Interesting PM 18" Chainsaw Review

[stump doctor]

Found this review on the web. Some of the saws reviewed are the Stihl MS250, Husky 345 Echo CS440 and a few others. It makes for some interesting reading if anyone is interested.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/home_improvement/gardening/1273816.html?page=1&c=y

 

[davefr]

Interesting article but I wouldn't put an 18" bar on these 45cc saws. I'd want at least 50cc to drive 18" even with .325 chain.

 

[Chris J.]

Nothing surprising in their findings, pretty much matches what's been said here many times. One thing they didn't mention is the internet prices you can get on Husky, Jred, Echo, & Poulan. I'm not sure about Solo prices. They did mention dealer support, and that's certainly important for some users.

 

[Butch(OH)]

Popular mechanics used to be written for people who would be proud of smelling like two-cyle mix and exhaust fumes. You know the types, those who went on dates or go to church with dirt under their fingernails? Now it's written like Consumer Reports for yuppie mechanic wannabes,,,,,:angry2: Those who have not noticed the gradual changes to politically correct status should go read a 30 year old copy. Sorry for the off topic rant fellow sawyers.

 

[scottr]

Questionable Tech

I wonder if the Tech or the writer didn't understand that to adjust the bar on the PP295 that it is necessary to first loosen the bar nuts .

 

[computeruser]

Popular mechanics used to be written for people who would be proud of smelling like two-cyle mix and exhaust fumes. You know the types, those who went on dates or go to church with dirt under their fingernails? Now it's written like Consumer Reports for yuppie mechanic wannabes,,,,,:angry2: Those who have not noticed the gradual changes to politically correct status should go read a 30 year old copy. Sorry for the off topic rant fellow sawyers.

Amen. And it isn't really an off-topic rant: this kind of silliness even shows up OPE dealer showrooms, sadly. Luckily there are places like AS where people actually care about the stuff they're talking about, where the advice is often useful.

 

[Chris J.]

So I'm guessing PM used to have articles written by real tool users who weren't afraid to slam an inferior product? I used to read PM a little 30 years ago, but I wasn't really into mechtech stuff back then.

 

[Butch(OH)]

So I'm guessing PM used to have articles written by real tool users who weren't afraid to slam an inferior product? I used to read PM a little 30 years ago, but I wasn't really into mechtech stuff back then.

You got it.

 

[NorthWoods]

Back in the old days, PM was like my monthly bible. It had some really interesting articles, but what really made it special was all the neat stuff that you could order from the ads in it.

They even published a book aimed at teenage boys (appropriately called "The Boy Mechanic") with all sorts of "how to" info plus many projects. Got the book for Christmas when I was 11 or 12. Reading/re-reading it and doing many of the projects absorbed much of my free time for the next few months.

Dave

 

[SawTroll]

That "test" is mostly just opinions and looks highly unscientific.

Very interesting :spam: observations on Stihl vs. Oregon chain, without any reference to which Stihl and Oregon chain

...and the selection of 18" bars on that saws speaks a lot too!

 

[Lawn Masters]

Sawtroll, that is EXACTLY what I thought too.

this "test didnt provide any cut times to show which saw actually is faster. not that the average homeowner is gonna care that its the fastest saw, just that it cuts the wood. come to think of it, the average joe is going to buy what he can afford that looks good to them at the time probably. now a pro, who uses the saw every day, and depends on it to make his living might feel differently from the homeowners who just want it to cut wood.

I dont really give a crap, if it starts, runs and cuts, I'm happy. if it does the job when I want it to, even better for me.