'Professional' grade saws vs. 'Homeowner' saws

[Bob_Young]

I have two chainsaws. Both are Stihl. Large one with a 20" bar - small one with a 14" bar. Surprising - as I get older I tend to use the smaller one - more and more. Just last month I had to use the large one to fell a couple "bug infested" pines. Both were 24" on the butt. Once on the ground - I immediately switched to the smaller saw.

I hear you on that one! Used to think a 24" bar was no big deal. Now I look for 18" or less. My current favorite is a little 2240 Jonsered with a 14" bar...of course that might be because it always starts.

 

[Bob_Young]

I have an Echo 620P (p=professional).
Has magnesium for most stuff (including sprocket cover) my other Echos have aluminum or plastic.
No cat muffler.
Decompression valve for (much) easier starts.
Clutch driven oiler
Dual bumper spikes (very useful)
Upgraded coil
dual ring piston

An Echo might be my next saw. Very helpful if they tack a P onto the end of their Professional model numbers.

Unfamiliar with their models. That sounds like a big saw...certainly loaded with features. Do they make a Pro model around 40cc or high 30s?

 

[kenmbz]

They have some small "p" models in their new line. I am not familiar with the smaller pro models.

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[CalG]

Be careful with a Makita chainsaw and note where they are made at. They can be Chinese or Japanese depending. The Echo Timber Bear is about 150 clams less btw and is a very popular 'pro grade' saw. I have one and it's easy to improve on the power output with some simple mods, plus Echo offers a 5 year non arborist use warranty.

I see the Echo at $600+ and the Makita at $650.

Only the 60cc saws are being considered. (only one model Makita, with different bar length options.)

 

[kenmbz]

I see the Echo at $600+ and the Makita at $650.

Only the 60cc saws are being considered. (only one model Makita, with different bar length options.)

620p has 20", 24" (which I have) and 27" as options, The 24" is well balanced in the cut.
The saw is a bit heavier than the competing Husqy or Stihl for the HP, but about half the price.
The Makita's have a great reputation, but I don't see any tree people using them, and Makita is getting out of the gas saw business.
Though all the manufacturers have battery saws in the smaller sizes.

 

[ericm979]

In addition to lighter weight and more power, the pro saws in Stihls lineup have compression releases, better air filtration, better anti vibe and slightly better ergonomics. For a few hundred $ more, they're nicer to run. But the homeowner and ranch saws work fine and will get the job done.

The homeowner saws often have open ports- the transfer ports are basically just troughs in the side of the cylinder. The pro saws have closed ports with a better shape which means better flow and thus better power. They're still pretty rudimentary compared to motorcycles though. Clamshell saws can be rebuilt just as well as saws with separate crankcases and cylinders, they're just different.

 

[BigGG]

Makita bought the German made Saks Dolmar. I have one of the last blue 50cc professional model. Great saw, but you'll end up with an orphan, Makita is going to or has already stopped making any gas-powered equipment.

I like the Echo or Husqvarna pro stuff.

 

[xyz123]

Still can rebuild both the plastic cased and the better mag cased saws. It's just if you only need to do a piston change on mag cased just pop the cylinder and remove piston.
Plastic cased saws most times (unless efco and some other small saws) you have a clamshell and will be removing crank etc etc to just do a easy job.

First mag case easy piston swap.

New clammy shown without crank, bearings, seals etc.

 

[5030]

Makita bought the German made Saks Dolmar. I have one of the last blue 50cc professional model. Great saw, but you'll end up with an orphan, Makita is going to or has already stopped making any gas-powered equipment.

I like the Echo or Husqvarna pro stuff.

That applies to all the orphan saws like McColugh and Poulan as well. The older they get the harder it is to find parts (except the cheaper Chinese on Amazon parts) that may or may not work.

Me, I like any saw with a local dealer presence, except Husky and TSC because TSC don't have a clue about service in the first place.

 

[Noah]

One more option to muddy the waters. I have had three Dolmars. Fairly good saws but when I needed parts they were not available, obsolete. I’ve had two Stihls, older models which ran great. I currently have four Huskies that are all pro saws, XP’s. Two are 26 years old and the other two about 10 years old. I did replace the piston and cylinder on my 272XP two years ago, never done any carb work on any of them.

The pro saws today all have computers controlling fuel delivery. One of the issues with them is if the saw sits for a period of time sometimes they won’t start and that requires a trip back to the shop to have the computer reflashed, normally a $100.00 charge.

Stihl makes a 362 without the computer, and the last I knew it was a metal case saw. The 362C has the computer controlled carb. I think that would be my next saw, they are a bit pricey but I think worth it.

Randy