Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

I am looking for a chainsaw to do very small work around my house (mainly 3 or 4" branches that fall, occasional firewood size logs when a bigger branch comes down).  I saw a Sears 35066 16" chainsaw and a 16 " Homelite chainsaw.  Each are about $125, each has about a 33cc - 36 cc engine.  I was wondering if anyone has experience with either of these, with strong convictions either way about them.  It will probably be used about one hour per year total.

Another possibilility is to go Echo or other "bigger brand but used".  I read the other post about chainsaws and found that information very helpful.  If I can find a used saw at a comparable price I will evaluate that route.  Agent Orange sells their used saws from time to time, although they are about $250, and if I was going to buy that I could get a new smaller Echo. 

Thank you, in advance, for any information you can give me.

Best regards,

Walt 

Bill,

I guess you told him!

Marshall,

One thing I forgot to mention in my original post, (bad Walt!), is that the times when I do get some firewood it is because one of my neighbors oak trees comes down and a branch or two takes out my power line.  The wood on my lawn or driveway becomes mine, the township clears the street, and my neighbor lets the other stuff rot in the woods.  Otherwise, electric could serve my purpose well as I need to cut up branches that fall off my trees (Hybrid Poplar and Pine mainly).

As a rule, I don't care for extension cords.  Although my need for a saw is about 1 or 2 hours per year, mostly to cut up branches for disposal.  Although I could end up with anything, The "$450 Husq" would be like using a two stage snowblower to clean off your porch.  I am looking for something in comparison to your B&D drill, but for limb trimming. 

(Marshall, Snow is white stuff that falls from the sky.  In OK you get hail storms.  picture snow as something like a hail ball that you smashed, then make it 2 feet deep all over the place)

Walt  

I have a craftsman 18" bar 42cc saw(can't recall model # now, it was just short of 200 bucks--and its not the one that comes with an extra chain)  that works great.  It can be finicky to start if i don't follow the starting instructions PRECISELY.  I bought mine for trimming-medium duty occaisional use.  It's got an inertial chain brake, anti vibe springs all over, thier "ez adjust" bar, and the low profile "skinny" chain.  Nice and light for handling up a tree, and it idles nice once warmed.  It too like every other saw i've used, will tend to weep bar oil for a bit after being used.  I just set a rag under it in its case.  A neighbor of mine has one of the smaller craftsmans, and he actually got me thinking about them, He does more cutting than i do and says the little bugger never lets him down, and his is 3 or 4 years old now.  I do subscribe to the buy more than you need theory, but there comes a point where you can very quickly find yourself buying a ferrari to go to the grocery store.  Sounds like your needs are similar to mine, you might want to consider a higher end poulan or craftsman.

Shoot, 1-2hrs a year, get the cheaper one.

 Walt,

I have a 14 year old Poulan 2 1/2 HP  electric, 14 in bar that I love, why?

No gas, starts every time, no carb problems, nothing running till you pull the trigger!

I paid $59.00 for it and wanted a saw for the same reasons you do.

Lowes  has a electric Remington, 3 1/2 Hp, 14 in bar for $90.00.

I think it would do all that you might need.

                                                         Fred 

Bill_D wrote: Bill, I have considered it. What about the weight? Also, do you find that the length makes it difficult to trim "artistically", if you will? Kind of like using a butcher knife to peel an apple instead of a small pearing knife?

For 1 to 2 hours a year of cutting downed tree limbs, I'd get a decent quality electric one. As mentioned above, no fuel sitting in it for months at a time, no carb problems, instant on with no pulling a starter, and at the rate of 1-2 hours per year, it'll last decades.

That is true Marshall in that it can be heavy.  I think w/out the cord, albeit a little more heavy, the true artiste~ w/in you may be even further released.

I have found using the shoulder harness from my Echo pruner, on the hedger helps eaze alot of the strain on the biceps and forearms that I used to get from prolonged hedging.   

It will be a while before I can use one but as Fred stated I have a Remington electric that really comes in handy on  cutting and trimming small stuff  (2-5 inches).  Does not have the power if you get on larger stuff----hope this finds all of you doing well---I,m recovering every day---your friend Will

Will,

You sincerely just made my day; not by what you said, but by being here and saying....  THANKS!

To Everyone else,

I really do appreciate your help and opinions.  I will hopefully have some time this weekend to go back and evaluate the variety of saws.  The only electric I ever used was very small, and the bar kept loosening.  From the sound of some of the posts electrics may be better than my previous experiences.

Again Many Thanks

Walt

Stihl makes a nice electric saw, much better than what you will find at Harbor Frieght, etc.