Optimizing a Craftsman while saving for a "real" saw

590 is real close weight to the 455
Question is how much money ya want to spend

455 Rancher
12.8 lbs

CS-590 Timber Wolf $399
59.8cc Dry Weight (lbs)1 13.2

MS 362 C-M $749.95
59.0 cc (12.8 lbs.)

460 Rancher $509.95
60.3cc
12.79 lbs

562 XP $739.95
59.8cc
Weight
13.01 lbs

I'll throw this in
For an Old saw ,not bad
Husqvarna 61 $220
61.5cc/13.5 lbs

 

I can't afford a splitter either so I compromised

 

Even some of the older 272's will run pretty strong and there is always one of the builders around who wants to get rid of one. You just have to watch for them. I have two 272's.

 

Unless you are looking at dropping some serious cash on a splitter I don't think it will speed things up too much in the type of wood your talking about, what it will do is let you go a lot longer without getting tired.

As far as saws go I think you have had a lot of good advice here, to throw my $.02 in here (because hey what's another opinion to muddy the waters lol) I agree that for what you are cutting a 50cc saw is probably big enough. I have a husky 346 and a 372 that I have been using. Most of what we are cutting is the the 12-18" range and hardwoods. I will user the 372 for most of the bucking because even though it is heavier it cuts faster and ends up being easier. However if I was cutting pine the advantage would likely not be there at least to the same extent.

If I was buying a new saw I would give dolmar a good look as based on what I have read they sound like a great quality saw for the money. That being said my dad has cut almost all of his firewood for the past several years with an old Echo 400 and it gets it done (although he did borrow the 372 for some 30"+ oak this year). New I tend to feel like Husky and Stihl don't give you the same value as Echo or Dolmar (at least in the low to mid range saws). Another option if you are a mechanical tinkerer type person is to find a non running saw and fix it up. There is some risks here, it helps to have an idea what you are looking at but with the price on husky OEM piston and cylinder kits now if you can pick up a saw that was run lean or straight gassed but not totally cooked for a song that could get you a decent saw for not a lot of money. This is what I have done, I'll be honest and say that all said and done I could probably have found a well used running saw for about where I ended up all said and done, but I know my saws now and I know what is in them.

 

I would add the
Dolmar 6100, $575
4.6 HP 13.2 lb 61cc.
If my 6100 was stolen I would buy another without a second thought. If I was short on funds the Echo 590 would be my choice. It has more vibrations then the 6100 and you can feel a power difference lol but a great firewood saw for $400.
Chainsaws are not a cheap investment especially if you are only using them a few times a year.
Luckily I get to use my saws every week.

 

455 Rancher
12.8 lbs

CS-590 Timber Wolf $399
59.8cc Dry Weight (lbs)1 13.2

MS 362 C-M $749.95
59.0 cc (12.8 lbs.)

460 Rancher $509.95
60.3cc
12.79 lbs

562 XP $739.95
59.8cc
Weight
13.01 lbs

I'll throw this in
For an Old saw ,not bad
Husqvarna 61 $220
61.5cc/13.5 lbs

Dolmar 6100, $575
4.6 HP 13.2 lb 61cc.


Jonsered cs 2258, $??
59.8 cc 12.3 lbs

 

I've had a PP5020 for going on 3.5 yrs now, and have worked it pretty hard- just about wore out a spur sprocket. A side-bennie: its clutch-cover clears chips so well, it's great for noodling. Sure it's a tad hefty, but for all of $180 that I paid for it, c'mon. Bud saw it back then, tried it, and bought one. Still has it. Don't confuse things. Ye'r talking about VMInnovations dot com. Last I saw PP5020s there were going for $140 as refurbs, INCLUDING SHIPPING. It's a strato. Parts are almost free. What's not to like?
I've bought other saws there, and a 50 cc Husqy blower. All were great buys, though a PP4218 needed a bit of help.

 

Yep, VMInnovations usually sells their stuff through eBay cheaper, same place just on eBay
I got mine tuned it up, ripped through 2 cords 20 to 25 inch oak no problem

 

I don't know I just went and looked it up, weight and displacement and put it in there

 

Sounds about right cause we looked up the jReds when we bought the 555 just couldn't get as good a deal to the house on the jReds so we got the 555

 

Looks like the cs 590 is 349.99 at the Homer despot now:

ECHO 20 in. 50.2cc Gas Chainsaw CS-490-20 at The Home Depot - Mobile

 

??? Link is cs 490

 

Looks like I caught a bad link. Got excited thought they were on sale.

 

Seems to me the pick of the litter, value-wise, is the 61 cc Dolmar, having had one for 2+ yrs. Still seeing 210 psi on the same tester. At a recent GTG, peak power reading was a tad over 4.6 hp- some people are honest. Ran one recently side-by-side locally and at Upstate NY GTG with a stihl 362. Dolly by a TKO, per the stihl-man, ignoring price tag.
If bux were tight, I'd go for an Echo CS-590, were I a logger it'd be a 562XP-AT. Next question, please.
Back to OP, take a long look at the 50 cc Dolly.

 

Have another