I'd like your opinion/suggestion on buying a saw.

I have had no problems with mine. Some day though they will invent a fancy saw that automatically keeps the chain sharp.

 

The light shone down from the sky, and mine Eyes were opened..
71cc of whupass....

 

They have the poulan set up that sharpens on the saw.

 

Yep. Now 79 and 84 is probably the cc of choice a lot there

 

Among the stock offerings that I have purchased over the years, the 7900 was far and away the most impressive machine in stock form ever.

 

With a budget of $300, I just don't see any other option but to go with the echo. Although, the Husky 445 is a very nice little saw..
It has a plastic case, but, it seems very well-built overall. Cobey has one, and it's very nice.

 

My FIL runs a 290 and burns more wood than any of us (heating 3 houses with a OWB). He probably burns 15 - 20 cord per year.

We both cut on the same land...hedge and black locust. Not exactly the easiest stuff. Last weekend he picked up my saw and cut a little bit...I think it was a true awakening. He's now looking for a pro saw. I had the same experience when I went from the trusty old 031 to a 361. The difference truly is night and day.

They are expensive, but your productivity will go WAY up with a good saw. Over the life of the machine, you're talking an extra $15 - $20 per year (over 10 years, conservatively) to make things go faster and be easier on the body. If you plan on cutting 10 cord per year you won't regret it.

I'm not trying to tell you how to spend your money, but don't rush into a purchase. Consider the options. Think long term.

 

I would Suggest as selling the one or two of your saws and purchasing a 562XP.
I cut wood for years for my dad with his ms270 C which is very close to the 290 in power and weight, and When I finally purchased my 562 it was a night and day difference in productivity. The 562 feels about the same weight but the improvement in cut times was an eye opener. Now cutting up a tree is the fastest and easiest part of the whole process.
I know the 562 is is expensive but I have seen them as low as $630.00 brand new on ebay.

 

If it takes a 100 hours of actual saw running then the chain needs to be sharpened and you need something larger than a top handle. My brother and I cut 5 full cords in three hours a couple wks ago all oak. Granted the wood was good for making quick wood. This is not knocking any body but saws don't run as much as people think they do.

 

Save up and get the 545. Keep a 16 inch bar on it.... And try not to smile as the chips fly My cutting combo. I need nothing bigger than my 545.... And the lil Echo CS 271 T for cleanup Its all about being able to walk upright when the job is done !

 

Also... My local dealer has the Dolmar 421's at about $319 . It was a tuff call for me.... But glad i spent the extra money on the 545. Alot more saw... About the same weight as well.
Also... The Husky 435 and 440 are nice as well. Dont let the "plastic" or "clamshell" words scare you. I ran the crap out of a Husky 350 and 450 for years. They still run today

 

Gasifier I think a lot of people are missing the point. You are looking for a saw to compliment what you have now. If you are happy with power, weight and usage of your current saw go with it. I have an echo top handle to compliment my ms310. I've had no issues with either one. The one thing I like about a top handle is its ease of use in limbing. It's small enough to be one handed. I would like a bigger pro saw and a smaller saw as well but it's not in the cards. A small stihl homeowner saw can be had for a decent price. Granted a pro saw is a pro saw but if your not dogging a saw every day of the year you can get by with a homeowner saw. I bet a lot more wood than we want to admit gets cut with run of the mill homeowner saws.

 

I agree, but I think others, including myself, are saying that with a little extra $ he's going to get "bigger saw" performance in a "smaller saw" package compared to the 290. If he's somewhat on the fence about which way to go, which he eluded to in the OP, then he might be able to kill two birds with one saw.

 

No we aren't missing the point. A lot of us have been there before. He's happy with the 290 because that's what he knows.. The 545/550xp is more powerful, and lighter. He'd be killing two birds with one stone and once realizes he won't use the 290 after getting the 545/550 then he can use that to upgrade to a large 70cc saw down the road as the resale of the 290's is high.

I agree! Love my little light saber

 

A couple of the guys that I sharpen chains for and sell saws to, work on a logging crew.. I guess that makes em' "pro's"..
But when it comes to saw operation and maint., they are anything but...
Great guys, but I swear they could tear up an anvil with a rubber mallet... My uncle cut for 15 years out of his woodlot, both for lumber and a rather large quantity of firewood. Had 2 saws.. An old dayton/Poulan top handle, and a 610 McCulloch "his big saw".. Both were fully functioning when he finally bought 2 new Huskies in 2005 or so. But he was a meticulous man, and anal about sharp chain, proper fuel mix, and clean tools...
As are many on this site.
It's just some perspective for someone who has a set budget. Unlike mine, which seems to be more of a "whatever I'm feeling like at the time"...

 

Gas,
Just for the sake of the discussion .............. my one saw, a teeny tiny 33 cc Echo got me through several years of anything I put in front of it. I felled and bucked 33" diameter stuff with a puny 16" B&C running semi-chisel ....... and got the job done all by itself. I still have the saw, and use it on every tree I cut. Its what I use on the stuff under 8-10 inches diameter

Upgrading to my 70cc Stihl, I cut more wood in 2 hours than I did all day with the 33cc saw.

 

Dam. Locals do not stock the Echo saws. Can get them for ya, but only stock Stihl and Husqvarna. I was hoping to be able to look at some of those as well, all in one place.

Stihl MS 261 - $599

Stihl MS 362 - $729

Stihl 441 Magnum - $959


Husqvarna 372 - $859
Stihl 461 - $1089

Husqvarna 576 - $959

 

Husqvarna 545.... $450 to your door