What is a good 1st saw

[GeorgiaVol]

What would be a good recomendation for someone's first saw for general firewood/clean up?

 

[Ginger15]

CS590.

 

[LonestarStihl]

CS590.

I agree for price and power ratio. Especially when it's on sale.

 

[grack]

Echo 490 is a good light saw i like an 18 on mine.
590 more power more weight and the ability to run 24-27 inch bars.
Really depends on what you are cutting.

 

[Firemoore98]

Hard to beat a ms290 or ms291 for power and price. Of course advice depends on size of wood, saw experience/expectations, budget and lastly but very importantly dealer support/availability.

I tend to be a stihl aholic but have great dealer support. I think there are several great saw manufacturers, what dealers do you have close to where you work or live?

Jason


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[GeorgiaVol]

Not for me. Just curious on where to steer people when they ask. I usually say either the PP5020 or the CS590. I think the 590 might be a bit big for someone with no experience though.

 

[CentaurG2]

Husky 550xp is the smallest rear handle saw we use. Great saw with an 18” bar but it could handle a 20” bar if needed. I don’t think anyone would be disappointed in either performance or handling of this saw.

 

[Firemoore98]

This is a a question that should not have a definitive, stead fast, blanket answer.

If you lived in a very rural area and had a Husqvarna dealer in your town and nothing else for hundreds of miles well then when in Rome do as the romans. Mail ordering saw parts is not always easy, many companies have restrictions on internet parts sales and you need dealer support to get equipment running.

Also the owners saw experience level, and expectations can dictate a pro saw purchase vs a farm/homeowner grade purchase. Is this the type of person that has a buy once cry once mentality and have the budget to support a nicer piece of equipment?

What type of wood are they going to work with 90% of the time, it's not worth buying a huge or small saw if your bread and butter cutting is say 15"ish timber I would think you a mid size saw kinda guy.

I feel like with all the smart brains and experience around here we could creat a short online questioner that would generate a saw recommendation based upon:

Do you have saw experience? If so how many years?

What is your budget?

How much wood do you expect to cut annually?

What is the average size of the wood you will be cutting?

What dealers do you have within a 30 minute radius of your home or work?

What's your favorite color?

*disclaimer: our lawyers wanted us to inform you chainsaw addiction is a real thing and you most likely will own more than one saw.

Trying to have a little fun here, but I hope my message is that the real answer is it just depends on a few more questions that "best saw". Could you answer best truck, or best gun, or best meal with asking more questions first.

Jason




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[GeorgiaVol]

All true, just asking opinions for a general idea of a "beginner" saw. Obviously once they catch CAD it won't matter.

 

[1Alpha1]

It's actually not so much the saw that matters, but rather, the type of oil used and it's mix ratio.

 

[BB Sig]

I voted other. I love my Echo 620P but I think the size, power and weight of a 590 would not be a good beginner saw. Second saw, definitely! Like FireMore said, there is not a one size fits all. I wouldn't want someone that is starting out to have more than a 40cc and 18" bar but it depends upon task and the person more than anything.

I started out with a Stihl 021 and it was great to learn on.

Great question though...

 

[svk]

I'd say a smaller Echo or Dolmar as a lot of the smaller saws from other brands are poorly built.

Or 450 family of Husky saws.

 

[texican65]

Stihl 030,031,032, either of them. Make sure you have a spare for parts to cannibalize.

 

[Ryan'smilling]

Obviously it's kinda spendy, but I think the 261 would be a good choice. I think that the m-tronic feature would prevent a lot of headaches for new users and also protect the saw from someone who knows enough to be dangerous with the little screwdriver. I know when I hand someone my 261 that it will start easily, idle perfectly, and a lean condition won't be ignored by the operator. Also, it's a great saw for cleanup and firewood.

 

[Deleted member 149229]

For a first saw you're probably not felling large trees nor bucking large trees. Just general clean up and firewood.... CS 400. Light, easy to handle and maneuverable for a beginner.

 

[middleagemutant]

Dolmar 421 would be a good one

 

[GeorgiaVol]

I added it to the poll

 

[Full Chisel]

For a first saw you're probably not felling large trees nor bucking large trees. Just general clean up and firewood.... CS 400. Light, easy to handle and maneuverable for a beginner.

Agreed. A 40cc saw is perfect for a beginner.

 

[CR888]

Echo CS1201-42"B/C FTW. Great beginners saw for first time users around the home. If you point it upwards it can also be used as a pole saw.

 

[Derrick Sawyer]

Best first saw Stihl 041 Farmboss