Stihl,Husq,Echo "OH MY"

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allhandsworking

Feeling the Heat
Sep 30, 2008
378
NYC
Im a urban wood scounger so im cutting small to medium stuff. I want a quility saw and I cut and split about 3 cords a year. I have McCullagh that was given to me its slow screws fall of. I have an old Craftsmen Orange all metal 14" blade that ripps up wood like butter but its starting to show its age! I want to spend about $300
Lowes has a Husqvarna 46cc 18' bar for about 300$

Stihl MS250 16" bar 46cc aboout $300

Echo cs450 with 5 year warrenty $375 What are your thoughts im in NYC Thanks!
 
I use an Echo CS-440 and love it. Starts every time, easy to maneuver, guts great, not as fast as the old craftsmen saws, but great saw. I also have an Echo string trimmer. Another great product. I cannot comment on the Stihl or Husqvarna, never used one. But very impressed by Echo products.
 
The MS250 doesn't get much love, but I think it's a great combination of power & weight--especially with a 16" bar and full-chisel chain. I've used mine a couple years now, and it's been bulletproof (and since it was my first saw, it took a beating!).

S
 
I've been using my wife's uncle's Husqvarna 142 for the past week while I wait for my Craftsman saw's repair parts to come in. Its a real nice saw, starts easy...incredibly light and comfortable to use. I put my craftsman 18" bar and chain on it (it comes with a 16) so I don't dull up his chain and it just goes right through everything no problem. For small to medium stuff as you describe this is plenty of saw for you. Its in your price range.
 
I've had my MS250 for a number of months now and I really like the saw. It's pretty much perfect for my needs right now. It starts easily, it runs great and it's got enough power for what I need.

Regardless of what saw you go with, go to a dealer. I'm sure the Big Box stores have some decent saws. But the support you'll get from the dealer is worth it IMHO. When I bought my saw, the guy went over everything...starting it, running it, chainbrake, how to sharpen the chain. I know a lot of that stuff can be basic, but it helps. He even swapped out the green safety chain for a Stihl yellow chain. They also filled out the warrantee stuff for me and mailed it in. I know that if I ever have an issue, I can go to the dealer and get it taken care of.
 
I am glad you mentioned the warranty.

Echo: 5 years
Husky: 2 years
Stihl: 1 year

I have a smaller Echo 370 that I have cut 16 cords with in the last 3 years and it's bullet proof. And at the price - basically a disposable saw. Very happy with it and wouldn't hesitate to own another ECHO. 37cc is small and I am currently looking for a bigger saw. The Echo 600 would be nice.

Truthfully, all three are good saws.
 
thinkxingu said:
The MS250 doesn't get much love, but I think it's a great combination of power & weight--especially with a 16" bar and full-chisel chain. I've used mine a couple years now, and it's been bulletproof (and since it was my first saw, it took a beating!).

S

Going on my 2nd. year without any issues myself. My start-up up is as follows. 2 pulls choke ,then move switch up 1 notch and starts on 3rd pull.
 
I despised my MS250C, until I fixed a factory defect on the Chinese carb that came on it. Now it runs pretty good.
I have the Husky Rancher 455, and like it a little better than the MS250C, but it is heavier and not that much more powerful.
Echo makes great stuff; I like the pole saw that I bought of theirs a lot.
 
As for the warranty: I bought an Echo ES-210 leaf blower/vac because of the 5-year warranty. This was after owning a Husqvarna BT125 for a couple days (blower only) and looking at the Stihl. I like the Echo, but the I wish I'd bought the Stihl--better balance, more sauce, and a couple better features.

Not so sure the warranty really matters on a great piece of equipment.

S
 
Not a bad choice there....But sure if it was me I would go ms250
 
I've no idea about the echo. Husky 445 has a pretty good rep from what I've seen, but not nearly as proven as the MS250. the Stihl is lighter too. Husky are notoriously, uh, stingey on warranty issues, so the extra year doesn't mean much.
I'd try to stay with a nice light saw if i were you as I'd be thinking to add a larger saw (65-80cc) down the road if needed. I scrounge as well, but find myself into big yard trees quite often. In fact a friend has had a huuuge Oak down on his property for 2 years & I haven't touched it as I'm not sure my 60cc saw is really up to it.
 
One thing I like about the husq is that partner saw is the same company. If I'm correct? In the FDNY we use partner saws to vent roofs. I have on a few occasions had the honor to have the roof position during top floor fire in tenements or tax payers where I has cutting threw 4" of tar and sheathing with flame coming up threw my cuts the saw would some times bog out because the smoke and heat would displace air. Step back and the saw would come back to life. Some times the tar would catch fire in the blade gard. The whole time you were standing over one or two floors of fully involved structure. I will never forget being the inside team in the heat and smoke no visibility and hearing the roof man making his cut to vent the flame and smoke. As soon as they had there hole open it would lift! What a relief! Those saws took a he'll of a beating!
 
Maybe borrow one from work? :) My Stihl 029 has been out of warranty for 13 years now and it still hasn't needed any service.
 
I like Dolmar & Echo, I'm not much of a fan of the lower priced Stihls & Huskys. If everyone has the same confidence in their product why don't they all have the long 5 year warrantee. I bought the Echo PPT280 pole saw & this is one well made powerfull cutter, Randy
 
Why put a 5-year warranty on something unless you're not sure it'll last that long?! I love my Echo, but it seems like they're buying confidence.
Mercedes has less of a warranty than Kia. Which would you trust? Sure are a lot more old Mercedes on the road than Kia.

S
 
thinkxingu said:
Why put a 5-year warranty on something unless you're not sure it'll last that long?! I love my Echo, but it seems like they're buying confidence.
Mercedes has less of a warranty than Kia. Which would you trust? Sure are a lot more old Mercedes on the road than Kia.

S
I was talking manufacturers confidence, not consumers. If you feel your product will last for 5 years why not have a 5 year warrantee on it? If one manufacturer has a 1 year warrantee & another a 5 year I immediatly think they know something about their product I don't, Randy
 
That was my point--I think the opposite, that the manufacturer is trying to convince me that they're product is not shoddy. And I gave examples of this. Warranty doesn't mean nothing if people believe in the product. That's probably Stihl's primary reason for success.

S
 
Singed Eyebrows said:
thinkxingu said:
Why put a 5-year warranty on something unless you're not sure it'll last that long?! I love my Echo, but it seems like they're buying confidence.
Mercedes has less of a warranty than Kia. Which would you trust? Sure are a lot more old Mercedes on the road than Kia.

S
I was talking manufacturers confidence, not consumers. If you feel your product will last for 5 years why not have a 5 year warrantee on it? If one manufacturer has a 1 year warrantee & another a 5 year I immediatly think they know something about their product I don't, Randy

I don't think the warranty has anything to do with manufacture confidence or product quality. It is about marketing. If they can make a cheap enough product, they can afford to repair or replace it at their option in the event of a "manufacture's defect" if the consumer bothers to jump through enough hoops to get that warranty coverage, they may convince a few more consumers to buy. Kinda like the extended warranties that they always try to sell. I told the last car sales guy that if he really thought I had to buy the extended warranty that the car must be a piece of chit and that I didn't want to buy it any more. The manufacture rolls the dice. Offer the warranty, make a sale, hope they don't have to repair or replace the thing.
 
Yes, we do think differently. I am not willing to use my imagination here. As an example, Echo has a 5 year warrantee for homeowner use, commercial is considerably less. Echo does not feel their product will last as long in this situation. You used the Mercedes/Kia example, simply put if the Mercedes warrantee is considerably less than the Kia it is because MB is worried about getting their vehicle through a 10 year warrantee. As a consumer you can use past reputation to make your choice or the sales pitch, I would take the written guarantee of a co that I know will be there 5 years from now like Echo over anyone elses 1 year warrantee, Randy
 
Flatbedford said:
Singed Eyebrows said:
thinkxingu said:
Why put a 5-year warranty on something unless you're not sure it'll last that long?! I love my Echo, but it seems like they're buying confidence.
Mercedes has less of a warranty than Kia. Which would you trust? Sure are a lot more old Mercedes on the road than Kia.

S
I was talking manufacturers confidence, not consumers. If you feel your product will last for 5 years why not have a 5 year warrantee on it? If one manufacturer has a 1 year warrantee & another a 5 year I immediatly think they know something about their product I don't, Randy

I don't think the warranty has anything to do with manufacture confidence or product quality. It is about marketing. If they can make a cheap enough product, they can afford to repair or replace it at their option in the event of a "manufacture's defect" if the consumer bothers to jump through enough hoops to get that warranty coverage, they may convince a few more consumers to buy. Kinda like the extended warranties that they always try to sell. I told the last car sales guy that if he really thought I had to buy the extended warranty that the car must be a piece of chit and that I didn't want to buy it any more. The manufacture rolls the dice. Offer the warranty, make a sale, hope they don't have to repair or replace the thing.
I don't agree Flatbed, Yes you can use warrantee as a sales gimmic up to a point. If you have massive warrantee claims that could be the end of your business. Your product still needs to make it through the warrantee period or at least most of them. Echo is willing to go out on a limb(Hearth humor) & the others are not willing to follow, Randy
 
Singed Eyebrows said:
Flatbedford said:
Singed Eyebrows said:
thinkxingu said:
Why put a 5-year warranty on something unless you're not sure it'll last that long?! I love my Echo, but it seems like they're buying confidence.
Mercedes has less of a warranty than Kia. Which would you trust? Sure are a lot more old Mercedes on the road than Kia.

S
I was talking manufacturers confidence, not consumers. If you feel your product will last for 5 years why not have a 5 year warrantee on it? If one manufacturer has a 1 year warrantee & another a 5 year I immediatly think they know something about their product I don't, Randy

I don't think the warranty has anything to do with manufacture confidence or product quality. It is about marketing. If they can make a cheap enough product, they can afford to repair or replace it at their option in the event of a "manufacture's defect" if the consumer bothers to jump through enough hoops to get that warranty coverage, they may convince a few more consumers to buy. Kinda like the extended warranties that they always try to sell. I told the last car sales guy that if he really thought I had to buy the extended warranty that the car must be a piece of chit and that I didn't want to buy it any more. The manufacture rolls the dice. Offer the warranty, make a sale, hope they don't have to repair or replace the thing.
I don't agree Flatbed, Yes you can use warrantee as a sales gimmic up to a point. If you have massive warrantee claims that could be the end of your business. Your product still needs to make it through the warrantee period or at least most of them. Echo is will to go out on a limb(Hearth humor) & the others are not will to follow, Randy

So will Kia.

I have Stihls and Fords
 
Singed, you said "simply put if the Mercedes warrantee [sic] is considerably less than the Kia it is because MB is worried about getting their vehicle through a 10 year warrantee [sic]." Do you seriously think Mercedes is more worried about their car lasting ten years than Kia?! I'll stick with the cars that don't offer 10-year warranties. Hell, in Forbes' and JD Power's most dependable brands on the road list, not a single one comes with more than a 5/60K warranty.

In any case, I will be replacing my Echo blower/vac with a Stihl at some point--regardless of the warranty, the Stihl performs better and (given statistics) will last longer than Echo promises.

S
 
Yes, I really believe that MB is worried about their car making it through a 10 year warrantee because(stay with me now) if they weren't it would have one. You are probably touting the quality engine, maybe transmission & differential. MB has a bunch of complicated systems though that can fail & MB does not want to get hung out for 10 years on these. Chances are the wheels aren't going to fall off your MB, there is much more to this complicated car though. Given the choice of statistics or a contract on paper I'll take the written warrantee, Randy
 
[quote author="allhandsworking" date="1287128962"]Im a urban wood scounger so im cutting small to medium stuff. I want a quility saw and I cut and split about 3 cords a year. I have McCullagh that was given to me its slow screws fall of. I have an old Craftsmen Orange all metal 14" blade that ripps up wood like butter but its starting to show its age! I want to spend about $300
Lowes has a Husqvarna 46cc 18' bar for about 300$

Stihl MS250 16" bar 46cc aboout $300

Echo cs450 with 5 year warrenty $375 What are your thoughts im in NYC Thanks![/quot

How does a husqy 460 sound at$350 one month old. Would this saw be too big or overkill?
 
If I wanted to stay below $300 I'd find a used Husky 350 in great shape for $200 and buy a new pair of Labonville chaps and take the wife out to dinner.
 
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