What Chainsaw to buy?

[Antihero]

Neither, if hangs around here long, he'll go broke , but have a real nice stable of saws.

We're both musicians, believe me my friend that has already happened

 

[blackoak]

We're both musicians, believe me my friend that has already happened

What type of music do you create?? Think of chainsaws like guitars, you get what you pay for most of the time.

 

[extraspecialman]

Some of the Poulan Pro saws are pretty good saws for the money,but dont be fooled by the Pro part.Pro was a brand name that Poulan merged with.A 295 PP at one time was about $200,not sure what they cost now.But the 295 with a 16" bar is actually a dang good cuttin saw for the money.Not a Stihl or Husky by any means,but you can almost by 2 295s for what you would pay for 1 Stihl the same size.

 

[AngelofDarkness]

+1 on the PP295, the only decent Poulan left. Too bad they quit making the PP330, I really like mine and paid $210 out the door for it at TSC.

 

[clintb]

He could get a totally rebuilt 272 for about $275 or a rebuilt 372 for about $325 and be done cutting wood in 1/3 the tome, his time must be worth something.

 

[Antihero]

What type of music do you create?? Think of chainsaws like guitars, you get what you pay for most of the time.

Its rock music, and it's true about chainsaws, but electric guitars can be tweaked a lot easier than a chainsaw i believe. Its a very valid point though.

Ill look into the Poulan Pro's too. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Banshee]

I think it would be better to buy a good used Stihl, Husky, Dolmar, Echo, etc. than to buy a new Poulan or equal brand.
If I remember right I gave 175 dollars for my Husky 350 used. I brought it at a Stihl dealer. I talked them down 25 dollars.
When I was looking for saws I just went to all the local shops and found some really good deals. But you can save yourself some driving and just call them. Tell then you want a used firewood saw for 200 and you might be surprise at the deals you find.
I got my Stihl 066 for 300 with a new chain. He started it and showed me all about it before I left.

 

[OLY-JIM]

Any name-brand saw from a good, local OPE dealer that is capable of servicing the saw will be a good step up from what he has been running. Consider used, if you can get it from a shop that has either gone over the saw or has rebuilt it. You might be able to get away with a $200 budget on a used saw.

Look for a shop that does a lot of business with tree crews, municipalities, etc., rather than the mower shop that also happens to sell saws. The particular brand that the saw shop sells is far less important than the fact that you're buying from a good shop.

+1.

 

[Justsaws]

My father is looking for a chainsaw and since i know next to nothing about them i thought id ask you guys.

He basically uses it to cut up anywhere from 3-6 cords a year or even less if he decides to use energy logs or buys his wood. The trees he cuts up are usually under a foot in diameter and half the time are already down. He has been using a Poulan Wild Thing with a 40c engine and 18"bar and while it has worked ok for 2 years he is having problems getting the thing to start and keep running. Honestly i think he just wore it out.

So basically im looking for reccomendations on a cheaper saw thats around the same size as the Wild Thing that is fairly reliable. I know a good Stihl would be better but he doesnt want to spend that much.

What would you guys reccomend? He's looking at the Powerhorse series in the latest Northern Catalog, but honestly i havent seen a good review yet.

Thanks

It is unlikely that he wore out a saw, any saw in less than 12 cords and more likely that it needs some servicing, unless the saw was abused. This is not meant as an insult but rather a warning because abuse wears out expensive saws just as fast as inexpensive saws. That said I do understand the desire to buy a new saw.

There are not any current new saws under $200 that are much better than the Poulan WildThing. You father's saw needs are the reason that Poulan still exsists and that the other saw makers offer their Poulan like saws.

I suggest looking at saws from local dealers and buying one that fits his physical capabilities. It is easier to budget a saw when you find one that fits just right and you can only do that at a dealer. Good luck.

 

[pgg]

Cheap & 6 cords of wood, echo No1 choice, try to blow the thing up, full throttle, if it does clap out, then fine, they'll give a replacement if you want it

 

[mtfallsmikey]

Auctions!

Local that is...found my 036 at one, $130, needed new bar, sharpened chain, new air filter fresh gas...cuts guuuuudddd!:greenchainsaw:

 

[7sleeper]

I have a Stihl MS180(~30cc 2hp). It is a great little saw. I have already cut ~8 cord this year, upto ~24inch. This just takes time if you can afford it(Time is money!). I have had my MS 180 for only a year so no long time experience.
I would recomend if your buget restricted a secondhand machine or a small Husqvarna 142(~40cc 2.6hp) which is a underated saw. Of course if your finances allow it get a Husqvarna 345 or up. Donot believe that Stihl is the only company out there! A small Echo or Solo would be fantastic aquisitions!


7sleeper

 

[Cameljoe73]

I agree that 025 is a good choice, easy to find one for under 200 (pawn shops, craigslist, ebay). But the 025 is obviously a home owner quality saw. I would not settle for it unless I had to. 026 (ms260) will last the rest of his life, and maybe yours. 3-6 cords a year means 10-20 years for every top end rebuild, and it might be an antique by the time it needs a bottom end. A friend of mine does about 100 cord a year, I think he bought his about 4 years ago. just did his first rebuild. The downside is your going to have to help him out, not verry often you find one around 200, but it does happen. I know the pawn shops around here are easy to talk down. The 021 I bought for my son, they were asking 170, I offered 100 bucks, and they took it. If you have exp. working on saws, or know someone that does, don't be scared to buy a used stihl. If its got compresion, it will run.

 

[WoodguyMS650]

Stihl

Look at the "occasional use" saws from Stihl.

MS 210 - 290 would be good investment, lasts long time, reliable,and good service.

 

[Metals406]

Go to Sandpoint Small Engine 521 Church St, Sandpoint, ID, and have your dad demo a Dolmar 5100... He'll be very pleased.

They're real nice guys in there, and they support the local arborist/logging community... No better place to put a couple hundred bucks.

 

[Nailgunner]

Another vote for a used Professional saw: Stihl or Husqvarna are favourites, there are others. Both the above will go on for years, given a bit of care and a good clean now and again.

 

[cmarti]

I was searching Puolans.........

I know little about saws compared to these pros:newbie: . However, I am the type to tear into anything that burns fossil fuels. Motorcycles, ATV, PWC, Mopar, tractors etc...Trust me I took care of my saws. I just wanted to post on this thread for anybody looking for a saw, listen to the majority here and BUY UP. The two that recommended Poulan Pro's should be banned I DID buy two poulan Pros to work my property thinking I got two for one. What I got was 4 years of grief. Santa brought me an Stihl MS 290, and I thought "this is how a homeowners saw works"

I am quite confident this will be the only advice I will ever offer on this site, unless I start drinking, or we want to talk bowhunting.:monkey:

 

[Cliff R]

6 or so cords of wood a year adds up quickly. You shouldn't ask $200 saws to cut 30-40 cords of wood over the next few years and expect them to not give troubles?

I bought a couple of really "cheap" saws back in the late 1970's when we started heating with firewood.

Besides taking FOREVER to get a load of wood cut, I'd spend as much or more time pissing around trying to keep the saws running.

Broke down in 1980 and bought our Husqvarna 480CD. Pretty expensive at the time (but I don't remember exactly how much?), but at least 3 times as much as most anything else out there. 29 years later, it runs as good as or better than the day it was purchased, never been down for repairs either, not even a fuel line or carb diaphram, nothing but chains, bars, and drive sprockets. I did braze the end of the carb linkage in place about 10 years ago as it was working loose on the end of the throttle shaft. One minor 10 minute repair in 29 years, and I only did that because once in a while I'd have to "blip" the throttle to get it to return all the way to idle.

How far did my money go? More than likely I'd have bought a dozen of more $200 saws in the past 29 years to cut the amount of wood than one good saw has.

I also do NOT beleive in a one saw plan. Nice to have a stand-by saw there when you get pinched real hard. Better than leaving your bar and chain in the woods!......FWIW......Cliff