What is junk and what isnt in chainsaws?

[4pwr]

I am 64 and not in the best of health. I will be cutting approx 6 face cords of wood a year. I will be using it around a dozen times a year for about an hour at a time then resting. Do I really need a Stihl or Husky ? Is there a nice Homelite to meet my needs. 36 ccs, 16 inch bar, good starting,anti vibration,auto oiler. Stihl 026 is $400 . What seems like nice Homelites are $175 to $225. I have browsed the boards and every brand I look at,some people say are junk,some people say great. I am getting frustraded and confused. I aint doing this for a living. I just want a nice saw at a decent price. Heck I will spend the bucks for top of the line if you guys say I hve to. Im not that cheap.

 

[fwf]

At age 64, I assume you have heard that you get what you pay for.

It's true!

Joe

 

[BostonBull]

I would suggest a used Stihl or Husky. UNLESS you are only planning on keeping the saw for a year and then buying a new one. If you want to spend more than 250 amd have a saw that will last than buyt a new warrantied Stihl or Husky!

 

[Al Smith]

What the heck,6 face cords,ala 2 cords,and a little trim around the yard.The cheapie would work fine.For that matter,the cheapie Poulans,sold by Sears,and others,would work a ok,for that.Opps,I'd better take cover,here comes the rotten eggs and tomatoes. You see,4pwr,I'm just a lowely McCulloch collector,caught in the midst of the Stihl crowd,on one side,and the Husky bunch on the other.There are,you see ,a few week end warriors that are ever so proud of their $1000 Stihl 660's and rightfully so,but It's not mandatory to have such a fine machine for a job you described.

 

[Gumneck]

4Pwr,

My experience with saws suggest you would probably do well with a saw in the 50-55 CC rather than 36 as opposed to worrying about the make of saw. It wont' be that much heavier and will get more work done for you in your hour. It will pull itself thru the wood nicely rather than you having to push it thru. I've had a Poulan 3300(54CC) for 12+ years with narry a problem. Granted I'm not really fond of the newer cheaper saws on the market today, but you would probably be fine with a homelite or Poulan Pro.

 

[2Coilinveins]

4pwr-

I'll go with Al Smith on this one, a Poulan/Craftsman would do you just fine. I bought a 42cc/18" one at a Sears service center(not an actual store) NIB for $50 and have worn out two bars and about ten chains on it already. Still going strong. If you get one, pull the limiter caps off the carb and retune by ear and the 4 stroking method. A tech at the service center suggested that (hypothetically, ahem) the saws might be tuned lean from the factory both for emissions and to burn up on purpose at a preset time, if the average homeowner hadn't killed it already. They're actually pretty decent saws, very light weight and the antivibe is excellent. Pro saws they are not, but also not nearly as junky as some of the members here make them out to be; as long as the normal homeowner mistakes are avoided.

 

[rivahrat]

had a poulan pro. was a good saw for what you will use it for. notice i said had. i never had any problems with is untill i made the mistake and loaned it out. it came back flat. the guy using it cut the notch too deep and the tree dropped backwards. ON THE SAW.

 

[4pwr]

Well heck. I know you get what you pay for. I shoot Rem 700s. Not the most exspensive,not the best,work just fine. I dont shoot $30 a box bullets, I shoot Rem corlokts,work just fine. I dont buy BMWs I buy Chevys. Work just fine. I dont buy $1100 binoculars. I buy $300 binocs. They work just fine. I m just starting to think this chain saw thing is a peeing contest but dont know enough about it .

 

[thompson1600]

I'd look at a Stihl MS250 or MS270. I bought my dad an MS270 (he's 74). He really likes that saw. I actually bought it for myself and once he tried it I haven't been able to get it back. Both are less than an MS260, but still good solid saws. Also the MS250, I think, just came out with an easy start version, really cool thing, you hardly have to pull to get it started.

Tom

 

[SawTroll]

......the MS250, I think, just came out with an easy start version, really cool thing, you hardly have to pull to get it started.Tom

The easy start feature is hardly worth the weight penalty of .3 kg!
I suggest that you stay away from any Stihl chainsaw with a "C" in the model designation.
The "C" should read "PITA", as the features it describes are solutions to non-existent problems, and potential trouble-makers.

See this tread.........http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=19841&highlight=qct+qss
.....and this one: http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=21488

If the 250 0r 270 isn't availiable without the "C", I would suggest that you take a look at the Husky 350 or 353, or Jonsered 2150 or 2152.

 

[Chris J.]

Last week there was a full page ad

in the Houston Chronicle advertising a Stihl MS 170 w/ 14" bar for $159.99. I don't know if this sale would apply to your area, or if the price is still good.

Maybe a Poulan Pro 295, reconditioned ones on the net for $119.00 + shipping. Perhaps the Sears equivalent with a few "extras" thrown in.

BTW I also like my Remington rifles.

 

[fwf]

...I m just starting to think this chain saw thing is a peeing contest but dont know enough about it .

I think you're just stirring the pot.

 

[tony marks]

if you are 64 you need a saw that is not going to make you spend as much time working on the saw as u do on the wood.. besides if you go ahead and buy a quality saw you will know the difference..just my personal opinion is, the cheapies you mentioned will just be worrysome.. get a saw thats as dependable as you are..
my ladies son had an cheap craftsman.. it hurt me to hear it run .. with the epa restrictions an such the thing sounded like a saw trying to run.. i gave him an old partner 400 i had.. hes one happy camper.. if you are still fairly strong ,id recommend an 028,029,55rancher or the like.. oleomak deere also sell these italian saws that are good. theres many others.. but id suggest going quality in new or used..i agree that you need at least an 50cc class saw.. just works you less. then theres alway a good used pro saw ..026 346, and the like. they can behad fairly reasonable..in your position id look for an good used 028..
then u saw worries are over ,assuming you do get one with some life left in it.jmo.. u mite read all u can here on how to put a cut setup on that maks the work easier.. thats almost as important as the brand of saw.. user knowledge of equipment is real important..
as to the cheapies ,if u never had t bone stake ,peanut butter taste just fine

 

[WRW]

64 and not in good health? I'd go with a 45cc saw...they generally weigh around 10 lbs. and have around 3 hp. Smaller saws still weigh around 10 lbs. and don't have near the hp.
No matter what saw you buy, with that little usage, be very particular about storage. Make sure that each time it is put away that the fuel tank is empty and the fuel has been run out of the carb. Always use fresh fuel mix...I have mixed a quart at a time when not expecting to use a full gallon.
Stihl and Husky do have consumer line saws in the 45cc range that are competitive in price with the craftsman, plus the advantage of dealer support should something beyond your means need fixing. Echo has some good saws as well. There are some Homelite dealers around here. For what you describe, any saw with dealer support should fit your bill. Pick a dealer that you can trust.

People here advise you based on their personal experience. You can call that a peeing contest if you want, but I would prefer to think they are just trying to be helpful.

 

[4pwr]

first, thank you every one who responded. Very helpful and honest. Im sorry I didnt use a better choice of words. Found out some things I didnt know. For example,I was thinking of about a 30 to 35 cc saw because of weight. Never gave a thought that larger would weigh a little more but cutting woulld be easier. The reason I mentione Homelite is I seem to remember when they were well thought of. I guess sometimes it aint easy for me to realize things change. Didnt mean to sound confortational Please keep responding all input is read and appreciated.

 

[bvaught]

Most of the "cheap saws" mentioned here are made in China or somewhere else in third world southeast asia. Personally I dont support these products if I can help it. I think it is in your best interest to buy a husky or stihl "homeowner use" saw that offers good dealer support in your area. Likely this will prove to be the cheapest saw over the long term when initial costs, maintenance costs, and headaches are added up.

 

[mktest]

first, thank you every one who responded. Very helpful and honest. Im sorry I didnt use a better choice of words. Found out some things I didnt know. For example,I was thinking of about a 30 to 35 cc saw because of weight. Never gave a thought that larger would weigh a little more but cutting woulld be easier.

A neighbour of mine (in his late 70s) bought a 2145 Jonsered. This is the same saw as Husqvarna 345 I think. 45cc, 3hp, and very low vibration. Cheaper saws often vibrate a lot more, and that makes hands and arms tired quicker. The 345 is a "near pro" saw, Husqvarnas in the 1xx range vibrate more, have less power, and weigh about the same.

My neighbour is very happy with his saw, it cuts quick and is easy to handle. The low vibration also adds to extra safety I reckon, as tired hands are more likely to make mistakes.

http://www.usa.husqvarna.com/node1519.asp?cid=51

On this page I'd stay away from 1xx, but any 34x would be fine. If you have any dealer nearby. Service is imporant, all saws might fail.

Saws are really expensive in Sweden (a Husky 353 costs about $800, this is the cheapest "pro" Husqvarna saw here), but even here I'd recommend Stihl or Husqvarna over cheaper saws. Not because I dislike cheap saws, or want to be a "snob", but I don't want to recommend something I'm not sure will be satisfying. And Stihl/Husqvarna will.

(Edited : I'm not saying the 1xx Huskys are crap, just that they vibrate more, and low vibration was a key issue for my neighbour who had earlier used older "monster saws" )

 

[Blowdown1]

mktest is onto what I was thinking. Vibration is a killer. I don't know what the anti-vibe is like on the Poulan/Craftsmans, but the Wild Thing I borrowed for awhile was junk. Not very light, left your hands buzzing from the vibe, carb always vibrating out of adjustment making it hard to start and it wouldn't idle (it'd die).

Find a good used saw or just pony up for a decent new saw (nothing too fancy). What about an Echo? They are always on the light side, how is their anti-vibe guys?

There was a smaller one at a shop that was only $125. New, just a few years old that they wanted to get rid of. I still regret not getting that thing. Check w/ some local shops to see if they have a good used or discontinued model at a good price. Sounds like weight and anti-vibe are your biggest issues to look for.

 

[Vernon Tull]

4PWR -- I'm certainly no chainsaw expert, but I too thought of Homelite as a major, sturdy, reliable brand, but I was basing that idea on my old Homelite XL-12 from the late 60s or early 70s. In those days, Homelite was a real company and made saws in the US. Now, someone (unknown to me) has purchased both the Homelite and, I think, the McCollouch name and is producing cheap, flimsy saws that offer a lot of trouble. These new saws are even painted to resemble the older saws that you might remember from a couple of decades ago, but the quality is just not there.

I've used both the Stihl MS210 and the MS250 for general around-the-house and light duty work. Both are easy to start even without the "Easy Start" feature, and both are dependable. The 210 is a 35cc saw, so it's a little underpowered for most firewood cutting. There is a specific sequence in the switch position to getting a Stihl to start easily, so if you go that route, get the dealer to demonstrate that to you. One of my local Stihl dealers is always so busy that he will get an associate to make the sale, do the paperwork, and get you out the door with NO assistance or help or product demonstration. Another Stihl dealer nearby helpfully shows you how to work every feature of a new saw before you leave his store which is helpful to those of us who are not pros.

 

[Cut4fun]

My 2 CHEAP saws are made in the U.S.A. and are 11 years old and 5 years old. I paid less then a 1/3 of what they want for a stihl, dolmar, husky,efco, etc. I am just a homeowner that cuts about the same as you on 20 acres. Just like all brands there is junk makes in all of them. I just love saving cash. Good luck on your choice.