Best and worst chainsaw?

[OzarkChris]

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 several saws that I primarily use. I believe, if I were pressed, that my go to one for most "heavy" applications is the Husky (Husqvarna) 455 Rancher with an Oregon 20" bar. 2nd up is a Stihl MS 251 with a shorter than usual 16" bar (251 usually has an 18" bar). This is fairly light weight, fuel friendly, etc and I use it primarily for limbing felled trees - I'm 65 and not in the best physical health, the lighter saw is a godsend. Finally for those trimming operations Momma always wants done, I use the Husky 225i (40V Battery) 14". Lighter weight, well balanced and the battery actually last a good while.

I haven't pulled on my Husky 592 (>7.5hp) with a 36" bar for awhile. I used to use it for larger trees, then on an Alaska mill but I currently have a bandsaw mill so it doesn't see much use anymore - it still is set up for ripping so I use it every once in awhile if my tree is bigger than the bandsaw mill.

I've had lesser brands in the past (No, I am NOT slamming Echo), even some Chinese knock-offs. But I personally, have had the best luck with Husky & Stihl. More recently, Husky has seen more business from me than Stihl, but that just seems to be the way the pendulum swings.

Do yourself a favor, go to a good dealer - not a box store - and take their chainsaws for a test drive, some dealers still let you cut wood! See how they feel in your hands. Does it fit and feel comfortable? Is the weight balanced? If it doesn't, you probably won't be using it that much. Bars & chains can be changed - I'm currently back to being an Oregon fan, but have dabbled in the Tsumara, Cannon, Forrester, etc realm over the past several years. I think they all have plusses and minuses but bottom line I think that is just more personal preference than anything else.

Hope this helps!

 

[tada1925]

I've had many saws over the years. I'm by no means an expert, but I've cut wood for heat and trees for milling most of my life (I'm 65). The best saws I've had were Stihl, Husqvarna, Echo.

I currently have Stihl 038AV (had a 036 but someone ran over it with a tractor lol); Husky 562XP (which I LOVE since I had it "Magnum'ed" a cpl years ago); Echo cs271 for one handed trimming (don't try this at home). I also have a Tanaka for small trimming jobs - to use when the 271 is cooling off. It was free so I use it. It's not that bad for once in a while use.

I really like all of them, but my favorite is the 562xp for all around use. It's the sweet spot for me regarding power and speed vs weight. And since I had it "souped up" it is super reliable, powerful and fast.

 

[gsganzer]

If you watch any TV that carries the shows about logging, log homes, Alaskan living, etc, you'll notice that the only chain saw you see anybody use is a Stihl.

A big part of that might be paid product placement. The same way you see Carhartt clothing.

When I was logging 30 years ago, Husky 266XP and 372XP were the saws you always would see in the woods. About 6 years ago, I bought a Husky 550XP and have been really happy with it too.

But it looks like Husky has focused their business model on the box stores, at least in my area. Hard to even find a dealer selling the XP line or servicing them around here. It'd be interesting to see what the folks in logging country, Arkansas and such, see the pro-loggers using.

 

[jedjoe]

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 bought my first Husqvarna (model 51) years ago and it still gives me good service. I added a second saw, wanting a bit more weight and power and got a Husqvarna Rancher 460. Neither has been anything other than a good cutting partner. Tough, responsive, reliable, well built. I know there has been some complaints about diminishing quality with Husqvarna, but I have personally not experienced it. All of my gas powered property tools (forestry brush cutter, string strimmer, etc.) have all been good experiences.

 

[OzarkChris]

I really like all of them, but my favorite is the 562xp for all around use. It's the sweet spot for me regarding power and speed vs weight. And since I had it "souped up" it is super reliable, powerful and fast.

I remember them, did you get the one with the heated handle? I thought the "xp" meant it was already "souped up" xp = extra power. I've had several of my larger saws bored out or souped up to get another little bit of power out of them but found they ran hot and didn't last so long - one saw only lasted one 12 hr shift of hard cutting before it died. Haven't done that since.

 

[jigs_n_fixtures]

Unless your cutting professionally, I’d look at an electric. If you already have a brand of battery tools I’d recommend going with that brand.

And, I highly recommend that you watch the “Saw Safe BC” series of chainsaw and timber videos on YouTube. I spent a lot of time in the woods, and frequently saw, unsafe practices from folks who had run saws for years, without proper training.

 

[OzarkChris]

I know there has been some complaints about diminishing quality with Husqvarna

I believe you'll find most of those complaints come from the saws purchased at the box stores. It seems the box stores get the dreggs, and the ones that go through a lesser QC from Husky.

Just an observation on my part, but I've seen friends that have picked up the same saw I bought (from a good dealer) at a box store and have nothing but problems - and little support from Husky - as compared to the same model I purchased. I have noticed on name plate there have been an extra letter/number on the box store versions e.g., 455R vs 455Ra1

 

[jedjoe]

I believe you'll find most of those complaints come from the saws purchased at the box stores. It seems the box stores get the dreggs, and the ones that go through a lesser QC from Husky.

Just an observation on my part, but I've seen friends that have picked up the same saw I bought (from a good dealer) at a box store and have nothing but problems - and little support from Husky - as compared to the same model I purchased. I have noticed on name plate there have been an extra letter/number on the box store versions e.g., 455R vs 455Ra1

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.

 

[GeneSimm7]

Get one with compression relief. Makes starting much easier.

 

[Fxfymn413]

Between my neighbors and us we cut and split about 18 cords of wood a year. My favorite saw is a Stihl MS390 that another neighbor gifted me when she could not start it or keep it running when she did manage to start it. I found the linkage to the trigger was not in its proper place and offered the saw back to her, but she declined. I use a 20" bar with a full chisel "Oregon" brand chain. I also have a Stihl MS271 as my back up saw.

Like all Stihl saws it will flood if you keep it choked after the first sign of starting. Choke it, get that first "start", open the choke and pull it once or twice to get it running.

I do not use canned fuel. Too expensive and I have not had any problem with using alcohol free gas mixed with Stihl's synthetic oil. I do drain and run the saw out of fuel when I put the saw up for the season and I never mix more than 1 gallon at a time.

I also use an EGO battery powered saw which I love for quick clean ups and trim work.

I'm 74 and I thought a lighter saw might be the ticket as I got older. What I found was the larger 390 was less tiring since the added weight allows me to just let the saw do the work without having to "push" the saw through the log.