First post here! I have thick skin (many years of various internet forums), so I'm ready for the beating I'm about to take. :cool2:
Background: Just turned 40 years old, married and 2 daughters and live in Renton WA (the great NorthWet!) Our house is a good size, but with ZERO trees that would really require a chainsaw, and ZERO wood burning appliances (i.e. no need for firewood.) I'm big into firearms, beer (work for a brewery), motorcycles and photography. I'm a conservative, but am forced to vote Republican in most cases as the "close enough for government work" option. I have a keen inability to buy cheap gear apparently, based on my purchasing habits. A Nikon D3000 is not nearly good enough, I need the D3. Crappy lenses are not OK, f2.8 constant aperture zooms only. My motorcycle is a Ducati 1098S, the Suzuki Gladius I had just wasn't "it".....
I don't bring these things up to brag, but to highlight a character flaw as I call it. When I decide it is time to get into a product, I have delusions of grandeur and don't want to mess with "consumer" or even "pro-sumer" level stuff. I want to jump into the "professional" level, even if I really have no right to be there. Thus my desire to purchase a chainsaw, one which sits in the "professional" level, at least at the entry-level of "professional." Frankly, it is damn near an OCD problem, and I probably require treatment!:help:
Wait a minute scollins, didn't you just say you really don't have any sort of NEED for a chainsaw, much less a professional grade one? Yep, that is true. In this past winter, we "might" have lost a 15' tall maple to an ice storm. I think most would call this a "sapling" frankly, easily handled by a handsaw, or a sawzall (of which I have both.) But it struck me that being a man, having and knowing how to use a chainsaw is almost a paramount requirement for the "man-card."
Certain events in my life have driven me to re-evaluate a few things, and that brought into sharp focus a few things, even if they seem monumentally stupid (as my wife would classify this latest foray.) I lost my father in late 2010 at the too-young age of 64. I've got a lot of things on my bucket list, and you never know when your card is going to be punched. So, don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today! So when the wife says, with regards to this puny 15' tall maple, "we might have to chainsaw it up", I realize that I don't have a chainsaw! How can I possibly let this failure as a man and a husband go uncorrected? My wife expects this tree to be "chainsaw'd", and I have no chainsaw! Oh the horror! :msp_ohmy:
So, based on my actual needs, I either don't need a chainsaw at all, or the cheapest gas version at Lowe's is going to be way more than enough saw to meet my meager needs. Hell, I've got extension cords long enough, even an electric chainsaw is likely more than my needs! This little tree is certainly easily handled by my current crop of tools, but this seems to be the opening to add to the tool collection. I could certainly meet my needs too by renting from the local shop less than 3 miles away (Stihl's with 16" bars.) But remember that character flaw though? Yeah, it likes to rear its head all the time. I check out the selection at Lowe's, and even with Tim Allen on my shoulder, there is no getting around the fact the the Husqvarna 455 Rancher is one heavy pig of a saw!
So, I hit the internet and start researching saws. Which brings me to the ArboristSite. I search and research all the cussin' and discussin', and realize two things, one of which I already knew: Stick with Stihl (the known) or Husqvarna (new information.) This leads to weeks of reading the forum, watching youtube videos, studying spec sheets and more. I visit the local Stihl and Husky dealers, and hold each of the various contender models and come home with old-skool catalogs (they still print these archaic things??) As I figured, both the MS290 and 455 are heavy, under-performing pigs. Certainly can't have those in my garage! So what does that leave me with? Professional saws from Husky and Stihl, with a brief side trip to consider the Echo line a top contender. I was dead-set on an Echo CS-600P for about a week, thinking the 60cc saw vs. the 50cc Husky/Stihl pro saw pricing was a better deal.
So what did I buy that I really have no need for? A Husqvarna 346XP with a 20" bar of course! The Stihl MS261 was a contender, but the 346XP just felt better in my (very incapable) hands, and it was slightly cheaper. I did somehow manage to tame my aspirations and delusions of grandeur to avoid buying the MS362 or even the 562XP. Talk about REALLY getting stupid.....:hmm3grin2orange: Honestly, I have not watched that many episodes of Ax Men!
So while I have given the faithful and well-versed here plenty of ammunition for a good roasting, how about I add to the fire? I didn't buy the 346XP, I bought the E-Tech TrioBrake model!!!! Scollins you monumental idiot! Don't you know that model has a catalytic converter and that stupid 3rd chain brake option! It is heavier, and with less power, than the standard model. Wow, you really are a stupid n00b!! And didn't you say you were a conservative? Why are you buying the more "idiot proof eco-model" then smartguy? You are a hippy suburbanite with no real business owning a chainsaw! How are you going to mod this saw genius? Ever heard of woodsporting? You have? Then why did you buy the E-Tech version???!!!? Top it off with that stupid TrioBrake, and you must be the "better idiot" I've read about! At least tell me you got a stupid-good deal on the saw?
Nope, not really. The dealer did take some money off to get this POS off their shelves, but I really could have bought the 346XP standard model with 20" chain for about $18 cheaper from a nearby dealer. But frankly, the indy shop I bought at was very friendly and much closer, so when my saw inevitably needs service, I'll be squared away. And given my inexperience with chainsaws, and the very convincing video of the Triobrake in action by a world-class sawyer, the extra brake is likely to come in handy sooner rather than later.
So, if you have somehow managed to read through all this crap, I applaud you! It took me an entire bottle of Cabernet to finish this (didn't you say you worked for a brewery???), so I imagine reading it was even more painful. I would like to say that I did buy some PPE, specifically the Husky Pro Forest Helmet and chaps, as well as their carrying/storage case. I did run the saw through some random lumber I had laying around, and was very impressed with this saw. Our HOA does have about 5 acres of green space to maintain, and we have paid about $200 per incident in the past to have a single log bucked that was blocking a trail or sidewalk. So I imagine I will get some actual use out of this saw, but at this exact moment in time, I'm just a dumbass who bought "way above his paygrade!"
Thanks for reading, and I look forward to the coming roast! :greenchainsaw:
Scott
Background: Just turned 40 years old, married and 2 daughters and live in Renton WA (the great NorthWet!) Our house is a good size, but with ZERO trees that would really require a chainsaw, and ZERO wood burning appliances (i.e. no need for firewood.) I'm big into firearms, beer (work for a brewery), motorcycles and photography. I'm a conservative, but am forced to vote Republican in most cases as the "close enough for government work" option. I have a keen inability to buy cheap gear apparently, based on my purchasing habits. A Nikon D3000 is not nearly good enough, I need the D3. Crappy lenses are not OK, f2.8 constant aperture zooms only. My motorcycle is a Ducati 1098S, the Suzuki Gladius I had just wasn't "it".....
I don't bring these things up to brag, but to highlight a character flaw as I call it. When I decide it is time to get into a product, I have delusions of grandeur and don't want to mess with "consumer" or even "pro-sumer" level stuff. I want to jump into the "professional" level, even if I really have no right to be there. Thus my desire to purchase a chainsaw, one which sits in the "professional" level, at least at the entry-level of "professional." Frankly, it is damn near an OCD problem, and I probably require treatment!:help:
Wait a minute scollins, didn't you just say you really don't have any sort of NEED for a chainsaw, much less a professional grade one? Yep, that is true. In this past winter, we "might" have lost a 15' tall maple to an ice storm. I think most would call this a "sapling" frankly, easily handled by a handsaw, or a sawzall (of which I have both.) But it struck me that being a man, having and knowing how to use a chainsaw is almost a paramount requirement for the "man-card."
Certain events in my life have driven me to re-evaluate a few things, and that brought into sharp focus a few things, even if they seem monumentally stupid (as my wife would classify this latest foray.) I lost my father in late 2010 at the too-young age of 64. I've got a lot of things on my bucket list, and you never know when your card is going to be punched. So, don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today! So when the wife says, with regards to this puny 15' tall maple, "we might have to chainsaw it up", I realize that I don't have a chainsaw! How can I possibly let this failure as a man and a husband go uncorrected? My wife expects this tree to be "chainsaw'd", and I have no chainsaw! Oh the horror! :msp_ohmy:
So, based on my actual needs, I either don't need a chainsaw at all, or the cheapest gas version at Lowe's is going to be way more than enough saw to meet my meager needs. Hell, I've got extension cords long enough, even an electric chainsaw is likely more than my needs! This little tree is certainly easily handled by my current crop of tools, but this seems to be the opening to add to the tool collection. I could certainly meet my needs too by renting from the local shop less than 3 miles away (Stihl's with 16" bars.) But remember that character flaw though? Yeah, it likes to rear its head all the time. I check out the selection at Lowe's, and even with Tim Allen on my shoulder, there is no getting around the fact the the Husqvarna 455 Rancher is one heavy pig of a saw!
So, I hit the internet and start researching saws. Which brings me to the ArboristSite. I search and research all the cussin' and discussin', and realize two things, one of which I already knew: Stick with Stihl (the known) or Husqvarna (new information.) This leads to weeks of reading the forum, watching youtube videos, studying spec sheets and more. I visit the local Stihl and Husky dealers, and hold each of the various contender models and come home with old-skool catalogs (they still print these archaic things??) As I figured, both the MS290 and 455 are heavy, under-performing pigs. Certainly can't have those in my garage! So what does that leave me with? Professional saws from Husky and Stihl, with a brief side trip to consider the Echo line a top contender. I was dead-set on an Echo CS-600P for about a week, thinking the 60cc saw vs. the 50cc Husky/Stihl pro saw pricing was a better deal.
So what did I buy that I really have no need for? A Husqvarna 346XP with a 20" bar of course! The Stihl MS261 was a contender, but the 346XP just felt better in my (very incapable) hands, and it was slightly cheaper. I did somehow manage to tame my aspirations and delusions of grandeur to avoid buying the MS362 or even the 562XP. Talk about REALLY getting stupid.....:hmm3grin2orange: Honestly, I have not watched that many episodes of Ax Men!
So while I have given the faithful and well-versed here plenty of ammunition for a good roasting, how about I add to the fire? I didn't buy the 346XP, I bought the E-Tech TrioBrake model!!!! Scollins you monumental idiot! Don't you know that model has a catalytic converter and that stupid 3rd chain brake option! It is heavier, and with less power, than the standard model. Wow, you really are a stupid n00b!! And didn't you say you were a conservative? Why are you buying the more "idiot proof eco-model" then smartguy? You are a hippy suburbanite with no real business owning a chainsaw! How are you going to mod this saw genius? Ever heard of woodsporting? You have? Then why did you buy the E-Tech version???!!!? Top it off with that stupid TrioBrake, and you must be the "better idiot" I've read about! At least tell me you got a stupid-good deal on the saw?
Nope, not really. The dealer did take some money off to get this POS off their shelves, but I really could have bought the 346XP standard model with 20" chain for about $18 cheaper from a nearby dealer. But frankly, the indy shop I bought at was very friendly and much closer, so when my saw inevitably needs service, I'll be squared away. And given my inexperience with chainsaws, and the very convincing video of the Triobrake in action by a world-class sawyer, the extra brake is likely to come in handy sooner rather than later.
So, if you have somehow managed to read through all this crap, I applaud you! It took me an entire bottle of Cabernet to finish this (didn't you say you worked for a brewery???), so I imagine reading it was even more painful. I would like to say that I did buy some PPE, specifically the Husky Pro Forest Helmet and chaps, as well as their carrying/storage case. I did run the saw through some random lumber I had laying around, and was very impressed with this saw. Our HOA does have about 5 acres of green space to maintain, and we have paid about $200 per incident in the past to have a single log bucked that was blocking a trail or sidewalk. So I imagine I will get some actual use out of this saw, but at this exact moment in time, I'm just a dumbass who bought "way above his paygrade!"
Thanks for reading, and I look forward to the coming roast! :greenchainsaw:
Scott
