best 350.00 to 400.00 saw

[NYH1]

Husky 353 or Stihl MS280. Both can be bought from a dealer in my area for right around $400, tax NOT included. I can't say anything about the Dolmar 5100. Unfortunately there has never been any consistent Dolmar dealer support in my area, they just come and go.

 

[bowtechmadman]

Partial to the 346 myself, picked up two of them for 300 each. They were both year old model...one was the XPG.

 

[peter399]

+1 for 346 XP. Best 50 cc saw.
That saw will put the biggest smile on your face.

 

[SawTroll]

trust me Gary, it would be a nice thing to have the decomp on the 5100S.
that thing you have to try to jerk the rope out of the saw to start it, anything less just hurts. why? not sure. compression? adv timing? take your pick, but it is needed imo.
-Ralph

It is an enigma that it isn't there already, as the 5000 has the same engine, and have been availiable with it for years (5000D)......

The 5000 also was availiable with heated handles years before the 5100 was (5000H).

- these things really puzzle me...... :bang:

 

[SawTroll]

+1 for 346 XP. Best 50 cc saw.
That saw will put the biggest smile on your face.

For pure limbing that would probably been my choice also, or the slightly heavier and more powerful 5100 if more combined use is on the agenda.....:biggrinbounce2:

Handle both with the bar of choice in place, and take your pick!

They balanse a bit different, and that could also be decisive.

 

[Dadatwins]

Suprised no one puts the Stihl 260 in the class. It is an older style and does not have the anti-vibe of the new models, but it is one of the longer lasting durable designs out there. Noticed many have them in their signature lines but no one mentioned it. Pure workhorse chainsaw for ground work in my opinion.

EDit sawinredneck and poley threw it out there in their posts.

 

[tawilson]

hi Pa Plumber i m starting a clearing business.Id just like a smaller saw to limb and cut smaller stuff with.I have seriously thought of the 346. Also the Dolmar 5100 and Husky 353.Just not sure I can get the 346 for under 400.00

No, but I bet you can get it so close to $400 that it don't even matter.

 

[Happyjack]

5100S,353,Ms260 all good saws. Go to the dealers and try them out. See what you like best. The Dolmar and Husky do have much better air filtration. I have a 026 and it has never missed a beat.

 

[peter399]

Suprised no one puts the Stihl 260 in the class. It is an older style and does not have the anti-vibe of the new models, but it is one of the longer lasting durable designs out there. Noticed many have them in their signature lines but no one mentioned it. Pure workhorse chainsaw for ground work in my opinion.

EDit sawinredneck and poley threw it out there in their posts.

Truly a workhorse yes, but it has some very big drawbacks compared to the others. Vibration and air filtration are important things on chainsaws. If the price was low, which I don't think it is in the US, one could think of buying it. But there is really no reason considering a 260 when you compare it to newer saws.

 

[Poley4]

But there is really no reason considering a 260 when you compare it to newer saws.

Unless you happen to like Sthils (which I do) and it is the best dealer in your area!

 

[SawTroll]

Unless you happen to like Sthils (which I do) and it is the best dealer in your area!

I buy that, provided you know about its weaknesses, and accept them....

 

[Esbjug]

PS5100s Dolmar

I have the Dolmar PS5100-S, Husqvarna 346XP and Stihl MS260 and this they all are great saws. All have 13" bar with .325 chain. My use is for felling and limbing spruce and pine, and for firewood making. As several persons say, the Dolmar could do with a decompression valve. Being a 50 ccm saw, starting is more "hard" than the two other saws. Engine performance on the Dolmar is great. For limbing and cutting in Norway, all will do great. For counties with other larger trees, a larger saw could be needed.

Jonsered 2147 is a saw with the same qualities.

What to pick, is a question closely related to where the dealer is.

 

[rb_in_va]

Why on a saw that small?

Gary

+1 on that. I guess I got used to pulling on the 066 with no decomp, and the 5100 is a piece of cake in comparison. And I love cake!

 

[TooTall999]

You still haven't bought one???????????

260, 353, 5100. Pick one, be happy, cut wood!!!

Of course he hasn't bought one...he has to ask inane questions for at least another six months before he'll actually go buy a saw

 

[SawTroll]

Of course he hasn't bought one...he has to ask inane questions for at least another six months before he'll actually go buy a saw

I see what you mean............


.....but don't worry Stan, it is perfectly OK, really.......:greenchainsaw:

 

[SawTroll]

I have the Dolmar PS5100-S, Husqvarna 346XP and Stihl MS260 and this they all are great saws. All have 13" bar with .325 chain. .....

Try a 15 or 16" one, the saws handles better, and balanse better also, imo....

I simply don't like the 13" ones, on a 50cc saw.

Jonsered 2147 is a saw with the same qualities.

....

No wonder, it is the 346xp, with different handlebar and plastic........

 

[Timberhauler]

Ya' need at least five or six saws if you wanna start a clearing business..Get a 660 for falling and bucking logs 24 inches and bigger,then use your 441 for stuff down to 18 inches.Then pick up either a MS260 or a 346 for stuff down to about ten inches...Then I would get either a 200T or a 192T for everything else below.:bang: :bang: ...Man,seriously,I don't see a need for another saw..If you are cutting wood for fun,and enjoy running many different saws,that's one thing...But if you are cuttin' for a livin',why waste time switching saws around all day long..We use the 440 for most everything.The only reason I have a saw in between the 200t and the 440 is for blocking down big wood from up in the tree.

 

[NYH1]

Suprised no one puts the Stihl 260 in the class. It is an older style and does not have the anti-vibe of the new models, but it is one of the longer lasting durable designs out there. Noticed many have them in their signature lines but no one mentioned it. Pure workhorse chainsaw for ground work in my opinion.

EDit sawinredneck and poley threw it out there in their posts.

I was assuming 441_Stihl was asking about a new saw for $350 to $400. In my area that makes the MS260(Pro) out of the question. The MS260 w/ 16" b&c cost $449 and the MS260 Pro cost $489. I was staying within 441_Stihl's parameters. If he was talking about a used saw that would change things.

 

[Poley4]

I buy that, provided you know about its weaknesses, and accept them....

Well we didn't notice the weaknesses until you pointed them out to us. I will never notice that my 488 is doggy if I never run a 5100.:hmm3grin2orange:

 

[SawTroll]

Well we didn't notice the weaknesses until you pointed them out to us. I will never notice that my 488 is doggy if I never run a 5100.:hmm3grin2orange:

..or a 346xp, or even a 353.......