chainsaw question

oceancoursecaddy · Jun 12, 2012

Looking at getting a chainsaw but dont know much about them. Local pawn store has a Poulan Pro 18" 42cc very clean looking with case for $114. Does this sound like a good buy? I know Sthil is the top of the line brand...but how about Poulan? Ive heard of the company before but dont know how good they are.

Thanks for the help.

fordnut · Jun 12, 2012

IMHO...don't buy a used SMALL chain saw...People buy cheap saws, make them work like big saws...beat on them...then, after the 1 job is over, sell them used for about what they paid for them new...

I would recommend going to Sears...I bought an 18 " 42cc Craftsman saw for a few dollars less than $100.00. Unless you plan on making a living cutting wood, that saw is great...And...it is a Sears tool..

(I am not in the Employ of Sears or Being Paid for their Advertising)...It is just all the saw I needed...

I always figure there is a good reason a small gas powered tool is at the pawn shop....but....maybe I am wrong...

Steve

bigfutz · Jun 12, 2012

Stihl.

beerman · Jun 13, 2012

I'd stay far away from a Poulan. My dad bought many of them when I was in high school and they never lasted. I just bought a Stihl MS290 Farm Boss that I use occasionally for work. I wouldn't go with anything smaller unless you're only cutting one or two trees a year. I don't have any experience with Craftsman, but I have a hard time believing they are as good as a Stihl.

fordnut · Jun 13, 2012

Guy...I didn't say that a Craftsman was as good as a Sthil...but...you can buy 2 Craftsman saws and have change left over for what you pay for the Sthil...It just depends on what you want, and, what you are doing with it...

Steve

HOLY DIVER · Jun 13, 2012

i'd stay away from a used poulan.i needed a chainsaw a few years back and i did about 3 weeks worth of research on the net lol and found that you get what you pay for.echo,redmax,sthil,husky.i went with a 450 husky.but remember husky's are tricky make sure you get a husky that is made in Sweden,alot of the husky's in box store's are not so i would recomend a husky dealer if you deciede a husky is what you want.i paid $350 for mine and i'm very happy with it.i think tractor supply has sweden made husky's look at the side of it if its made in sweden it will have a plate with sweden engraved on it.

beerman · Jun 13, 2012

fordnut said:
Guy...I didn't say that a Craftsman was as good as a Sthil...but...you can buy 2 Craftsman saws and have change left over for what you pay for the Sthil...It just depends on what you want, and, what you are doing with it...

Steve

I obviously came across wrong. I wasn't trying to imply that you said Craftsman chainsaws are as good as Stihl chainsaws. I was simply saying that I have never used a Craftsman chainsaw, and I don't believe they could be as high quality as Stihl, in my opinion. I'm also well aware that you will pay for a Stihl and just about every other brand name.

And of course it matters how you will be using it, how frequently, how long when you are cutting, how big of trees, all that comes into play. Even for my occasional use (a couple times a month maybe), I felt it was worth spending the money for a saw that would last for the next ten years.

Fwiw, all my hand tools are Craftsman...