chainsaw decision time

[highboy1975]

well, ill admit my bias right away, i looked at the echos, but i cannot bring myself to seriously look at a saw made by an asian owned company. my preferences go american, european, then anything else. right now i think im going to go with the dolmar 5105. im seriously considering jumping up to the 6400 though. i dont know how long its going to last, but you definately get more saw ffor the money up front than stihl. the ms362 is over 650, and the smaller pro saws start at 500$ new and im not finding anything very good used.

 

[SpringHollow]

im not finding anything very good used.

Being a happy 25 year owner of stihls, i would say there is a reason for that I traded in 3 different saws that were 20 years old or so and because i took good care of them, i got within $100 of the new price of a pro saw for each - i was quite pleased. And the dealer was happy to get them. I was surprised - he said he was going to use them for parts. There are some dealers who discount their stihl saws or throw in chains etc.

If you are patient, there are good deals to be found and yes there are good saws out there besides stihl. Just make sure it has a chain brake. And that you have a dealer who stands behind that brand.

Ken

 

[bstrom]

And besides a brake wear a helmet. Being someone who shuns safety equipment myself I chainsawed for a about 4 years just wearing earplugs and glasses until I got hit in the head with a falling branch, luckily for me a small one. Still when I got up with my head spinning I couldn't figure out who had hit me in the back of the head with a sandbag. I never fail to put it on now. Talk about painful! - and I was lucky too.

 

[Natureboy]

Just my opinion, I love my Echo's.

 

[highboy1975]

i lost my other thread where i was discussing the dolmars. i know everyone has their opinions, but i dont see how anyone can buy an asian made anything when there are alternatives. i looked at echos and shindaiwas and i couldnt get past the made in japan tag. me and my dad both lost our jobs to cheap asian labor and i just cant do it. for anyone considering buying a new makita, you CANNOT take it to a dolmar dealer for warrenty work. it has to go to an authorized makita dealer and the nationwide list probably isnt even a full page. 2 columns per line, almost a whole page. nationwide. looking at an hour drive to the nearest service center i passed. i think i saw 2 in pa, at opposite ends of the state. right now im looking at the dolmar 6400 (definately do a big bore in a few years) for 569.00 and im looking at a used stihl 044 thats got a fresh big bore kit on it and a general overhaul for 400.00. the 044 is looking REALLY good. anyone care to comment?

 

[Kubota 2350]

Can't go wrong with a Stihl, a little more money up front, but it will be the last saw you'll ever have to buy.

 

[sksmsllc]

Can't go wrong with a Stihl, a little more money up front, but it will be the last saw you'll ever have to buy.

2nd that! Go with a Stihl. I've been told there are two things you should not lend: 1 Chainsaw and 2 Tiller Just sayn'

 

[highboy1975]

im gona call the guy tomorow with the 044 tomorow and see if i can go check it out\get it tomorow evening. he wants 400 for it. has a new jug and piston kit in a larger bore. 75cc i think. all the big bore kits i saw were for 00 and up so it cant be that old. we'll see how it runs. also, has a 24" bar.