I am new on this site and own a 12 year old 029 - it runs well and is my first saw. I bought it when I moved from an apartment to a 27 acre property. When I lived on a farm with my parents we had a David Bradley gear drive saw and the 029 seemed like a light and nimble saw in comparison. When I was looking for a saw the two reliable hardware/mower stores carried Stihl. The not so reliable and well know stores carried homeowner grade Mac's and Poulan. Although I had heard of Husky saws - there were no dealers and I considered them to be expensive professional saws - which was something I didn't need. Knowing that I needed a saw just a few times a year the dealer did push the 029 Farm Boss and it seemed like a good deal for $ 299 - the next smaller saw was a little lighter, less powerful and not much cheaper. After spending everything I had buying the new land - a $ 300 saw purchase was a big deal and spending $ 500 on a bigger saw was never an option. I really can't complain about my choice and don't feel that I was taken advantage of as my saw is 12 years old and still runs and cuts great. It has never failed to start, cuts anything that I have ever needed to cut when given a little patience on the big stuff, and is so much lighter than the David Bradley that I grew up with. I am fighting the urge to buy a bigger saw - but I suddenly have about 100 trees to cut and stack as the power company just came and cleared an additonal 25 feet of trees on each side of their right of way. A bigger, faster and smoother saw would be nice - but I have no doubt that my 029 will be able to cut the wood eventually. If I make it through these trees without buying a new saw - the 029 may be the first and last saw I ever own! I am sure I would feel differently if I cut wood for a living and had a saw in my hands every day - but I have never regretted buying and owning this saw.
Dave
