fullpower_65
ArboristSite Lurker
I just joined AS but I've been reading these forums past few months while researching my chainsaw purchase. I cut a few cords of hard/softwood each year. I am also cleaning up the hurricane damage on my 7 acre cottage lot - hundreds of trees are down, mostly softwood up to about 18 inches diameter.
I have access to my Dad's Homelite Super Mini VI, which is better-suited to cutting bread. The unpleasant experience of using it convinced me to resist the temptation of buying a small or cheapy saw when I got my own. Among the good names, I shortlisted Stihl, Husky and Jonsered.
When I built log homes 20 years ago, I used Stihls and liked them. I thought they were smooth and powerful. But when I went shopping, my local Stihl dealer failed the interview. My local Husky/JR dealer on the other hand was excellent. As a bonus, they're ten minutes away from my house.
A few months back, I used my brother-in-law's 254XP and I was instantly a Husky fan. I don't have a tree that will challenge that machine. I also don't have the $800 CAD I'd need to lay down for it. A friend has a Husky 55, which he uses for junking maple stovewood. His only complaints were it can be hard to start and could use a bit more power for his needs.
The 455s were above my budget of $500 CAD after tax. I've read lots of good things about the 350 so I talked to three local dealers and they all told me it was discontinued and replaced by the 450. The 55 is still available for about the same price as the 450.
I came back to this great site and in general I found the 450e and similar new Huskies are not recommended. My friend thinks his 55 needs a primer, which the 450 has. The 450 is just slightly lighter and has 0.2 less hp but more torque and a 500 rpm higher redline. As we all know, the 55 has metal in many places where the 450 has plastic.
I was torn: go with the old but proven 55 or take a leap with the new, unproven but innovative 450e? Well in the end, the gimmicks and the feel of the 450e got me. I know metal beats plastic but I'm not a professional user and I liked some of the added features of the 450e: primer, decompression, visible fuel level, vibration iso, etc. The 55 seems wider than the 450, which may just be perception. The 55 was also slightly front-heavy with the stock bar & chain.
I know most of the members here will tell me I made a mistake on the 450 and that is quite possibly true. But I've now had a chance to try it and I'm so-far very much impressed. I've worked it for a few weekends cutting soft/hardwood. It has started on the first pull every time, cold or hot. There is practically zero vibration on the handles. It devoured the biggest hardwood I'll ever need to cut (20 inch maple), holding its revs nicely with the 18-inch bar buried.
With all the plastic and gadgets, my opinion could change in time, but for now I'm happy with my decision. I'm dying to try it beside my friend's 55. Perhaps the 55 will win but maybe it will be close?
Has anyone one else taken the leap on a new 450e or similar Husky? If so, what's your opinion? I'm interested to know how they're holding up with use. Thanks!
I have access to my Dad's Homelite Super Mini VI, which is better-suited to cutting bread. The unpleasant experience of using it convinced me to resist the temptation of buying a small or cheapy saw when I got my own. Among the good names, I shortlisted Stihl, Husky and Jonsered.
When I built log homes 20 years ago, I used Stihls and liked them. I thought they were smooth and powerful. But when I went shopping, my local Stihl dealer failed the interview. My local Husky/JR dealer on the other hand was excellent. As a bonus, they're ten minutes away from my house.
A few months back, I used my brother-in-law's 254XP and I was instantly a Husky fan. I don't have a tree that will challenge that machine. I also don't have the $800 CAD I'd need to lay down for it. A friend has a Husky 55, which he uses for junking maple stovewood. His only complaints were it can be hard to start and could use a bit more power for his needs.
The 455s were above my budget of $500 CAD after tax. I've read lots of good things about the 350 so I talked to three local dealers and they all told me it was discontinued and replaced by the 450. The 55 is still available for about the same price as the 450.
I came back to this great site and in general I found the 450e and similar new Huskies are not recommended. My friend thinks his 55 needs a primer, which the 450 has. The 450 is just slightly lighter and has 0.2 less hp but more torque and a 500 rpm higher redline. As we all know, the 55 has metal in many places where the 450 has plastic.
I was torn: go with the old but proven 55 or take a leap with the new, unproven but innovative 450e? Well in the end, the gimmicks and the feel of the 450e got me. I know metal beats plastic but I'm not a professional user and I liked some of the added features of the 450e: primer, decompression, visible fuel level, vibration iso, etc. The 55 seems wider than the 450, which may just be perception. The 55 was also slightly front-heavy with the stock bar & chain.
I know most of the members here will tell me I made a mistake on the 450 and that is quite possibly true. But I've now had a chance to try it and I'm so-far very much impressed. I've worked it for a few weekends cutting soft/hardwood. It has started on the first pull every time, cold or hot. There is practically zero vibration on the handles. It devoured the biggest hardwood I'll ever need to cut (20 inch maple), holding its revs nicely with the 18-inch bar buried.
With all the plastic and gadgets, my opinion could change in time, but for now I'm happy with my decision. I'm dying to try it beside my friend's 55. Perhaps the 55 will win but maybe it will be close?
Has anyone one else taken the leap on a new 450e or similar Husky? If so, what's your opinion? I'm interested to know how they're holding up with use. Thanks!
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