Chainsaw brands, full time vs. part time.....

[4570Man]

I'd way rather have the $500 550 XP. Although I've never seen a new one at that price. Cutting with a pro saw or even high end homeowner saw is much more enjoyable than a cheap saw. Considering the amount I save on a gas heat bill I can buy as nice of a saw as want.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

I had three chain saws and all three were stolen so am replacing. Had a Husky 455 and a 460 that performed for three years; with no service problems. They are a good mid grade saw for the home owner doing 2-4 cords a year. Put a 16" bar on either one and you can do everything. Get a small saw though for limbing though if you want. Lowes has them at MSRP, no dickering; the 455 and 460 are the biggest they sell. If you buy and XP model make sure you repair shop has all the electronic and computer gear for set up and trouble shooting. Back off if they don't.

My dealer gives me 10% discount up front on every thing I buy. Just bought a 562 XP as I need a little more umph for big stuff. Will keep a 20" bar on it and put the 28" on when after those big logs. As soon as the rain lets up I will be trying out the new one.
I have a T435 XP with a 14" bar on order for limbing and cutting small stuff. Replacing 3 with 2.

Ron

 

[motownbrowne]

I went back and looked. I bought the Poulan saw in October of 2009. So about 7 years old now. We bought our wood burning stove in 2008 and I wanted to upgrade from my father's old Craftsman 18" saw (also Poulan made). He died in 95, and he had it well before he retired, so it was probably 20 years old. I wanted something with a chain break.

So, I've got about $150 in a saw that has heated my house for 7 years. $21 per year so far.

I've heard very good things about the Poulan 5020. They can be had under $200.

I like your $21/year figure. I hate to think what mine would be, more like $210/year probably, but I cut a lot of wood and offset other more expensive fuels by burning firewood.

Personally, OP, I would increase my budget to whatever a user Stihl 026 or ms260 costs. Probably about $250. For your extra money, you get a better quality saw with much better parts availability and general support in terms of repair write ups, etc. You also get a saw that you can use for five or ten years and sell for exactly what you paid for it, assuming you keep up on maintenance. That's not gonna happen with a Chinese saw.

 

[MossRoad]

I've heard very good things about the Poulan 5020. They can be had under $200.

I like your $21/year figure. I hate to think what mine would be, more like $210/year probably, but I cut a lot of wood and offset other more expensive fuels by burning firewood.

Personally, OP, I would increase my budget to whatever a user Stihl 026 or ms260 costs. Probably about $250. For your extra money, you get a better quality saw with much better parts availability and general support in terms of repair write ups, etc. You also get a saw that you can use for five or ten years and sell for exactly what you paid for it, assuming you keep up on maintenance. That's not gonna happen with a Chinese saw.

If it lasts through this year, it'll be $18.78. :laughing:

 

[cat fever]

Here's my plug for a Stihl;

Not exactly sure of the model but I think it's a AV32. Bought it about 42-45 years ago, used it nearly every year some more than others.
Never had one problem in all that time. It still starts, just doesn't want to run when I put it to a log. So I bought a MS391 have used it the last 3 years, not one problem.
So cost wise that first Stihl had to be less than 5 to 7 bucks a year. Just don't remember what it cost that long ago.

 

[mcfarmall]

I have 3 Stihl saws. 021, 029, and a very old 028AV. The 028AV was rescued out of my uncles condemned houses wet basement and I had it back up an running after a new fuel line was installed. The other two, I use the 021 10x more than the 029 but both saws are beasts and will perform flawlessly every time. I don't look at payback time, I look at the ability to pick the saw up, start it quickly and get the job done fast. For me, that's the payback.

 

[MF283]

021, 029 & 310 for me, the 021 was bought back in the 90's, nothing but regular maintenance, brother gave me the 029, he cut two trees up with it many years ago & let it sit, $25 in part's & it runs great, bought the 310 several years back, no problems there either.
I have 35 acres, don't heat with wood, cut trees when dead or blown over, give wood away for the price of a few gallons of gas & fuel mix, even some neat trades offered.
The weedwhacker & blower are every bit as dependable as well, the way i figure, they work w/o problems, i've saved money.

Ronnie

 

[Deere Dude]

I went back and looked. I bought the Poulan saw in October of 2009. So about 7 years old now. We bought our wood burning stove in 2008 and I wanted to upgrade from my father's old Craftsman 18" saw (also Poulan made). He died in 95, and he had it well before he retired, so it was probably 20 years old. I wanted something with a chain break.

So, I've got about $150 in a saw that has heated my house for 7 years. $21 per year so far.

If it lasts through this year, it'll be $18.78. :laughing:

Boy you guys are getting off cheap. I had a $400 Echo saw and had it for ten years and a tree fell on it. Bought another $400 Stihl saw which I still have and it still works. A couple months ago I sprung for a $625 Echo to finish the lineup and a small saw for limbing.
But then I had to have a JD tractor for hauling logs out of the woods and then a GN trailer to haul firewood home because I'm not getting any younger and needed to make it easier.

So I figure I burn 4 cord a year max with my new $5000 fireplace for about $44500 over a 20 year period. It is costing me $2225 a year to burn wood what would cost me $800 a year on LP.

But I like to do it?? :dance1::dance1:

 

[LD1]

I paid something like $497 for my 6400, then $99 for the 84cc big bore kit, and another $60 for the HD filter. So have just under $700, in a 84cc 7.0HP saw.

All the rest, the older sachs 116si's, 120si's, 115i's etc.....all less than $200. Mostly off fleabay. If you know what you are looking for, some good deals can be had there.

 

[Toyboy]

Myself, I would never buy a chinese saw.

If you have a price range you want to stay in, the first thing I would do is visit the saw shops and see what they have, and also check out the used saws. Do you really need the 550XP which is the pro grade 50cc saw? Would a smaller cc homeowner saw work for you? You need to answer those two questions first before going saw shopping.

There are a lot of excellent used saws out there that were purchased and rarely used.

If you insist on buying new, stay with the name brand that is is the most popular in your area. If you ever need service, or want to trade up or down, there is a dealer and market for it.