Another which saw should i buy thread

[Lakeside53]

First of all, your Stihl dealer either is a liar, or he is misinformed.
All the 3xx series Huskys sold at the box store is of at least the same quality as the MS250, most of them are probably better.
Imo the Husky 350 is a much nicer saw than the MS250, and also has a bit more power, but still at best marginal for what you are planning to do.

To be more spesific, I would need to know more about the wood you are going to cut.
My gut feeling tells me minimum Husky 359 or Dolmar PS-5100.

I need to rant.

Not sure what box stores you have in Norway, but those here don't service, know anything about the product and typically only carry the low-end saws. As the "real" dealers don't carry these lines, good luck on getting service. The box stores are the best thing that ever happened to Stihl. So many people are disgusted with how the Home Depots and Lowes treat them after the saw doesnt start the next year (o.k., like all brands the not-so-smart homeowners stored it with bad gas for a year), they turn up on servicing dealers doorsteps vowing never to go back again. It took a few years for the consumers to smarten up, but dumpsters are filling with the pos saws, weed eaters and blowers of the box stores. Sure they were cheap, but... you had better be able to service and look after your own.

As for the 025 or MS250 - it's a well tested (over 10 years) and very popular saw. Even after all the pro saws I use, I constantly surprised how well the 025 runs and cuts.

More rant : I see so many posts talking about the minor weight and power differences of saws (how much does it really weight in the cut? and if you want to loose a few pounds, drop the bar length..), but to me the most important issue is where to get it serviced and where to get parts. I think the Dolmar (and Makita) saws are very nice and well built, but out here in the west, good luck on getting them serviced. I get a handful each month asking for service, and all I can do is tell them to call around and see if anyone will do it for them. No one wants to send their saw off to a Makita service center...

 

[Jackman61]

Pensfan,

A few suggestions with local flavor. One place I would recommend avoiding is Dobosh Center over by Century 3 mall. They have treated me poorly. I have had good service experience with Rhodes in Imperial and Vaccari in Venetia. Both of these dealers handle Stihl. For Husky products, J&D lawn & tractor in Cranberry has been the most responsive. I ended up ordering my 372 from a dealer in NY, and have taken care of everything on my own so far. For your saw choice, buy the most that you can possibly afford and you will not regret it. I considered the MS 310, but followed the advice of this forum, hence the 372 in the garage. IF you can swing the 353 financially, you will do very well, otherwise the 350. There have been some 55 ranchers on E-bay that would land in your price range as well. PM me if you would like info on the place in NY where I bought my saw. Good luck & cut carefully! Any room left in your budget for PPE????

 

[pensfan]

I was actually going to stop in at the place in Cranberry, a local true value here is also a dealer and they are much closer to me, i am stopping on my way home from work, from everything i have read i am leaning towards the 350, now its just where do i buy it from, i will see who gives me the best deal, see if i can get a free case

 

[Derag2]

I own a husky 350 and i LOVE this saw, Its cut anything i put infront of it and does with reasonable speed, I wouldn't go any smaller than the 350 thou, I cut stuff thats around 20 diameter and it does it fine with the 18in bar just gotta go from both way but i go the full 18 on the first cut and does great...... Im thinking about maybe going for a bigger saw just for ????s and giggles but I love the 350...

get the 350 and you won't be sorry, i bought mine off ebay for like 250 bucks.... brand new.

 

[hydro2]

I have a Husky 353 and use it to feed my Hardy outside wood furnace. I cut plenty of wood and the saw does well. Very light and low vibe. Very similar to the 350. You should be able to get a 353 for about 340.00
By the way I see many of you posting this thread live in PA near Pittsburgh. I am about 60 miles north of the city and live next to the Allghenny!

 

[SawTroll]

The main difference between the 350 and 353 is that is the 353 is a pro quality saw, built to last longer.
The 353 has a magnesium crankcase, and is the same saw as the 346xp, except for the engine and the presence of a decomp valve on the 353.
Features and ergonomics are the same on the 350 and 353, except for the convenient snap off top cover on the 353.
Originally the 350 had a smaller 49.4 cc engine, but that has recently been changed to a detuned version of the 51.7 cc 353 engine.

 

[SawTroll]

I need to rant.
.....

Hi, I read your rant, but it does nothing to change the facy that all 3xx series Huskys are of similar or better quality compared to the MS250, even if they are sold at box stores in addition to other places.
They are not similar products to what you refer to as box store saws.

Over here Stihl and Jonsered are sold both at box stores and servicing dealers. Husqvarna are sold by full service dealers only.

 

[pensfan]

I went with the 350 and i am not disappointed at all, so far it has laughed at everything i have thrown at it, no complaints at all except for that spike bumper, it can be removed, will it hurt the saw running it without it or is there a replacement that doesn't have the spikes, its really annoying having to pull the saw back instead of letting it just work its way through the log on its own.

 

[KarlP]

Not sure what box stores you have in Norway, but those here don't service, know anything about the product and typically only carry the low-end saws. As the "real" dealers don't carry these lines, good luck on getting service.

Your dealers don't carry the same 350s, 359s, and 455s that Sears and Lowes do?

My local Husqvarna dealer has lots of 141s in stock and needs to special order 395xps. Am I to presume that the 141 is a better saw than the 350 at Lowes because my dealer carries it?

 

[Lakeside53]

Sure it's the same or similar saw, but in terms of do they carry them - some none, and others less and less... why carry a saw you can only make $15 - $20...? My comment is more about support. You think Lowes support is worth a hill of beans? I watched my local Home Depot staff trying to show a customer how to fit a bar and chain... Neither of them got it right and had to call another guy who stumbled though the manual. Nice.