Looking for some interesting input about Made in USA

[FrenchyII]

Good day,

I was at a big store today, while my wife was in a department I try not to be seen, I was looking at some yellow, green, red and orange chainsaw. I am from Canada, and what is made in Canada is usually of good quality, sometimes not the best but at least, there is some sort of pride and quality control.

Then, I came back home and made a little research on the brands I have seen out there ie. Poulan, Poulan Pro, Craftsman and Husqvarna, all made in USA, which I think is synonym of quality. I ended up on this website and I discovered that most of you are not really impressed with those brands. What make them such a poor buy? I bought a building lot on which I will have to clean up a bit, but after what I've read, I feel a bit shy to show up there with one of those.

 

[Duane(Pa)]

One of the coolest saws I have ever layed my hands on is the Stihl MS-261. Made in the USA. I would venture a guess that any saw will last long enough to clear a building lot. Buy what you like!

 

[blackoak]

Good day,

I was at a big store today, while my wife was in a department I try not to be seen, I was looking at some yellow, green, red and orange chainsaw. I am from Canada, and what is made in Canada is usually of good quality, sometimes not the best but at least, there is some sort of pride and quality control.

Then, I came back home and made a little research on the brands I have seen out there ie. Poulan, Poulan Pro, Craftsman and Husqvarna, all made in USA, which I think is synonym of quality. I ended up on this website and I discovered that most of you are not really impressed with those brands. What make them such a poor buy? I bought a building lot on which I will have to clean up a bit, but after what I've read, I feel a bit shy to show up there with one of those.

If all you have to clean up is a building lot, a cheaper home owner saw should work. The saws you mention are designed for occasional use, thus not built as well as pro saws which are designed for every day use to earn a living with. There is nothing wrong buying a cheaper saw if you are only going to use it a few times. I see this is your first post here. I got to warn you that if you hang around here long you will probably be sneaking around buying saws behind your wife's back , smell like two stoke exhaust and gasoline and have a garage full of saws in no time. PS. Don't forget to empty the saw dust and chips out of your pockets. It upsets the wife greatly when she dose the laundry.

 

[galde]

For the most part the big box stores (Walmart, Sears, Menards, Lowes, Home Depot and the like.....) cater to a clientele that doesn't include users of pro grade equipment. The typical homeowner's meager needs are adequately met by the brands and products offered there. I learned a long time ago to avoid trying to save money by buying cheap tools. When it comes to chain saws I look for pro grade (Stihl, Husqy, Jonsered, Dolmar, Old Poulan, Old Homelite, Old McCulloch to name a few) saws. New stuff I buy from servicing dealers, old stuff I look for in pawnshops, flea markets, garage sales, and CL. Unless you enjoy doing your own servicing and maintenance it is best to choose your servicing dealer first and then let him or her guide you in selecting the right saw for your needs. The Stihl 261 pro is an excellent choice. I really love both of mine.

 

[Philbert]

Welcome to A.S!

For a long time, "Made in the USA" was synonymous with quality. It is still a source of pride among Americans, just as "Made in Canada" is for you, especially as we have seen so many products being made now in other countries with cheaper labor rates. But it is not a guarantee of quality.

The comments that you noted reference products that are made to sell in a certain price range, rather than being made to hold up to professional use. Some of these are better than the cheaper imports. There are also some very good saws made in the USA, but generally, these are going to cost more.

Even companies like Husqvarna and STIHL have categories for their saws: 'home use', intermediate use', 'professional use'. People on this site tend to like the Pro saws. However, a good quality intermediate saw can hold up to a lot of use if it is well cared for. I would stay away from the cheap saws no matter where they are made.

JMHO

Philbert

 

[struggle]

One thing worth noting if you have the money is if you bought the better saw like a MS261 you would get the joy of running a pro level saw and once done with it you could turn around and resell it for at least 75% of what you paid for it.

Plus
1. You just supported a quality company product that is clearly made with pride.
2. Your work would be easier due to the better saw and reduced effort in your task at hand.
3. You get the experience of running a pro level saw.
4. You will make someones day when you resell it.
5. Less money to China which is always a good thing in my book.
6. I would be willing to guess the people building the more expensive saw are most likely better paid then those with the cheaper models.
7. You might catch CAD running a pro saw......this can be good and bad depending on your needs/wants
8. 25 years from now when you reallize you did not sell the saw (since you liked it so much)you will be able to go out and start it and run it. The other one will have been melted down or sitting in landfill.

Down sides of a cheaper saw/lessor saw.
1. You bought it for little and will get little for it in return resell.
2. You will most likely work harder using it.
3. I doubt it will break right away but if it does you are up a creek without a paddle on a box store bought saw.
4. I am sure I am going to get flamed for this entry so the others can fill in the blanks

 

[homelitejim]

read this thread, it has some good info on a good American made box store saw and should be more than adequate for your needs. Plus it is a good price that won't break the bank.
http://www.arboristsite.com/chainsaw/192321.htm

 

[nick 55]

read this thread, it has some good info on a good American made box store saw and should be more than adequate for your needs. Plus it is a good price that won't break the bank.
http://www.arboristsite.com/chainsaw/192321.htm

:agree2:

What he said. Many on here will tell you that you MUST get a pro saw. I say get this reasonable saw, use it, and find out that you bought a product made in the USA, that did the job you asked of it, and saved some $$ in the process. Heck, Mark might even sell you the one he bought to test out.

Nick

 

[NORMZILLA44]

Good heads up Jim. Good thread as well thanks!

 

[Sagetown]

Good day,

I was at a big store today, while my wife was in a department I try not to be seen, I was looking at some yellow, green, red and orange chainsaw. I am from Canada, and what is made in Canada is usually of good quality, sometimes not the best but at least, there is some sort of pride and quality control.

Then, I came back home and made a little research on the brands I have seen out there ie. Poulan, Poulan Pro, Craftsman and Husqvarna, all made in USA, which I think is synonym of quality. I ended up on this website and I discovered that most of you are not really impressed with those brands. What make them such a poor buy? I bought a building lot on which I will have to clean up a bit, but after what I've read, I feel a bit shy to show up there with one of those.

JMTC...... Made in the U.S.A., today, isn't the same as it was in yesteryears. The American ingenuity of manufacturing products became to expensive for a competitive world market, therefore it has nearly become extinct . No need to invent a quality product if you can't sell it. Today's U.S.A. products for the most part are foreign owned Corporations that profit from their product being made with U.S.A. labor, and sold only in America.

 

[sawinredneck]

That is a GREAT thread and I was going to recommend it as well! I tell you, for the money, I'm damn tempted to buy one!

To the OP: Keep in mind this a site catering to arborist, professionals and wannabe professionals. We are saw SNOBS!! We have to have the best of the best! We count cut times by mili-seconds! 99% of saw consumers don't give a rip, they buy a saw, use it twice a year, at best, and when it wont start the find out it's more than half the price of a new one to fix the old one and ditch it for a new one!
We like to recommend good quality saws with the assumption you are going to use them to the potential we would, and care for them, the way we would. Truth is, many wont, don't and can't or don't care to. That's fine.
Then the other side of the coin, you are here doing research, so you do give a little of a rip, so you will get more information than you can process!
So, try and take this away:
1) How much will you use the saw?
2) How well do you plan to care for the saw?
If the answer to either of those is little, buy a cheap one! If the answer to one is a lot, and 2 is a little, buy a good one with dealer support!
Hope that helps some.

 

[Sagetown]

Quote "FrenchyII : What make them such a poor buy?"
I can only speak for one of those saws, the new Poulan I bought last year. For the 1st several weeks I wore myself out trying to start that thing everytime I picked it up. I was so upset with it. I've ran saws all my life nearly, and that really agrevated me. It came with a saftey chain, and nurdy bar, which, for an amature that has no one to instruct him or her on how to use a saw, is probably a good thing, especially these days with people sueing over every little iota. Even after purchasing a pro bar and non-safety chain for it I continued to dislike it. It cuts great, but I use it on any work that may destroy it, and hoping all along that it will, but it is like a cat with nine lives. It's got to be the luckiest saw ever built. If I didn't need that Poulan for a back-up saw, I'd like to take a sledge hammer to it.
I got so discusted with it, I bought another same size saw by STIHL. Love that saw. Starts easy, and doesn't shake the tar out of you when cutting hardwood. That in it self was worth the extra $$$. But the little extras goes a long way too. Like the Dealer who knows saws, and can help the customer decide what saw would best fit his or her needs, and has the ability to rig the saw to fit the customers desires before it goes out the door.

 

[FrenchyII]

Hey, thanks for all the info, some even made me smile.

So basically, because most of you use a saw extensively, you pretty much all use major reliable brand such as Stihl and Husky (sold at a dealer). Me, I have to be honest, I was quite impressed with the low price tag attached to the saws I've seen even if they were made in the U.S.A. I was more on the idea that there would be a nice Made in China sticker on those somewhere. But with what I get from your saying, the Made in China would be all over the parts and bits and probably put together in United States. Obviously, I will not use the saw to the same extend than all of you, but I still want something that will start and work whenever I need it. You use this tool for a living, I don't, and I clearly understand the idea that you need something reliable and powerful.

So today I called a Stihl dealer in my city and I was shocked to find out that even if they are more expensive, the price is fairly close when compared to engine size. Example, MS 170 at $229, compared to Poulan Pro 35CC at $219 from Canadian Tire. Those two models would be like a toy for you but for what I have to do, it would be enough. We don't have super cheap saws like in the States which make our decision a little bit more easy I guess when comparing Quality vs Price.

Does anyone have a price list of Stihl saws in Vermont or New York and maybe the real Poulan saws (Do they still make the good ones?)? I plan to spend around $300 tax in. Just wondering if it worth the 45 minutes trip.

Thanks.

 

[hamish]

Achtez votre scie en Canada. Malheureusement mon grammaire en francias est vraiment pire est ca fait environ 20 ans depuis la deniere fois que j'ai "typer" en francais.

Said:

Buy your say in Canada, and sorry my french grammar sucks and havent types in french for over 20 yrs.

Quality is in the eye of the beholder. The ideal of quality from a certain country, means very little in the global market place, but it does mean alot to certain brands. Quality control by the brand is the major influence in quality. As does the quality of the wokrer. I would much rather have a man making 30 cents a day that has pride in his job build my saw versus, and over paid crackhead that can't understand why hes not the president of the company making my saw. As North American we have out priced ourselves out of the market.

Look at saws you can buy here in Canada, hell even a $99 refurb poulan will work for you.

 

[RedShift42]

Given your budget, be sure to check out the Stihl MS250.
That model is at the end of its market life, after a long successful run, and now priced attractively. Due to tightening emission restrictions most every company has recently had to revise their product lines, but if not for that, Stihl could probably sell this saw for another decade. The MS250 is one of the last models to receive the revision and Stihl has reduced their price to $299US before its inevitably-pricier replacement arrives. It's probably the most saw for the $ in the sub-50cc range.
It's not a pro-level saw (gasp!), but still quite robust at 45cc, versatile, wieldy, USA made, reliable, and superior to most anything you'll find in a big-box store.

Poke around here, searching on 025 (same saw, old nomenclature) or MS250, you'll find many knowledgeable saw enthusiasts who love theirs.

 

[4xrpm4x]

The ms250 go's for $399+ tax up here. What's tax in QB, 14%?
I have an almost new 025 and it's a great little saw. (I never use it cause it's still shinny)

 

[Ductape]

Does anyone have a price list of Stihl saws in Vermont or New York and maybe the real Poulan saws (Do they still make the good ones?)? I plan to spend around $300 tax in. Just wondering if it worth the 45 minutes trip.

Thanks.

Heck, if you can drive to Vt, go a little farther into NH where there is no sales tax ! :biggrin:

 

[FrenchyII]

Achtez votre scie en Canada. Malheureusement mon grammaire en francias est vraiment pire est ca fait environ 20 ans depuis la deniere fois que j'ai "typer" en francais.

Said:

Buy your say in Canada, and sorry my french grammar sucks and havent types in french for over 20 yrs.

Quality is in the eye of the beholder. The ideal of quality from a certain country, means very little in the global market place, but it does mean alot to certain brands. Quality control by the brand is the major influence in quality. As does the quality of the wokrer. I would much rather have a man making 30 cents a day that has pride in his job build my saw versus, and over paid crackhead that can't understand why hes not the president of the company making my saw. As North American we have out priced ourselves out of the market.

Look at saws you can buy here in Canada, hell even a $99 refurb poulan will work for you.

French is not bad at all Hamish, I like your way of thinking about pride in the job and what is resulting from it, no matter where. It is just too bad that some companies lost a great reputation they had in the past. They wanted to compete in a cheapo market against companies that do not exist anymore. Now, the company is fighting again its own mistakes. There is room for improvement in their products, and they have the possibility to raise their price. But the problem is, who will buy those saws if the price tag get closer to top brands. That $99 poulan sounds like a Princess auto deal, No Princess Auto around here. This used to be one of my favorite store back when I was in Barrie, On and Halifax, NS.

Cheers.

 

[MCW]

Don't be fooled as the US "made" Poulan's (and newer McCullochs etc) are actually pretty good saws for the price.
A lot of people here forget that although they are no pro saw they are actually pretty good for what they are. In fact I had a Poulan clone McCulloch 2316AV that is still running strong with it's meathead new owner who knows nothing about maintenance. It would have a few hundred hours on it now.

Also don't be fooled by people saying that you are supporting the US more by buying an MS261 over a Poulan. You don't have to dig very deep on any newer Stihl to find "Made In China" stamped on components. I think we'd get a huge shock with all modern pro saws if the real foreign component % was made available.
In fact "Assembled in the USA" is probably closer to the mark.

 

[limited edition]

Must agree with MCW. Anything stamped "made in USA" is most likely just assembled there from parts sourced from anywhere and everywhere.

Stihl has a Brazilian assembly plant for their cut off saws and whatnot, I believe... I predict that 20 years down the road, there will no longer be any North American "assembly" plants. Saws will all be imported completely assembled from either Brazil, Mexico, or China.

Perhaps the pro models will still come from Germany, but even I have my doubts about that...