Chainsaw for Newbie
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dougand3
Minister of Fire
What parts do the Poulan and Craftsman need? Carb cleaning/rebuild? Can you repair yourself? If a saw shop repair bill is required - probably be more than the saw is worth. 42cc/18" Poulans or Homelites can be had for ~$100. Check prices at vminnovations.
Pennsyltucky Chris
Minister of Fire
I found an almost rand new ms250 for $250. It looked like it was never used. The guy I bought it from on CL said he still had the original gas in it. He was 70 and just decided it was too much to keep bucking wood. He threw in his 271 for $275, and I couldn't say no. The 271 is a 55cc ranch saw. The 250 is a 45cc homeowners. But, being stihls, they are beasts. Look around CL for bargains. You can't go wrong with a stihl. Also, the 291 is a great saw. My dad has one. But I believe they run close to $450. Stihls do run a bit long in the wallet, but they last forever.
bigbarf48
Minister of Fire
If you want a 170 it'll do you fine IF you respect it's limitations which it doesn't sound like you realize
It will NOT pull an 18" bar well, and maybe not at all after it overheats from lack of oil. I have a 16" on mine and it does fine of you take your time. It certainly won't be blazing through 24"+ trees but it can do it if you're in a pinch. It works best in smaller wood so if you can pick and choose what you can take it'll be fine. I can't, so I ended up getting an ms291 for the big stuff
You may also consider an ms250 if you want to run an 18" bar
If you want a pro saw great, they're awesome to use. But you certainly don't need a pro saw to cut 6 cords a year. If you can swing it they'll make your cutting experience a little better but Ive found my 170 and 291 to be perfectly capable and fine pieces of equipment
It will NOT pull an 18" bar well, and maybe not at all after it overheats from lack of oil. I have a 16" on mine and it does fine of you take your time. It certainly won't be blazing through 24"+ trees but it can do it if you're in a pinch. It works best in smaller wood so if you can pick and choose what you can take it'll be fine. I can't, so I ended up getting an ms291 for the big stuff
You may also consider an ms250 if you want to run an 18" bar
If you want a pro saw great, they're awesome to use. But you certainly don't need a pro saw to cut 6 cords a year. If you can swing it they'll make your cutting experience a little better but Ive found my 170 and 291 to be perfectly capable and fine pieces of equipment
bigbarf48
Minister of Fire
Also, if you're wanting to put your poulan 18" bars on the 170, I doubt they're compatible but I'll defer to someone more experienced than I for that issue
TreePointer
Minister of Fire
TreePointer
Minister of Fire
After you get your quality saw, you'll only be using a 42cc Poulan/Craftsman saw as backup. You might as well sell one on CL and put that money toward your Stihl, Husqvarna, Dolmar, etc.
Driver
Member
I'm with razerface on this one. If you are only cutting wood to burn occasionally any saw will do. If your main heat source is wood and you have to cut that wood to feed the beast, you want equipment that will get the job done as quick and easily as possible.
Osagebndr
Minister of Fire
I just broke down and bought a Stihl ms271. Love the Stihl saws got great power for under 400. But you want a great deal wait til season is over and get on Craigslist you'll find it. I burnt up a 35 cc saw this year and a 42 cc echo . Get a good one it'll be there when you need it.
The Stihl MS 251 can be had around here for $325 brand new. It's a 45cc saw, and it's a nice one. It'll more than handle 6 cords per year, and I'd be very surprised if you ever had to mess with parts or tuning for a long time. Sharpen the chain, blow out the air filter often and you wont be messing with fixing instead of cutting. My time is very precious, so I NEED my stuff to work. I'm not a saw mechanic, so if I NEVER have to work on my saw...awesome! I'm in it to cut wood not tinker with finicky saws.
A quick reality check to consider when pondering homeowner vs professional. The lines are really blurred. Stihl doesn't make anything sub-par. Their "homeowner" saws are typically smaller, with features geared toward someone who doesn't cut all the time like easy start, quick chain tensioning, etc. This doesn't make them any less durable. The biggest difference used to be anti-vibration mounting on the pro saws, but now Stihl puts this on all their models. A smaller homeowner can be pressed into service by a "pro" and do quite well for a very long time. It may not be the most efficient tool they can use, when time is money but again the tool will perform and wont blow up into a parts explosion. My main saw is a pro grade Stihl 460 magnum which is a very powerful saw...I got it to help speed up my cutting when dealing with huge oak, beech, and black gum logs. I ran a 290 for years before getting my bigger saw, and it did a good job just not as quickly as my large saw. What I'm getting at here is...don't let the label "home owner" get you nervous when looking at Stihl saws. It's a label to help guide the user of the saw to the right model based on size and features, not at all indicative of quality or ability.
A quick reality check to consider when pondering homeowner vs professional. The lines are really blurred. Stihl doesn't make anything sub-par. Their "homeowner" saws are typically smaller, with features geared toward someone who doesn't cut all the time like easy start, quick chain tensioning, etc. This doesn't make them any less durable. The biggest difference used to be anti-vibration mounting on the pro saws, but now Stihl puts this on all their models. A smaller homeowner can be pressed into service by a "pro" and do quite well for a very long time. It may not be the most efficient tool they can use, when time is money but again the tool will perform and wont blow up into a parts explosion. My main saw is a pro grade Stihl 460 magnum which is a very powerful saw...I got it to help speed up my cutting when dealing with huge oak, beech, and black gum logs. I ran a 290 for years before getting my bigger saw, and it did a good job just not as quickly as my large saw. What I'm getting at here is...don't let the label "home owner" get you nervous when looking at Stihl saws. It's a label to help guide the user of the saw to the right model based on size and features, not at all indicative of quality or ability.
Osagebndr
Minister of Fire
For to agree with all that I had a 290& 039 cut hundreds of ricks wither when I sold firewood and sold both . Guy is still runnin the guts out of them. Proof is in the pudding
xman23
Minister of Fire
My Stihl 260 pro is 13 years old. 2 to 3 cords a year and haven't done anything except sparkplug and air filter. As far as I can tell it has the same power as it did new. I love quality, reliable products and this saw is that.
splitoak
Member
I bought a brand new ms 290 with an 18" bar...alittle on the heavy side but it just plain eats...u can pick up one on CL in good shape for bout $250..of course an rs chain helps...
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