Inexpensive Chain saws

[illenema]

Hello! New to forum Finally got the wife (after 20 years) to let me burn wood in out fireplace.
Question. I see that they have some surprisingly great prices on chain saws on ebay- looking at a 22" for around 130$.. any good for homeowner? What would a drawback be

 

[ambull01]

Umm, who makes the saw and what is the model number? If you just want a decent cheap saw look for a Poulan 5020AV. They used to have them on a site called VMI Innovations. It was selling for about $128. Looks like they're about $190 now. The Poulan is the same thing as a Husqvarna 450 I believe.

 

[claydogg84]

There isn't a simple answer to your question. The saw you're looking at is most likely a cheap knock off which is essentially a throw-away piece of equipment once something goes wrong. You may get years out of it, or maybe only months. What is your price range? If you're simply cutting occasionally for a few romantic nights in front of the fire place, you won't have any real need for a high end saw - But you still want something reliable.

Wait... They have trees in NV ??

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Why do you need a 22" bar? In upstate NY I generally get by with a lowly 16" attached to my saw. Too long a bar and you will end up with the chain in dirt, concrete, etc.

If I was only going to cut occasionally or small trees, I'd look into an electric saw.

 

[DodgyNomad]

Those saws will have a pretty tough time pulling a 22" in most hardwoods.

Sadly, you get what you pay for on the chinese saws. If you're only going to use it on rare occasion, it might do you ok.

 

[dougand3]

Depending on what you're cutting....I second VMInnovations. You may do fine with a Poulan Pro 4218 (It ain't pro - it's a homeowner clamshell). With an Oregon 91VXL yellow chain, they are a competent saw for occasional firewood bucking and limbing. Costs ~ $90 refurb.

 

[DougA]

I bought 2 or 3 refubed Poulan Pro in the $100 range before I could finally afford a Stihl. Yes, they work just fine on smaller trees - 16" & smaller. The chains are much smaller and less aggressive than a real pro chain but that is actually a good thing for a beginner. You do not want to start out with a saw that will cut your leg off too fast.
The refurbs I bought were brand new and worked just fine.
Problems with cheap saws:
plastic gas cap seems to be a pain to tighten correctly so it leaks sometimes.
Chain tightening lugs are molded into plastic and twist if you tighten too much
Chains seem to get loose too often
Slower cut
None of these are deal breakers and my Poulan Pros are still used for limbing after a dozen years of use.

If you can afford a Stihl, Husq or Echo then go for it.

 

[illenema]

I bought 2 or 3 refubed Poulan Pro in the $100 range before I could finally afford a Stihl. Yes, they work just fine on smaller trees - 16" & smaller. The chains are much smaller and less aggressive than a real pro chain but that is actually a good thing for a beginner. You do not want to start out with a saw that will cut your leg off too fast.
The refurbs I bought were brand new and worked just fine.
Problems with cheap saws:
plastic gas cap seems to be a pain to tighten correctly so it leaks sometimes.
Chain tightening lugs are molded into plastic and twist if you tighten too much
Chains seem to get loose too often
Slower cut
None of these are deal breakers and my Poulan Pros are still used for limbing after a dozen years of use.

If you can afford a Stihl, Husq or Echo then go for it.

Umm, who makes the saw and what is the model number? If you just want a decent cheap saw look for a Poulan 5020AV. They used to have them on a site called VMI Innovations. It was selling for about $128. Looks like they're about $190 now. The Poulan is the same thing as a Husqvarna 450 I believe.

I just ordered a Greenworks 18" electric 14.5 amp, Gas would be loud around here!! $91.00 4 year warrantee

 

[claydogg84]

That's big wood for an electric chainsaw.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

It is, but if you don't cut often I think electric is the way to go. It also looks like cedar. Don't know what they grow out there so maybe a juniper? Neither is dense like what we have here.

 

[billb3]

View attachment 157418




I just ordered a Greenworks 18" electric 14.5 amp, Gas would be loud around here!! $91.00 4 year warrantee

That looks like the juniper and cypress we have around here.


for a (4 month) heating season that rarely gets below 0ºC nor for very long, that should serve your purpose well.

 

[Jon1270]

That's big wood for an electric chainsaw.

Yeah, even for home use the fundamental problem with electric chainsaws is that their power is limited by the 15 amp outlets they get plugged into. Gas equipment is noisy and smelly and high-maintenance, but people put up with it for good reason.

To get the most out of any saw, learn to keep the chains very sharp. Nobody has time to cut wood with a dull chain on an electric saw.

 

[illenema]

It is, but if you don't cut often I think electric is the way to go. It also looks like cedar. Don't know what they grow out there so maybe a juniper? Neither is dense like what we have here.

The wood is mesquite, Hard wood, great for smoking meat also. that picture was taken 12 hours after downing the tree, the wood is darkening up already. mesquite is quite common in las vegas. verified type of wood by the leafs. I know it looks like shaggy bark cedar.
The key is to have extra chains sharp and ready to go, I have been watching videos how to get the angle correct when filing.

 

[laxin213]

Are you splitting by hand?

 

[bholler]

I use a 50cc poulan pro that came wit ha 20" bar and it works fine it is not as good as the pro saws no but if you put a good bar and chain on it it does well i have cut many cords with mine the only problem was that i broke the bar adjuster tab when i got the bar stuck. that was my fault not a problem with the saw. all of the bar adjustment is metal on mine it is actually a husverna part. The only problems i have with it is the chain that comes with it is junk and the bar is not very good either. And the carb needs adjusted more than my fathers stihl. But otherwise for the price i am happy and it has served me well. I will eventually replace it with a stihl but it works for now.

 

[btuser]

I bought an MS250 and was disappointed till I swapped out the safety chain for a 1/2 (then full) chisel. Now it's more than enough saw for 2' oak or whatever I'm cutting. I'm not going to win speed contests but it's just right for a few cord/year.

 

[ambull01]

I use a 50cc poulan pro that came wit ha 20" bar and it works fine it is not as good as the pro saws no but if you put a good bar and chain on it it does well i have cut many cords with mine the only problem was that i broke the bar adjuster tab when i got the bar stuck. that was my fault not a problem with the saw. all of the bar adjustment is metal on mine it is actually a husverna part. The only problems i have with it is the chain that comes with it is junk and the bar is not very good either. And the carb needs adjusted more than my fathers stihl. But otherwise for the price i am happy and it has served me well. I will eventually replace it with a stihl but it works for now.

Is it the 5020AV?

 

[bholler]

Is it the 5020AV?

Yes it is. And no it is not the same as the 450 they do share some parts but they are different

 

[DougA]

IF you are in Canada, TSC will have a 20" Poulan Pro refurb on sale starting this Friday for $99. - that's about $80 US. Great bargain for a weekender saw.

REFURBISHED 20" POULAN PRO CHAINSAW
$99.99
COMPARE @ $309.99 WHEN NEW
Valid May 01, 2015 — May 07, 2015
This is an advanced preview, price not in effect
May note be exactly as shown.
Limited to existing inventory. Sorry no raincheques.
• 48CC engine
• Factory refurbished – may have cosmetic blemishes
• Case not included
446636

 

[bholler]

IF you are in Canada, TSC will have a 20" Poulan Pro refurb on sale starting this Friday for $99. - that's about $80 US. Great bargain for a weekender saw.
REFURBISHED 20" POULAN PRO CHAINSAW
$99.99
COMPARE @ $309.99 WHEN NEW
Valid May 01, 2015 — May 07, 2015
This is an advanced preview, price not in effect
May note be exactly as shown.
Limited to existing inventory. Sorry no raincheques.
• 48CC engine
• Factory refurbished – may have cosmetic blemishes
• Case not included
446636

The 48cc one is not as good a saw as the 50cc one i have. The smaller one is the one that has some plastic components where there should be metal. If you are getting a poulan pro go for the 5020av. They are pretty decent cheap saws.

 

[claydogg84]

The OP already purchased an electric chainsaw.

 

[DodgyNomad]

IF you are in Canada, TSC will have a 20" Poulan Pro refurb on sale starting this Friday for $99. - that's about $80 US. Great bargain for a weekender saw.

REFURBISHED 20" POULAN PRO CHAINSAW
$99.99
COMPARE @ $309.99 WHEN NEW
Valid May 01, 2015 — May 07, 2015
This is an advanced preview, price not in effect
May note be exactly as shown.
Limited to existing inventory. Sorry no raincheques.
• 48CC engine
• Factory refurbished – may have cosmetic blemishes
• Case not included
446636

I picked one of these up last year to use as my loaner saw, as the price was right. Very cheaply made saw, bad vibration, not much fun to cut with. Sold it before it cut a 1/2 cord, as I didn't want to have to work on it. Not saying it wouldn't have worked, but man was it cheaply made, and the imbalance and vibration were just too much, even for a junker, imo.

 

[Rearscreen]

I dunno, when I have a tool that can potentially f me up in a microsecond, I tend to spend the extra money to get the best so that potential is minimized. Something that I can't get hurt with, I cheap out sometimes.

 

[DodgyNomad]

I dunno, when I have a tool that can potentially f me up in a microsecond, I tend to spend the extra money to get the best so that potential is minimized. Something that I can't get hurt with, I cheap out sometimes.

Truth in that. I've worked on a few Chinese saws for people, and I've seen some weird stuff. Worse was the plastic clutch cover/cheapo little brake band and case that wouldn't hold, the guard fell off and chain came loose. Lots of ways to get hurt when crap is flying off, chains coming loose, etc..

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

I like new, see what $300 gets you in a big box store.....