I have a Homelite 16" 33CC saw that I bought for $109 4 years ago. Over the past couple years, I'd guess I've cut at least 4-5 cords with it. (lighter load last year since I helped a neighbor cut his trees thus didn't have to do all the cutting)
We burn about 4-5 cords per year, most of which I'll process on our own land. In addition, I'm considering opening up an acre or so of woods to start a pasture area in the next few months. This could involve "getting ahead" on my wood a couple years and would mean a lot more cutting - lots of tall trees easily 30ft+ - frankly too many so their skinnier and crowded and could stand thinning.
I honestly can't complain yet about my Homelite, but I've already found a couple times that it's nice to have two when you screw up and get one stuck, so this is my first interest in another saw. (I borrowed a friends saw to get unstuck once... and it was also a Homelite although even lamer than mine - I think 14"
So, I do subscribe to the idea two saws are nice to have, but I'm not totally clear on what I'm really going to see "better" with a "name brand" saw in the $300 range - image alone is not reason enough, nor are claims of "anything in a big box store is junk." I don't really want to spend more than this since so far, $109 has done a pretty damn good job. But if I could cut makedly faster, and support a larger bar for larger trees when needed, like one gigantic dead ash I have to take down at some point, then I would be interested in paying a little more. Not $500 though.
I'm a bit turned off by Stihl's forcing their product through local dealers that do not do anything on price - this makes me think big big markup and on specs, hard to see what justifies the prices. I did stop in one locally to see if they had biodegradable oil, and they acted like I was an idiot for wanting it... so much for the wonder service.
Husqvarna is one I've been looking at as there is at least some competition in the distribution network yet it seems equally well regarded. In the $300 range, they have a 350e that looks quite a bit larger and more powerful than my current saw, but they also have a 346 XP that seems similar weight, slighly more HP out of less cc, but rated to have more vibration.
Any thoughts on these from people that have them? Would either really make a meaningful difference or would I just be blowing money on something that won't really matter that much for my level of use? Should I be looking at something else?
Thanks,
Colin
We burn about 4-5 cords per year, most of which I'll process on our own land. In addition, I'm considering opening up an acre or so of woods to start a pasture area in the next few months. This could involve "getting ahead" on my wood a couple years and would mean a lot more cutting - lots of tall trees easily 30ft+ - frankly too many so their skinnier and crowded and could stand thinning.
I honestly can't complain yet about my Homelite, but I've already found a couple times that it's nice to have two when you screw up and get one stuck, so this is my first interest in another saw. (I borrowed a friends saw to get unstuck once... and it was also a Homelite although even lamer than mine - I think 14"
So, I do subscribe to the idea two saws are nice to have, but I'm not totally clear on what I'm really going to see "better" with a "name brand" saw in the $300 range - image alone is not reason enough, nor are claims of "anything in a big box store is junk." I don't really want to spend more than this since so far, $109 has done a pretty damn good job. But if I could cut makedly faster, and support a larger bar for larger trees when needed, like one gigantic dead ash I have to take down at some point, then I would be interested in paying a little more. Not $500 though.
I'm a bit turned off by Stihl's forcing their product through local dealers that do not do anything on price - this makes me think big big markup and on specs, hard to see what justifies the prices. I did stop in one locally to see if they had biodegradable oil, and they acted like I was an idiot for wanting it... so much for the wonder service.
Husqvarna is one I've been looking at as there is at least some competition in the distribution network yet it seems equally well regarded. In the $300 range, they have a 350e that looks quite a bit larger and more powerful than my current saw, but they also have a 346 XP that seems similar weight, slighly more HP out of less cc, but rated to have more vibration.
Any thoughts on these from people that have them? Would either really make a meaningful difference or would I just be blowing money on something that won't really matter that much for my level of use? Should I be looking at something else?
Thanks,
Colin