what exactly is the difference between pro saws and homeowner saws?

[SawTroll]

Niko...Just to clarify my previous comment. I'm not talking about displacement determining whether it's pro or homeowner, cause that's obvioulsy way to generalized. I was referring to the chain that comes on a saw. Our stihl distributor determines safety or non safety chain on the saws we order from them on displacement alone. All saws we order that are above 62CC get non safety chain and all saws under that get safety chain regardless of any request we make or pro/homeowner model. I have no say so in the type of chain a Stihl comes with when shipped to us. So even though a 361 is pro grade it always comes with the 33RSC3 safety chain and a 390(which we rarely order) always get shipped with 33RSC non safety even though it's not a pro saw.

I know how it is in the US, here the 361 and larger pro saws come with 36RSC, and all others (including 390) come with 25RMC, except the really small ones (63PM).

We never had the RM2 and PM1 (the really bad ones) here, and we don't have the RSC3 or PMC3 either.....

 

[Eccentric]

To be sure, homeowner vs. pro seems to be an "I know it when I see it" phenomenon. I will say that there are a few clear signs, though. The saws in which the cylinder forms the top of the crankcase are always (big word) homeowner saws. The examples I'll give are the Stihl 025, 029, 031, Husqvarna 141. These were all homeowner saws in an otherwise pro lineup and all have the crankcases that split horizontally.

There are still clearly some homeowner saws in which the case splits vertically, though. Those are harder to parse out.

You're thinkin' MS310. That's the saw that fits in the 029/290/310/039/390 family. The 031 was a fantastic saw made in the 70s and most definately has a verticaly split mag crankcase and a seperate bolt on cylinder. It has no relation whatsoever to the 029-390 family. Stihl just used the '31' in the 'MS310' name to capitolize on the lasting reputation of the 031.

Your definition is a good one for current production saws. However, there certainly have been profesional quality/application saws that had the cylinder/crankcase cofiguration you classify as being purely homeowner. A shining example is the old profesional Mccullochs such as the 1-42, 1-50, 250, etc. They have the engine configuration you describe, with fuel and oil tanks bolted onto them. Of course they're just about 100% mag with the exception of the fuel/oil caps!

 

[rb_in_va]

Pro saws are "warm orange" color.

Like this...

 

[DGG]

I think pro saws have more HP and/or can power longer bars/chains than homeowner saws. They are made to get the work done faster because for the pros, "time is money". Accordingly, they cost more.

http://store.baileys-online.com/cgi-bin/baileys/1024

 

[rb_in_va]

I think pro saws have more HP and/or can power longer bars/chains than homeowner saws. They are made to get the work done faster because for the pros, "time is money". Accordingly, they cost more.

http://store.baileys-online.com/cgi-bin/baileys/1024

That may hold true for some, but there are pro saws that have less HP than some homeowner models. I think the question is really hard to qualify with any one criteria due to the wide variety of saw makes and models out there.

 

[SawTroll]

Pro saws are "warm orange" color.

Like this...

That is Witchys 5100SH, it is set on 14200rpm for run-in......

Very easy to start, even without a deco valve.....

 

[grandpatractor]

That is Witchys 5100SH, it is set on 14200rpm for run-in......

Very easy to start, even without a deco valve.....

Yes Troll,
after starting my 2171 and 7900, the decomp is not needed on the 5100.
Have you had a chance to take her to the cabin yet?

 

[Wood Hick]

My advice would be to buy the best saw you can afford. If you can swing the $ for the 361, buy it. Thats not knocking the 280, but you can do more with a 361, and you will never lose money on it. Even if you don't use it much, if you take good care of it you will get almost all your money back at resale. In fact, there are idiots on E-Bay who consistently pay more for used saws ( when you add in the shipping ) than they cost new!

 

[DGG]

That may hold true for some, but there are pro saws that have less HP than some homeowner models. I think the question is really hard to qualify with any one criteria due to the wide variety of saw makes and models out there.

There are exceptions to everything. But I think the "big boys" tend to use what "takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'". I think even the smaller pro saws have greater HP for the same displacement than the homeowners saw. Anyone know if this is generally true or not?

 

[Cam501]

I know how it is in the US, here the 361 and larger pro saws come with 36RSC, and all others (including 390) come with 25RMC, except the really small ones (63PM).

We never had the RM2 and PM1 (the really bad ones) here, and we don't have the RSC3 or PMC3 either.....

25RMC isn't even available to me, and 36RSC is rarely asked for and pretty much always on backorder.