thejdman04
Addicted to ArboristSite
I would try to save around 400 if you can, buy a 455 rancher, for what your use is a 455 should serve you well.
For around 200 u can possibly get a used makita 6401 from HD rental when they sell them off.
Rented saws, are like rented cars, or rented women- Abused
Rented saws, are like rented cars, or rented women- Abused
I shouldn't even say this but... what about the craftsman saws ??? also 16" r 18" bar ?
The current crop of Craftsman, McCulloch, Poulan, Homelite, and the other stuff sold at big box retailers is a great way to throw your money away. Seriously. Sure, occasionally one gets put together right and ends up in the hands of someone capable of taking care of it exactly the way it wants to be taken care of, and then the saw lasts for years. But that's the exception and not the rule.
Find a good used saw and you'll be way ahead. Aim for something in the 50-60cc range with a 16" bar for the sort of use you describe, and you'll be more than adequately equipped for firewood duty!
PS-the HD Rental saws are a crapshoot. Most are A-OK, some are FUBAR. The clerks there have no clue which category a particular saw will fall in, and neither will you until you buy it, take it home, and take it apart. I think that the odds are in your favor, based upon the saws I've bought and sold/given to friends that had been HD rentals in the past, but be realistic about the risks when you buy an ex-rental saw...
Actually, HD takes very good care of their chainsaws. I believe they send them into the field with a fresh chain, bar oil and fuel. When they return, they are cleaned, a fresh chain is put on and the saw is stored dry until rented again. If you buy a rental, HD can tell you how many times it was rented out. The Makita 6401 is built like a tank. I purchased a rental from HD and it is still going strong and I abuse the snot of the thing. It is the goto saw for roots, asphalt roofs, demolition, railroad ties and telephone poles. It is also the only chainsaw I will loan out. Great tool for and I paid $225 for it. I would buy another one without any reservations.
I shouldn't even say this but... what about the craftsman saws ??? also 16" r 18" bar ?
Cheap chainsaws are also treated like cheap women. Most of the time they are beat up by stupid men who don't give a hoot about them and they don't last long.Rented saws, are like rented cars, or rented women- Abused
I cut up around 4 full cords a year or so. I like the old McCullochs. I have a PM10-10 and two PM610 saws. Garage sale or Craigslist, $50 and under each. Can always get my wood cut; at least one always starts. If you go this route be prepared to rebuilt a carb or two 'cause the old saws you find have generally been sitting for awhile, often with old mix still in them.
This goes for anything you buy used, at least I know these saws get serviced regularly. We rent them every once in a while at work and treat them as our own, they are always in great condition.I wasn't so much thinking about how HD treats them, It's the fact that you don't know what the customers do when they walk out the door. Poor quality gas/oil, straight gas, etc.
From what I have seen people treat rented stuff poorly, and I would be afraid of who may have rented it and what they did.
PS. One thing I forgot to mention was that the John Deere Dealers are currently switching over from Efco to Stihl for their small engine powered equipment. Im sure there are some deals to be had on the remaining inventory.
I shouldn't even say this but... what about the craftsman saws ??? also 16" r 18" bar ?
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