Santa needs a new chainsaw

[primroselane]

I have a budget of $350 to $400. What is the best chainsaw I can buy? Why?

[braggscowboy]

Stihl, 290 I would think.

[Txrider]

I just got a new chainsaw, a 1970's craftsman 66cc..

Never thought it would run but when cleaned up and a new 20" bar and chain combo on it the thing runs like a raped ape and has my brother and his tree trimming friends a little green and asking if I intended to keep it or not..

One of them went out and found themselves one for $30, plus about $40 for a new chain and bar.

[arcticow]

Stihl Farmboss, 16 or 20 inch bar. IMHO

[Beeman]

What is the best brand sold and serviced in your area. I would stick with Stihk or Husqvarna.

[rambler]

Stihl is always good, if you have a dealer I'd sure look at them & see what you think. We used to have one dealer in my fairly small town.

15 years later, there are now 3 Stihl dealers.....

--->Paul

[Native87]

Cant go wrong with Stihl.

[Cabin Fever]

Go with the brand that is sold by your nearest small engine equipment dealer that offers both sales and service: Jonesered, Husqvarna, Stihl or Dolmar.

[salmonslayer]

Go with the brand that is sold by your nearest small engine equipment dealer that offers both sales and service: Jonesered, Husqvarna, Stihl or Dolmar.

Absolutely. My wood cutting partner bought a Husqvarna from Lowes and has had nothing but trouble until he found an actual dealer who serviced it for him (after numerous frustrating episodes with the so called tech teams at various larger establishments). I bought an MS310 from a small farm store that had a complete service department and have been very happy with it. I cut about 20 cords this year of oak and hickory and also selectively logged about 10 acres for a farmer down the road and have been very pleased (I paid $380 for it with a 20" bar and 2 chains).

Get a saw from a dealer that services them and dont be lured by the big box stores, they order saw on spec to keep costs down and just dont service them very well.

[HermitJohn]

If you are dependent on a dealer doing all work for you, buy whatever that dealer sells.

If you can work on your own stuff, look around. Best deal on new saw seems to be Makita DCS 6401 or Dolmar equivalent. This is about a 4 cube engine chainsaw. Made in Germany! Makita bought the old Sachs-Dolmar company and sells same saws under both Makita brand and Dolmar brand names. Same saws, different color paint. From what I can tell still quality machine as when Dolmar was independent. I've seen used versions of these in GOOD shape with low hours sell $200 to $300. New one will be up bit under $500. Simular size saw under Husky or Stihl and you are talking at least half again as much and probably more.

Now me personally, as long as parts are available, any old saw about that size that runs good would suit me. I prefer 3 to 4 cube engine saw for firewood. The closer to 4 cube, the better as long as its not super heavy like really old ones were. I dont cut enough wood where couple pounds difference in weight is going to matter, but dont want one thats 10 pound heavier. If you cut all day for weeks at a time, sure you want latest greatest super light weight model.

I personally have had great liking for older Shindaiwa chainsaws. Same type quality as older Stihl/Husky, but at least used to be considerably cheaper used. People have caught on so used ones in good shape not so cheap anymore. Shindaiwa and Echo have now merged so newer saws common to both I would imagine.

Saying that, I also have an old Roper 3.7 cube saw from 70s that works fine, but requires more tinkering and parts are non-existant. You have to have spare parts saws even for things like chain sprocket. You can get carb kit since it used to be very popular carb on lot makes, and of course you can get spark plug and get close enough with modern bar/chain. You arent ever going to find new cylinder or piston or even rings... So unfortunately have to consider it a disposable saw.

[TSYORK]

Husquavarna 455 is a good one.

Originally Posted by Native87

Cant go wrong with Stihl.

I agree !!!!

[sammyd]

we liked my dads Stihl 290 that we bought our own 310
I have used a Husky 455 and was tempted to trade in the Stihl until the guy told me he'd had it repaired 3 or 4 times within a year of buying it for various oiler problems and it broke again while we were cutting last year.
Brother-in-law swears by his Poulan Wild Thing. Had it for years an it can still tear up the woods....

[HermitJohn]

I will add be careful buying too small of a saw for the job just cause its in your price range. Better to shop for good used saw that actually meets your needs than a new too small or "consumer" saw just cause its what you want to spend.

Now if you just want to occasionally prune a tree in your backyard, just about any saw will work. If you want to cut firewood, you want something with an engine around 4 cubic inches. Wouldnt go any smaller than 3 cube and the smaller you get the less chance its a professional quality saw.

About all the makers produce small light duty "consumer" saws for the sucker market. But if thats all you need, look around for a Poulan on sale for around $100. It will handle light duty work just fine though they tend to come with carb set too lean. Richen mix a bit and they run just fine. I've had to retune them for couple people I know just to make them usable at all. Wouldnt even idle like they came from factory. Also they tend to come with too long of a bar. Little consumer saw doesnt need big long bar, doesnt have power for it and makes it awkward to use for trimming jobs for which it is intended. You want 12 inch to 16 inch bar on small saw not an 18 or 20 incher.

[HermitJohn]

Originally Posted by sammyd

we liked my dads Stihl 290 that we bought our own 310
I have used a Husky 455 and was tempted to trade in the Stihl until the guy told me he'd had it repaired 3 or 4 times within a year of buying it for various oiler problems and it broke again while we were cutting last year.
Brother-in-law swears by his Poulan Wild Thing. Had it for years an it can still tear up the woods....

Unfortunately I think the 455 is on the upper end of its consumer line of saws so maybe not as durable as their professional line of saws. You want something more like a Husky 472XP. That is a cutting machine and will hold up well. The 455 is around 3 cube engine and the 472 is little over 4 cube. No replacement for displacement. Seriously.

[HermitJohn]

Originally Posted by Native87

Cant go wrong with Stihl.

Yep you can. Somebody asked me to work on a little Stihl, dont remember the model number. But it was mostly plastic and had bar held on with ONE bolt so impossible to keep bar in from moving. It was worse than any of the little consumer Poulans I've seen. Bet it cost lot more too.

In other words, they all make at least some junk, even the great chainsaw god, Stihl.... Rule of thumb, the more plastic you see, the less quality you will find.

[o&itw]

I have an old Homelite XL-12. I bought it new about 40 years ago and it is still cutting like crazy. It has been through more bars and chains than I can remember. One of these days it is going to break, and I doubt if I will ever be able to find parts.

My point; you can find some great old chain saws, but you may not always find parts. Stihls are great saws and you can find dealers most any place in this area. The "farm boss"is a good all around size. It is a little big for limb trimming and even with a 20" bar a little small for large trees, but if you can only afford one, it is about as good as any.

[HermitJohn]

Originally Posted by o&itw

I have an old Homelite XL-12. I bought it new about 40 years ago and it is still cutting like crazy. It has been through more bars and chains than I can remember. One of these days it is going to break, and I doubt if I will ever be able to find parts.

My point; you can find some great old chain saws, but you may not always find parts. Stihls are great saws and you can find dealers most any place in this area. The "farm boss"is a good all around size. It is a little big for limb trimming and even with a 20" bar a little small for large trees, but if you can only afford one, it is about as good as any.

It is a shame that Homelite and McCulloch went for the quick buck and cheapened themselves into oblivian, they were big enough and had the resources to be competitive with Stihl and Husky at one time, but just the way things went. And all the little independents got bought out by Electrolux in the 70s. Poulan used to make pretty good saws, then Electrolux made it the name for the ubiquitous small throw away saw.

There is still a market for the old Homelites, but it is fading as the years pass and parts become rare.

[Rusty'sDog]

I had one of those old XL-12 saws. I was doing a lot of tree trimming back then, and it was the greatest for climbing. You could hang onto one branch, and reach out arm's length with that and hack away. It was a great pruning saw.

[Bret4207]

Boy, for $3-400.00 you probably aren't going to get a brand new saw in the pro line. I'd visit my local dealers and see whats available. Husky, Jonsered, Stihl, Sachs-Dolmar, Dolmar, Makita ( I think they're separate companies now John), Efco, Solo and some of the older Partner, Pioneer, Mac, Homelite, even Deere saws were pretty good.