Help with 1st chainsaw

[joed]

I'm looking to buy my very first chainsaw. It won't be used much except for occasional work with medium to small tress. My dealer has these models that I'm looking at getting:

1. Redmax 3800 with 18" bar.
2. Husqvarna 340
3. John Deere CS40 or CS46
4. A used Stihl 026 which is about 8 years old. Dealer has looked it over and says it's in good shape but it look's rough. It's about $150 cheaper than the brand new ones mentionned above.

Coudl anyone provide me with some feedback on these saws and whether a 16 or 18" bar would work better.

Thank You

 

[retoocs555]

Any of options 1-3 with a 16" bar would be a good choice.

Pick whichever one feels 'best' in your hands. Maybe your dealer has demo saws so you could try running each one.

Since you only do limited cutting, and it's your first saw I'd avoid the used one.

 

[SawTroll]

Those saws are less than 3 cubes (about 50 cc), except for the used Stihl.
Imo 16" bars are better than longer ones on 3 cube saws, and certainly on smaller ones.

Long bars make them unbalanced for light work, and also slows down the cutting speed somewhat.

The Husky is no doubt the better of the new ones, with very little vibrations and the best air filtration system. It is also a very ergonomic design.

If you can afford it, the 350 and then the 345 is preferable to the 340. Not only because of more power, which you may or may not need, but they also successively have more nice features....

....
Since you only do limited cutting, and it's your first saw I'd avoid the used one.

Ditto!

Good luck with your choise!

 

[Max]

Great advice from the members before me. I also would go with the 340 over the other saws, not knocking the others, I had a 340 and really liked it. I had a 16" bar and ran 95vp on it which cut very well with real low vibrations.
As stated above, if you can swing it go for the 350: metal half wrap, tad lower vibrations, decomp button (saves wear on starter asmbly) adjustable oiler, more power and it has a good track record. Also since it is your first saw try and find a good local dealer as you may have questions & need help down the road. Good luck and don't forget your safety equipment.

 

[314epw]

1st saw

Hello,
Welcome to the world of cutting! It's great.I'm a Husky man.I agree which going for the 350.It's 3.2 HP with .325 pitch chain.That is a great combo for speed and cutting ability.16" bar will give you a fast saw doing 13000 RPM.Remember that 16" will cut bigger if it has to.Just don't make it a practice.Go 18" if you have to,but the saw will be a tad slower.
Don't forget safety equipment,Hard hat with muffs,and face shield.Gloves,boots with hard toe,and chaps.Saw saw going with 13000 Rpms is throwing chips out at 70 MPH and many many teeth are going by partsof your body at the same speed! Don't let people make fun of you.Until you have seen someone cut,the bells will go off in your head!Safety,safety!!!!!!
Ed:greenchainsaw:

 

[UrbanLogger]

I'm a fan of the John deere saws, I have a CS62 with a 20" bar, I love it. They are made by a company caller Emak http://www.emak.co.uk
It is the same as an efco saw, which are great saws. Until recently it was hard to find efco saws here, now efco is going to be marketing their product in America. But anyway I like the John Deere stuff. They tend to be a little heavier, but thats because most (at least the bigger saws) have an almost all metallic outer case, making it more durable IMO. My choice would be the John Deere

 

[sawinredneck]

I vote with the 350 as well, great saws for the money IMHO! But feel them all, pick them up and handle them, cut like you are bucking and falling in the air. One will feel perfect in you're hands, the others won't, thats you're winner!!! If it doesn't feel right or seem to fit you don't buy it, it never will!! As this is you're only/primary saw (for now:hmm3grin2orange: ) this is extremely important!!! The next thing is dealer, make sure you like the dealer, does he have spares in stock, easy to get along with etc.?
I don't know jack about the Redmaxx, not famillier with the 260 or 340, but I know Stihl and Husky make good products.
Urbanlogger, the only reason I am going here is because I have seen it first hand and have heard of it starting already with the cubcadet lineup of saws (sorry). I would be leary of the Deere saws just because of parts availability in the future! Deere is notorious for starting something then as soon as it get popular dumping it, leaving the customer high and dry for replacement parts!!! Dealer I used to work for "Sorry, can't get parts, I won't work on it!!"
Just my .02
Andy

 

[sawinredneck]

As a side note, the Deere dealer I used to work for will NOT carry the saw lineup just for that reason!! They will ony sell Shindawia saws and trimmers, PERIOD!!

 

[romeo]

I would watch it on the used saw unless you really know what to look for. You would never want one of my "used" saws.

 

[16gauge]

Find another dealer!

I'm looking to buy my very first chainsaw. It won't be used much except for occasional work with medium to small tress. My dealer has these models that I'm looking at getting:

1. Redmax 3800 with 18" bar.
2. Husqvarna 340
3. John Deere CS40 or CS46
4. A used Stihl 026 which is about 8 years old. Dealer has looked it over and says it's in good shape but it look's rough. It's about $150 cheaper than the brand new ones mentionned above.

Coudl anyone provide me with some feedback on these saws and whether a 16 or 18" bar would work better.

Thank You

All the saws you listed are fine for the needs you describe. But if a used 026 is 150 less that new ones ??? then he is asking way too much for new. Example: I bought a new Redmax 3800 in February for $199. It was a display model but it is a great runner and starts easy. I think that you should look around a bit before you make a decision on your first saw. Just my humble advice.opcorn:

 

[ray benson]

Didn't see a CS-46 listed, the Deere site it jumped from a CS-40 to a CS-56.

 

[UrbanLogger]

The Deere dealer near me has almost the full line of saws, and all common parts in stock, with (they claim) availability on all the rest, I'm not saying this is true, but it's what they told me. I have had no problem getting parts from them...but all dealers are not the same.

Deere does have a CS46...the full line is CS36le, CS40le, CS46, CS52, CS56, CS62, CS71 & CS81.
The CS36 & CS40 are low-emissions saws

Like I said, I'm very happy with my CS62, and have had no problem getting parts, not to mention it is just a green efco saw. Efco is now planning a marketing thing in the us, meaning (when it is up and running) parts will be available from them too.

I'm not trying to start any agruments or anything, this is just my opinion

Redmax is a japanese saw, they are getting better, but have only been around for a couple years now (not the company, the saws) they pretty much own the market on backpack blowers, and are coming on very strong with string trimmers whick are very very high quality, very nice products. Parts availability on redmax stuff is not they greatest right now. They are made by komatsu. I used to work for a Komatsu Construction equipment dealer, Komatsu construction equipment is great, I can't imagine that anything else they make would be any less.

 

[Justsaws]

The Stihl is used and over priced, probably. If it is hard looking. 8 years old and ugly is a $200 machine tops unless it has been rebuilt. Run it in the dealers test log and make at least 6 cuts. Turn it off and on a couple of times. Tilt it on both sides and hold it there a minute and listen for a change in how it is running. If it stalls or feels like it is going to hand it back. If it speeds up, hand it back. Throttle it up on both sides and tilted forward and backwards. Make sure that you are running it and not the dealer. If it takes more than 5 pulls cold to start it, hand it back.

The husky 340 is a fancy Poulan. If you got a good dealer go for it. If it is from Lowe's maybe not.

Redmax, good dealer makes the difference. Our Redmax dealer will not sell saws. Good saw if you got a dealer.

John Deere saws are hard to get parts for around here and there are plenty of dealers. They seem to have a hard time getting air filters. Good saw, bad service.

Find a Stihl dealer and look at the low end saws. $180-250. They can at least get you some parts.

Look at the Echo saw line up if you can.

All those saws would be best with 16" bar and .325 LP chain.

 

[SawTroll]

... I have a CS62 with a 20" bar, I love it. ...

The 62 cc version is the "sweet-spot" in the Emak/Deere lineups. The other sizes doesn't have anywhere near the power to weight ratio of that one.....