Best Chain Saw Under $500?

[df909]

Re: Best Chain Saw Under $500?

Most fire departments use Stihl chainsaws & we beat the crap out of them. We cut through roofing material, nails, and sometimes a pipe (accidentally). I've never broken one so I'm pretty impressed. I have an Echo that I bought from Home Depot and am happy with it so far.

 

[rbh]

Re: Best Chain Saw Under $500?

Rbh,I like your mobile gate in the background!

I wonder if Woosterken will notice it as it was his home towns old book mobile that I drove all the way to BC for splicing fiber optics in.

 

[Michigan Jason]

Re: Best Chain Saw Under $500?

I have a husq rancher 455 with a 20" bar and have owned trees 4 foot in diameter with it, just keep the chain oiled and sharp. $399. For sure all the saw you need.

 

[mommicked]

Re: Best Chain Saw Under $500?

In 1985 I was working for a geotechnical drilling co.and we had to make a path through a swamp to test for a new bridge on the Lumber river.We got two new saws w 20" bars,A Stihl and a Homelite.Cutting the Cypress trees and knees off under water,the Homelite was done and gone for repairs the first day.The Stihl finished the job and took alot of abuse and came back for more.Boss got rid of the Homelite.

 

[i386]

Re: Best Chain Saw Under $500?

My friends talked me out of buying one for now. One of the guys at work brought me his Stihl MS 310 with a 25" bar to use. I think it's about a 60cc engine. This thing is a hoss. It spews a stream of chips right into my leg. It's heavy though. It's ok to sit it up on a log and let it do its thing but I don't like toting it around. This is a good lesson for me to learn for free. This would be too much saw for me to own after this job is over.

The Husky dealer is 10 mins down the road. Husky 346 XP with an 18" bar is looking pretty attractive when my Poulan Pro finally eats it.



This is what I'm dealing with. The largest one I can't reach around.




This one almost destroyed the neighbor's house. We're still working on it. It's about 40" in diameter.

 

[mommicked]

Re: Best Chain Saw Under $500?

A true friend if he let you borrow his chainsaw!Be sure not to get too tired while using the heavy saw.Rest awhile now and then.Muscle fatigue and a big,strong saw can be Dangerous!

 

[lncoop]

Re: Best Chain Saw Under $500?

A true friend if he let you borrow his chainsaw!Be sure not to get too tired while using the heavy saw.Rest awhile now and then.Muscle fatigue and a big,strong saw can be Dangerous!

Amen to that. Be careful partner. When the time comes consider a 20" bar. You'll be amazed by how much it will handle, and it won't fatigue you like that beast you're toting around now.

 

[i386]

Re: Best Chain Saw Under $500?

A little update on this mess. We rented a big Vermeer chipper this morning and ran it all day. Put a respectable dent in all the work to be done. I got disgusted with the Poulan this morning. Went ahead and pulled the trigger on that Husqvarna 346 XP. I am very pleased with the performance. It makes my Poulan Pro look like a toy.

I didn't use the big Stihl 310 today as we're concentrating on getting the limbs ground up. My friend bought it cheap at a yard sale. It appears to have been abused some. Looks like the case filled 1/2 way up with water and the saw sat in it until it all evaporated. Looks like a boat that's been tied up to a dock for a few years. I took the side cover off to inspect the hand starter and saw the coil was rusty. I guess it's a sign of how well they are made that it's still running at all.

We're about wore out, but will be back at it tomorrow.

 

[bucko217]

Re: Best Chain Saw Under $500?

Stihl...hands down! I've been cutting my own firewood for 40 years. Bigger means more power but also heavier. A real factor as you age!

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: Best Chain Saw Under $500?

I have a Stihl 026 and for yard work and a few cords of wood a year it can't be beat. Lightweight, will run a 20" bar and screams through wood up to 12" diameter. Stihl has changed their numbering designations in the last 10-15 years so do your research and look at the website. The occasional and home use saws have a lot of plastic parts. Can't go wrong with husky either. Great saws but depending on where you live they may be harder to find parts for depending on where you live. One thing to remember is that a saw does the work and should never work you. If it does it needs tuned. A properly tuned saw (and it is worth paying for if you don't know how) is a dream to run.

 

[2000silvers2k]

Re: Best Chain Saw Under $500?

another vote for stihl, have an MS290 farm boss as well, best bang for the buck saw.

 

[aspeck]

Re: Best Chain Saw Under $500?

Couple logger friends of mine say that if you are looking for fast cutting, high reving, and little forgiveness, Husq is the way to go ... most of their counterparts (and they) use husq. If you want dependablility and forgiveness, go with a Stihl. You can't go wrong with either one, but for the non-professional the Stihl is the better choice. And yes, most Fire Departments use Stihl for those same reasons, the slower blade kicks back less and they are dependable, something you want when you are on top of a roof with fire underneath you!

 

[i386]

Re: Best Chain Saw Under $500?

At first I really wanted a Stihl on reputation alone, but then I started reading some forum threads. Basically what I got from the information was that the new Mid-grade saws are crap (as apposed to similar models in years past). I got the same story on the Husky's too. Case in point, I saw my neighbor remove the cover from his low-end Husky. It looks just like my old Poulan with it's clothes off. The Husqvarna dealer is 10 mins from my house whereas the Stihl shop is on the other side of town.

I bought the Husky 346 XP for $500. It's a professional grade saw. Stihl's most comparable model is the MS 261. It's a professional grade unit too priced at $560.

Price and proximity to the dealer is what sold me. The saw has a tough job to do right now, but when this is over its going to be used only occasionally. The Stihl might be worth a few extra man points on reputation but having the dealer close by hopefully means I made a wise choice.

 

[dwco5051]

Re: Best Chain Saw Under $500?

Gotta agree with Aspeck that either the Stihl or Husky would be a good choice. My local dealer sells and services both. My everyday goto saw is a 20" Husky with a .058 bar for the heavier chain. I also have a 18" Stihl as a back up and would recommend either one. I will limb out now and then with an old Homelite 360 I have had since the 70's because it is safer to be in the midst of the branches with a 16" bar on trees with a lot of branches to crawl into and over. I also use safety anti-kickback chains all the time now. I have found very little difference in cutting speeds between them and the old chains and having two friends die in logging accidents in the last couple of years somehow changes your work habits.