I needed a light chain saw so after doing some quick research, I went out and bought an Echo CS346. It's one of their smallest models with the conventional handle arrangement. I find the top handled saws to be next to useless for left handed people. Echo has one other small saw (CS306) with conventional handles and slightly less displacement for considerably less money. Therein lies the question. Why is the CS346 so much more expensive than the 346? I'm aware that the 346 has Slope Advance Ignition System, which impressed me and it's claimed to be commercial grade. Not too sure what it takes to be "commercial grade" but being $150.00 more than the 306 there must be a reason. The 346 is also a discontinued model. I had a lot of difficulty finding this saw. Fortunately/unfortunately, I found the last 346 at Home Depot and scooped it up. I did get a discount on it due to the fact that it was a display model and all of the peripherals that should have come with the saw had disappeared.
I took the saw directly to camp with me to give it a good once over and bit of a test run. My first impressions were somewhat disappointing. I tried to limb a small balsam and it couldn't cut a one inch diameter branch. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that Timmy (the mechanically challenged tool boy) had put the chain on backward. Being assembled by HD, I wasn't surprised by this. Once I put the chain on correctly, it worked fine. I did some limbing and bucked a couple small diameter but long spruce trees that were very dry. Compared to my big Jonsereds saws, this lightweight is a joy to use in thick brush and tight quarters. Out of curiosity, I took my electronic fish scale ( weighs accurately to 50 lbs.) and compared the weight of my Jonsereds 630 to the Echo. The echo weighed just under 10 lbs. fully assembled and fully fueled/oiled. My Jonsereds weighed in at a hefty 19.5 lbs. with no fuel and some oil in it! And that was my small Jonsereds. My 670 is even bigger. The big saws still have their place but when it comes to light work in tight quarters the Echo fit the bill. By "light work" I don't mean cutting toothpicks either. This little saw will knock down anything the bar can get to. However, I wouldn't use it to buck 16" logs all day.
So I'm wondering if anyone else out there has used or owned this saw and what I can expect for long term use?
Thanks.
