Looking to buy a chainsaw. What experience does anybody have a great one. Looking at Stihl, echo or maybe others. Would you buy from Home Depot or go with a dealership for said brand (you know what it's like buying an 870 Remington from Walmart as opposed to gun store). What say fellow THF expert's. 20" bar in mind. Thanks in advance

my top would be stihl of husqvarna. GAS!!!!

Commercial

Get a Stihl from a Stihl dealer.

This^^^^^

I like my echo, but stihl is better quality and comes with that price. What are you planning to do with the saw? Cut a few tree limbs or use it daily to cut down mesquite thickets?

I use Husqvarna. Unfortunately they, like many others, have introduced a cheaper model. They are now part of Poulan or maybe it’s the other way around. I only buy the Made in Sweden saw. The Made in Canada saw is simply a Poulan Pro in orange. The green orange tarnished their good name in my opinion. But the still offer a great saw from Sweden.

Thanks for the heads up I did not know that.

YUP

What are you trying to do with the new saw? Running an Alaskan mill is a lot different than filling up the bed of a truck once or twice a year with some mesquite for your smoker.

For cutting up a cord or 2 of firewood and generally keeping the deer lease cleaned up just about any orange saw (Stihl, Echo, or Husqvarna) will work well. Spring for premixed or at least ethanol free fuel and decent bar oil and you’ll be in business for years.

For heavy-duty work buy one of Stihl’s professional saws.

I’ve run through countless bars on 026s, 260s, & 262s cutting firewood in Kentucky. And put lots of hours on 029s, 036s, and a newer 362 bucking logs, just replace the wearable parts and the powerhead will keep cutting.

If you’re felling trees for a living or a side-hustle you’re going to want a saw with at least 70cc.

Keep the chain sharp and the ethanol away and a Professional series Stihl will last a lifetime.

I’ve owned both Echo and Stihl

I give the slight edge to Echo, they work the same but the Echo seemed a little lighter

Some scumbag stole by Echo recently but I had it for nearly 10 years

It never let me down

I have never ran an echo. Shihl is the first choice and I would try echo before husky... Husky is no bueno

Do this. Home Depot and Lowes, etc. will send you to a dealer for service. I like to have a relationship with a dealer in case I do need them down the road.

Husqvarna

My dad has the 445 or 440 rancher, at least 5 years old, has cut down countless oaks and sweetgums, has never failed, besides usual maintenance and a 50:1 gasoline mix.I

Husq bought poulan

X10! I went from an 18" Poulan to a 16" stihl, and it's leaps and bounds better. Super easy starts. More power. Chisel cut chain is sharp as all get out. Much more fuel efficient too! I used to go through a gallon of gas pretty quick. Now, I can cut all day and only use about a quarter gallon.

My Stihl is still working after 20 years. Keep the air filter clean and in good shape, use the right fuel mix and ethanol free. Stihl would be my chose. Having said that 2 years ago I bought a $99 dollar Poulan on sale at Tractor Supply. I have been amazed at how dependable it has been as a firewood cutter around the home place. I treat it like crap (dropped it..... left it out in the rain) and it keeps going. I never would have thought it. If you got the cash and are a serious tool guy get a Stilh....if you just want to play around you might consider a Poulan.

Also, go on to youtube and learn how to sharpen your chain.....if you cut much you will need to.

Poulan. Save your money.

Echo...I run saws every week at least if not daily, have had them all. If you want a saw that starts every time run an Echo and use fresh gas or canned gas mix.
Kinda like a Subaru or Toyota, the Japanese make quality running machines, they don't come with the "legend" of Stihl but I won't buy another Stihl.

I bought an Echo cs-490 49cc saw from a guy on craiglist....new in the box for $275 out of Denton. For a split case saw, this is a great deal. I have ran echo for over 10 years and never had to work on them. Stihl makes a saw for every application....the more professional, the more expensive. This is a ford/chevy conversation, but echo has not done me wrong.

Huskey..

Ford or Chevy?

Thanks for all the input most likely go with a Stihl.

Echo. I hate my Stihl. Nobody has ever been able to fix my Stihl. It pukes bar chain oil.