Chainsaw advice needed before I lose a limb (no pun intended)!!

[Roospike]

"OR" one can spend the money now and buy a quality grade chainsaw that will last many years if not a lifetime for 4-6 cord a year firewood cutters and not have to buy the occasional use chainsaw over and over again.

I've always pushed the issue that the cheaper tool is now always less $$. Most of the time the cheap low $$ tool is going to cost more in a 15 year span then a quality grade tool. Unfortunately it has to be a hard lesson learned before a lot of folks figure it out.

my .02

 

[Gooserider]

"OR" one can spend the money now and buy a quality grade chainsaw that will last many years if not a lifetime for 4-6 cord a year firewood cutters and not have to buy the occasional use chainsaw over and over again.

I've always pushed the issue that the cheaper tool is now always less $$. Most of the time the cheap low $$ tool is going to cost more in a 15 year span then a quality grade tool. Unfortunately it has to be a hard lesson learned before a lot of folks figure it out.

my .02

I tend to agree Roospike, and I'm not afraid to spend what I have to in order to get a reasonable quality tool. However I also see a need to balance how much one intends to use a tool with what it's worth to spend on it. When I purchased the Poulan, I was not doing significant burning, and wasn't really planning to. The intent was pretty well matched to what the saw is - something for occasional use in a suburban yard that has lots of trees. Maybe an occasional drop, cutting up or trimming branches and other light use. Maybe one or two tanks of gas a year. It wasn't worth getting a fancy saw.


Since I've started burning, I probably used that saw as much or more this past summer than I had anticipated doing in five or six YEARS. (This year alone I think I used three or four gallons of gas, and I'm on my third gallon of chain oil for the life of the saw)
Now that I'm burning, I will probably look at getting a much better grade saw the next time I go to upgrade. (Will check out the reviews more first, but it looks like Stihl or Echo is the way to go from what I've seen so far...)

Gooserider

 

[Roospike]

"OR" one can spend the money now and buy a quality grade chainsaw that will last many years if not a lifetime for 4-6 cord a year firewood cutters and not have to buy the occasional use chainsaw over and over again.

I've always pushed the issue that the cheaper tool is now always less $$. Most of the time the cheap low $$ tool is going to cost more in a 15 year span then a quality grade tool. Unfortunately it has to be a hard lesson learned before a lot of folks figure it out.

my .02

I tend to agree Roospike, and I'm not afraid to spend what I have to in order to get a reasonable quality tool. However I also see a need to balance how much one intends to use a tool with what it's worth to spend on it. When I purchased the Poulan, I was not doing significant burning, and wasn't really planning to. The intent was pretty well matched to what the saw is - something for occasional use in a suburban yard that has lots of trees. Maybe an occasional drop, cutting up or trimming branches and other light use. Maybe one or two tanks of gas a year. It wasn't worth getting a fancy saw.


Since I've started burning, I probably used that saw as much or more this past summer than I had anticipated doing in five or six YEARS. (This year alone I think I used three or four gallons of gas, and I'm on my third gallon of chain oil for the life of the saw)
Now that I'm burning, I will probably look at getting a much better grade saw the next time I go to upgrade. (Will check out the reviews more first, but it looks like Stihl or Echo is the way to go from what I've seen so far...)

Gooserider

I agree , I started off with a Craftsman 38cc chainsaw myself to cut trees and limbs around the house and some wood. Got serious about heating with wood and had to upgrade to the Husqvarnas i have now.

Top chainsaw brands are:
#1 Husqvarna , Stihl . ~ Top dogs
#2 Dolmar , Jonsered , Redmax . ~Good chainsaws not as pouplar or as many dealers.
#3 Echo ~ Good mid range chainsaw.
#4 Poulan / Craftsman / other name brands of the same company.

(note: Husqvarna , Jonsered , Redmax , Poulan , Craftsman are all the same "Husqvarna company" . Husqvarna /Jonsered = same saws. Husqvarna just bought Redmax so Redmax is still it own make and model chainsaw. Poulan , Craftsman and Husqvarna model 340 and down are all made per the Poulan chainsaw plant. Husqvarna model 345 and up are all made in Sweden per Husqvarna)

 

[BigV]

I have owned a Stihl .029 Farmboss with a 21" bar now for almost 20 years. It has performed flawlessly and has cut everything I have put the blade into. I always keep 4 extra blades available and change them at the first sign of dulling and it still has the original bar (I don’t grease the sprocket). I have never added stabilizer to the gas mixture and it starts up within 3 pulls every time. I use an air compressor after every use to clean the bar, sprocket and air filter. I have had a Sears and a Montgomery Wards saw and the Stihl beats both hands down. For my money, it’s Stihl…

 

[ourhouse]

You cant go wrong with a Sthil or Husky. They make saws for home oners that cut a few times a year all the way up to the pro saws. Parts are very easy to get because there are saw shops everywhere. I have a Husky 50 that is 20+ years old and still runs great. I also have a 266 Husky that is also 20+ years old and still runs great. 3-5 pulls and it starts every time.

 

[reed102]

Commercial for Stihl.

http://www.kontraband.com/show/show.asp?ID=3622

 

[Marty]

I have an opportuinty to buy a Stihl 290 from my local tool rental shop for $200.00.

It has been rented out this summer so it has a lot of sawing in but the item woulde be treated as a new saw as my date of purchase for warentee coverage.

I would perfer a 270 or a 310 but this is whats available.

Good deal?

I ended up buying it.
Came with the manual, a bar cover, the tool, and 3 extra chains for 200+tax... the tune up the mech gave it right before he turned it over to me caused it to not hold idle... :rollseyes: ...but I was able to tweak it right again... so far no complaints... I have only used it to trim some oversized splits.