rbr28
ArboristSite Lurker
Just looking for some quick help purchasing a new chainsaw. I've done a lot of research and see how the Husqvarna's and Stihls are always highly rated, but none of those are in my budget range. I've never used a chainsaw before and am looking for something for pretty limited use.
I recently had to have some trees removed for a new septic system on my lot, and the contractors just left everything they knocked down with the tractor. I now have a huge pile of trees, mostly small stuff ranging from just a couple inches in diameter, up to maybe a foot in diameter for a couple larger poplars. I need to get that pile cut up (I've been working on it with a bow saw and ax for weeks and have had enough of that), and beyond that I don't see using the saw much more than occasionally for cutting branches, and fairly small trees. My lot is completely wooded, but only 2 acres, and we don't have a use for firewood, so I don't see "heavy use" with the saw.
Anyway, this is also our first new home, and as many of you know that means we are broke after putting thousands into all sorts of new stuff, so I'm looking for something cheap that will just help me get this job done (but figure I'd rater buy than throw money away renting one). I've looked at a lot of different brands locally, but I'm in a small town and don't have much to choose from. We have a Menards, Sears, and Lowes, and that's about it for getting a chainsaw anywhere nearby. Menards sells some McCulloch's, Lowes sells the Poulans, and Sears doesn't have much that seemed worth considering. Everything that Sears had on the low end felt really cheap and flimsy to me. The McCullochs at Menards actually felt pretty solid, and they were very cheap 99$ for 14" 35CC and 129 for 16" 35CC. The Poulan at Lowes I was looking at was the Poulan Pro with the 16" bar for 139. I have 10% off coupons for any of those.
I liked that the 14" McCulloch felt really easy to handle, but was afraid it might be too small, even for my modest needs. On the other hand it seems to me after reading about the chainsaws, that a larger bar, on an underpowered chainsaw is not a good thing. The 35CC engine on the 14" McCulloch, is the same engine that is on the 16" McCulloch, which makes me think that the step up is not all that beneficial. The Poulan engine was 38CC (according to their website), but Lowes has it listed as a 42CC engine. The Poulan seemed to have a few more features, although I'm not sure any of them are worthwhile, or just gimmicky (the easy chain adjustment, which most people seem not to like anyway, the "super clean" engine which is supposed to extend air filter life), etc. The Poulan has a 2 year warranty versus a 1 year for the McCulloch.
Anyway, any advice or experience with these would be appreciated. I know they aren't going to be comparable to the high-end saws but they are really my only options at this point. I'm going to stop by one of the hardware stores in town this afternoon to see if they have any other options.
I recently had to have some trees removed for a new septic system on my lot, and the contractors just left everything they knocked down with the tractor. I now have a huge pile of trees, mostly small stuff ranging from just a couple inches in diameter, up to maybe a foot in diameter for a couple larger poplars. I need to get that pile cut up (I've been working on it with a bow saw and ax for weeks and have had enough of that), and beyond that I don't see using the saw much more than occasionally for cutting branches, and fairly small trees. My lot is completely wooded, but only 2 acres, and we don't have a use for firewood, so I don't see "heavy use" with the saw.
Anyway, this is also our first new home, and as many of you know that means we are broke after putting thousands into all sorts of new stuff, so I'm looking for something cheap that will just help me get this job done (but figure I'd rater buy than throw money away renting one). I've looked at a lot of different brands locally, but I'm in a small town and don't have much to choose from. We have a Menards, Sears, and Lowes, and that's about it for getting a chainsaw anywhere nearby. Menards sells some McCulloch's, Lowes sells the Poulans, and Sears doesn't have much that seemed worth considering. Everything that Sears had on the low end felt really cheap and flimsy to me. The McCullochs at Menards actually felt pretty solid, and they were very cheap 99$ for 14" 35CC and 129 for 16" 35CC. The Poulan at Lowes I was looking at was the Poulan Pro with the 16" bar for 139. I have 10% off coupons for any of those.
I liked that the 14" McCulloch felt really easy to handle, but was afraid it might be too small, even for my modest needs. On the other hand it seems to me after reading about the chainsaws, that a larger bar, on an underpowered chainsaw is not a good thing. The 35CC engine on the 14" McCulloch, is the same engine that is on the 16" McCulloch, which makes me think that the step up is not all that beneficial. The Poulan engine was 38CC (according to their website), but Lowes has it listed as a 42CC engine. The Poulan seemed to have a few more features, although I'm not sure any of them are worthwhile, or just gimmicky (the easy chain adjustment, which most people seem not to like anyway, the "super clean" engine which is supposed to extend air filter life), etc. The Poulan has a 2 year warranty versus a 1 year for the McCulloch.
Anyway, any advice or experience with these would be appreciated. I know they aren't going to be comparable to the high-end saws but they are really my only options at this point. I'm going to stop by one of the hardware stores in town this afternoon to see if they have any other options.
