foxtrapper
ArboristSite Lurker
I'm just a guy with a couple of acres and far too many years with junk old saws like cast off Poulans and the like. I decided I wanted/needed a good saw that's going to start reliably, cut well and last years. So I went exploring and researching, coming down ultimately to Stihl, Husvarna and Dolmar, in no small measure because of what I read on this forum.
How did I end up with a Dolmar? The short answer is the dealer. For I wasn't planning on buying a Dolmar. And I'm still kinda astonished that it was in fact the dealership that mattered. But the difference was in fact that profound.
Stihl is what I was figuring I'd get. Either a 290 because its cheap, or a 261 because it reads so nice. But all three of the Stihl dealerships I visited keep their saws tied up on the shelf, and no, you can't take it down. You want to handle it, buy it first. The idea of actually starting one or trying some wood cutting with one was met with wide eyed incredulation. OK. Ask about setup, and they tell me it's done at the factory. Um, ok. Thanks guys, I'll let you know.
Husqvarna. I was curious about them. If they sell pro grade saws in my area, I never found them. The listed pro dealerships actually only carried the same homeowner saws that Lowes and Home Depot carry. I sure would have liked to at least seen a 365 XP. But, I never could find one to even look at. All the homeowners saws were tied down on the shelf, just like the Stihl dealers. I didn't bother to ask about picking one up or starting it. You know who I found the most helpful and knowledgeable Husvarna person? Lowes. Yikes!
The Dolmar dealer was an adventure to find. He was also the last place I went. He's got the saws right there on the shelf, untied. Customers can pick them up and explore them and wave them around in the air. Not only that but he takes me out back to do some wood cutting with it. Great! We take the saw partially apart to explore it, we talk chainsaw (and he never trashed the competition), we discussed maintenance and use, we discussed setup and oil mixes and gas octane, and, and, and.
Not particularly surprising, I ended up buying a Dolmar from him.
Is the Stihl 261 a better saw? Maybe, but the Stihl dealers weren't willing to let me find out. Would a Husqvarna XP have balanced as wonderfully as people say? I've no idea, as I could never find one to hold.
So in the end, the Dolmar dealer made the sale because he had the saw and was willing to let me test drive it, and knew how to set it up.
And, I'm quite happy with it. It balances well to me, it's light, the vibration is nill, the engine is rather quiet, and it cuts nicely.
How did I end up with a Dolmar? The short answer is the dealer. For I wasn't planning on buying a Dolmar. And I'm still kinda astonished that it was in fact the dealership that mattered. But the difference was in fact that profound.
Stihl is what I was figuring I'd get. Either a 290 because its cheap, or a 261 because it reads so nice. But all three of the Stihl dealerships I visited keep their saws tied up on the shelf, and no, you can't take it down. You want to handle it, buy it first. The idea of actually starting one or trying some wood cutting with one was met with wide eyed incredulation. OK. Ask about setup, and they tell me it's done at the factory. Um, ok. Thanks guys, I'll let you know.
Husqvarna. I was curious about them. If they sell pro grade saws in my area, I never found them. The listed pro dealerships actually only carried the same homeowner saws that Lowes and Home Depot carry. I sure would have liked to at least seen a 365 XP. But, I never could find one to even look at. All the homeowners saws were tied down on the shelf, just like the Stihl dealers. I didn't bother to ask about picking one up or starting it. You know who I found the most helpful and knowledgeable Husvarna person? Lowes. Yikes!
The Dolmar dealer was an adventure to find. He was also the last place I went. He's got the saws right there on the shelf, untied. Customers can pick them up and explore them and wave them around in the air. Not only that but he takes me out back to do some wood cutting with it. Great! We take the saw partially apart to explore it, we talk chainsaw (and he never trashed the competition), we discussed maintenance and use, we discussed setup and oil mixes and gas octane, and, and, and.
Not particularly surprising, I ended up buying a Dolmar from him.
Is the Stihl 261 a better saw? Maybe, but the Stihl dealers weren't willing to let me find out. Would a Husqvarna XP have balanced as wonderfully as people say? I've no idea, as I could never find one to hold.
So in the end, the Dolmar dealer made the sale because he had the saw and was willing to let me test drive it, and knew how to set it up.
And, I'm quite happy with it. It balances well to me, it's light, the vibration is nill, the engine is rather quiet, and it cuts nicely.
