Better get the boss. Ha HA
I'd take the 590 any day over the 455 or farmboss.
Are you suggesting it is a Ryobi?
Well, Popular Mechanics reviewed them last year. I don't know where they got a Solo, but the Stihl was $30 cheaper than the next cheapest, Husky Rancher, and the rest were priced up to over $700.
The Stihl was the only one with no complaints except the Echo CS-600-P to a tune of $190 more expensive than the Farm Boss. Also they always go in the $300 range on c-list and around $280 on ebay. The implication is a guy can get a new one and use it for 20 years and sell it for more than he paid for it. I'm thinking a 029-20 Farmboss was around $280 in 1991. My Father inlaw has had one since then and I've never known him not to use it.
Engine Size: 56.5 CC
HP: 3.8
Bar Length: 20 inches
Weight: 17.4 pounds*
Fuel: 18.9 ounces
Air-Filter Access: Tool-free
Decompression Valve: No
Purge Bulb: No
Decibels (A-Scale): 111
Price: $370
The Farm Boss is Stihl's No. 1 selling saw, and you can see why. It's thoroughly engineered. Its manufacturer makes its own bar and chain, engine and most of the other components on the saw. Many saws today have an airflow pattern that takes out the worst of the debris before it gets anywhere near the air filter, but the Stihl is exemplary. It's amazing how clean its air filter stays. It seems that the company lavished attention on every square inch of the saw, from the crisply activated chain brake to the plastic retainer straps on the oil and gas caps to the caps themselves, which lock with a half-turn.
Dislikes: Nothing noted.
I live in a pretty rural area. Most everybody I associate with, burns wood to heat their homes. The MS 290 is by far the most common saw these guys are using in the woods to cut their firewood with. It's not even close.
The guys I'm friendly with, & or have cut with, all use a 290. The others, I run into, in the woods cutting their own firewood, 90% of em are using a 290.
There's a number of professional loggers around me too. One is my neighbor/buddy. He's a Stihl guy 100%. Although, he's using bigger, & more pro grade saws.
There's a number of places around where one can purchase a pro grade Stihl. Very few places where one could purchase a pro grade Husky. Tractor Supply, & Lowe's are only selling the pew pew saws, 440,455, 460, etc.. They sell a lot of 440's with 18" bars to guys who stuff em, & get disgruntled quickly. Same guy buys a 290, to replace his "inadequate husky" & feels like he's Mr. Chainsaw now. He's from here on out, a "Stihl Guy", & Husky Basher....
Someone has to have a pretty good interest to seek out further than the local, easily available offerings. I'm just a firewood cutter but, have been burning wood for 20+ yrs. As a contractor, I learned the difference between homeowner grade tools, & professional grade tools many years ago.
Tractors are different here. Lots of options. I personally have a JD but, people I associate with have about everything I've heard of, & several I haven't. Kubota is well represented in my area, & probably what I see most often. Though, I see Mahindra, Coyote, Case, MF, New Holland, & when it comes to the older tractors, there's plenty of stuff I've never heard of making noise, & blowing smoke all around
Sounds whimpier than a Stihl.
