036 or 026 (Australia)

[Brewy]

Hi All,

I'm hoping for some advice and a good second hand saw if anyone has one in Australia. First up, i only have about $450 to spend so a new saw is out of the question. I'm doing some felling but mostly cutting up logs for use as firewood or rough building timbers. I have an 020AVP Super and a Makita 034 (both 33cc ish) and dont want to kill them cutting up larger logs +16 inch bar is too short.

The timber here is almost all Brush Box, Bloodwood and Tallow Wood. I've done a lot of reading on this site and seems that an 034/036 or a 026/260/025/250 is the way to go for to $$ I have. Will the 026 size be enough extra grunt to justify given I have the 020? Or am I better off looking for an 036/034? There are a lot of 'farmboss' 029/290/390's around but everyone seems to write them off as too heavy.

Anyone got a good example for sale? I'm near Eumundi in Qld.
Brewy

 

[treesmith]

What about an 038?

 

[Brettl]

Hi Brewy. Welcome to AS!!
Of what you listed, I'd go with a 036 Pro or 034 Super(same as regular 036). BUT, for $450, could you find a 440 or 044? Here in the states they pop up from time to time for $450 or under. From what I read here, you've got some REALLY hard wood down there so I'd go as big as you can.

Also, the 026, 034, and 036 are Pro saws. The 025/250 are more of a consumer grade saw. The 029/290 and 039/390 don't get the credit they deserve in my opinion. They are more of a consumer grade saw but they're good saws. The flipside of that is that a pro grade 036 Pro can be found within a $100 of a 390. No trainer. Go with the 036 or a 044/440 if you can find one in your price range.

What about Dolmar/Makita? The Dolmar 6400 and 7900 and their blue counterparts are great pro grade saws and in your price range.

 

[treesmith]

Finding a decent saw for that money in australia is possible but from what I've seen it's not easy. A new ms170 here is $400. Maybe you could get a saw from the US but your budget would be about $200US as shipping would be $100US+ and the exchange rate is about $1US - $1.5AU

 

[Brewy]

Thanks for the welcome guys. TS - an 038 is a possibility too. Actually for the amount of work I will give it I'm sure any of them will do but its good to have something you enjoy using. I hear you on budget. I may have to step up to $600 ish looking at gumtree and ebay.
BL - I've tried to track down an 044 but the ones I have seen look like they have been towed behind a truck for several years at that price point The Makita/Dolmar are a bit harder to get here 2nd hand. There is a (very)small local dealer but I'd be looking at $1000-$1400 for pro models in a suitable size new.

There is an unused MS311 available locally for about $800aud or an MS261, barely used for $800. 034's seem to sit at the 400-450 mark in variable condition which gives you an idea on local prices.

I'll cast the net a bit wider and see what I can find.

As always, it'd be great to have some spare cash!
brewy

 

[scheffa]

Mate ring a couple of the local dealers and see what they got, I got 2 880's through my dealer second hand for a good price. Maybe look at Echo as well cause they don't have the price tag of a Stihl

 

[raumati01]

Have you seen any 380s or 381 advertised?

 

[treesmith]

261 is a good saw, the filtration works very well in dusty cutting

 

[Matt B]

I've run most of above saws at length collecting firewood in Oz. A 361 (v similar to an 036) is my smallest firewood saw... Best to have a saw which can pull the more durable 3/8 chain fairly well. 50cc saws like the 026, generally run 0.325 which doesn't last well in our hard, dry wood and as such are best reserved for limbing.
You can usually find clean a 034 or 034S for under $400 on Gumtree and sometimes luck out on an 036. eg;

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/ascot-vale/miscellaneous-goods/stihl-034-chainsaw-40cm-bar/1092313196

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/kenwick/lawn-mowers/stihl-034-av-chainsaw-/1092111326

Cheers, Matt.

 

[Brewy]

Thanks Matt. I've made some enquiries on 034's. Love the sound of the MS 261 too. Will also try a post in the trading forum.