Another help me spend my money, saw purchase thread

[BillsDuster]

Hey guys, I read the forums almost daily on my phone, but never have much to post as I am still learning yet. We installed a Drolet insert in our fireplace this past November, and let me tell you, we fell in love with wood heat! Not to mention cutting our gas bills each month by half or more. Typical this winter was 55-60% less then last year, and this year was bitter bitter cold compared to winter of 2012/13. Only went through just about four cord supplementing or nat gas furnace. Really the furnace only ever kicked on right before I'd get up for work after the night fire burned down.

Now I know there is a million threads out there asking which saw is best for me, what length bar, ect, ect. Well I'll save some of the trouble as I have done some research, and have talked to two of my local dealers this week(ones a stilh/echo dealer, the other echo/husky). I'm looking for more of an opinion on my choices that isn't swayed by the brands the dealers sell.

These are the saws I have been looking at recently, which I believe will be plenty enough machine for my uses. I honestly can't see cutting more then five cord of wood a year tops. Beyond the first year or two to get ahead on supply. All of the wood I'll be cutting is 16" in diameter or less, red oak(leaving the white for the critters), maple, cherry, black locus, ect.

I looked at...

Stihl 251, had an 18" bar, 45cc, and was around $350

Stihl 271, also was 18", 50cc, was around $400

Echo 450P, believe it also was 18", 45cc, around $380. Five year warranty!? Worth it or a selling point.

Echo 590, 18 or 20" don't remember, 60cc?, was $400. May have been last years model or before as they only has the display.

Haven't really looked at husky but their 450/450 rancher would be comparative price wise.

Which would you recommend for my scenario? I don't know much about echo personally. My budget is topped out at $400ish, and obviously I want to get the best tool for my money. Both dealers I talked to offered echo saws, one also offered sthil the other husky. The husky dealer talked down the stihls, the other dealer didn't so much the huskys. I did consider purchasing a big and small saw, but I think one good saw with a couple different lengths of bar may be better right now budget wise. A big box store saw is NOT an option!

I also have my grandpas old old circa 1979 homelite, which is NOT light to use haha. It runs great and has cut cords and cords of wood for him, but I want to reserve it as a back up saw now that I plan to do more then just camp firewood cutting.

 

[jatoxico]

How many cords a year do you think you'll be cutting?

 

[BillsDuster]

Likely no more then five maybe six cord a year. Little more this year because I want to get ahead on my future supply.

 

[jatoxico]

Not a saw expert or aficionado but sounds like 45-50 cc is in the right range. I think weight matters. I picked up a Makita 64 cc and it's supposed to be a great saw but it's heavy and would not make a great firewood saw IMO. I've heard the Rancher is a bit heavy given it's power but IDK first hand.

I just bought a factory reconditioned husky for about 1/2 what a new saw would have cost w/ tax. Had to fiddle around and got the carb adjusting tool but its humming now (knocks on wood). If you're not against doing some tuning that could be an option and a way to justify getting 2 saws like you want.

 

[Como]

Echo 590

List is $400

HD sells them.

 

[smokedragon]

Of those choices, go with the 271 or the echo 590 (although I am partial to Stihl). Just like buying a bigger stove, I have never heard someone complain about their saw being too big. None of those saws are so big that they couldn't be used for everything (limbing, felling, bucking) depending on the size of wood you are getting into. I really like a 16 - 18" bar too. A nice all around size.

I don't know the size of that homelite, but you may well consider running a 14" bar on it for smaller stuff and then a large saw for the heavy lifting. I don't know anything about husky, but if he tried to talk down the Stihl's then he has never used one. They are reliable, rugged, and run well. There are way to many of the 20 - 30 year old saws from Stihl that still cut firewood every year for someone to talk them down. I have run McCollough, craftsman, poulan, homelite, ryobi........I will take my 34 year old stihl 028AV that I bought used in 2004 and had to work on to get running over a brand new of any big box store. If you buy husky, buy a pro saw. Otherwise, you are getting a big box saw with a fancy name on it (and there are others on here who are fans of husky that will agree with me). That said, a professional model from husky will be a great saw for years.

 

[cityboy172]

Of your choices, the ms271. I am craving a Husqvarna Autotune in a bad way right now. The saw depends on what kind of wood you are going after. I have a ms250 (18"), ms290 (18") and a ms 460 (24&28"). I rarely touch my 250 or 290. Where I cut I have access to a bobcat, and cut big stuff to accumulate a lot of weight in a hurry. If I didn't have the equiptment, It would be a different story. The stihl ms260 is probly the most appealing small(er) saw in their line up, to me anyways. I've been eyeing a 70 + cc Husky autotune for a while. If my ms460 makes it through the summer, there will be an upgrade durring the winter. If it doesn't, there will be an early upgrade.

 

[Clarkbug]

From that list, I would say the Echo 590, get it with the 18" bar if you can, from one of the dealers. That way you can get the full benefit of the warranty. Keep an eye on your mix, because "fuel issues" are the thing that always tosses the warranty out the window. You also want a dealer to set the carb on the saw, not something you would get at a big box.

The 590 is a relatively new release, but is the same motor/chassis as the 600. Differences are a spur sprocket, laminated bar, and aluminum clutch cover (I think.....). Will it last the test of time? I dunno. But it should cut 5 cord a year for a good long time....

Above all, shop at the dealer that you get a good vibe about. Having a guy that knows his stuff is worth it for sure.

 

[Osagebndr]

I've heard a lot of good things about the echo 590 ( Timberwolf?). They maybe on sale, last I looked they were anyway and if you go with the ms271 I would suggest not running more than an 18" bar on it .

 

[mstoelton]

Call around to the local HD stores and talk with the tool rental dept. HD periodically sells their rental saws. They are Makita 6421 saws. This saw is a beast. New they run about $600. Used HD sells them for ~$280.

I got one last week at the Livonia MI HD. The saw is near new and runs great, easy to start and they have a reputation for being bullet proof.

This is actually a Dolmar (german) saw with Makita markings.

When I spoke to the HD store (I called 3), they said that they get a list once a month on which tools to sell. They also said they were expecting some new chainsaws for their rental dept. and that means they will be selling some of the old ones. Apparently this is the time of year they replace their rental chainsaws.

 

[ironworker]

Dollar for dollar your best bet is the echo 590 runs almost as good as a $700 stihl or husky 60cc saw.

 

[roadiestar]

Echo 590

 

[guts and glory]

I just went from a 16" craftsman to a 18" Stihl MS 291...WOW! I guessI never used a chainsaw! . I would try and buy from a power equipment place if possible...the echo's I see at HD look different from the ones @ my tractor dealer... (unless I have my model years mixed up)

 

[BillsDuster]

Thank you for all of the helpful replies so far! I took the saw I have of my grandfathers out of my truck tool box today. It is a Homelite Super XL Automatic, with a 16" bar on it. I thought I might want to add in the saw I have been currently using for comparison. A quick google search found that this saw is a 58.2cc. Kind of surprised actually at the size but on the other hand, not really because this is the saw grandpa used for felling all of the trees on the property that heated their house. He had two small saws that he used for limbing back then from what I'm told.

I plan to stop at another two dealers that are local and try to get a feel for their shops and see how they rate the products. I am almost certain of the dealer that I will be buying from, but it never hurts to be as informed as possible. Might also give the local home depots a call, never hurts to ask right.

 

[midwestcoast]

I'd say you're in perfect 50cc territory there. No need for a bigger or second saw.
I don't know Echo, but the Stihl 271 would do you well.
If you want a husky option, look at the 545. 50cc pro-sumer grade and should be around $450.

 

[kjahnz]

Of your choices, the ms271. I am craving a Husqvarna Autotune in a bad way right now. The saw depends on what kind of wood you are going after. I have a ms250 (18"), ms290 (18") and a ms 460 (24&28"). I rarely touch my 250 or 290. Where I cut I have access to a bobcat, and cut big stuff to accumulate a lot of weight in a hurry. If I didn't have the equiptment, It would be a different story. The stihl ms260 is probly the most appealing small(er) saw in their line up, to me anyways. I've been eyeing a 70 + cc Husky autotune for a while. If my ms460 makes it through the summer, there will be an upgrade durring the winter. If it doesn't, there will be an early upgrade.

when your ms460 gives up on you, let me know, I am looking for a project saw. the 460 is exactly what I am looking for. It would fit in just right, with my other saws.

 

[cityboy172]

when your ms460 gives up on you, let me know, I am looking for a project saw. the 460 is exactly what I am looking for. It would fit in just right, with my other saws.

Nah, it will probably be my winter project. Jug and piston look real bad. Worse thing about it is it needs a flywheel case half. The cup around the front bushing has a chunk out of it, so it eats bushings and is probably a little softer then it should be.

Might send it off to be ported and rebuilt. I hear they respond real well. We'll see. I need to get on the 3 year plan this year, so it's got some work to do.

 

[bobdog2o02]

I love both of my echo saws, CS-400 and CS-670. I was going to buy the 590 new until i foun d the 670 1yr used for half the price. Echo saws are not quite the power house tools that Stihl makes but are built to be abused. They dont rev as fast but typically pull more torque, you know the actual power that pulls the chain.

I would maybe shy away from any business that says bad things about competitor saws.... Weight is a big thing to consider if you plan on working the saw more than an hour or so, can get rough on the back lifting a 20Lb saw repeatedly in addition to hefting your wood too.

 

[ironworker]

If anyone is worried about one pound than chances are you're not man enough to even be running a chainsaw and chopping wood.

 

[bobdog2o02]

If anyone is worried about one pound than chances are you're not man enough to even be running a chainsaw and chopping wood.

I guess your a man or something then......

 

[BrotherBart]

I guess your a man or something then......

Or not a scrawny 66 year old one...

 

[smokedragon]

When bucking, that extra pound is resting on the log and I let the dogs do the work.

When felling (which I don't have to do a lot) that extra pound is not noticed (cause you should be paying attention to your angles and the tree).

The only time that extra pound may be noticed is when limbing. I limb with a 55 cc saw, so I don't see the big deal.

Those rounds will weigh a lot more than that saw does, no matter what model you purchase.

I am a Stihl man, because I know they are reliable and well built. If Echo gives you the same feeling and the price is right, buy it. Trust me, the weight of that saw will not even be noticed when you start hauling what the saw just cut.

 

[BillsDuster]

Well gentlemen, the time has come. We had our quarterly meeting at work, and were surprised with a very good bonus. So tomorrow is chain saw purchasing day. I just got home from the dealer trying to make up my mind and handle the saws once more before it comes down to the purchase. I'm kind of excessive at researching and comparing items before a big purchase. You should see me pace when it comes down to one chartplotter over another for the boat, I'll damn near wear the carpet out lol.

I have narrowed it down to:

Stihl ms271, dealer has 18" and 20" in stock with .320? chain

and the Echo 590, the dealer has 20" in stock with 3/8 chain

Both are from the same dealer and at the same price point. Dealer services both brands of saws. They did explain more of what Stihl requires of them in trainings to remain a dealer vs what Echo requires of them.

I am slightly leaning toward the Stihl saw mainly just from a fit and finish stand point, and that I have heard and seen the name more often. Both saws felt the same in hand, though the Echo seemed a bit more plasticy feeling/looking where the case on the Stihl just felt a bit more solid. I guess for what I'll be doing (~5 cord a year, no more then 16-18" dia oaks) either saw will work well for quite some time.

Any final thoughts?

 

[bobdog2o02]

Well gentlemen, the time has come. We had our quarterly meeting at work, and were surprised with a very good bonus. So tomorrow is chain saw purchasing day. I just got home from the dealer trying to make up my mind and handle the saws once more before it comes down to the purchase. I'm kind of excessive at researching and comparing items before a big purchase. You should see me pace when it comes down to one chartplotter over another for the boat, I'll damn near wear the carpet out lol.

I have narrowed it down to:

Stihl ms271, dealer has 18" and 20" in stock with .320? chain

and the Echo 590, the dealer has 20" in stock with 3/8 chain

Both are from the same dealer and at the same price point. Dealer services both brands of saws. They did explain more of what Stihl requires of them in trainings to remain a dealer vs what Echo requires of them.

I am slightly leaning toward the Stihl saw mainly just from a fit and finish stand point, and that I have heard and seen the name more often. Both saws felt the same in hand, though the Echo seemed a bit more plasticy feeling/looking where the case on the Stihl just felt a bit more solid. I guess for what I'll be doing (~5 cord a year, no more then 16-18" dia oaks) either saw will work well for quite some time.

Any final thoughts?

Have you run a demo of either saw? Stationary is one thing, in use is another....

 

[tsquini]

I just bought the 590 a few weeks ago. I've been cutting up big oak trees. It comes with a 20" bar. I have no complaints yet.