Newbie with new chainsaw question.

poulan is made by husky its a lower end saw but thats not to say it cant cut wood. i would look for something in to 40 to 50 cc range. preferably with an adjustable chain oiler. the cheaper saws ive owned/own don't have them. i fought with my 345 forever until my dealer swapped out the pump for a used adjustable one. now its great. i would recommend a 345 as a good starter saw they arent much different than a poulan. you can usually find them for under $250. i bought mine at lowes for $150 5 years ago "display model" never ran but it had some nicks and scrapes on it.

I have a Craftsman 14", over 30 years old. still working.
Takes some maintenance every 10 years or so.
I never used it for more then a few cords/year & now mostly de-limbing & camping.
I also have a Husqvarna, over 20 years, has cut over 100 cords, still going but tape & bailing wire keep it so.

So
Yes, cheaper saw will work fine for a small amount of cutting for many years.
Just take care of it, clean the air filter, keep the chain sharp & use fresh gas, use clean chain oil & give yourself & the saw
a 5 -10 min break every 1/2 tank or so & stack or load what's cut.
It'll be just fine but cut a little slower than the higher end, more powerful saws.

pegasus said:

I have been trying to figure out who made what saws all night. I have a hunch that the same company supplies the cheaper brands with all the same motors, bars, drives, etc. Just like lawnmowers, gas furnaces, etc.

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You are correct a whole bunch of the cheaper saws are made in the same "plant" many of the cheaper saws have the infamous primer bulb on them this is not an indication of quality. The lower model Husky, Craftsman, Homelite , McCulouch, poulan, etc
are similar but some differences leading me to think they build to each company specs but all of lower quality maybe all by the same company. I had a poolan and it was the worst piece of equipment I have ever owned and I have owned a ton of different equipment. The poolan would start cold ok but if you set it down it would idle a minute or two and die and it was nearly impossible to start hot , this was not isolated to my saw I knew several guys who has the exact same results
If you can find a nice used Stihl it will much better than any of the low end saws are new. One option is the rental shops selling the used Stihls , Husqvarna or Dolmar/ Makita and there are some independent Husky dealers that sell remanf models for quite a savings. I got a rental Makita from a Home depot rental shop . If I did it over again I would get a good saw the first time.

I echo what Tony H said. Get a decent saw the first time, and it will last you longer. I learned this the hard way. I bought a craftsman in 2006 and it died in 2009. I worked it pretty hard but 3 years is kind of a joke. I'm in the market now for a better saw, probably a Stihl or Dolmar. I wish I had used the 200+ bucks I spent the first time towards a better saw. Just my 2 cents.

Muncie Indiana do you have a source for wood or are you going to be scronging?

bogydave said:

I have a Craftsman 14", over 30 years old. still working...

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Somehow, I don't think they make the same saw today. Sears gets someone to make it for them and in 30 years lots can change. My Partner is over 30 years old so go find a new Partner, they are good saws. ;-P

Listen to the advice Tony H has given , You'll be glad You did in the long run .Go to a few power equipment dealers ,see what's on offer . A dealer can be as important as the brand of saw You choose . Buy the best saw You can afford ,and an extra chain,or two . Also get a pair of cutting chaps and good footwear . If You can , find someone familiar with the use of saws and have Him show You the do's and don'ts and how to file a chain .
If I made it sound daunting ,or complicated ,it's not . In fact cutting , splitting and burning wood is enjoyable . Stacking ... not so much .

With what you have I would look at the stihl 290 or the husky 455 rancher 2 cords isnt that much but with 3 acres you never know size of woods always going to be changing....You get anything big I will come over and cut for you....what part of Muncie? Another member here lives there("MMual") and has a pretty good size saw as well where always ready to cut!

pegasus said:

Thanks guys. I have been doing a lot of research and was becoming overwhelmed with all the info and reviews. I am looking at the Stihl 250.

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thats a good one. I think the 290 has 10 cc more and is cheeper just a thought! my bad the 290 another 40.00 more

Ok thats out by Me zoo area...and yep thats why they call me smokin lol....And most of us on here are quick to help others that need it....

I have a 250 and while it's a fine saw there is a model or two just a small amount more . I want to say the last I looked the 250 was 319.00 or so and the ? was a little more saw and 339.00 or 349.00 might be the 290 or 310 ? can't remember just wish my old dealer had pointed that out back then.

Tony H said:

I have a 250 and while it's a fine saw there is a model or two just a small amount more . I want to say the last I looked the 250 was 319.00 or so and the ? was a little more saw and 339.00 or 349.00 might be the 290 or 310 ? can't remember just wish my old dealer had pointed that out back then.

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hind site is 20/20 last 3 years I have own 7 saws and sold 3- 180,260,290, mac 3145 still have 460,361,192t

smokinjay said:

Tony H said:

I have a 250 and while it's a fine saw there is a model or two just a small amount more . I want to say the last I looked the 250 was 319.00 or so and the ? was a little more saw and 339.00 or 349.00 might be the 290 or 310 ? can't remember just wish my old dealer had pointed that out back then.

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hind site is 20/20 last 3 years I have own 7 saws and sold 3- 180,260,290, mac 3145 still have 460,361,192t

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I agree with hind site . Buying and selling saws . I like to always tell people that start asking about buying a saw to look at used ones at some reputable dealers . Most guys untill they are on like there third saw probably dont have the one they should . I would venture to say that at least half of the guys buying there first saw have bought the wrong saw for there use . I have seen from way oversized to do the job to way under to do the job . I really like it when someone says to me they need a saw with a 16 inch bar . Well I have a 180 with a 16 inch bar and I could put a 16 inch bar on my 460 and actualy have a 16 inch bar on my 360 .

My personal feelings are I really think that a guy heating his whole house with wood should have at least 2 if not 3 saws . Depending on your weekend warrior status and the size and type of wood you cut . If all you cut is log lenght delivered to your home ,then one saw is fine but if you are knockin them down ,brushing out and bucking them I am a firm beleaver of the small to mid saw and then a large saw .

For my local cutting needs if I was on a 2 saw budget it would be a 250 -260 and then a 361 or 390 .
If I was on a 3 saw budget I would look for a small trimmer saw like Jay just added his 192 or in my case I have my 180's . Then like a 280 and a 460

Even though a person can make it work with one saw I really think the best situation is 2 saws .

Now with that being said my brother ha had a 250 for years and has been suppling all the wood for heating his home which has been about 8 cord a year , but he rarely cuts anything bigger than about 16 inches .

My other brother had an only 028 for years then traded it for a 290 for what ever reason then bought a smaller saw due to him not likeing the weight of the 290 for brushing .

My honest opinion would be for you to do the 250 thing now and if down the road your wood needs increase or you start cutting bigger stuff then add a bigger saw . Besides its always nice to have back up saw .



This is my 2 cents worth .
Webie

Pegasus,
I've got both the MS250 and MS361, the former was $310 w/16" bar and the latter was $600 w/18" bar and a lot of goodies. If you'll be cutting only 2 cords/year at <15" and doing a lot of the limbing, that 250 would be my go-to both for the money and size. If, however, you want one saw and think your wood production may go up when you get better gear (which it did for me) or that you have a decent amount of >15" trees to fell/buck, I would look at something bigger/better.

A lot of people will suggest the MS290, but, and I always get slack for this, I think it's a pig and wouldn't want to be limbing or felling small stuff. But, for the first application of <2 cords, it'd be fine. For the second application above, you'd be better to score a used 260 or 361.

Good luck,

S

smokinjay said:

Tony H said:

I have a 250 and while it's a fine saw there is a model or two just a small amount more . I want to say the last I looked the 250 was 319.00 or so and the ? was a little more saw and 339.00 or 349.00 might be the 290 or 310 ? can't remember just wish my old dealer had pointed that out back then.

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hind site is 20/20 last 3 years I have own 7 saws and sold 3- 180,260,290, mac 3145 still have 460,361,192t

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I've used a 32cc Craftsman for a few years. It runs fine, starts quickly. Takes a while to whittle through a good sized tree or long, but it works. However, the vibration is a killer. I just bought a new Stihl MS 390 . Amazing difference. Perhaps it's more saw than I really need but it gets the job done quickly and I know it will last longer than I will, probably.

You might compare the price of a new Poulon or Craftsman vs a used Stihl from a dealer. The dealer will have it tuned up and running good as a new one and it will be a much better saw than even a brand new low end saw. Many of those low end ones are throw aways without sleeved pistons. So you just toss them when they burn out on you.

pegasus said:

Here is my background;
My primary heat source is geothermal and I just purchased a Jotul Combifire #4. I plan on using the wood stove when the temperatures are too cold for the geothermal to keep up and when I lose power. I am estimating on using at most 2 cords of wood a winter. The majority of the trees I will be cutting are Oak and Maple. Would a cheap chainsaw like a Craftsman/Poulan sufice or do I need to by a Stihl?

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The cheapo saws saws are actually pretty reliable so as a first tentative step they're fine.

I think you'll find yourself burning a lot more than you think when it's all said and done, so, buying a better saw from the get-go ain't a bad idea either. If so, skip the Stihls with black handles.

Also, get your wood in right now if you haven't already. And start on your 2011-12 wood ASAP.

pegasus said:

Kenster said:

smokinjay said:

Tony H said:

I have a 250 and while it's a fine saw there is a model or two just a small amount more . I want to say the last I looked the 250 was 319.00 or so and the ? was a little more saw and 339.00 or 349.00 might be the 290 or 310 ? can't remember just wish my old dealer had pointed that out back then.

Click to expand...

hind site is 20/20 last 3 years I have own 7 saws and sold 3- 180,260,290, mac 3145 still have 460,361,192t

Click to expand...

I've used a 32cc Craftsman for a few years. It runs fine, starts quickly. Takes a while to whittle through a good sized tree or long, but it works. However, the vibration is a killer. I just bought a new Stihl MS 390 . Amazing difference. Perhaps it's more saw than I really need but it gets the job done quickly and I know it will last longer than I will, probably.

You might compare the price of a new Poulon or Craftsman vs a used Stihl from a dealer. The dealer will have it tuned up and running good as a new one and it will be a much better saw than even a brand new low end saw. Many of those low end ones are throw aways without sleeved pistons. So you just toss them when they burn out on you.

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I have looked at some used Stihls on Ebay but I have yet to ask my local dealers to see if they have any used ones in stock. I will have to see what is out there. I would not buy a saw off of Ebay but I get a good idea of what a used model would cost.

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with what you have the 290 is a rugged and strong enough that you will not need to borrow dads 031 in fact he may be borrowing your saw. 250 would be more of a back-up saw you get 10cc more for 40.00 bucks

I think the 250 is very under-rated--I dropped and bucked 13 trees (between 14-22 inches) in one day last year and the saw didn't even hiccup. Of course, it is a homeowner saw and some pro snobs'll turn their noses up at them. But I think it's a nice little saw with good power/weight ratio.

Get it, start cuttin' and post some pics!

S

thinkxingu said:

I think the 250 is very under-rated--I dropped and bucked 13 trees (between 14-22 inches) in one day last year and the saw didn't even hiccup. Of course, it is a homeowner saw and some pro snobs'll turn their noses up at them. But I think it's a nice little saw with good power/weight ratio.

Get it, start cuttin' and post some pics!

S

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the 250 not the issue as you see you have a 361 this would be his only saw therefore I would go with the 290