Optimizing a Craftsman while saving for a "real" saw

I hadn't thought about selling it, but that may not be a bad idea. I do like the idea of having a backup saw, though. I am only doing smaller logs and trees right now, <14" diameter, and a couple cords. The plan is to get up to about 10 cords a year for the next couple to get ahead, which would make the bigger saw helpful. I am getting three households set up on a 3+ year plan, so I have plenty of reason for my hoarding obsession (problem, addiction, etc.)

 

Oh, I wouldn't sell it. You probably can't get enough for it to put a significant dent in buying a new, bigger saw. (Around here - if you can get $65 - you grab the cash and run like a bandit.) VMInnovations will have practically new refurb Poulans for $70-$90 - hard to compete with that. A backup saw or 2 or 3 or 4 is always good to have.

 

Speaking of VW innovations l picked up a poulan pro 5020 in February, a referb for $115 pretty good 50cc saw for that price, I have bucked up 3 cord and felled a few smallish trees with mine no problems, I did put a 16 inch bar and chain on mine.
Some people have had these saws for two or three years and had no problems, still going strong, and they run stock bar and chain, pretty dang good saw on a budget.
HighCountry You can get a refurb there right now for $132.99 to your door, have it in about 3 days.

Poulan Pro PP5020AV 20" 50cc 2 Cycle Gas Powered Chainsaw Home/Tree Chain saw

That's the second saw I bought from them and a backpack leaf blower

The 5020 is a little heavier than some 50cc saws but to clear up any confusion you might see on the specs,
A quote from Cut4fun, Power head only tipped the scales at 12lbs 6oz ))

With 20" bar and full 3/8 vanguard oregon chain, filled up with fuel and oil as used 16lbs 8oz

 

Speaking of Cut4fun I haven't seen him in awihle. He must of went to masterminds forum or just is in a cycle of not checking in here?

 

Yeah, he's out there in cyber land somewhere

 

I would buy another PP5020 in a heartbeat at that price if Ineeded another saw.

 

What? What are you talking about?

 

Those poulan pros are a rock bottom good deal. For me though I'd rather spend just a bit more in the 50cc class and get a echo cs490. Built like a tank pro quality saw for homeowner budget price. Lightest 50cc saw out there as well. I found mine brand new to my door for $250. I see them for 300 alot on fleabay.

 

They also respond very well to a simple muffler mod:

Echo 490 | Firewood Hoarders Club

 

I totally agree with that if you can spend a little bit more, that's the big if.
You got a good deal on yours Bar, not planning on buying one but, I was watching a 490 on eBay, sold day before yesterday for 265 brand new

 

The Echo CS490 is the one that has turned my head the most. I am closing on the sale of my old house next week, so I will be back down to two mortgages again. One is a rental, thank goodness. That is when the purse strings loosen slightly and I may take the plunge into the world of multiple saw ownership! That Poulan Pro deal is amazing, as well.

 

I have to ask, if you are going to have three places, and will be cutting 10 cords......how much time do you have to cut etc. I assume you will be splitting by hand? I work a lot of hours and while my saw cost close to $1000, I reduce my cutting time dramatically allowing me to use that time for something else. A strong saw with a sharp chain will wreck a pile of logs quickly if you know what you are doing. If you have a lot of time, a cheaper saw will certainly work so I am not disparaging the Craftsman or the Poulan saws or the guys that run them. I just know that I have 900 things to do, so when I am cutting I want to throw some serious chips and in a hurry!!!

 

I'm late to the party here, and not much of a chainsaw guy, but if I'd known a little more when I bought my saw, it would NOT have been the Husky 455 Rancher.
Heavy for the power. It'll pull a 20" chain, but not with much authority in big Oak. I put a .325 18" setup on mine and it helped quite a bit.
I'm looking for a more powerful saw that weighs the same or less. If the saw is in your hands for any length of time, it's nice if it doesn't weigh a ton (and it'll feel like it does after a while).
More power gets the saw back in storage quicker and/or more work done at the same time. Win, win.
Think like Tim Allen.

 

So does the Poulan 5020.

 

Sounds like you need to go 65cc to 72cc range.

I have a couple of 455 ranchers and they are a little on the heavy side but I never thought they were that bad. Putting a 18" bar was a good move for that saw, but I kept mine at 3/8ths.
I have cut all day long with mine before and did not mind it. I did however mod one of mine a little and for a 56cc saw it does alright. I have no complaints. It is a home owner saw just like
the Stihl MS 290 rancher. Professional series saws brand new are very expensive so I stick with used or damaged saws that I can rebuild for a lot less money.

 

I think I might go back to a 3/8th in an 18" this year for comparison.
I'd like to get my hands on a 361-362.
The old back just can't handle having a saw in my hands for more than about an hour anyway.

 

I do have a fair amount of time on my hands to c/s/s, but I certainly don't want to do more work than is necessary. The cutting time is definitely part of the reason for wanting to get up to a bigger saw. I am splitting by hand, for now, so any time that I can save on the bucking, the better. Once I told my wife that I would take care of her aunt and her cousin, she immediately suggested a splitter, in gratitude. That is for when the budget allows, as I do like the satisfaction of hand splitting. I also have a feeling that once I go to a splitter, I may never get back to doing it by hand. We will see how the body holds up this year. I am only in my early 30s, but the military made me age rapidly.