@daddy ,
As you can tell there is a obvious tendency to negate your requirements and recomend what everybody believes they need! This is typical of threads like this and the comments from sawtroll are very easy to summerize => Husqvarna is the only manufacturer out there good enough and then only the pro line.
So I will try to add my beliefs.
Your requirements are light, dependable and low amount of use(= a few days a year). You have a big saw (the 290 and don't worry everbody, especially sawtroll, is going to tell you that, contrary to your experience, this saw is not able to cut wood!
) so you want the lower spectrum taken care of. I presume you also have a budget that is surely shared with your avatar! Nice kid btw but you should be ashamed to put only a mobile phone pic and not a real camera picture in here!
So if we can try to summerize:
1. Any of the major manufactureres will make you happy. These would be DOLMAR=MAKITA, ECHO=SHINDAIWA, EFCO=OLEO MAC, HUSQVARNA=JONSERED=RED MAX=ZENOAH(=MC CULLOCH=PARTNER the homeowner line), HITACHI=TANAKA, SOLO and STIHL. I am sure I forgot some but this is a quick overview.
2. You
donot need any pro saw what so ever, because your use is so minimal you will invest a lot of money for very little use. And the time savings in cutting speed are minimal and for a homeowner completely irrelevant! A sharp chain and technique will always win the day irrelevant of manufacturer or saw class!
3. 30-40 cc saw is what you are looking for. Any of the above mentioned manufacturers will make you happy. Just look at their products online or at your regional store and choose what you like. What I like to look for is often one housing is made for a range (30-40cc) of saws from one manufacturer. I like to buy the strongest out of the line up. An example would be the Dolmar PS32 and PS35. The PS35 being stronger at the same weight would be my choice.
4. Usually you can get very good deals from lesser known brands (just exclude Stihl and Husqvarna from the above list)
5. If you want, as a homeowner, a one saw plan (= one saw is enough) then I would recomend the stronger 40-50cc saws. One of the prime examples would be the dolmar 421, only 42 cc but behaves like 50 and built like a pro saw made for the ambitious homeowner at a unbelivable price. But there many examples of good saws out there.
6. Generally it is better to buy from a small engine/chainsaw store, usually the best is a mom&paps store, they know their equipment and usually can help you out very well. After buying a saw it is often recomended that the carburator of the saw should be set correctly (this can be done by any small engine/chainsaw mechanic). Many also recomend that the final carb settings should be checked after 10-20 refills.
7. Chainsaws are usually classified by the manufacturer in three types
a.Homeowner,
b.Farmer/SemiPro and
c.Pro saws. Type a & b is more than enough for your needs. The differences between manufacturers in the same class are minimal at best. Further what type of engine (conventional two stroke, strato or whatever) is completely irrelevant for a homeuser.I would look more in details like aluminum oil pump. etc. The homeowner, farmer class of saws will be mainly out of plastic. But will still be more than enough for your needs!
8. If you cut close to home an electric saw might be an option. They are in the same powerrange to a 30-40cc gas saw and much more economical.This I would also only get from a major manufacturer and not any no name brand!
Just look through the recomendations above and below and sieve your requirements out.
good luck!
7
opcorn:
