Best and worst chainsaw?

[kioti28527]

I will start cutting firewood in the coming months which made me wonder, "what's my best and worst chainsaw?" I'm not extremely picky on brands but my experience with Echo is mixed and is limited to one model with Stihl. Aside from a basic homeowner, inexpensive poulan I've had 3 chainsaws.

My first "farm/commercial" grade purchase was the echo cs590 "timberwolf." Bought it bout 9 years ago (?). My favorite saw. 20" bar and cuts everything I've thrown at it. I've cut firewood: we heat our home with a Lopi wood stove. I've trimmed trees and cleared well over 1,000 cedar off of 70 acres. This saw is my favorite. It's a bit heavy for trimming and clearing cedars.

I wanted a lighter saw so, I stuck with Echo and bought the 4510 with an 18" bar. This saw never ran right. Finicky bout idling. I struggled with it for a few months. My dealer (who is great) tweaked it. Ran a bit better. I even started buying the echo premix fuel. I've always used premix but upgraded to echo's red "something." Somehow, that saw burned up and I threw it away after less than a year. The dealer said water somehow got in the fuel. I'm not sure how that could have happened. Regardless, I never liked the saw so I didn't press it.

I then picked up the Stihl ms250 with an 18" bar. This is a great saw. Lighter than the echo. And, starts a bit easier. But, it doesn't cut as efficient. I use both saws and appreciate them. The cs590 remains my favorite. It just cuts so dang fast and sometimes the weight works for me. Even when I'm sawing cedars horizontal the speed may offset the weight.

I do want a new saw. I'm thinking about a new cs590. What's your experience for best all around saw. By all around, I mean firewood and property mtnce (clearing cedar, fenceline cleaning, even cutting brush and underbrush).

I cut firewood every year on my property with a husqvarna,i have a 445 and 450 rancher ive used for years,i even backed over the 445 with my f250SD and just cracked the plastic 5 years ago and still going,but my 450 is my go to,does all i ask

 

[mrgreenjeanstx]

I will start cutting firewood in the coming months which made me wonder, "what's my best and worst chainsaw?" I'm not extremely picky on brands but my experience with Echo is mixed and is limited to one model with Stihl. Aside from a basic homeowner, inexpensive poulan I've had 3 chainsaws.

My first "farm/commercial" grade purchase was the echo cs590 "timberwolf." Bought it bout 9 years ago (?). My favorite saw. 20" bar and cuts everything I've thrown at it. I've cut firewood: we heat our home with a Lopi wood stove. I've trimmed trees and cleared well over 1,000 cedar off of 70 acres. This saw is my favorite. It's a bit heavy for trimming and clearing cedars.

I wanted a lighter saw so, I stuck with Echo and bought the 4510 with an 18" bar. This saw never ran right. Finicky bout idling. I struggled with it for a few months. My dealer (who is great) tweaked it. Ran a bit better. I even started buying the echo premix fuel. I've always used premix but upgraded to echo's red "something." Somehow, that saw burned up and I threw it away after less than a year. The dealer said water somehow got in the fuel. I'm not sure how that could have happened. Regardless, I never liked the saw so I didn't press it.

I then picked up the Stihl ms250 with an 18" bar. This is a great saw. Lighter than the echo. And, starts a bit easier. But, it doesn't cut as efficient. I use both saws and appreciate them. The cs590 remains my favorite. It just cuts so dang fast and sometimes the weight works for me. Even when I'm sawing cedars horizontal the speed may offset the weight.

I do want a new saw. I'm thinking about a new cs590. What's your experience for best all around saw. By all around, I mean firewood and property mtnce (clearing cedar, fenceline cleaning, even cutting brush and underbrush).

I have had a Sthil MS 260 for 20 years. Still cuts extremely well. It can run a 16" to 20" bar no problem. I recently purchase a larger saw, the 400C with a 25" bar. I was looking for a back up saw when one dulled up on me while working. A little larger also to cut larger trees. However, I have never really had a problem with the 260 and a 20" bar. My only comment is these are both pro level saws that stihl makes. I would pay a little more and get one of those if you are looking. It will need to be purchased at a stihl dealer and not a box store, as most do not carry those there. No real experience with echo or huskavarna. Both I am sure make pro level saws. So if I was going with one of them I would look for those.

 

[ammoaddict]

I currently have 3 Stihl saws a 250, 251, 281, all have been pretty good saws, I own 1 Husqvarna a 440 no real problems with it either and 1 Dolmar can't remember the model number but it has been good as well. I am in the market for a bigger saw probably a 28" bar and am seriously considering one of the Stihl knock off saws at about 1/2 price of a new Stihl but haven't committed yet.

I have several clones. I will tell you that the Chinese do a much better job cloning the Husqvarna than they do the stihl. I have the 660 clone and had problem after problem. Changed multiple parts and is better but not as good as it should be. I got the holzfforma 395xp a while back and it is great. Only put an oem decomp so far. The only other thing it needs is an oem oil pickup hose. The Chinese rubber is stiffer than oem. It oils like a mad dog but if the saw is on its side and the oil tank is not full, the oil hose tends to float on top of the oil and not pick up enough. Other than that it is awesome.

 

[mrgreenjeanstx]

For 15 years: I had bought an old cattle ranch of which, when the old man died the cattle business, kids wanted to have nothing to with it. So it sat unused since the early 50s and was forgotten by most of the family as they had moved to other parts of Texas to pursue their own dreams. Then one one of them was in need of money and called the family and lets sell it it. By then it was worth very little in fact only land value and the 1945 house and HQ laid fallow For 15 years: .

To say this ranch was grown over would be the understatement of the year! Of course, the soil was rich from cattle droppings.

I bought it, and I cleared it, it took 15 years, and I had cut over 1 million lbs of Timber, mostly Cedar, and Oak.

Husqvarna, 455 Rancher 20 in bar and it never let me down.

If you have a LOT of cutting. I discovered I could buy bulk chains and skip the sharpening. Take me about a year to go thru 40 chain and I was paying about $12 bucks a chain...

View attachment 1647251

Where are you buying your bulk chains?

 

[Fields_mj]

The Stihl MS261 is quite a bit more expensive than the Echo though, isn't it? I thought about getting the MS261 but couldn't justify the price for doing a couple cord of firewood a year.

Yup, and for good reason. How much money do you have wrapped up in saws now? If your first saw had been an MS260, its' the only saw you would have bought so far and it would be running just fine. If I were in your shoes, there's no way I'd buy another saw until I had run a tank or two through a 261. Keep your eyes open for a used one. There's no reason you shouldn't be able to find a used 261 in really good condition for $500 or less. Personally, I'd be looking in the $350-$400 range.

If you're looking for something that puts out more HP, I'd try to find a used MS460/461. They are a little heavier than your 590 (14.5 lbs), but put out 6 hp. On the used market, you should be able to find one for around $600. The newer 462 is actually the same weight as your 590, but WOW are they expensive.

 

[Duds13]

Yup, and for good reason. How much money do you have wrapped up in saws now? If your first saw had been an MS260, its' the only saw you would have bought so far and it would be running just fine. If I were in your shoes, there's no way I'd buy another saw until I had run a tank or two through a 261. Keep your eyes open for a used one. There's no reason you shouldn't be able to find a used 261 in really good condition for $500 or less. Personally, I'd be looking in the $350-$400 range.

If you're looking for something that puts out more HP, I'd try to find a used MS460/461. They are a little heavier than your 590 (14.5 lbs), but put out 6 hp. On the used market, you should be able to find one for around $600. The newer 462 is actually the same weight as your 590, but WOW are they expensive.

That is 100% valid!

 

[Fields_mj]

I have several clones. I will tell you that the Chinese do a much better job cloning the Husqvarna than they do the stihl. I have the 660 clone and had problem after problem. Changed multiple parts and is better but not as good as it should be. I got the holzfforma 395xp a while back and it is great. Only put an oem decomp so far. The only other thing it needs is an oem oil pickup hose. The Chinese rubber is stiffer than oem. It oils like a mad dog but if the saw is on its side and the oil tank is not full, the oil hose tends to float on top of the oil and not pick up enough. Other than that it is awesome.

The only thing I had to change on my G660 was the oil pump. The original one wouldn't even keep up with a 28" bar. I went with a high output pump because I also run a 42" bar on it.

 

[Dukeisok]

Honestly, I'm a stihl guy, simply because my grandfather was and I stick to tradition and nostalgia sometimes. I have had several. My favorite was his 026. I also run a ms 661 with a 25 inch sugihara bar and that thing sings through the relatively small stuff we have here; there is no kill like overkill. If it ever dies I'll look at a 500i.

 

[350c]

I love my 620P and use it for all the fallen ash trees here.
I am not a pro, and only put time in when I can for firewood and cleaning up the bigger trunks.
Lots of cutting in the 12-30" range with the 24" bar.

I have a CS490 too which I use for the larger branches and a M18 (battery) pole saw for the small stuff.
I have only used 40 and 50 cc saws until I got the 620, the speed difference is huge.

My old sears 50 and the 490 will take me hours to cut up a big Ash with 18 or 20" bar.

The 620p with a 24" bar takes less than an hour, now spend more time splitting and moving wood than bucking it.

Had some smaller saws in the past , a baby poulan etc. and found they were all finicky.
The sears 50cc I burned out trying to do the bigger trees, it just could not take the heat of the big cuts even with breaks. The 490 I have overheated a few times and just let it cool. I have not overheated the 620 at all.

The guy who I call when I need a cherry picker uses only Stihls, and only the bigger ones.
He has been happy with them. I can't remember his climbing saw model, but it was an older Stihl.

Neighbor has a husky he is happy with.

I guess any brand has their better and worse saws. But I stay away from the cheaper brands, their parts and plastic just won't hold up.

kenmbz-good post but many people have no idea what brand a 620P, or CS490, M18, etc., are...

 

[jigs_n_fixtures]

I have noticed this same thing, primarily with construction power tools (as I have never bought an piece of outdoor power equipment from a box store). I was once told (don't know the reliability of the source) that the box stores have special arrangements with many manufacturers and get identical models manufactured separately in a way that saves the box money and then the box store sells the same tool cheaper. Apparently, same model, but different place of manufacturing and using cheaper components. Given people's experiences, that explanation makes a great deal of sense to me. I now just don't buy anything froma box store where I really care about quality and longevity of use.

Typically, the model number will have a letter added. That way Lowers, HomeDesparate, etc. don’t have to price match, and the tool itself can be slightly different.