Saw Recommendations

[EWeeZee]

I need a saw in the 50cc/18" bar neighborhood for cutting firewood, maybe 10-15 cords a year. With longevity and reliability being most important, what's the best bang for your buck these days? With all of the re-branding from one manufacturer to some other manufacturer's name and sourcing from China, I don't know what's what anymore.

 

[stihlaficionado]

Hooskie 550 xp, Stihl 261, Echo 490/590(less expensive & have proven themselves to be good firewood saws)

 

[ammoaddict]

That's exactly what I was going to say.. The Husqvarna is the best. The Stihl is a little over price. The echo is the best bang for your buck, especially with a muffler mod and re tune.

Hooskie 550 xp, Stihl 261, Echo 490/590(less expensive & have proven themselves to be good firewood saws)

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[KenJax Tree]

Here the 550xp with an 18” bar MSRP $599. The MS 261 with 18” bar MSRP is $569

The 550 is best how? I have both saws and prefer the 550 limbing because its more nimble and revs quicker. The 261 has more torque for bucking. Both are great saws

 

[stihlaficionado]

Welcome to AS

 

[Ozhoo]

The 550 is best how?

A better oiler

 

[EWeeZee]

That's exactly what I was going to say.. The Husqvarna is the best. The Stihl is a little over price. The echo is the best bang for your buck, especially with a muffler mod and re tune.

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What do you do as a muffler mod, just enlarge the ports?

 

[redunshee]

The Echo 501P is supposed to be a real good saw.

 

[EWeeZee]

The Echo 501P is supposed to be a real good saw.

Any idea what the differences are between a 501P and a 490? I contacted Echo and asked them about this a while back and they never responded.

 

[Deleted member 149229]

For the money, the Echo 490, 590 are your Best Buy’s, especially if you can find a dealer having the Echo sale, you get an extra 20% off. I have both and am very happy with them. They don’t have all the features of the professional grade saws but they save you money, start and cut.

 

[Deleted member 149229]

What do you do as a muffler mod, just enlarge the ports?

Try to remove as much of the cat as possible and open the exhaust port on the muffler plus open the exhaust deflector. You’ll need to retune the carb after the muffler mod. It ain’t hard if I can do it. The muffler mod on the 490 is super simple. Guys on here can help you plus YouTube vids.

 

[ammoaddict]

Here the 550xp with an 18” bar MSRP $599. The MS 261 with 18” bar MSRP is $569

The 550 is best how? I have both saws and prefer the 550 limbing because its more nimble and revs quicker. The 261 has more torque for bucking. Both are great saws

I don't own either one, but I looked at them both. The 550 just felt better to me and was cheaper than the Stihl when I looked at them. I ended up buying a Dolmar 6100 for 580 out the door.

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[ammoaddict]

And they are mag case saws. You can find them online cheaper.

For the money, the Echo 490, 590 are your Best Buy’s, especially if you can find a dealer having the Echo sale, you get an extra 20% off. I have both and am very happy with them. They don’t have all the features of the professional grade saws but they save you money, start and cut.

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[ammoaddict]

What do you do as a muffler mod, just enlarge the ports?

Exactly what Dahmer said. I have the echo 352, the muffler got very hot until I took the cat out. I just took the muffler off and the cat was visible from the back. I took a drill and drilled several holes in it and peeled it out in pieces. Just don't drill to deep. There are some videos online showing it done. Mine had plastic limiters on the carb that I had to remove so I could richen it up. It runs great and don't get nearly as hot now. It does take a minute to warm up though.

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[EWeeZee]

I don't own either one, but I looked at them both. The 550 just felt better to me and was cheaper than the Stihl when I looked at them. I ended up buying a Dolmar 6100 for 580 out the door.

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I talked to my local dealer about a Dolmar, the only thing he had left that was Dolmar labeled was a 5105. He told me everything else was being relabeled Makita and that the 420 and 421 were now the Makita 4300.

 

[ammoaddict]

I talked to my local dealer about a Dolmar, the only thing he had left that was Dolmar labeled was a 5105. He told me everything else was being relabeled Makita and that the 420 and 421 were now the Makita 4300.

Yes, they are getting hard to find. I wanted the 5105, all he had left was the 6100 and a 7910 and some smaller saws.

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[Deleted member 149229]

I talked to my local dealer about a Dolmar, the only thing he had left that was Dolmar labeled was a 5105. He told me everything else was being relabeled Makita and that the 420 and 421 were now the Makita 4300.

I had a Maruyama MCV51, rebranded 5105, and a 6100. To me me the 6100 was a better saw, better handling. I don’t miss the 5105 but kinda regret getting rid of the 6100, although I kept the Echo 590’s because I did prefer them over the 6100. Just my preference.

 

[ammoaddict]

I had a Maruyama MCV51, rebranded 5105, and a 6100. To me me the 6100 was a better saw, better handling. I don’t miss the 5105 but kinda regret getting rid of the 6100, although I kept the Echo 590’s because I did prefer them over the 6100. Just my preference.

I like the 6100. It really cuts well and the easy start is sweet as long as you don't drop start it.

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[Deleted member 149229]

I like the 6100. It really cuts well and the easy start is sweet as long as you don't drop start it.

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lol. The easy start was my biggest gripe on the MCV51. The 6100 didn’t have it. Could not get used to that easy start, just too old I guess to change.

 

[ammoaddict]

lol. The easy start was my biggest gripe on the MCV51. The 6100 didn’t have it. Could not get used to that easy start, just too old I guess to change.

Mine has it, but I had always drop started saws before. It doesn't work very well for my 6100. You have to sit it on the ground or hold it between your legs and just pull it slow and easy and it fires right up. There are vids on YouTube of little girls cranking them.

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