Best/Worst/Most Suprising Chainsaw You’ve Bought or Ran

[Guido Salvage]

One of the guys in my wedding sprung for an $80 Frontier based Skil saw. The oiler quit within 2 weeks, it was a real POS. Took 2 people to operate, one to run it the other to squirt oil on the chain.

 

[Al Smith]

I must say from my limited experience the Stihl 660 was a mere shadow of the earlier 066 model .That modified 038 Mag I have mentioned will cut heads up with one and it's 20 cc's larger .Now that's just not right .

 

[darkimpulse]

Worst saw I have ever ran was a newer 38cc Poulan. If you didn't start it right it would run backwards.

Best one I've ran so far would have to be my MS660, mainly because if the heated handles in the winter.

 

[Steve]

Worst saw is a mini mac. Never had one run any better than it did after i tinker with them.

Best saw is the 7900/7910. Tons of power and silky smooth a/v. Starts well cold and hot.

 

[Al Smith]

Back in the day they sold a lot of Mini Macs to tree trimmers .They only figured to use them for a season if they would go that long .They were cheap .The best that long ago was believe it or not was a Poulan S25 DA .Most of them are still in operation while the Mini's died a long time ago .
I've got two of the Poulans and one for parts .The parts saw I'll never as much as try to start it again because that SOB caught fire on me twice .I don't use them that much because for tree work I have two Stihl 200T's .

 

[Wilhelm]

Best saws I run:
- Dolmar PS-7310 with MM, power, speed and decent fuel economy
- Dolmar PS-550 fully stock, decent power, superb fuel economy
- Dolmar PS-6400 fully stock (AM piston kit), best all rounder will shine with 20" B&C but also do well with 36", good fuel economy
- Makita EA5000 XS woods ported, too damn fast for such a little thing, gives me a grin ear to ear
- Dolmar PS-6100 MMWS ported, jaw dropping
- Dolmar PS-7900 with MM, will pull a 36" B&C all day long
- Dolmar PS-311TH, so tiny, cute little thing, has its place, requires just a few drops of fuel a day
- Dolmar PS-7300 with MM, runs fast tuned on the lean side (limiter tabs are still in place)
- Dolmar PS-9010 fully stock with full wrap, a tugboat of a saw


Worst saw?
I refuse to touch crappy saws, why bother with all the premium units I own!
But for arguments sake, China made clone of who knows what unit called Steel MS440 - it is a 52cc, 7000-8000 rpm, 70$ unit.

 

[TheDarkLordChinChin]

Worst: Chinesium 660. Cuts okay but unreliable.
Best: Can never decide. Too emotionally involved with too many saws. But objectively speaking I would have to go with 084 av. Nothing can stop it.

 

[Czed]

Most disappointing
Stihl 036 038 660
I never ran any of these ported
But stock they suck.
The 064 and 066 I ran was a good strong saws.

 

[Cobby08]

Hate to sound like THAT guy but the more I run my 462 the more confident I feel in saying that that is my go-to/favorite saw.

 

[Al Smith]

Certain saws mentioned ,Stihl 036,038 and most likely 660 they really don't need to be "ported " .Just a simple little work on the exhaust will pep them up .Not every saw needs to be a cookie cutter to gain performance .Old rule of thumb ,if it can't get out it can't get in .It takes fuel to make power .
I know exactly nothing about these newer so called low emission saws and maybe never will .On the stuff I have some are modified, some with altered exhaust systems and some bone stock .It just depends on what you want them do .Some are "pretty " some are ugly but they all cut wood .-----or did at one time ----

 

[Homemade]

I don’t have the experience as some of you but...
Best Stihl 362. It works without hesitation every time I need it.

Worst, I had a mini Mac that didn’t stay in the stable too long.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Stump Shot]

Worst: was a Blue Max saw, parts didn't align with themselves and unfixable.
Best: the one running in my hand, sure beats all and sorry to be without.

 

[Maintenance Chief]

Best saws I run:
- Dolmar PS-7310 with MM, power, speed and decent fuel economy
- Dolmar PS-550 fully stock, decent power, superb fuel economy
- Dolmar PS-6400 fully stock (AM piston kit), best all rounder will shine with 20" B&C but also do well with 36", good fuel economy
- Makita EA5000 XS woods ported, too damn fast for such a little thing, gives me a grin ear to ear
- Dolmar PS-6100 MMWS ported, jaw dropping
- Dolmar PS-7900 with MM, will pull a 36" B&C all day long
- Dolmar PS-311TH, so tiny, cute little thing, has its place, requires just a few drops of fuel a day
- Dolmar PS-7300 with MM, runs fast tuned on the lean side (limiter tabs are still in place)
- Dolmar PS-9010 fully stock with full wrap, a tugboat of a saw


Worst saw?
I refuse to touch crappy saws, why bother with all the premium units I own!
But for arguments sake, China made clone of who knows what unit called Steel MS440 - it is a 52cc, 7000-8000 rpm, 70$ unit.

Interesting list.
There's a few older dealers that talk about how they liked Dolmar and thought they would take off in sales, but it never came to be, honestly I don't think I have ever seen one around me ,in use.

 

[HYPERSAWS]

Worst saw was definitely a stock one

 

[I Know Something]

Best saws: 372XP. Built a clone one to my liking. And one nicknamed Go Cart. A 36cc Craftsmen. Bought it for $40. Put another $40 in it. Modified it and it's a screamer with a Pico chain. A real joy for some reason. Even to those I supervise using it.

Worst: Chinese 660. Gutless thing till I got my hands on it. Now it's happy.

 

[whitesnake]

Gosh I’ve had my hands on so many and I’m out of the loop with saws. Worst saws were 362 and whatever that Dolmar 50cc saw was that had a following. Mine was a piece of *s-word. Hated it so much I can’t remember the model number. Best saw would be between my stihl 440 And my orig 288. Most impressive saw I’ve ever ran was the blue goo tigerloff (Not sure spelling) 395xp- MMWS was in that saw twice. I was blown away. Literally stood up from the first cut and looked around with an “oh *s-word” grin and remember thinking “did that just happen?” Only time I’ve ever been “shocked” by a saw.

How about that minty mark 1 550xpg mmws built with new 545 cases to make it all orange? I happen to own that saw now. She's a gem. Honestly only put a tank or 2 thru it. She's a ripper but I almost hate to get it dirty lol.

 

[whitesnake]

Seems to be a fair amount of love for ms460's. I got a minty mmws 460. Hardly run it but she's minty and a beast. Almost thought about sailing it but maybe not. The older saws are getting harder to find in nice shape. Anyone can go buy a 572, 462, etc. But I should prob consider thinning the herd...way too many saws and $$$ tied up and I'm only one man to run them all. Could have a worse hobby I suppose? I love all saws. Started off die hardy stihl back in the day. Then got into dolmars pretty heavy and still love them and own quite a few. But a little disappointed in the business changes they've made and the direction they seem to be headed in. Even developed a soft spot for huskies and echos. But with all that said for some reason first saw I grab is my Dolmar 421. If bigger needed 6400 or miller mod 64/7910. Worst saw? Hmm...I guess the ones that are apart in boxes still lol. But running prob ms390 even though it was my first saw back in the day and it seemed great then. But power to weight wasn't good, hate clam shells, etc it's all I knew then!

 

[deye223]

This is my 460 took the pic last year she is in good nick considering the amount of work that she has done MMSW with extra bananas .
it has bucket loads of torque leaves my mates 660 in its wake even with a 32 inch bar.

 

[bigbadbob]

Been thru bout 100 saws last 10 or so years.
288 very nice, 7900 next. Best small saw is a fondled 353.
My hawt dog is a CFB461,,
Worst,, are the little stihls and other throw away saws,,,dont drop off anymore my garbage can is full.
When I go wood cutting, I randomly grab three from my 20 or so saws. Small, medium large.
Great hobby that CAD

 

[USMC615]

Best - Wild Thang
Worst - Wild Thang

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