Chain saw shopping

BrotherBart said:

I will catch grief for it but here is the saw I recommend. I have two of its little brothers that I have run the crap out of for three years with no problems. The decompression button for starting is a plus on this one too. It would be better if this one had a 16" bar but the 18" shouldn't be a problem.

She can have it shipped free to your local Lowe's. And if you don't like it they take stuff back no questions asked.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_197596-86886-965084138_0__?productId=1229529

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You might want to look at factory refurb of same saw at VMInnovations dot com for $226. Got a refurb 455r from them for $306 f.o.b. my door, w/new b&c. Would repeat in a heartbeat. Your $, your call.

Either the Stihl or the Husky that were recommended multiple times will work great for you. I have the Husky because that is what I can get the best service for where I live. Both saws are good so let the matter of local quality service be the deciding factor.

I can recommend no saws in the $300 range - unless you find something used - and that's a crapshoot too.

BrotherBart said:

I don't know about where anybody else lives but the local Husky shop has no problem servicing Lowe's stuff. He sent me there because he didn't have the model garden tractor I needed with gear drive and I lug too much weight with one for a hydro. He said if it was Husky, bring it in. He said he does all of their warranty work here no problem.

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Good service!

I waste a lot of time compulsively shopping before a purchase so I "knew" all the garbage like power/weight and "don't buy too big/small a saw" and "What you really want is 10 saws for each species of tree you may encounter. Get a trailer and a guide for the woods". I eventually burned myself out and just bought a chainsaw that cuts wood. I cut around 2-3 cord per year, mostly oak. I didn't want used because I wouldn't know if something was screwed up or in dangerous condition. I went to Stihl because they were about 1/2 mile closer than Husky and I wanted the real thing, not a big box knock off (one of my anti-corporate funks). I walked in, told the guy what I needed to do (actually I said 5 cord/year) and he recommended 250-290. I picked up the 250 and then the 290, then went back to the 250 and walked to the counter to buy. It felt right. The 290 seemed a lot heavier and I wasn't planning on going to a larger bar. I figured with a 16" saw I could fell anything I needed to cut on my property.

I have to say it was disappointing the first time I used it. It didn't cut any faster than my old homelite (that incidentally was stuck in a tree, the reason I was chainsaw shopping that day). I figured oh well, I should've bought the bigger one. Then I read about safety chains.......... The safety chain is now my dirty wood chain. With the more aggressive chain the saw cuts much faster but any kickback is not overpowering. If I bury it I can bog it down but then you just let up and she keeps on going. With a real sharp chain the chips fill up quick. Very happy with it. I think auto-decompression would be nice on a larger saw but its pretty easy to start as long as you don't flood it. Once in a while I find an MS260 pro on Craigslist but I'd have to cut more wood if I bought it. A longer bar would be nice but I'm not out there day after day. 2 hours with that saw will give me 4-10 hours of splitting/stacking and hauling brush.

WoodNStuff said:

BrotherBart said:

I don't know about where anybody else lives but the local Husky shop has no problem servicing Lowe's stuff. He sent me there because he didn't have the model garden tractor I needed with gear drive and I lug too much weight with one for a hydro. He said if it was Husky, bring it in. He said he does all of their warranty work here no problem.

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Good service!

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Somebody has a good head for the OPE business in the 21st century.

CTYank said:

You might want to look at factory refurb of same saw at VMInnovations dot com for $226. Got a refurb 455r from them for $306 f.o.b. my door, w/new b&c. Would repeat in a heartbeat. Your $, your call.

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+1 Love my refurb 445! Really a great saw and the refurb looked brand new (though the chain did need to be sharpened out of the box).

k, not trying to start a saw war (stihl vs. husky)...but, the husky i bought back in 84 is still going strong and is the only chain saw i have had....ever. either of those 2 brands should be a good choice

http://asheville.craigslist.org/tls/2701510957.html

Here is a clean saw in HVL. There are many like this on Craig's list from my observation.

If I had around $300 to spend, I would probably go for the 445 husq. Its a decent bang for the buck. As others have said, try to buy from a dealer.

You would love running a Dolmar 420. Very solid 42 cc saw that cuts like a much bigger saw. Pro-quality build, high-revving little beast with plenty of torque, but smooth as butter in the cut. Easy to pull, and it starts third pull every time. About $300.

yooperdave said:

k, not trying to start a saw war (stihl vs. husky)...but, the husky i bought back in 84 is still going strong and is the only chain saw i have had....ever. either of those 2 brands should be a good choice

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I've still got a '70s Homelite that runs brand new. Bad part is its hard to start and has no safety features. Can't get real parts for it and is as heavy as a cinderblock.

btuser said:

and is as heavy as a cinderblock.

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At least it cuts better than a cinder block. LOL. I would need a chain brake!!

WoodNStuff said:

btuser said:

and is as heavy as a cinderblock.

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At least it cuts better than a cinder block. LOL. I would need a chain brake!!

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There's also no vibration isolation. It will shake the fillings out of your teeth.

btuser said:

WoodNStuff said:

btuser said:

and is as heavy as a cinderblock.

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At least it cuts better than a cinder block. LOL. I would need a chain brake!!

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There's also no vibration isolation. It will shake the fillings out of your teeth.

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Need that too. Come to think of it. I also need a machine that grabs my chainsaw and bucks out my logs to 16". LOL. Now that would be the chainsaw. Then again after the novelty wore off, I'd be completely bored with it. I love C/S/S.

~*~Kathleen~*~ said:

Bigg_Redd said:

I can recommend no saws in the $300 range - unless you find something used - and that's a crapshoot too.

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So lovely of you to join us today Redd ;-)

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Just trying to help

I run a Stihl Farmboss most of the time. I really like it.

But more importantly:

Whatever saw you go with, do this one thing. Learn how to operate it safely and skillfully from someone who has used one for many, many years. And knows how to do it safely. Take your time, make sure you where protective equipment at all times. A pair of Chaps, Safety glasses, good heavy boots, etc.

It does not matter what size or type of saw you are using, they can all hurt you bad.

Sorry about the rant, don't want to see you get hurt.

Good luck with your new saw. They are a great tool, just need to be respected, like anything else that is dangerous.

Not sure if you made up your mind yet. Here is another local saw:

http://asheville.craigslist.org/tls/2699160635.html

Battenkiller said:

You would love running a Dolmar 420. Very solid 42 cc saw that cuts like a much bigger saw. Pro-quality build, high-revving little beast with plenty of torque, but smooth as butter in the cut. Easy to pull, and it starts third pull every time. About $300.

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+1

yooperdave said:

k, not trying to start a saw war (stihl vs. husky)...but, the husky i bought back in 84 is still going strong and is the only chain saw i have had....ever. either of those 2 brands should be a good choice

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That's like 27 years!! :wow:

Prolly best at this point to NOT get yer hands on a Stihl . . . the thought of how you wasted those 27 years will just make you sick :lol: :lol:

AnyWho, Kathleen, Get the Auntie to just kick in $300 toward the saw ya really want

ISeeDeadBTUs said:

yooperdave said:

k, not trying to start a saw war (stihl vs. husky)...but, the husky i bought back in 84 is still going strong and is the only chain saw i have had....ever. either of those 2 brands should be a good choice

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That's like 27 years!! :wow:

Prolly best at this point to NOT get yer hands on a Stihl . . . the thought of how you wasted those 27 years will just make you sick :lol: :lol:

AnyWho, Kathleen, Get the Auntie to just kick in $300 toward the saw ya really want

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That is so funny....thanks for the chuckle JImbo

I'm very happy with my Dolmar 510 - three years old and I've gone through about 20 cord. Fairly light and has good power. Cheers!

+1 on the MS250 - nice saw.