Decisions, decisions...

[Bremen]

Another option in used saws would be a 6401 HD rental. Probably half the specified budget initally, with the $200 upgrade option to a 7900 for when you buy more saws Just a thought, I'd probably get a 359 or somethin' .

 

[Freakingstang]

Not a 365, too heavy for its power......

Ahh B.S. :hmm3grin2orange: I used two of them for 6 years. They are great torquey saws and have a home at the firewood pile. It is a little heavy, but for the longest time, that was all I knew in terms of weight. You can get a good used one 2-3 bucks normally around here.

 

[sachsmo]

Dolmar 5100,

Man this is a little hot rod, with a 18" bar (more like a 17" i.e.64 link loop)
I've had mine 3 weeks and already cut 3 cords and limbed all the mess and burned it up. Have a new husky 359 e-tech 20" it's still on the first tank of gas.( it's been under the tree) The 359 is a fine saw got mine for $439.50 delivered to the door with pro bar and 3 chains. But I just can't put that little Dolmar down, It's a couple pounds lighter and a lot quicker limbing and in the wood. I live S. of Ft.Wayne and have a dealer here selling them for 359.00 plus 6% tax. Gets you a fine saw and bragging rights over any other stock 50cc saw on the market. You could get a spare loop of chain and spare sprocket and still come in at $400.00

 

[Freakingstang]

Dolmar 5100,

Man this is a little hot rod, with a 18" bar (more like a 17" i.e.64 link loop)
I've had mine 3 weeks and already cut 3 cords and limbed all the mess and burned it up. Have a new husky 359 e-tech 20" it's still on the first tank of gas.( it's been under the tree) The 359 is a fine saw got mine for $439.50 delivered to the door with pro bar and 3 chains. But I just can't put that little Dolmar down, It's a couple pounds lighter and a lot quicker limbing and in the wood. I live S. of Ft.Wayne and have a dealer here selling them for 359.00 plus 6% tax. Gets you a fine saw and bragging rights over any other stock 50cc saw on the market. You could get a spare loop of chain and spare sprocket and still come in at $400.00

Another happy 5100 owner....

It is a fine choice, and probably the best for under 400 bucks!

 

[ciscoguy01]

5100

Dude, I gotta agree. My wife and I tried a 5100 out a few weeks ago, no doubt about it. What a nice saw. Great power, light, fast as sh17. Still doesn't have the UMPH of my 7900, but than again, that's almost twice the saw. I will say this. In another week, I'll have a 5100 sitting on my floor bro...

I reserved one already dude...

 

[asb151]

Another happy 5100 owner....

It is a fine choice, and probably the best for under 400 bucks!

Definitely the best for under $400! You just can't appreciate it until you run it.

I've got .325 narrow kerf on it now and it screams. I'm going to try 3/8ths next.

 

[rb_in_va]

I just love to hear people sing the praises of that Dolmar!

 

[asb151]

I just love to hear people sing the praises of that Dolmar!

Rb......every tree on my property is begging for mercy!

 

[buck futter]

how about a wildthing and $250 worth of beer. when the saw breaks tell your wife you need to get another saw because you wore the other one out. She will either say you should buy a higher quality saw or agree to getting another 400 dollar poulan. My luck is my wife would by one with a service plan and I would have a even bigger headache.


Or the 353 would allow you to also get a helmet.
You could also probably find a 50 cc saw used in decent shape.

I think a 3 cube is good for what you need.

 

[ciscoguy01]

.325

Another happy 5100 owner....

It is a fine choice, and probably the best for under 400 bucks!

Stang,
You run .325 or 3/8 on your 51 dude??? I'm going with a 3/8 16" bar. This will keep it in suit with my huskies and Stihls at the .050.

 

[neighborstree]

i have 2 ms 280's. both are a year old or so with not a ton of use, u can have them both for 400

 

[Freakingstang]

Stang,
You run .325 or 3/8 on your 51 dude??? I'm going with a 3/8 16" bar. This will keep it in suit with my huskies and Stihls at the .050.

3/8" 050 16" bar. I made timed cuts and found the 3/8" faster with the 16" bar against both the .325 8T and .325 9T...

i run the same chain on all my saws for compatability. I can buy a roll and make it fit all of them.

i have on occasion put a 13" 3/8 bar on it for fun. It is wicked fast, but my 13" bar is 058 and I have tried to get rid of all my 058 stuff...

here it is with the shorty....

 

[kw1980]

First and foremost, I would like to thank all of you for the input on my first post. I knew I would get more replies on saws other than Stihl and Husqvarna, but I am sticking with those two. It sounds like I'm kinda on the low side of cc's, but I'm sticking to my guns-the 353 or ms280 (new). When and if I decide I need a larger saw in the future, it sounds like the 361 is the cat's meow.

Be safe. Happy New Year.
KW1980

 

[ciscoguy01]

7900

3/8" 050 16" bar. I made timed cuts and found the 3/8" faster with the 16" bar against both the .325 8T and .325 9T...

i run the same chain on all my saws for compatability. I can buy a roll and make it fit all of them.

i have on occasion put a 13" 3/8 bar on it for fun. It is wicked fast, but my 13" bar is 058 and I have tried to get rid of all my 058 stuff...

here it is with the shorty....

Ummmmmm, dude??? That's a Stihl bar you have on your 7900, how's that happening???

 

[cbfarmall]

This saw ought to be OK for firewood. It is a little bit tail heavy. Even has the elastostart for easy cranking. (Believe me, even with the compression release, this saw will kick a little.)

Chris B.

 

[asb151]

First and foremost, I would like to thank all of you for the input on my first post. I knew I would get more replies on saws other than Stihl and Husqvarna, but I am sticking with those two. It sounds like I'm kinda on the low side of cc's, but I'm sticking to my guns-the 353 or ms280 (new). When and if I decide I need a larger saw in the future, it sounds like the 361 is the cat's meow.

Be safe. Happy New Year.
KW1980

One thing you will never have to worry about here is a shortage of advice.

 

[SawTroll]

Ahh B.S. :hmm3grin2orange: I used two of them for 6 years. They are great torquey saws and have a home at the firewood pile. It is a little heavy, but for the longest time, that was all I knew in terms of weight. You can get a good used one 2-3 bucks normally around here.

I just had to say it.......:deadhorse:

.....but I agree that it doesn't really matter for use in the yard/woodpile - in the woods is another story.

:hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange:

 

[Freakingstang]

Ummmmmm, dude??? That's a Stihl bar you have on your 7900, how's that happening???

My buddy had some adapters made to run stihl bars on both dolmars and huskies....A lot less variation in the fleet if I can run one mount bar on the rest of the saws....

 

[manual]

First and foremost, I would like to thank all of you for the input on my first post. I knew I would get more replies on saws other than Stihl and Husqvarna, but I am sticking with those two. It sounds like I'm kinda on the low side of cc's, but I'm sticking to my guns-the 353 or ms280 (new). When and if I decide I need a larger saw in the future, it sounds like the 361 is the cat's meow.

Be safe. Happy New Year.
KW1980

All I can say is Good for you. If the 361 is what you might want in the future ask your Stihl Dealer if he takes trade ins,

Maybe that will help you make your Decision.
Both are good saws.
Let us Know the outcome.

 

[ASEMASTER]

if you can

If you can handle the weight a bigger saw will make you work less.