New here. Looking for saw advice

Nice forum here, just found recently. Finally got a property in the country where I can cut and split some wood. Looking for my first saw, just for cutting rounds for firewood and general use for trees on the property. Looking at 3 saws. New echo cs-501p, a used ported Husq 359, and a used stihl 036 pro. Both the used are in good shape and from a reputable builder/mechanic. The new echo is around 450-500 and the used are 350-375. Or I could go up to a 60cc new saw but that is like $600... Any thoughts or advice? I tend to like older stuff with heritage and like the old style, but the new one comes with 5 yr warranty and all that .

 

Welcome to the club, Matt!

 

Welcome to the site.
On the saw question, what I did and this is just my opinion here. I bought a brand new stihl ms310 as this was my first and only saw at that time to cut wood which is my only source of heat.
I wanted something I could use and not have to possibly mess with all the time to make it go. But since then c.a.d. Has set in and I have quite a few to pick from of various sizes, like backwoods savage said it's all in what you want and what your going to do with it.
Hope this helps.

 

Dennis is right, it really depends on the size of trees you'll be cutting.

Now, I've gotten by for nearly 2 decades with a stihl 029s which is just under a 60cc saw, and it did everything I asked of it with a 16" bar. I didn't ever ask it to cut 3 foot diameter trees though.

Now, as to the brand, depending on your heritage, you may be inclined to go one way versus another.

The other option you might have is the ex home Depot rental saws. They rent at least 2 sizes of Makita saws. A 64cc which run ~$300 used and ready to run, or a smaller size I think around 40-50cc. Makitas are actually German made Dolmar saws.

I've only heard good things about echo saws, but I like my German made things.

 

Welcome to da club
Like said what diameter wood are you cutting?
What's your max budget?
How much would you going to be cutting the next 1 5 10 15 years?
You heat a hundred percent with wood or other?

 

I like my Echos and almost bought a third one, but scored the Makita

 

That CS-501P would be very tempting to me and your situation a one saw plan a 50cc can't hardly be beat

 

Welcome to the forum.
I've been running this 590 for 5 years muff modded only replaced the chain adjuster.
Usually with a 24 inch bar no problem.
I bought a 490 two years ago it's been great with a 18 inch bar.
The 590 is 350.00 free ship from ebay the 490 is 303.00 free ship.
Both have been good saw's.
But for the versatility the 590 is what i normally used for felling and firewood.
Haven't tried the 501p yet.

 

A stihl 261 would be a great saw if you wanted to spend $600. You would get a 50cc engine with 4 hp at 11 pounds. That would make a good all around professional grade firewood saw. I've been trying to heat with wood 100%, so i justify the cost as an investment.

There are good used saws out there also. If you trust the builder of those saws you mentioned, i think that would be a good way to get started and not break the bank!

Congratulations on your new property and let us know what you decide.

Post up some pics when you're ready.

 

Depends on condition of the 359, but that's my front runner with the 036 nipping at it's heals. Both have great track records. Not the hugest Echo fan but I've only used 2, I'm sure its fine too.

 

if you like seller and on a 1 saw plan that 036 would be my choice because if dropping a tree and pinch bar then drop the bar.. all 3 choices will do da job

 

My opinion is get a great 40ish cc saw like a Dolmar 421, husqvarna 440, echo 490, .... two reason


1 small saw is very useful easy to use great to learn with and just darn handy.

2 a two saw plan is great for many reasons. Now you have an excuse to get a larger saw when you need/are ready.
One saw plan a echo 501, husqvarna 545, Dolmar 5105
So many great saw to little time.

 

Budget I can swing 500-600, it's more just do I really need a 600 saw , probably not.. the cutting would just be a hobby when I have time, have a wood stove in this house and don't know how much I will use it. Hopefully a lot. House has electric heat as well. I just like manual labor and it sounds like fun after being in an office all week. Most of the trees on this property and around this area are under 20" for sure. Mostly just would be looking for blown over trees around locally and trying to get with a treee service to take some of their extra stuff.

 

Dolmar 421. / Makita 4300

 

Great response all in such a short time! Are their any feature on these that I don't know about that may help swing the pendulum? They all have chain brake, manual carb adjustment, anything else that would be something to consider?

 

You want a small light limbing saw and then the saw you will use for dropping and bucking. I don't know that much about saws but when a member gave me the little echo saw, I could see how nice it was to have a small saw to tackle the limbing part of the operation. At least for me; those that are stronger may not need a small saw for limbing.

 

Is this your first chainsaw use, or just your first purchase?

 

That was my main heat source. It was fun to turn on the electric furnace and watch the electric meter spin like it was trying to take off to the moon. I froze for years because the electric use was so high; I dreaded getting the invoices from the energy company.

 

I really like my 261 carb model but if i had the option back then.
I would've bought both the 490 and 590 for the same price basically as the stihl lol
It would be nice if you can try a few Saw's you're interested in before buying.
Nothing against a used pro saw it's nice to have a new one lol
I cut for about 30 year's before i bought my first new saw.
A 290.
The 346 are a nice 50cc saw too.
You have a good budget to get exactly what you're after.
As far as features the only real difference is the carb saw's and auto tune and mtronic.
Safety features are the same basically.