs covered with something that will stop a chain saw blade in the event that something goes wrong. All in all, a great product.

I read several reviews praising the tool but bashing the instructions. I figured, well, I’m a pretty smart chap (no really, a damn genius in fact & member of Mensa, FWIW). I thought if I can put together IKEA furniture, I’d be good to go.

(Go look up the word ‘Hubris’, you’ll find a picture of me & my new saw). What everyone complains about – yet failed to mention in their review was how poorly the instructions overlook stressing a few minor details that almost had me return the thing.

At issue is that the chain brake ‘SNAPS’ into place and unless when you push it forward you hear it lock, it hasn’t locked. The second issue is that the brake MUST BE IN THE FORWARD LOCKING POSITION before you remove the cover to install the chain.

If this is not done YOU ARE COMPLETELY SCREWED. This is so important, the brake should be physically restrained in the lock position with packing material, which would cost only a few cents. OR FIX THE INSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE THIS ABUNDANTLY CLEAR.

What happens is when you take off the metal component to put the blade on, that component holds the metal ring that is the mechanism that stops the axle. I was in the country of Panama and fortunately, my driver knew where there was an authorized dealer nearby that could help fix the saw.

It works like a champ after that. The quick start guild should also be in Spanish.

This is my second 460 Rancher. Gave the first one to my son for his property. Simply put, there is not another chainsaw with this kind of cutting power on the market in this price range. Sure, you can by a similarly equipped Stihl, but you will pay a few hundred more.

Solid, reliable, durable, safe – and it gets the job done – fast!.

I needed something bigger than my old little Sthil 015 to section up larger tree trunks that I am generating clearing my property. I also was in acute need so was not to happy with waiting even 3 or 4 days for something from A-zon.

I wasn’t familiar with the pro line, but what struck me was the totality of positive reviews, and the company affiliation with Husquvarna. They were in stock at several HF stores in my area. As mentioned, you get a nice case, extra chain, an issue of fuel oil, and a multitool, which stows nicely under the handle.

I did read the instructions, nothing weird there, added fluids, and fired it up. Started easily but ran rough and fast initially, smoothed out and slowed down after about 5 minutes. Lots of anti-vibe action evident as it idles away.

I let it run unloaded a bit more, and then got to cutting. As mentioned just a wee bit of hesitation coming onto throttle, but hardly perceptible, the saw got right into it and cut beautifully showing no lack of power.

Stopped to tighten the chain after about 10 minutes, then again about 15 minutes after that. Simple manual mechanical tensioning made easier with the wrench/ screwdriver at the handy. Cut for about 2-3 hours, refueled, reoiled, had no trouble restarting, brake is sharp and positive, noise level pretty low, and pretty well balanced, and really just a pleasure to use.

Started it up the next day, relatively easily, it does seem to need about 3 minutes or so to warm up and stabilize. I am glad I picked this one over Similar Chinese units selling for about $40 less, they had more mixed reviews, and all other things being equal, parts would be more difficult to source down the road than for this saw.

Assembled in the USA, so another plus. The construction uses plastic in cosmetic areas primarily, on a par with other name brand saws, so for a contemporary issue product, it feels solid and well built.

If nothing negative develops down the road, I believe I will be glad I made this purchase, as this saw does everything I need it to do, is modestly priced, domestically assembled, and pretty well designed with good ergonomics.

It is not a featherweight, but seems appropriate weight for it’s size, and actually feels more secure while cutting due to it’s heft. I like it very much!.

Pros: Price, size of bar, auto oiler is nice, easy to start, low vibration, availability of parts. Cons: needs carb adjustments right out of the box to keep it idling or from bogging down, covers have a cheap feel/look to them.

I purchased this about 3-4 years ago. Only writing the review now as I’ve had some time to use it. I’ve replaced the recoil spring assembly and the starter assembly already – something about an upgraded part in the assembly.

Mine broke and I replaced it. Works fine! The low idle and high idle weren’t right when I fired it up. It would stall on low idle and would bog down when I tried running it wide open. A couple of small tweaks on the carb and it was fine.

Seems to be a running theme with Poulan models that the carbs are out of adjustment even new outta the box. You’re basically buying a (downgraded) Husqvarna for about $130 less than the Husqvarna. I say this because the engine parts and such are stamped with Husqvarna logo and/or part numbers.

The plastic housings/covers are a bit cheaper feeling than the Husqvarna, but for the price, I’d say you can’t go wrong. Overall, for light/medium homeowner use, I’d say this is a good buy and to go ahead and buy it.

I bought this saw out of town but did not use it for 6 months. I filled it with bar oil and true fuel and cut one 4 inch log in two and the saw died. When it restarted, it would not idle or run. After watching a couple of Youtube videos, I attempted to adjust the carburetor.

After a futile local search for a splined adjustment wrench, I decided to go back to my local Harbor Freight. They had no wrench and after looking at my receipt, they said I could contact Poulan for a warranty repair (there is only a 90 day Harbor Freight warranty, but there is a one year factory warranty, OR a get a free replacement through their store since I purchased the extra 1 year warranty at the time of the original purchase.

I opted to use the store warranty and they gave me a new saw! I also purchased a 2 year store warranty. (BTW I purchased the carburetor mixture screw tool from Amazon for future needs, and when it came in the next day, I found that it fit the low and high mixture screws perfectly and the T (idle) screw was a small Phillips head.

)) The new saw started up after a few pulls and I was able to cut my logs with it. The saw still wanted to die if I released the throttle too quickly, but I believe an adjustment of the T screw should bring up the idle a bit.

The saw effortlessly cut a cord of wood logs in about 3 hours, making them ready to split. I was very happy with my first experience with this Poulan Pro 4218 and with my Burleson Harbor Freight’s excellent warranty service!.

I was concerned before I buy it because it was not made in USA but in China. But no problem. The quality is high and it is working excellent!

Had difficulty getting the saw first time I ordered. It was resolved after about a week so not a big deal. Finally got the saw, got it outta the box. gas, oil & tried for 2 hours to get it started. After some thought and bit of research I had to cut the hi & low screws back to where they weren’t flooding it when I tried starting it and then I reset the coil gap to get a better spark out of the thing.

Quality control is a little lax somewhere along the line but the thing is a beast once I did some tuning and got it running right. Not a homeowner saw by any means. I put on a 28″ Tsumura light bar and run 3/8.

050 full chisel chain. Have taken it easy on it so far but I will be burying it in some white oak in the next week or so. I don’t foresee any issues popping up. To sum it up. If you know what you’re doing with one.

you want this saw.

had this saw for 2 years now, starts like a dream, so easy to pull. cut lots of wood with it. it says in the manual not to run this saw on rich oil mix fuel like 25/1. so not liking that, i thought why don’t they want me to run this on 25/1 ? other than for some sort of emissions reason?.

i took the exhaust off and noticed it was tightly packed with a roll of steel mesh as a baffle, which looked like it would clog up easy with a rich fuel mix. anyway i drilled out the baffle and have been running it on 25/1 mix ratio without problem for ages.

yeh its noisy now, but not ear splitting. also the saw doesn’t like it too much when cutting on its side, like falling a tree, motor will stop periodically. i think its the fuel line in the tank isn’t too long or something, this is overcome by keeping fuel tank full when side cutting.

pros: lite saw, starts super easy, fair amount of power, feels good, seems reliable. cons: no rich fuel mixes due to muffler, doesn’t like side cutting, the stud that holds the bar on (is way to short) so it makes it fiddly to put the plastic bar cover on without the bar and chain falling out of position.

Having owned one of these for perhaps 10 years, it has performed very well indeed. I’ve just managed to damage the chain oil adjuster, which can be repaired easily enough, but I have a lot of sawing to do.

I’m happy to buy a new saw, so that the old one can be repaired at my leisure. The machine is no longer manufactured, but the electric replacements are heavier and less powerful, so I’ll go with another petrol one while I can get it.

I bought a Poulan pro originally from homedepot and the saw never wanted to run right now matter what you did to it. Tuned the carb and everything. Would run for one cut then die. like they say poulan pro will make you a pullin pro so keep on pullin! Well that thing got the sledge hammer treatment and I decided to buy this echo cs 400! Wow! What a difference! A saw that actually starts and runs! I would recommend this saw hands down! I have had an echo weed eater for 7 years now and it runs no matter how old the fuel inside of it is and starts up every time with ease! This saw is no different! If you use your saw in the mountains and want a saw that will work when you need it to I would buy this everytime!.

This had been a great chainsaw for a few hundred hours of operation so far. The only downside I’ve found is that it is very sensitive to “cold” weather. Takes a while to warm up and idle well even at 40°F, down towards zero if it idles for more then about 30 seconds it’ll kill.

Fires back up easy enough and runs good while cutting though. I haven’t tried to use below -5 or so, though I imagine it might have serious problems at -20, but I don’t wanna cut wood those days anyway.

I pondered long and hard before buying this model. Initially kept looking at slightly cheaper ones but so pleased I went for the Makita. Handles very easily, cuts through wood like butter. I’ve used it on four separate occasions now and it feels balanced and effortless.

Very simple to fit the chain, cable length at 10m is ideal. Would definitely recommend. Too early to check reliability yet but confident it will work satisfactory for many years.

I had high hopes for this item, it felt robust and well made and for about 5 minutes it was working great! Then for no apparent reason the chain came loose and it stopped working. The adjustment pin to tighten the chain is made from plastic and this had snapped off!! The whole thing then became redundant.

This seems to be a regular problem from reading other reviews and a ridiculous design flaw! Then I had the hassle of returning it. Sort it out Makita!!.

I bought this some months ago but used it for the first time last week. All went well until the chain went blunt before I could finish cutting down 30 Leylandi. I do not know but think that this may have been my fault as I was cutting close to the ground and may have got soil on the chain.

After sharpening the chain I tried again but this time the small plastic lug that tensions the chain broke off making the chainsaw useless. Screwfix, as always, gave excellent service and replaced the chainsaw without a quibble.

Very happy with their service and my trees have now all been cut. The internet says others have had problems with the plastic lug breaking but when it is working the chainsaw is so good that I am happy to chance that it will not happen again.