What saw is right for me?

[heath86]

After looking at ebay and looking up some Husqvarna, I am considering getting a Husqvarna on ebay (new from a power seller, some even with warranty from Husqvarna) vs Stihl at my local dealer, the question is with what I have described I'll be doing with it, would I be better off going with a Husqvarna 142, it is 40cc and looking at the book I got from my Stihl dealer CC wise the Husqvarna 142 would be compared with the MS230, the 142 on ebay has a buy it now price of $185 and to me that would be a really nice price. On the otherhand, theres some Husqvarna 350's for under $300 and they are new as well, which they are 52CC so compareable to the Stihl MS270/MS280. Also a Husqvarna 345 with is compared to I guess the Stihl 250 since they are 45CC, would I be better off to go through my local saw shop spending a noteable difference to be able to get parts and etc fast or just go through ebay and get a really nice deal and get more bang for my buck. Also I dont think I'd have to take my saw to local saw shop to get repairs done as my dad and myself could manage to do it.

 

[Indiana John]

I always prefer to have a local dealer and to patronize them if at all possible. If you need warranty work, you just take it back to the dealer. Also if you need parts in a hurry, it's easier to just walk into the dealer. And if you have a local dealer, then buy the saw somewhere else and need warranty work, it's not fair to that dealer to expect them to happily service a saw you bought elsewhere.

 

[sachsmo]

Heath,

Somerset eh, Spent a week down there on the Cumberland a few years back, nice country! You are a lucky man, you will also find alot of help here to spend your money! Do your homework search for the models in your range and make the call. You will find no shortage of advice here. Heck I'll give ya mine, google up Dolmar USA and find a dealer I see there are about 8 within 60mi. of Somerset. Call some of them up and see if they will let you demo a 5100s. IMHO best saw on the market under $400.00,
and if I could only have one saw this would be it.
Mo out!
Oh yeah, Welcome!

 

[heath86]

Nice Mo, the drive to my local saw shop is the same to Burnside Island/Marina, after going and looking around the land that I'll be clearing to start building I am probably going to be keeping most of the bigger tree's for shade and etc, and wood is gonna be oak/cedar/hickory and probably some other types I am sure, also I will not be clearing the whole acre, if I had to guess the largest tree's I will be cutting shouldn't top but maybe 16", and also looking up some more on google and etc, http://www.husqvarna-chainsaw.com/ I see that for $199.99 I can get a 142 E-Series and get a free chain/safety glasses/2 cycle oil, shipping free and total its like $203 with the 2 year warranty. Then the 345 E-Series is 264.99, which for only ~$65 I'll have 5CC/.4HP more with little more fuel/oil capacity, and with the 345 it has a Decompression valve to make starting easier (I am 20 so I don't really think it's going to make a difference to me)

So I believe I may go with a Husqvarna over a Stihl, just because I can get more power for less with Husqvarna, even though I won't be going through a dealer, I like to take care of my property so hopefully it wouldn't mess up much/bad enough that it wouldn't be something myself or dad could do ourselves.

So between the 2 saw's for what I need to do with it, should I be fine with the 142 or would the added power on the 345 be the way to go?

 

[bytehoven]

The 345 will be a little smoother in your hands due to a little better anti-vibration setup. You could also run an 18" bar when needed. The 345 also gets more done at a slightly lower RPM of 12500 versus 13000, so the engine would be running a little easier.

Don't discount the decompression value.

If you have definitely narrowed it down to a choice between these two saws, the 345 would be my choice.

 

[heath86]

Ok, atm I am leaning towards the 345 now, paying about $35 more then what I would a Stihl MS210 and getting alot more power, has anyone had any experience with ordering from http://www.husqvarna-chainsaw.com/ ?

 

[sachsmo]

Heath,

Saws are very personal things and you are going to be the one to live with it. By all means if you go the net route make sure to keep the receipt. And from what I've heard here, if your choice ends up being a Husky and ya need warranty work you may still be in for alot of grief, even with the receipt. Hell it's rough starting out perhaps save your jack and just invest in a few good chains for your Dads old Craftsman. might take ya longer but if you're just starting out every penny counts. Are you going to have a wood burner in your place? And do you have a place to cut firewood? All good questions to ask yourself, heck I've been cleaning up 15 wooded acres for the past 3 years with a $119 dollar Homelite. (thanks to this site I've aquired a Dolmar 5100s and a 359 Husky since Thanksgiving) and now think I need a 7900 Dolmar! Its your move

Mo out!

 

[heath86]

My dad is wanting me to get my own saw so I don't have to use his, and he's saying to just go to Lowe's and spend $150 and get a craftsman similiar to his, but I would rather put foreth a little extra cash to get a name that has a reputation for lasting a long time and worth the money spent, why I was looking at Stihl & Husqvarna. But with pricing and etc I believe I am narrowing it down between the Husqvarna 142 or 345, since I have about a month before I will make the purchase, I'll also probably go down to my local shops and see what I can get there while still keeping in the price range of what I can get the 142 or 345 for. Once again thanks everyone for all the help I've gotten.

 

[bytehoven]

You might consider buying from one of our sponsors who would stand behind the saw.

Follow this link to their Huskys.

http://www.amickssuperstore.com/category_s/34.htm

 

[zemmo]

My dad is wanting me to get my own saw so I don't have to use his, and he's saying to just go to Lowe's and spend $150 and get a craftsman similiar to his, but I would rather put foreth a little extra cash to get a name that has a reputation for lasting a long time and worth the money spent, why I was looking at Stihl & Husqvarna. But with pricing and etc I believe I am narrowing it down between the Husqvarna 142 or 345, since I have about a month before I will make the purchase, I'll also probably go down to my local shops and see what I can get there while still keeping in the price range of what I can get the 142 or 345 for. Once again thanks everyone for all the help I've gotten.

The thing is, cutting wood is FUN, and it's a lot more fun with a saw that you really like and is well designed. Personally, I don't know why you'd get any less than about a 50cc saw for the general purpose use you're describing. The Dolmar 5100 is a great saw, the 353 Husky is a very good saw (better than my 350 they say). And they're both light and powerful. See if you can't arrange to run a few of these saws and see how your hands like them.

 

[keith c raymond]

One of my best friends Bought a 142 Husky from Lowes and has run the h*&& out of it .He has had NO problems with hard and soft woods up to 12dbh.I would recommend it for you for sure with the cutting you say you will do.

 

[farmermike]

I think I'd go with a husky 350 for what your wanting to do. 329$ in the northern catalog. Buddy has one, not that much slower than my 346xp and a whole lot cheaper. Excellant saw for it's intended use.

 

[afntrn56]

After looking at ebay and looking up some Husqvarna, I am considering getting a Husqvarna on ebay (new from a power seller, some even with warranty from Husqvarna) vs Stihl at my local dealer, the question is with what I have described I'll be doing with it, would I be better off going with a Husqvarna 142, it is 40cc and looking at the book I got from my Stihl dealer CC wise the Husqvarna 142 would be compared with the MS230, the 142 on ebay has a buy it now price of $185 and to me that would be a really nice price. On the otherhand, theres some Husqvarna 350's for under $300 and they are new as well, which they are 52CC so compareable to the Stihl MS270/MS280. Also a Husqvarna 345 with is compared to I guess the Stihl 250 since they are 45CC, would I be better off to go through my local saw shop spending a noteable difference to be able to get parts and etc fast or just go through ebay and get a really nice deal and get more bang for my buck. Also I dont think I'd have to take my saw to local saw shop to get repairs done as my dad and myself could manage to do it.

check this site out if you are looking at the husky http://www.alamia.com/index.asp?PG=50&ID=124&EM=1

 

[Bowtie]

Stihl...Stihl...Stihl 026 Pro is a damn good saw for your situation. ( Any Stihl saw ) Just my opinion. bought mine used and been using it for years, and I use my saw almost every weekend, its my hobby.

 

[maccall]

My dad has a Craftsman saw with an 18" blade and he told me I should just go to Lowe's and pickone up and pay ~$150, but I would going with the best, and having something made with quality that is going to last me a long time. -Brandon

But with pricing and etc I believe I am narrowing it down between the Husqvarna 142 or 345, since I have about a month before I will make the purchase, I'll also probably go down to my local shops and see what I can get there while still keeping in the price range of what I can get the 142 or 345 for. Once again thanks everyone for all the help I've gotten.

In your first post you said would like to go with quality, right? Well then, just as with Huskys twin, Jonsered, their two smallest models are not manufactured by their respective brand in the same way the rest of the line is. Instead they are bought in and re-branded (Jonsered) or "assembled at another factory" (Husky), and does not seem to meet the respective brands higher quality standards like on the rest of their products.

In short, if you're picking Husky for it's high quality, then 340 and up are the models you want to look at. If money spent on first purchase is your concern, then the 142 will do.

But for the 142 to be a good buy you would want to buy it from a local dealer, not from the net, cause the local dealer support on that model is it's only advantage over anything found in a box at your box-store of choice.

 

[SawTroll]

In your first post you said would like to go with quality, right? Well then, just as with Huskys twin, Jonsered, their two smallest models are not manufactured by their respective brand in the same way the rest of the line is. Instead they are bought in and re-branded (Jonsered) or "assembled at another factory" (Husky), and does not seem to meet the respective brands higher quality standards like on the rest of their products. ......

I believe these cheaoer saws all are assambled at the Poulan factory, from parts made various places.

They are not just rebadged Poulans, though.

 

[Indiana John]

Stihls aren't rebadged or made by anyone else! :hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange:

 

[Justsaws]

Stihls aren't rebadged or made by anyone else! :hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange:

While that might be true, the low end models share many Poulon-like design features. In the grand scheme of things everyone is building the cheap saws like a Partner 400. Until a person is willing to spend at least $400.00 on a new saw they are getting many variations on the same low end theme.

Personally, if you do not have much mechanical skills and experience with a saw you should buy one from the dealer with the best service and parts reputation around you, you will need it. Good luck.

 

[SawTroll]

While that might be true, the low end models share many Poulon-like design features. In the grand scheme of things everyone is building the cheap saws like a Partner 400. ......

Pretty close to the truth, I think - but I believe there are much worse saws out there, than the Partner 400 design......

 

[heath86]

I checked around and there are a few places that carry Husqvarna in my town, along with 1 Stihl dealer with 2 locations. After looking over what all the Husqvarna 142 has and then looking at the 345 I am definately going with the 345, myself have not ran a chainsaw a great deal so my experience isnt much (remember when I was like 12 I bought an Eager Beaver 2.0 for $20, cut some things down along with cleared brush for my grandpa and got $20 and then sold it for $20 lol) and my personal experience with repairing or working on a chainsaw is none, but my dad has used a chainsaw probably since he was a teen so he knows a bit on what to do. Im going to wait and see how much money I get back on my taxes before I make my purchase.

Another reason why I am thinking the 345 would be better then the 142 other then added features, in the next few months my dad and myself plan on getting our log mill up and running again (hasn't been started in a good 5 years, actually ran for close to 10) so I plan on using it for stuff there (they used alot of Poulan's not for sure what model or CC but pretty sure it was 40CC give or take a bit.